N00458:404
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. When the Owner cuts down the tree, he now puts an end to all his husbandry about the Tillage of it. Tillage and extirpation are contraries▪ he may prune it, and cut off many exuberant branches from it, for its advantage, that it may bring forth more fruit and grow the better; but i• […] cuts it down, this is no part of Husbandry to the tree, but a putting of an end to it. It therefore signifies, that God will no more do any thing ⟨p. 168⟩for such a person: he shall have no more offers of Grace, no more strivings of his Spirit, no more dews of Ordinances; he puts an end▪ to all warnings, counsels, persuasions, entreaties: He saith to the Clouds that they rain no more upon him, Isa. 5. 6. it puts a full period to his day of grace, withdraws from him all the means of good. There is a vast difference between afflicting his professing people, and cutting them down; a man may be afflicted for his good, but if he be cut down, it is for his hurt.
3. When the Owner cuts down the tree, he now puts an end to all his husbandry about the Tillage of it. Tillage and extirpation are contraries▪ he may prune it, and cut off many exuberant branches from it, for its advantage, that it may bring forth more fruit and grow the better; but i• 〈…〉 cuts it down, this is no part of Husbandry to the tree, but a putting of an end to it. It t•erfore signifies, that God will no more do any thing ⟨p. 168⟩for such a person: he shall have no more offers of Grace, no more strivings of his Spirit, no more dews of Ordinances; he puts an end▪ to all warnings, counsels, perswasions, entreaties: He saith to the Clouds that they rain no more upon him, Isa. 5. 6