N00458:635
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.
1. That God can be highly provoked with sinners in the visible Church. Indeed he is no where so incensed against any sinners as those that sin there: all that belong thither are not such as he hath set his heart upon: he hates sin wherever he sees it; his pure eyes cannot behold it without detestation, and it is most grievous to him where he hath used the most of means to draw men from it, ⟨p. 284⟩and where he expects holiness. The Church is a company of holy ones, by separation for God, by profession, and by external denomination; Holiness is that which God calls for, and they are devoted unto: if therefore they be otherwise, he must needs take it in ill part, and it must stir up his jealousy against them. The Scripture affords us many instances of Gods anger that hath been stirred against such as have been taken near unto him, and born the name of his people upon them, how often was God angry with Israel in the Wilderness, and in the land of Canaan? how many ways did he take to testify his displeasure against them? hence that, Jer. 11. 15. What hath my beloved to do in my house, seeing she hath wrought lewdness with many, if men in covenant with God, will live in sin, he will not bear it, nay the very Covenant threatening is out against them? and that is a witness of his Displeasure.
1. That God can be highly provoked with sinners in the visible Church. Indeed he is no where so incensed against any sinners as those that sin there: all that belong thither are not such as he hath set his heart upon: he hates sin wherever he sees it; his pure eyes cannot behold it without detestation, and it is most grievous to him where he hath used the most of means to draw men from it, ⟨p. 284⟩and where he expects holiness. The Church is a company of holy ones, by seperation for God, by profession, and by external denomination; Holiness is that which God calls for, and they are devoted unto: if therefore they be otherwise, he must needs take it in ill part, and it must stir up his jualousy against them. The Scripture affords us many instances of Gods anger that hath been stirred against such as have been taken near unto him, and born the name of his people upon them, how often was God angry with Israel in the Wilderness, and in the land of Canaan? how many ways did he take to testify his displeasure against them? hence that,