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…

Look upon those Churches where Peace is, and there you shall find Prosperity: When the Churches had rest, they were not only multiplied, but walking in the Fear of the Lord, and the Comforts of the Holy Ghost, they were edified▪ it is when the whole Body is in it together, as with Joints and Bands, that they increase with the Increase of God.

We are at a stand sometimes, why there is so little growth among Churches, why Men have been so long in ⟨p. 40⟩learning, and are yet so far from attaining the knowledge of the Truth; some have given one Reason, and some another; some say Pride is the cause, and others say Covetousness is the cause; I wish I could say these were no causes: but I observe, that when God entered his Controversy with his People of old, he mainly insisted upon some one Sin, as Idolatry, and shedding Innocent Blood▪ &c. as comprehensive of the rest; not but that they were guilty of other Sins, but those that were the most capital are particularly insisted on; in like manner, whoever would but take a review of Churches that live in Contentions and Divisions, may easily find that breach of Unity and Charity is their capital Sin, and the occasion of all other Sins. No marvel then, that the Scripture saith, the whole Law is fulfilled in Love; and if so, then where Love is wanting, it must needs follow, the whole Law is broken. It is where Love grows cold; that Sin abounds; and therefore the want of Unity and Peace is the cause of that leanness and barrenness that is among us; it's true in Spirituals as well ⟨p. 41⟩as Temporals, That Peace brings Plenty.

We are at a stand sometimes, why there is so little growth among Churches, why Men have been so long in ⟨p. 40⟩learning, and are yet so far from attaining the knowledg of the Truth; some have given one Reason, and some another; some say Pride is the cause, and others say Covetousness is the cause; I wish I could say these were no causes: but I observe, that when God entered his Controversy with his People of old, he mainly insisted upon some one Sin, as Idolatry, and shedding Innocent Blood &c. as comprehensive of the rest; not but that they were guilty of other Sins, but those that were the most capital are particularly insisted on; in like manner, whoever would but take a review of Churches that live in Contentions and Divisions, may easily find that breach of Unity and Charity is their capital Sin, and the occasion of all other Sins. No marvel then, that the Scripture saith, the whole Law is fulfilled in Love; and if so, then where Love is wanting, it must needs follow, the whole Law is broken. It is where Love grows cold; that Sin abounds; and therefore the want of Unity and Peace is the cause of that leanness and barrenness that is among us; it's true in Spirituals as well