N00458:363
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.
2. The advice which he gives to the Vinedresser about this tree; in which there are two things observable;
1. The word of command given out for its excision; Cut it down. The word, in its usage is almost appropriate to Husbandmen or Gardeners; and it signifieth more than a meet cutting down, viz. an Extirpation. When ⟨p. 147⟩trees are dead or barren, they used to cut them up by the roots; and make fuel of them for the fire, that so room might be made for the planting of others in their place: and it here Allegorically designs the utter ruin and destruction of the barren professor. Only here a difficulty ariseth which must be obviated, viz. How comes the Vine-dresser to be commanded to do it? especially upon the former interpretation given, which told us that he represented the Gospel Ministry; the ministers work being to aim at the conversion and salvation, and not the destruction of those whom he is sent unto: for which reason some interpret God himself, others, Christ to be here intended, who hath the Keys of Heaven and Hell, the power of life and death. It might be sufficient here to answer, that similitudes do not run on all four, and therefore Parables are not to be over-strained: and it might suffice to say, it intends that God will not always bear with unprofitable unregenerate sinners, that live under the Gospel, and that he gives his Servants notice of it. Men are wont to cut up trees in their Gardens by the hands of their Servants, who look after them; God will do this to these with his own hand, only he would have his Ministers to give them faithful notice of it. But I suppose there is something more in it then so: Let us then here observe, that there is a twofold ⟨p. 148⟩cutting off of sinners according to Scripture; the one is Ministerial, the other Providential.
1. The word of command given out for its excision; Cut it down. The word, in its usage is almost appropriate to Husbandmen or Gardners; and it signifieth more than a meet cutting down, viz. an Extirpation. When