N00458:209
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.
4. In a word, all that are in a state of Unregeneracy. As long as men have no principle of saving grace wrought in them by the Spirit of God, they do not bear fruit; where there is not faith, there can be no exercise of it; and whatsoever is not influenced by that, belongs to dead works; that which is such, is pleasing to God, he takes content in it; but these can do no such thing, Rom. 8. 8. They that are in the flesh cannot please God; and the Apostle assures us that all have not faith.
3. How this comes to pass? It may seem strange that there should be empty plants in the Courts of Gods House, but we may be satisfied in this, when we have weighed the case: Hence;
A. 1. Negatively. It is not because there is any thing wanting on Gods part as to means of fruitfulness. God can leave this ⟨p. 80⟩to mens own Judgments, if they […] will speak uprightly,1 Isa. 5. 3. 4. There are the same advantages afforded to one and the other in the Visible Church: they enjoy the same Gospel, and Ordinances, in which the Calls, Counsels, Invitations, Encouragements, are alike exhibited to them: the dresser of the Vineyard hath a charge given him concerning all, to look after them with care: the Ministry are appointed to declare the whole counsel of God: they that bear no fruit live under the same means that they do who bear the most, and there is nothing more done mediately for the than another. It is the same word that Convinceth one and prejudiceth another; there is nothing is here to be said for it.