N00458:195
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.
3. To be sure to bring forth secret fruits. Here is the least danger of Hypocrisy. We may do many things which a love of Applause & Commendation from men may excite us to but our secret service, which is done out of the reach of the eye and observation of others, is that which is in the least danger of deceiving us; because herein we have better evidence that we set God before us: and that you may he truly thus engaged, here is your help; to be always thinking, God is now •t my right hand, his eye is upon me, and there are these three Motives which the Doctrine before us affords, to put ⟨p. 73⟩us upon Carefully and Cheerfully doing thus.
3. To be sure to bring forth secret fruits. Here is the least d•nger of Hypocrisy. We may do many things which a love of Applause & Commendation from men may excite us to but our secret service, which is done out of the reach of the eye and observation of others, is that which is in the least danger of decieveing us; because herein we have better evidence that we set God before us: and that you may he truely thus engaged, here is your help; to be always thinking, God is now •t my right hand, his eye is upon me, and there are these three Motives which the Doctrine before us affords, to put ⟨p. 73⟩us upon Carefully and Cheerfully doing thus.
1. If God sees, he will approve us if we thus do. He looks with great Approbation upon the Faithful Endeavours of his Children; it pleaseth him highly to see them engaged for him and his glory in all that they do. And what should please or satisfy us more or better, than that the God we profess to serve, takes Content in our Duties, and Smells a sweet savour in them?