N00458:269
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 I•.
Let this then be a word of warning to all Unprofitable ones. If Gods servants who have obtained Grace to be faithful, are at any time spirited and engaged more particularly to bear a Testimony against your barrenness, and solemnly to declare your danger to you, and press the many threatenings of Gods word upon you; do not you flight or neglect it; count it not a light matter, or only a pang of their Zeal; but think with your selves, God hath been taking notice of me with a jealous eye, he is highly provoked at my so long remaining unfruitful, and is now sending me this rousing message to alarm me, and give me an opportunity, which if I neglect, I must expect some sudden wrath to fall upon me. If his servants are thus afraid of his Judgements coming, well may I, who lie so woefully open to them, do not say they speak at random, of their own heads, or vent their passions, or discover their wishes: no, If they fear God, they desire the good of your souls, and that you may be Saved ⟨p. 110⟩from the evil that is coming, expect the• that if you do not amend your ways & d• ings, it will not be long before God will come in earnest, either in some public visitation or in some personal stroke that he will lay upon you, which will make you to wish that you had hearkened to his voice, in the mouth of his Messengers. If you thus do▪ and thereupon shake off your vain security and carnal confidence; and, bewailing your barrenness, go to him, who only can do it, to teach you to profit, and set your selves in good earnest to seek and serve him with all your hearts; it shall turn to your account, and God will turn away from his fierce anger, But if you shall notwithstanding this, persist in your evil courses, and say in your hearts, I shall have peace notwithstanding, & there is no evil nigh: if you say God hath not spoken by them but they declare a vision of their own, and you go on in your sinful state & ways, neglecting the admonitions thus given you in the name of the Lord; God himself will come out against you in his anger, & by some awful token of his displeasure, make you to know by a dear bought experience, that there leave been Prophets among you.