N00458:574
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. II.
This Doctrine tells us that it is no good Rule to judge of mens fidelity by their success. It is a thing which is too much practised among men; but the truth in hand will convince us how not only uncharitable, but also how ungrounded a conclusion it is, for, if men are but instruments in Gods hand, and used by him at his mere pleasure, to do what work he sees meet to do by them, and have no certainty of the efficacy of their endeavours; then, for others to say, that because there is not such fruit of their labours as ⟨p. 255⟩were to be desired, therefore they believe no• at all or are not industrious, or sincere in what they do, is a very censorious inference: that, because such a Minister brings name more souls to Christ, than such another doth, therefore this man is not so faithful or so painful as he: because this parent hath towardly & hopeful Children, & that other hath such as are rebellious, and Scandalous, therefore he is careless and negligent of them, is a conclusion which the premises will not prove. It is indeed a duty for every man to examine himself; and such events have great motive in them, to put them upon it, the more Solemnly to enquire, if such a Providence be not a punishment of such a neglect, and if they discover it, to bewail and reform it; but that is must needs be so, is contrary to the evidence of the Doctrine, and a placing of too much upon men.
This Doctrine tells us that it is no good Rule to judge of mens fidelity by their success. It is a thing which is too much practised among men; but the truth in hand will convince us how not only uncharitable, but also how ungrounded a conclusion it is, for, if men are but instruments in Gods hand, and used by him at his meer pleasure, to do what work he sees meet to do by them, and have no certainty of the efficacy of their endeavours; then, for others to say, that because there is not such fruit of their labours as