N00458:88
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.
3. That Gods Providence orders it that this Gospel shall be Preached there where his Elect are seated. If he hath any of his Chosen in such a place, he takes care that the means of Salvation shall be brought unto them, because this is the way that he hath designed their Salvation by. That the spreading of the Gospel in the world, and its coming to one place, and not to another, is under the peculiar conduct of Gods Sovereignty, is clear from Scripture, see Acts 16. 6, 7. Now, because his Elect must be called, in order to their being saved, and the Gospel is the ordinary Medium of Conversion, he having put this honour upon it; he therefore Commissions it unto them, and his over-ruling ⟨p. 27⟩hand causeth them to enjoy it▪
3. That Gods Providence orders it that this Gospel shall be Preached there where his Elect are seated. If he hath any of his Chosen in such a place, he takes care that the means of Salvation shall be brought unto them, because this is the way that he hath designed their Salvation by. That the spreading of the Gospel in the world, and its coming to one place, and not to another, is under the peculiar conduct of Gods Soveraignty, is clear from Scripture, see Acts 16. 6, 7. Now, because his Elect must be called, in order to their being saved, and the Gospel is the ordinary Medium of Conversion, he having put this honour upon it; he therefore Commissions it unto them, and his over-ruling ⟨p. 27⟩hand causeth them to enjoy it▪
4. That the Gospel, when it comes, is not Preached to these only, but to many others. God is pleased to make use of the Ministry of men, in the dispensation of his Gospel; and he doth not tell them, (how then should they know?) who in particular belong to the Election of his Grace; but he hath bidden them to Preach it to every Creature,