N00458:502
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.
USE IIII.
Let this Consideration be an argument to persuade with sinners to hearken to such as these, when they speak to them from God. If they are so earnest with God to Spare you, let them then be bid welcome, when they are earnest to persuade you To Break off your Sins by Repentance; to convince you of your barrenness, and unprofitableness, and excite you to fruitfulness: one would think this should give them a welcome reception: though they come to testify against your sins, and persuade you to part with your lusts and ⟨p. 218⟩vanities and betake your selves unto God: and to this end that you may, be persuaded of these three things.
Let this Consideration be an argument to perswade with sinners to hearken to such as these, when they speak to them from God. If they are so earnest with God to Spare you, let them then be bid welcome, when they are earnest to perswade you To Break off your Sins by Repentance; to convince you of your barrenness, and unprofitableness, and excite you to fruitfulness: one would think this should give them a welcom reception: though they come to testify against your sins, and perswade you to part with your lusts and ⟨p. 218⟩vanities and betake your selves unto God: and to this end that you may, be perswaded of these three things.
1. Believe that they, know what is your concern. That they see your danger, and understand how the case stands between God and you; else they would not be so importunate with God, if they did not see evil to be threatening of you; and if they discover the tokens of Gods indignation, it is not to be slighted. God is wont to let them know what he is about to do, and to touch their heart with a deep sense of it: if therefore they tell you of an evil day nigh and accordingly warn you of the danger you are in by reason of your present state, it is not to be slighted, or made a light matter of. If they are faithful, God trusts them with his secret, and they cannot but truly declare the mind of God unto you as they find it; and it is your foy and damage too to be persuading yourselves, and suspecting them, that Baruch sets them on.