N00458:76
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
Sermon 2 › Doctrine 2: DOCTRINE II. ALL visible Professors are Fig-trees planted in Gods Vineyard.
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. The Fig-tree bears good and sweet fruit, thus we read, Judg. 9. 11. it is a fruit-bearing tree, and its fruit is pleasant and wholesome; it was therefore a great part of their Food in those Eastern Countries; and God expects of them that are in his Church, that they should be fruitful; he loves no barren ones there. Christ cursed the Pig-tree that had no fruit on it; and he expects that they should bear pleasant fruit, the works of Righteousness, and true Holiness; such as he himself may take pleasure in, and that may be truly comfortable to themselves, God therefore commends their Obedience by such an expression, Hos. 9. 10. I saw your Fathers as the first ripe in the Fig-tree, at her first time. Unfruitful Professors are a disgrace to their Profession; and wicked ones are worse, who bring forth such fruits as are worse than none.
2. It is a Tree very profitable to the Owner, not only because its fruit is good, but because it is wont to bring forth in great plenty: the Owner was well paid for his labour in tilling and tending of it; this is intimated ⟨p. 22⟩in Prov. 27. 18. who so keepeth the Fig-tree, shall eat the fruit thereof; and who indeed would take pains to cultivate that which will yield him no profit? God expects that Christians should be profitable in their generation, that they live to some good purpose. It is true, God is not essentially benefited, by any thing the Creature can do, all that it hath and is, it from him; but there is a great deal of honour redounds to the Name of God, his declarative Glory is exalted by the fruitfulness of Christians, John 15. 8. and the contrary is to his dishonour.