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

A Judge is corrupt; he is girded with Justice, but the girdle sags to that side where the purse hangeth; God will cut him down; here is room for a good man, that will do equity. A Magistrate is partial, and draws the Sword of Justice in his own quarrel; which he puts up in the cause of Christ: he must be cut down, here is room for one that will love and adhere to the truth. An office is abused by him that holds it; he bought dear and he cannot sell cheap: it is time he were cut down; this place will maintain a man, that will maintain the place, with uprightness. A Minister is barren, hath no milk in his breasts: Ministerium eius accipiat alter; ¹Let another take his office; here is room for one that will feed the people. A profane Patron will let none into the Lords Vineyard, but at the Non-licet-Gate; by which good men will never enter: his Clarke shall be Simon, himself will be ⟨p. 51⟩Magus: vengeance shall cut him down; here is room for one that will freely put faithful Labourers into the Vineyard. There grows an Oppressor, skulking in a corner; the needy cannot find him, or if they do, they find no fruit from him; Cut him down, here is room for one that will pity the poor. The Lord will root out such bastard Plants, and replenish his Garden with fruitful Trees.

A Iudge is corrupt; he is girded with Iustice, but the girdle saggs to that side where the purse hangeth; God will cut him down; here is roome for a good man, that will doe equitie. A Magistrate is partiall, and drawes the Sword of Iustice in his owne quarrell; which he puts vp in the cause of Christ: he must be cut downe, here is roome for one that will loue and adhere to the truth. An office is abused by him that holds it; hee bought deare and hee cannot sell cheape: it is time he were cut downe; this place will maintaine a man, that will maintaine the place, with vprightnesse. A Minister is barren, hath no milke in his breasts: Ministerium eius accipiat alter; ¹Let another take his office; here is roome for one that will feed the people. A prophane Patron will let none into the Lords Vineyard, but at the Non-licet-Gate; by which good men will neuer enter: his Clarke shall be Simon, himselfe will bee ⟨p. 51⟩