N00458:107
The barren fig trees doom. Or, A brief discourse wherein is set forth the…
The barren fig trees doom. Or, A brief discourse wherein is set forth the woeful danger of all who abide unfruitful under Gospel privileges, and Gods husbandry. Being the substance of sixteen sermons preached on Christ's parable of the fig-tree. / By Samuel Willard, teacher of a church in Boston. ; [Four lines from Matthew]The barren fig trees doom. Or, A brief discourse wherein is set forth the woful danger of all who abide unfruitful under Gospel priviledges, and Gods husbandry. Being the substance of sixteen sermons preached on Christ's parable of the fig-tree. / By Samuel Willard, teacher of a church in Boston. ; [Four lines from Matthew]
Boston: printed by Benjamin Harris, 1691
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.
USE II.
For Exhortation: And it may be directed,
1. To all visible Professors; let the consideration of this truth teach you,
1. A Lesson of Thankfulness to God for this great favour and dignity that he hath advanced you to. Think what a favour it is, and how much you are privileged by it, think how it is with the Heathen World, who are without God, without Christ, &c. and how comes it that you are not so? what are you by nature better than they? whence came this but from the mere good pleasure of God? it was only because it so seemed good to him to make you thus to differ? Is there any distinguishing mercy in having the Oracles of God, the hopes of Salvation, and all encouragements to further you in the pursuit of it? let him have the praise of it?
1. A Lesson of Thankfulness to God for this great favour and dignity that he hath advanced you to. Think what a favour it is, and how much you are priviledged by it, think how it is with the Heathen World, who are without God, without Christ, &c. and how comes it that you are not so? what are you by nature better than they? whence came this but from the meer good pleasure of God? it was only because it so seemed good to him to make you thus to differ? Is there any distinguishing mercy in having the Oracles of God, the hopes of Salvation, and all encouragements to further you in the pursuit of it? let him have the praise of it?