N00458:440
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.
5. A Barren tree in a vineyard doth damage to all the plants that grow near it. It is not only useless in it self, but others that are planted within it's verge and shadow are ••amnified by it, they are great sufferers for ⟨p. 188⟩its vicinity, it draws away the sap from them which might have nourished, and made them more fruitful; it shades them, keeps off the influences of the Sunbeams from them, and so they are stunted, their flourishing is prevented by it, and their fruit hath neither so good a colour nor taste as else it would and this is much to the vineyards detriment. And truly empty and barren professors in the visible Church, do a great deal of harm to others in the society which they belong unto, and especially to such as they have the most intimate converse withal: and there are several ways in which they are harmful to others and hinder bearing: especially;
5. A Barren tree in a vineyard doth damage to all the plants that grow near it. It is not only useless in it self, but others that are planted within it's verge and shadow are ••amnified by it, they are great sufferers for ⟨p. 188⟩its vicinity, it draws away the sap from them which might have nourished, and made them more fruitful; it shades them, keeps off the influences of the Sunbeams from them, and so they are stunted, their flourishing is prevented by it, and their fruit hath neither so good a colour nor tast as else it would and this is much to the vineyards detriment. And truly empty and barren professours in the visible Church, do a great deal of harm to others in the society which they belong unto, and especially to such as they have the most intimate converse withal: and there are several ways in which they are harmful to others and hinder bearing: especially;
1. Such as these encourage one another by evil counsels, and society, in their unprofitable and pernicious courses: and by this means they wonderfully hinder the efficacy of the means of grace upon them, how many good motions of the Spirit upon their Souls are by these ways quenched; the word of God takes hold of this or that barren soul in an ordinance, and leaves awakenings upon him, and this is one step to fertility, if it were followed; but he gets among his vain lewd companions, and they draw him away again to his former courses, and make him to lose all those impressions which he had upon his mind: and if they observe any disquietment to be upon his spirit, they either,