N00458:379
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.
Hence learn how vain a thing it is for any to think that the Visible Church is a place of security for such as bear no fruit. I am not here going about to undervalue the visible Covenant, or cast contempt on the Gospel Vineyard: it is a great privilege, and consequently an high favour of God for any to ⟨p. 158⟩have a room there; but this privilege may be abused, and that may prove mens bane. If men think the Sanctuary to be a shelter for wickedness, a place where they may safely sin, and be out of the reach of danger, they woefully cheat themselves. It is to be feared that there are too many of the children of the Covenant, that think all is well with them, because they have a place among the people of God; there must therefore no evil come unto them; and because God bestows all visible privileges upon them, therefore they are so in his favour as they never shall be in hazard of knowing his displeasure: G od waits and […], and they think it must always be so: but the Lord assures us that this is to trust in lying words; thus to presume is for them to make a Covenant with Hell, and be in league with death. Know it, Divine vengeance can fetch a criminal from the city of Refuge, slay a Joa• at the Altar, find out a barren figtree in the midst of the Vineyard. Because God hath been patient a great while, it allows not that he must be so still; nay it is to be expected that he will not be so much longer, a day of grace will wear out, and indeed in this place is the greatest danger; and therefore;
Hence learn how vain a thing it is for any to think that the Visible Church is a place of security for such as bear no fruit. I am not here going about to undervalue the visible Covenant, or cast contempt on the Gospel Vineyard: it is a great priviledge, and consequently an high favour of God for any to