N00458:601
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.
2. Hence the lengthening out of this day is on purpose to continue this opportunity to them: when sinners under the Gospel, though they neglect it, and hearken not to the voice of God in it, are yet spared, and the wrath of God doth not fall upon them in its weight, it is to afford them a farther trial; it is to see if it will at last repent them of their sins, and they will be persuaded to return unto God with all their hearts. Thus God interprets his patience exercised towards Jezebel her self, and chargeth it upon her as an aggravation of her guilt, that she did not so improve it, Rev. 2 22. when the sinner is cut off there is no more room for this, but whilst he is spared, there is a price continued in his hands.
2. Hence the lengthening out of this day is on purpose to continue this opportunity to them: when sinners under the Gospel, though they neglect it, and hearken not to the voice of God in it, are yet spared, and the wrath of God doth not fall upon them in its weight, it is to afford them a farther trial; it is to see if it will at last repent them of their sins, and they will be perswaded to return unto God with all their hearts. Thus God interprets his patience exercised towards Jezebel her self, and chargeth it upon her as an aggravation of her guilt, that she did not so improve it, Rev. 2 22. when the sinner is cut off there is no more room for this, but whilst he is spared, there is a price continued in his hands.
3. Hence all the Evangelical Calls that are Ministerially given to the sinner, carry the encouraging promise in them. God stirs up the hearts of his Servants to offer mercy to sinners that have been careless, to invite and excite them to Repentance, and they are to make conditional promises to them, that if ⟨p. 266⟩they do still repent and return▪ God is willing to receive them into his favour. They do not publish these earms of their own heads, but they do it by Commission; they are Ambassadors, and they have it in their Ictions thus to do,