N00458:153
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.
2. God will be no loser by you. It is n••, ⟨p. 54⟩with him, as it is with men; if they are frustrated of their hopes, they lose all their expense; but God will not, for he needs not so to do: If the plants in his vineyard will not serve for fruit, they will do for burning, and therein also will he be glorified, and by so much as these have had more cost and pains laid out upon them, by so much more will the Justice of God shine forth in his Righteous Revenge, when his wrath shall burn upon them in proportion to the expense which he hath •a•d out for them: it is not he therefore but you that will be sufferers, Paul is a sweet savour of God, &• 2.Cor. 2. 15. 16:
3. Your fruitfulness will be your profit, it will turn to your account; God is not advantaged in himself by your righteousness, Job 35. 6. if thou be righteous, what profitest thou him? if you are wise, it will be for your selves: the fruits of Holiness, which Gods People bring forth in this life, are the seeds of Glory; there is a great recompense of reward that God hath provided to bestow upon such: Gods Name indeed hath the honour of it, and he deserves it; but the profit returns into the bosom of his people, the more fruit you yield the more store is laid up for you in heaven, and you shall have the comfort of it, when you rest from your labours, and your works shall follow you.