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

None? Peradventure none such as he looks for, no Fruits delicate enough for the Almighty's taste. Indeed, our best fruits are never perfect and kindly ripened; still they relish sour and earthly, and savour of the Stock from which they were taken. They are heavenly Plants, but grow in a foreign and cold Climate, not well concocted, nor worthy the charges and care bestowed upon us. Set Orange or Figgetrees in this our cold Country, the fruit will not quit the cost of the planting and maintaining. But the complaint is not here of the imperfection or paucity of fruits, but of the nullity; None. Some reading that Text with idle eyes; that after all our fruits, ¹we are still unprofitable Trees: because they can find no validity of merit in their works, throw the Plough in the hedge, and make holiday. But shall not the Servant do his Masters business; because he cannot earn his Masters Inheritance? Shall the Mason say, I will share ⟨p. 35⟩with my Sovereign in his Kingdom, or I will not lay a stone in his building? Yet good fruits have their reward; though not by the merit of the doer, yet by the mercy of the accepter. Sour they be of themselves, but in Christ they have their sweetening: and the meanest fruit, which that great Angel of the Covenant shall present to his Father, ²with the addition of his own precious Incense, are both received and rewarded. In their own nature they may be corrupt; but being dyed in the blood of Christ, they are made pleasing to God. Yea, also profitable to the Church, and useful to men, seem they never so poor. Even a troubled Spring doth often quench a distressed Soldier's thirst: a small Candle doth good, where the greater Lights be absent: and the meanest fruit of holy Charity, even a cup (though it be not of the juice of the grapes out of the Vineyard, ³but) of cold water out of the tankard, in the name of Christ, shall have the recompense. But here the complaint is not of the meanness, or fewness, but of the Barrenness; None at all.

None? Peraduenture none such as hee lookes for, no Fruites delicate enough for the Almighties taste. Indeed, our best fruits are neuer perfect and kindly ripened; still they rellish sowre and earthly, and sauour of the Stocke from which they were taken. They are heauenly Plants, but growe in a foraigue and colde Climate, not well concocted, nor worthy the charges and care bestowed vpon vs. Set Orenge or Figgetrees in this our cold Countrey, the fruit will not quit the cost of the planting and maintaining. But the complaint is not here of the imperfection or paucitie of fruites, but of the nullitie; None. Some reading that Text with idle eyes; that after all our fruites,