N00458:533
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. I.
This Doctrine affords us a rule of probable conjecture, what God will do with a professing ⟨p. 234⟩people, when his judgements are upon them for their barrenness. Whether he be like to proceed in a way of anger or to suspend his wrath. All serious souls are thoughtful at such a time, what God intends to do, and would be very glad if he would show them a token for Good; It is true, the best and most desirable token is, when his Judgements work them up to an universal repentance and reformation: that saith that God will certainly return to them, and do them good: but mean while, it is no contemptible presage that God will yet spare, and delay to execute all his wrath on such a people if he produce these two things in his servants.
This Doctrine affords us a rule of probable conjecture, what God will do with a professing ⟨p. 234⟩people, when his judgements are upon them for their barrenness. Whether he be like to proceed in a way of anger or to suspend his wrath. All serious souls are thoughtful at such a time, what God intends to do, and would be very glad if he would shew them a token for Good; It is true, the best and most desireable token is, when his Judgements work them up to an universal repentance and reformation: that saith that God will certainly return to them, and do them good: but mean while, it is no contempt•ble presage that God will yet spare, and delay to execute all his wrath on such a people if he produce these two things in his servants.