N00458:267
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.
Hence fidelity and not bare success shall be the Ministers trial and crown another day. I confess, that here in this life, they that bring in many to Christ, have abundance of joy, and are highly beloved by them that have experienced saving good by them; and they that comfort few or none, have abundance of grief and sorrow. But when they shall come to stand before Christ's Tribunal, and are to receive their reward, that man shall have no more commendation than this: he did no more for God, though God did more by him: nay, if there be degrees of reward according to what men have done and suffered for Christ, I am sure this man hath done as much, and suffered more: and if this were not the support of the hearts of some of Gods Servants, they would sometimes saint within them, Christ comforted himself with this, Isa. 49. 5. Though Israel be not gathered, I shall be glorious in the eyes of the Lord.
4. We may here finally observe, That God oftentimes signifies his displeasure against unprofitable Professors, to his faithful Ministers. Thus is the Owner of the Vineyard here brought in, deliberating with the Vine-dresser, complaining against, and threatening of the figtree. ⟨p. 106⟩How God signified his mind of old to his Prophets, is plainly intimated in Scripture, he used to appear to them in dreams, visions by Angels, &c. whence their Prophesies were delivered in the Name of the Lord: and sometimes they were against the body of the people, when there was a general degeneracy, sometimes against particular persons. How he discovers himself in these respects to his Servants in Gospel-times, since extraordinary Revelations are ceased, •ay seem to be more difficult to apprehend: only we are told that we have a more sure word of Prophecy: and out of doubt there is still a truth in that which is expressed, Amos 3. 7.