A30122:396
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.
1. Consider, that this was not writ for a few Members to withdraw from the Church, but for the Church to withdraw from disorderly Members.
2. Consider, that if any offended Members, upon pretence of Error, either in Doctrine or Practice, should by this Text become Judges (as well as Parties) of the Grounds and Lawfulness of their Separation: Then it will follow, that half a store notorious Heretics, or scandalous Livers (when they have walked so as they foresee the Church are ready to deal with them, and withdraw from them) shall anticipate the Church, and pretend somewhat against them, of which themselves must be Judges, and so withdraw from the Church, pretending either Heresy or Disorder; and so condemn the Church, to prevent the disgrace of being condemned by the Church. How needful then is it, that Men of peaceable Dispositions, and not of froward and factious, and dividing Spirits, be chose to rule the Church of God, for fear lest the whole Church be lea•••ed and soured by them.
2. Consider, that if any offended Members, upon pretence of Error, either in Doctrine or Practice, should by this Text become Judges (as well as Parties) of the Grounds and Lawfulness of their Separation: Then it will follow, that half a store notorious Hereticks, or scandalous Livers (when they have walked so as they foresee the Church are ready to deal with them, and withdraw from them) shall anticipate the Church, and pretend somewhat against them, of which themselves must be Judges, and so withdraw from the Church, pretending either Heresy or Disorder; and so condemn the Church, to prevent the disgrace of being condemned by the Church. How needful then is it, that Men of peaceable Dispositions, and not of froward and factious, and dividing Spirits, be chose to rule the Church of God, for fear lest the whole Church be lea•••ed and sower'd by them.