The barren tree a sermon preached at Pauls cross October 26. 1623 /The barren tree a sermon preached at Pauls crosse October 26. 1623 /

3 We are Figtrees: not brambles, no man expects Grapes from thorns. ¹Not Oaks or Cedars, to be a dwelling for the Storks: But Figtrees, apt for fruit, for pleasant fruit. If the rest be fruitless, they serve for other purposes: but what shall become of the barren Figtree?

3 Wee are Figtrees: not brambles, no man expects Grapes from thornes. ¹Not Okes or Cedars, to be a dwelling for the Storkes: But Figtrees, apt for fruit, for pleasant fruit. If the rest be fruitlesse, they serue for other purposes: but what shall become of the barren Figtree?

1. 1Math. 7.16.

4. He is our Lord, and Querit suum, he seeks but his own. If our own Kine give ⟨p. 23⟩us no milk, our own sheep afford us no wool, our own land return us no increase, we are displeased: whereas these be reasonless creatures; but we have sense above common nature, reason above sense, grace above reason: We are but tenants of these, Christ is Lord of us: our sins bring the curse of barrenness upon them, but there is no fault in God, if we be unfruitful.

4. Hee is our Lord, and Querit suum, he seekes but his owne. If our owne Kine giue ⟨p. 23⟩vs no milke, our owne sheepe afford vs no wooll, our owne land returne vs no encrease, we are displeased: whereas these be reasonlesse creatures; but we haue sense aboue common nature, reason aboue sense, grace aboue reason: We are but tennants of these, Christ is Lord of vs: our sinnes bring the curse of barrennesse vpon them, but there is no fault in God, if we be vnfruitfull.