A30122:51
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.
Had a Fig-tree [planted].
This word [planted] doth also reach far; it supposeth one taken out of its natural Soil, or removed from the place it grew in once; one that seemed to be called, awakened; and not only so, but by strong hand carried from the World to the Church; from Nature, to Grace; from Sin, to Godliness. Psal. 80. 8. Thou broughtest a Vine out of Egypt; thou didst ⟨p. 10⟩cast out the Heathen and plant it. Of some of the Branches of this Vine, were there unfruitful Professors.
It must be concluded therefore, That this Professor (that remaineth notwithstanding fruitless) is, as to the view and judgment of the Church, rightly brought in thither; to wit, by Confession of Faith, of Sin, and a show of Repentance and Regeneration, (thus false Brethren creep in unawares). All these things this word, Planted, intimateth; yea, further, that the Church is satisfied with them, consents they should abide in the Garden, and counteth them sound as the rest. But before God, in the sight of God, they are graceless Professors, barren and fruitless Fig-trees.
It must be concluded therefore, That this Professor (that remaineth notwithstanding fruitless) is, as to the view and judgment of the Church, rightly brought in thither; to wit, by Confession of Faith, of Sin, and a shew of Repentance and Regeneration, (thus false Brethren creep in unawares). All these things this word, Planted, intimateth; yea, further, that the Church is satisfied with them, consents they should abide in the Garden, and counteth them sound as the rest. But before God, in the sight of God, they are graceless Professors, barren and fruitless Fig-trees.