N00458:638
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.
4. That God hath sixth a time how long he will wait for the sinners conversion, before he puts these threatenings of his in execution. God is pleased first to threaten before he strikes the blow: and because this is one of the courses which he useth with men to persuade them to return, he gives them time afterwards, and calls aloud to them to consider and amend: Now this is Gods long sufferance; and the duration of it depends upon his mere pleasure. But though we cannot tell how long it shall be, yet he knows for he hath appointed it in his holy purpose; ⟨p. 287⟩he tells how long the old world shall be waited on, Gen. 6. 3. thus long he will tarry no longer: he hath set every sinner a day, and his call is limited unto it: it saith, to day, while it is called to day: i. e. whilst it is a day of grace and patience; and because it is a day, it therefore hath its bounds, and will have an end; it will not continue always: God can bear a great while, but he will not do so for ever: he can, as patient as he is, be weary with forbearing, and he will so be when that day is run out.
4. That God hath sixt a time how long he will wait for the sinners conversion, before he puts these threatnings of his in execution. God is pleased first to threaten before he strikes the blow: and because this is one of the courses which he useth with men to perswade them to return, he gives them time afterwards, and calls aloud to them to consider and amend: Now this is Gods long sufferance; and the duration of it depends upon his meer pleasure. But though we cannot tell how long it shall be, yet he knows for he hath appointed it in his holy purpose; ⟨p. 287⟩he tells how long the old world shall be waited on, Gen. 6. 3. thus long he will tarry no longer: he hath set every sinner a day, and his call is limited unto it: it saith, to day, while it is called to day: i. e. whilst it is a day of grace and patience; and because it is a day, it therefore hath its bounds, and will have an end; it will not continue always: God can bear a great while, but he will not do so for ever: he can, as patient as he is, be weary with forbearing, and he will so be when that day is run out.