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

The Reason. Why cumbreth it the ground?

God is an undependant Lord, and needs not give a reason of his doings: for who can call him to account, ¹Curita facis? His Judgements are not always manifest, they ⟨p. 47⟩are always just: nor doth he things because they are good, but they are therefore good because he doth them. Should he make short work on the earth, and dispatch all barren Trees in a moment: yet thou continuest holy, O thou worship of Israel. If he strikes us, we are not wronged; it is our desert, and his Justice. If he spares us, we have not merited; It is his mercy. Huic fit miserecordia, tibi non fit iniuria: that man receives mercy, thou hast no injury. Yet that he might be justified, and the mouth of all wickedness stopped, he is content to give a reason of this sentence. Think not I deal hardly with this Fig-tree; let us confer together, and hear one another with patience. I will show thee sufficient reason of cutting it down: do thou show me some cause why it should stand. My reason is, It cumbers the ground. Terram reddit otiosam, inutilem. It is not only barren Formaliter, but Effective. In a word. 1. It does no good. 2. It doth much harm.

God is an vndependant Lord, and needes not giue a reason of his doings: for who can call him to account, ¹Curita facis? His Iudgements are not alwaies manifest, they ⟨p. 47⟩are alwaies iust: nor doth he things because they are good, but they are therefore good because hee doth them. Should hee make short worke on the earth, and dispatch all barren Trees in a moment: yet thou continuest holy, O thou worship of Israel. If he strickes vs, we are not wronged; it is our desert, and his Iustice. If he spares vs, we haue not merited; It is his mercie. Huic fit miserecordia, tibi non fit iniuria: that man receiues mercie, thou hast no iniurie. Yet that hee might bee iustified, and the mouth of all wickednesse stopped, he is content to giue a reason of this sentence. Thinke not I deale hardly with this Fg-tree; let vs conferre together, and heare one another with patience. I will shew thee sufficient reason of cutting it downe: doe thou shew me some cause why it should stand. My reason is, It cumbers the ground. Terram reddit otiosam, inutilem. It is not onely barren Formaliter, but Effectiue. In a word. 1. It does no good. 2. It doth much harme.