N00458:179
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.
1. That which God expects of his Visible Church, is fruit, this hath bin already cleared in the former Doctrine. God would be honoured and served by some in the World; other men pay him no Tribute, bring forth no fruits that he can taste any pleasancy in; he therefore for that end planted his Church that from it he might receive some revenue in the world; that all the world might not •y in Wickedness, and nothing but dishonour him, as all the residue of mankind certainly and unavoidably do.
1. That which God expects of his Visible Church, is fruit, this hath bin already cleared in the former Doctrine. God would be honoured and served by some in the World; other men pay him no Tribute, bring forth no fruits that he can tast any pleasancy in; he therefore for that end planted his Church that from it he might receive some revenue in the world; that all the world might not •y in Wickedness, and nothing but dishonour him, as all the residue of mankind certainly and unavoidably do.
2. Hence God is honoured by his Visible Church proportionably to the good fruits which they bear. This is the proper and only way in the which they can so serve to his praise, as to answer the end of their being a Church. The rest of mankind shall answer his designs upon them, in some other way; for God will have his honour upon all: but except these serve God, do the works of God, yield the fruits of Obedience, they live in vain: and consequently, the more careful and constant they are in these services the more honour ⟨p. 65⟩they bring to God. Every act of true Obedience hath of this in it, when then these are multiplied, God hath great glory by such.
2. Hence God is honoured by his Visible Church proportionably to the good fruits which they bear. This is the proper and only way in the which they can so serve to his praise, as to answer the end of their being a Church. The rest of mankind shall answer his designs upon them, in some other way; for God will have his honour upon all: but except these serve God, do the works of God, yeild the fruits of Obedience, they live in vain: and consequently, the more careful and constant they are in these services the more honour