N00458:225
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.
USE II.
This Doctrine then should call us all to a more careful self-examination. The very hearing of it may stir up every one of us to reflect upon our selves, and say to our own Souls, how is it with me? what fruits do I bear? I am a plant in the vineyard? I make a profession, but what do I do? wherein do ⟨p. 89⟩I answer Gods just demands of me? If I am in the Orchard, I should bear then, but do I? when Christ told his Disciples that one of them should betray him, how did it put them all upon solemn enquiry? every one said, is it I? If I should only say that there is one in the Congregation, of whom it is true, that when God looks for fruit on him, he finds none; it might rouse every one: but let me tell you, I am afraid there are a great many such, and it may be of them that make a fair show too, and pretend high: well, what doth it speak to you, but that you should bring your selves upon the trial; and to that end, labour to inform your selves what is fruit, and what is not, and accordingly search into your hearts and ways, and see how it is with you. Of what moment it is for you thus to do, you will see when we come to consider the doom of the barren fig-tree expressed in the sequel.
This Doctrine then should call us all to a more careful self-examination. The very hearing of it may stir up every one of us to reflect upon our selves, and say to our own Souls, how is it with me? what fruits do I bear? I am a plant in the vineyard? I make a profession, but what do I do? wherein do ⟨p. 89⟩I answer Gods just demands of me? If I am in the Orchard, I should bear then, but do I? when Christ told his Disciples that one of them should betray him, how did it put them all upon solemn enquiry? every one said, is it I? If I should only say that there is one in the Congregation, of whom it is true, that when God looks for fruit on him, he finds none; it might rouze every one: but let me tell you, I am afraid there are a great many such, and it may be of them that make a fair shew too, and pretend high: well, what doth it speak to you, but that you should bring your selves upon the tryal; and to that end, labour to inform your selves what is fruit, and what is not, and accordingly search into your hearts and ways, and see how it is with you. Of what moment it is for you thus to do, you will see when we come to consider the doom of the barren fig-tree expressed in the sequel.