N00458:207
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. All Hypocrites. These indeed make a show as if they were green trees, and are full of the leaves of an outward profession: they carry it fair to men, and make a great stir in a profession, talk much of Religion, and frequent Ordinances with a great deal of seeming zeal: they are very good Christians ⟨p. 78⟩as far as words will go; and possibly too they may have a show of fruit upon them: they may do a great many things so far as the matter of duty reacheth and in that part of their conversation which lies open to the view and observation of men, may use much severity and strictness: but these are not the fruits that God accepts; they are not found b•t rotten. Our Saviour compares them to Sepulchres, Mat. 23. 27, 28. These trees are not good, how then should their fruit be so? However they hope to recommend their lives to men, they do not approve their hearts to God: they labour; but it is to make a Spiders web: their arms are wrong set; they seek not the glory of God, but to be seen of men; and they have all their reward when they have gotten the applause they desired, for God will reject them.
2. All Hypocrites. These indeed make a shew as if they were green trees, and are full of the leaves of an outward profession: they carry it fair to men, and make a great stir in a profession, talk much of Religion, and frequent Ordinances with a great deal of seeming zeal: they are very good Christians ⟨p. 78⟩as far as words will go; and possibly too they may have a shew of fruit upon them: they may do a great many things so far as the matter of duty reacheth and in that part of their conversation which lies open to the view and observation of men, may use much severity and strictness: but these are not the fruits that God accepts; they are not found b•t rotten. Our Saviour compares them to S•pulchres, Mat. 23. 27, 28. These trees are not good, how then should their fruit be so? However they hope to recommend their lives to men, they do not approve their hearts to God: they labour; but it is to make a Spiders web: their arms are wrong set; they seek not the glory of God, but to be seen of men; and they have all their reward when they have gotten the applause they desired, for God will reject them.