A30122:248
The barren fig tree, or, The doom and downfall of the fruitless professor showing…The barren fig tree, or, The doom and downfall of the fruitless professor shewing…
The barren fig tree, or, The doom and downfall of the fruitless professor showing that the day of grace may be past with him long before his life is ended : the signs also by which such miserable mortals may be known / by John Bunyan ; to which is added his Exhortation to peace and unity among all that fear God.The barren fig tree, or, The doom and downfall of the fruitless professor shewing that the day of grace may be past with him long before his life is ended : the signs also by which such miserable mortals may be known / by John Bunyan ; to which is added his Exhortation to peace and unity among all that fear God.
London: printed for J. Robinson, 1688
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
First Sign. The Day of Grace is like to be past, when a Professor hath withstood, abused, and worn out God's Patience, then he is in danger, this is a provocation, then God cries, Cut it down. There are some Men that steal into a ⟨p. 88⟩Profession, no body knows how; even as the Fig-tree was brought into the Vineyard by other hands than God's; and th•• they abide lifeless, graceless, careles• and without any good Conscience to God […] all. Perhaps they came in for the Loaves for a Trade, for Credit, for a Blind; […] it may be to stifle and choke the Check and grinding Pangs of an awakened and disquieted Conscience. Now having obtained their purpose, like the Sinners […] Zion, they are at ease, and secure; Sa• ing, like Agag, 1 Sam. 15. 32. Surely […] bitterness of Death is past; I am we•• shall be saved, and go to Heaven: Th•• in these vain conceits it spends a Year, two or three; not remembering that at every Season of Grace, and at every opportunity of the Gospel, the Lord come• seeking Fruit. Well, Sinner, well barre• Fig-tree, this is but a course beginning; God comes for Fruit. What have I here, saith God,: what a Fig-tree is this that hath stood this Year in my Vineyard, and brought me forth no Fruit▪ I will cry unto him, Professor! Barre• Fig-tree, be fruitful! I look for Fruit, I expect Fruit, I must have Fruit, therefore bethink thy self. At these the ⟨p. 89⟩Professor pauses; but these are words, not blows, therefore off goes this Consideration from the Heart: When God comes the next Year, he finds him still as he was, a barren, fruitless cumber-ground. And now again he complains, here are two Years gone, and no Fruit appears; Well, I will defer mine anger for my Namesake. Isa. 48. 9