N00458:485
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.
7. The special relation which these bear to such, makes them peculiarly solicitous for them. They are not only related to them as their fellow reasonable Creatures, but also as God hath Commissionated them to bring the Gospel of peace unto them, and labour with them for their saving good: they are therefore tende•• ••em; they are their charge and they are […] them as so many children they have travailing pains for them, that they may be made partakers in saving Grace and brought to Christ: thus Paul argues with his Galatians, Gal. 4. 19. And who is so much grieved at the children's disaster as the mother, and therefore none will beg harder for them then show.
7. The special relation which these bear to such, makes them peculiarly sollicitious for them. They are not only related to them as their fellow reasonable Creatures, but also as God hath Commissionated them to bring the Gospel of peace unto them, and labour with them for their saving good: they are therefore tende•• ••em; they are their charge and they are 〈…〉 them as so many children they have travailing pains for them, that they may be made partakers in saving Grace and brought to Christ: thus Paul argues with his Galations, Gal. 4. 19. And who is so much grieved at the childrens disafter as the mother, and therefore none will beg harder for them then shew.
8. They must needs be exceeding loth that all the labour which they have laid out upon these should thus be lost. Gods Servants, that have obtained the grace to be faithful, have been spending themselves in solicitous endeavours after the salvation of all those that are under their watch; they have laboured with God and with them; and the joy they have looked for, hath been to see them saved: In hope of this they have been cheerful under all; and must they perish at last, and so all be thrown away? this, in this life, is exceeding bitter to them; Paul speaks it with grief,