N00458:414
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.
4. And this abuse of his patience must needs heighten the provocation, for now it is reduced to this exigence, that there is no other course remains to be taken. When upon trial made, men prove hopeless; things are brought to that pass, that there is nothing else not be done; and not only so, but all that hath bin thus done for them, would else be wholly lost, and God should have no Glory at all by it there is so much more guilt added as there have been means used, and neglected offers of Grace made and despised: If therefore sinners in the World must perish, for their falling short of the Glory of God; sinners in the visible Church much more for offering abuse and contempt to these essays that have been used with them, to bring them to Repentance. It is certain that such though they have outward privileges above them, yet in reality they are to God esteemed no better than Heathen, Amos. 9: 7: Are ye not as Children of the Ethiopians to me? Oh Israel! saith the Lord. Those wild Thievish, Cursed inhabitants of Arabia were as good as they: nay these are worse, because they have sinned against greater mercies.
4. And this abuse of his patience must needs heighten the provocation, for now it is reduced to this exigence, that there is no other course remains to be taken. When upon trial made, men prove hopeless; things are brought to that pass, that there is nothing else not be done; and not only so, but all that hath bin thus done for them, would else be wholly lost, and God should have no Glory at all by it there is so much more guilt added as there have been means used, and neglected offers of Grace made and despised: If therefore sinners in the World must perish, for their falling short of the Glory of God; sinners in the visible Church much more for offering abuse and contempt to these essays that have been used with them, to bring them to Repentance. It is certain that such though they have outward priviledges above them, yet in reality they are to God esteemed no better than Heanthen, Amos. 9: 7: Are ye not as Children of the Ethiopians to me? Oh Israel! saith the Lord. Those wild Theevish, Cursed inhabitants of Arabia were as good as they: nay these are worse, because they have sinned against greater mercies.