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

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.

5. He comes seeking: not threatening, raging, wounding, not felling down the tree, nor stocking it up by the roots; but seeking. Dignatur expectare fructus, cui licet eradicare Infructuosos. Man is a loser by the barrenness of his garden-tree: were there not a tree left, God is never the poorer.

5. He comes seeking: not threatning, raging, wounding, not felling downe the tree, nor stocking it vp by the rootes; but seeking. Dignatur expectare fructus, cui licet eradicare Infructuosos. Man is a loser by the barrenesse of his garden-tree: were there not a tree left, God is neuer the poorer.