N00458:441
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.
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, ⟨p. 189⟩mock or collogue him out of it. How do vain young men strengthen each other in wickedness, and harden one another's hearts against the fear of God! how often have there been good hopes that these and those might have been persuaded to return to God, and lay hold on Jesus Christ, if they had not lived in such houses, or associated themselves with such persons, where they have been encouraging one another in wickedness, and been learning each of the other to laugh at the counsels and warnings of God, and to make a mock of sin, and flout at Godliness, thus are we told, Eccl. 9. 18. one sinner destroyeth much good.
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 awaknings 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, ⟨p. 189⟩mock or collouge him out of it. How do vain young men strengthen each other in wickedness, and harden one anothers hearts against the fear of God! how often have there been good hopes that these and those might have been perswaded to return to God, and lay hold on Jesus Christ, if they had not lived in such houses, or associated themselves with such persons, where they have been encouraging one another in wickedness, and been learning each of the other to laugh at the counsels and warnings of God, and to make a mock of sin, and flout at Godliness, thus are we told,