N00458:331
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.
3. There is a natural resistance in the hearts of men, to all the endeavours which are used with them in the means. The con•enerate corruption which men lying with ⟨p. 134⟩them into the world, hath in it a strong in mity against all which is good, Rom. 8.7, •. and by virtue of this they set themselves to resist the Spirit of God, and so withstand all the calls and counsels that are given them, despising the goodness and forbearance of God, and turning the Gospel grace into wantonness: and thus will all men do as long as they are left to themselves, by reason of the wickedness that is in their hearts.
3. There is a natural resistance in the hearts of men, to all the endeavours which are used with them in the means. The con•enerate corruption which men lying with ⟨p. 134⟩them into the world, hath in it a strong in mity against all which is good, Rom. 8.7, •. and by vertue of this they set themselves to resist the Spirit of God, and so withstand all the calls and counsels that are given them, despising the goodness and forbearance of God, and turning the Gospel grace into wantonness: and thus will all men do as long as they are left to themselves, by reason of the wickedness that is in their hearts.
4. That God doth often judicially leave men to their own choice. He gives them up to their hearts lusts, they resist his grace, and he calls, and convinceth and waits, but they will not near him, and thereupon he suffers them to take their course, because they will not receive instruction: and it is righteous with him so to do, because they in this resistance, shut their eyes against rational conviction, and are wilful against the clearest light; and whilst it is so, let him wait never so long, and come never so often, they will be never the better, but abide barren still.