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

Fruit. Nothing is created for it self, but so placed by the most wise providence, that it may confer something to the public good; though it be but as the Widows two Mites to the Treasury. The poorest creature yields some Fruit, wherein it doth imitate the goodness of the Maker. We know not readily, what good Serpents and Vermin may do; yet certainly, they have their fruit; both in sucking up that poison of the earth, which would be contagious to man; in setting off the beauty of the better pieces of creation: ¹(for though the same hand made both the Angels in heaven, and the worms on earth; yet the Angels appear the more glorious being so compared) besides their hidden virtues abstracted from our knowledge. Of stones they make iron, rubbish serves to raise Bulwarks, the small pebble for the sling, worms and flies are baits for Fishes: every thing is enabled with some gift for the universal benefit, and to produce those fruits is their natural work.

Fruite. Nothing is created for it selfe, but so placed by the most wise prouidence, that it may conferre something to the publique good; though it be but as the Widowes two Mites to the Treasurie. The poorest creature yeelds some Fruit, wherein it doth imitate the goodnesse of the Maker. We know not readily, what good Serpents and Vermine may doe; yet certainly, they haue their fruit; both in sucking vp that poyson of the earth, which would be contagious to man; in setting off the beautie of the better pieces of creation: ¹(for though the same hand made both the Angels in heauen, and the wormes on earth; yet the Angels appeare the more glorious being so compared) besides their hidden vertues abstracted from our knowledge. Of stones they make yron, rubbish serues to raise Bulwarks, the small pebble for the sling, wormes and flyes are bayts for Fishes: euery thing is enabled with some gift for the vnniuersall benefit, and to produce those fruits is their naturall worke.

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