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

Secondly, the barren Fig-tree is of all most miserable, and so much the more, as it is barren in the Vineyard. The Vine fruitless, ¹is of all trees most useless. It is compared to noble and worthy things: to the good woman, ⟨p. 54⟩Uxor tua sicut vitis: ²to the best man, I am the true vine: it cheers the heart of God and man. But if barren it is good for nothing, not so much as to make a pin to hang a bat on. Oaks and Cedars are good for building, Poplars for Pales, very bushes for hedging, doted wood for firing: but the fruitless Vine is good for nothing. ³Salt keeps other things from putrefying, but if it self be putrefied, what shall season it? A sweet Singer delights us all; but Quis medebitur cantatori a Serpent percusso? If a Serpent hath stung him, who shall recover his voice? If the eye be blind, what shall look to the eye?

Secondly, the barren Fig-tree is of all most miserable, and so much the more, as it is barren in the Vineyard. The Vine fruitlesse, ¹is of all trees most vselesse. It is compared to noble and worthy things: to the good woman, ⟨p. 54⟩Vxor tua sicut vitis: ²to the best man, I am the true vine: it checres the heart of God and man. But if barren it is good for nothing, not so much as to make a pinne to hang a bat on. Oakes and Cedars are good for building, Popplars for Pales, very bushes for hedging, doted wood for firing: but the fruitlesse Vine is good for nothing. ³Salt keepes other things from putrefying, but if it selfe be putrefyed, what shall season it? A sweet Singer delights vs all; but Quis medebitur cantatori a Serpente percusso? If a Serpent hath stung him, who shall recouer his voice? If the eye be blind, what shall looke to the eye?