N00458:339
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.
1. That it is the duty of sinners to hearken to the voice of God. Whatever pleas men may pretendedly make of their own impotency, it gives them no discharge from the obligation• of Duty which is lying upon them. God is the rightful Lord and Lawgiver; and his commands have an Obedience due to them from the creature, who cannot with hold it without the guilt of rebellion. Besides, the Gospel takes off all excuse here; because it looks upon men as being without strength in themselves, and hath accordingly provided and offered all help to them in Christ, whose spirit is ready and able to do all that is wanting. Now it is certain that God requires fruit of all that enjoy the means: he looks for it, Text. It is his will that they bear it, 1 Thes▪ 4. 3.
2. That this Patience of God gives men a great deal of opportunity to bring forth fruit, if they had an heart to it. This life is a time of serving God in; that which follows is the time of reward: the longer therefore men live in Gods Vineyard, the greater season they have of doing him service: every day that they are there continued, puts a new price into their hands, which, when once Gods patience is at an end, ⟨p. 137⟩men must never more expect to enjoy: and hence the more of it is now allowed them, which they improve not, the more opportunity is lost: it gives them space to bethink themselves, to reflect upon their Ways and courses, to recover their lost time, and to redeem their season, by a better and more diligent improvement of it.
3. The means afforded them are very proper as means, to the end of fruitfulness. Means indeed are to be looked at in their proper place, and acknowledged as so; and in this respect there is nothing wanting to them, which is proper and suitable in this affair. Our fruit is a reasonable service, Ro. 2. 1. the means which God comes to us in, are very well accommodated to such a service, for its help,