N00458:282
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.
PROPOSITION I:
That God useth a great deal of Patience with some sinners under the Gospel. Though he affords them the means of Grace, and they do not presently give them due entertainment, but neglect them, yet he doth not always presently fall upon, and cut them off ⟨p. 114⟩from these means, but suffers them to live a great while under them, and waits upon them. Here observe.
That God useth a great deal of Patience with some sinners under the Gospel. Though he affords them the means of Grace, and they do not presently give them due entertainment, but neglect them, yet he doth not always presently fall upon, and cut themoff ⟨p. 114⟩from these means, but suffers them to live a great while under them, and waits upon them. Here observe.
1. That the Patience of God is Sovereign and Arbitrary. It is an act of his mere good pleasure: as h• owes to no sinners a room in his Vineyard, or so much as an offer of Grace; so, upon their neglecting to improve the means, and refusing the offers of Grace made to them, he might righteously take away his Gospel from them, or them from it; and although he would be severe, yet he would be very just. The New-Covenant is a Covenant of Grace, and all that i• done for men in it, is therefore free: as he acts his pleasure in choosing who shall be put into the Vineyard, he doth it no less in determining their continuance in it.