N00458:522
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. Hence, that they may have farther opportunity, they importunately beg for the sinners reprieve. They know that if he be now cut down, he will be put wholly beyond their farther care and charge; they can then no more pray for him, nor plead with him; and if they have not done all their duty to them, it will then be too late to endeavour it: so that their request is mainly built upon this plea, let him live, raise him up this once from death, spare him a while longer, give him a farther day, that so I may use more and more industrious endeavours with him before he goes hence, than ever I have done.
2. With respect to them for whom these desires are; viz. the sinners whom they see upon the brink of ruin. As it is their love to them that makes them to ask a year more for them, so a principal motive; is, that they may try farther with them, and there are these things that come into this consideration.
2. With respect to them for whom these desires are; viz. the sinners whom they see upon the brink of ruine. As it is their love to them that makes them to ask a year more for them, so a principal motive; is, that they may try farther with them, and there are these things that come into this consideration.
•. They know that sinners are converted and made fruitful by the use of means. That this is the ordinary way in […] which God is wont ⟨p. 228⟩to dispense his grace to the souls of men: when therefore God intends to have a people to his praise, •e plants them into a vineyard; he sends the Gospel to them, and affords them his Ordinances. If God hath much people in Corinth, Paul must tarry and preach there; for the gathering of them in: if therefore those that have so long been unprofitable, be at last made to serve God, they must be continued under the Ordinances: if the fig-tree ever comes to bear fruit, it must be be let grow in the Vineyard, and be there manured.