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

There's but four things exempted from the power of their Excommunication, as Navarrus notes: a Locust, an Infidel, the Devil, and the Pope: so he hath marched them, so let them go together. For the Excommunicate must be a man, a Christian, mortal, and an Inferior: now the Locust is not a man, the Infidel is not a Christian, the Devil is not mortal, and the Pope hath no Superior. But too much of that; this is a Parable, and here is no foundation for such a building.

Ther's but foure things exempted from the power of their Excommunication, as Nauarrus notes: a Locust, an Infidel, the Deuill, and the Pope: so he hath marched them, so let them goe together. For the Excommunicate must be a man, a Christian, mortall, and an Inferiour: now the Locust is not a man, the Infidell is not a Christian, the Deuill is not mortall, and the Pope hath no Superior. But too much of that; this is a Parable, and heere is no foundation for such a building.

Cut it down. How? with an Axe of martial iron? This were an exposition fit for Douai, or the Gunpowder-Engineers: that by Cutting it down, understood, Blow it up: turning their Axe to a Petard. Had God said to them, Cut it down; the axe had bin instantly heaved up: yea, they did it, when God said no such thing. Rather then fail of cutting it down, they would have stocked it up, root and all: this is their mercy. But the Spiritual Axe is to cut down, Culpas, non Animas: when we read of cutting down, remember it is meant of mens sins, not of their souls. Preachers indeed do wound; but it is Gladio oris, not ore gladij. with the Sword of the Spirit, not a Rovillac's Knife. If God had meant such a cutting down, ⟨p. 45⟩Nero had been a fitter instrument then Paul. ¹We read, that their sound went through the World: but that their Sword went through the World, we never read,

Cut it downe. How? with an Axe of martiall yron? This were an exposition fit for Doway, or the Gunpowder-Enginers: that by Cutting it downe, vnderstood, Blow it vp: turning their Axe to a Petarre. Had God said to them, Cut it downe; the axe had bin instantly heaued vp: yea, they did it, when God said no such thing. Rather then faile of cutting it downe, they would haue stockd it vp, roote and all: this is their mercie. But the Spirituall Axe is to cut downe, Culpas, non Animas: when we reade of cutting downe, remember it is meant of mens sinnes, not of their soules. Preachers indeed doe wound; but it is Gladio oris, not ore gladij. with the Sword of the Spirit, not a Rouillac's Knife. If God had ment such a cutting downe,