N00458:483
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. This makes them to go to God and plead with him, that he would spare them a little longer. They are not without hope that if they might have a little more time allowed them, they might at length be persuaded to mind the things of their peace? to be sure they know, that if they are once cut down by the hand of Gods vengeance, there will then be no more opportunity for them for ever, that all hopes are then gone, that then the day of grace is done: but whilst there is life and means, there is hope: and this makes them to pray hard for them, and follow the Throne of Grace in their behalf: and the more their danger is, the greater importunity it urgeth them unto: This made Samuel so restlessly importunate for Saul.
5. This makes them to go to God and plead with him, that he would spare them a little longer. They are not without hope that if they might have a little more time allowed them, they might at length be perswaded to mind the things of their peace? to be sure they know, that if they are once cut down by the hand of Gods vengeance, there will then be no more opportunity for them for ever, that all hopes are then gone, that then the day of grace is done: but whilst there is life and means, there is hope: and this makes them to pray hard for them, and follow the Throne of Grace in their behalf: and the more their danger is, the greater importunity it urgeth them unto: This made Samuel so restlesly importunate for Saul.
6. Gods faithful Ministers are usually more deeply sensible of the miserable condition ⟨p. 208⟩that such are in, than others are. Every true believer hath more or less of this sense? it flows from the Grace that is in them: but those Gracious souls whose peculiar business lies in the contemplation of the Scriptures, & acquainting of themselves, that so they may acquaint others with the great and awful truths therein contained, must needs have some special impressions of these things made upon their hearts, and this must needs work answerably on their affections. That was it which so engaged Paul he knew the terrors of the Lord,