In making this Observation, I do not say, That I have made an Exposition of the Parable now before us. But I will observe, That our SAVIOUR being thus brought forth, we have here set before us, in a Parable, some of the precious Fruits, which the Church of GOD has found, in Him and from Him, who is indeed the Tree of Life. Our Lord had newly warned the Jews, That if they did not Repent, they must perish. Now, since it might be Enquired, How and why they must perish, we have here in a Parable, an Answer to that Enquiry. The Prophet Isaiah, in his well-known Song had compared the Land of the Jews unto a Vineyard. Our SAVIOUR, not without some Allusion to that S•ng of Isaiah, here compares the Church of the Jews, unto a Barren Figtree in that Vineyard. It is here foretold, That GOD would by a Roman Axe cut down the Tree, for its Unfruitfulness. However, there is Hope of the Tree; tho' it be cut down, it shall sprout again, and the Tender Branches thereof will not cease. 'Twill do so at the Resurrection of the Dead. But the Comparison may be carried on, unto more of particularity. O Man, Thou art the Tree Every Person under the Means of Grace may be compared unto a Fig-tree. The Flight which our Fallen ⟨p. 174⟩Parents presently made unto a Fig-tree for their Cover and Relief, has added unto our Claim for the Resemblance. Every Person who does not improve in PIETY under the Means of Grace, may be compared unto a Barren Fig-tree. But the Danger of such unfruitfulness! The Doom of Cutting down is passed upon the Barren Fig-tree, after an Expectation extended for Three Years to see Fruit upon it. And Intercession is made, for One Year more of Expectation. The Consequence of what shall be found upon the Expectation to be still kept for This Year also, is here declared unto us. And an awful DOCTRINE shall introduce yet a fuller Declaration of it.
In making this Observation, I do not say, That I have made an Exposition of the Parable now before us. But I will observe, That our SAVIOUR being thus brought forth, we have here set before us, in a Parable, some of the precious Fruits, which the Church of GOD has found, in Him and from Him, who is indeed the Tree of Life. Our Lord had newly warned the Jews, That if they did not Repent, they must perish. Now, since it might be Enquired, How and why they must perish, we have here in a Parable, an Answer to that Enquiry. The Prophet Isaiah, in his wellknown Song had compared the Land of the Jews unto a Vineyard. Our SAVIOUR, not without some Allusion to that S•ng of Isaiah, here compares the Chu•ch of the Jews, unto a Barren Figtree in that Vineyard. It is here foretold, That GOD would by a R•man Axe cut down the Tree, for its U•fruitfulness. However, there is Hope of the Tree; tho' it be cut down, it shall sprout again, and the Tender Branches thereof will not cease. 'Twil do so at the Resurrection of the Dead. But the Comparison may be carried on, unto more of particularity. O Man, Thou art the Tree Every Person under the Means of Grace may be compared unto a Fig-tree. The Flight which our Fallen ⟨p. 174⟩Parents presently made unto a Fig-tree for their Cover and Relief, has added unto our Claim for the Resemblance. Every Person who does not improve in PIETY under the Means of Grace, may be compared unto a Barren Fig-tree. But the Danger of such unfruitfulness! The Doom of Cutting down is passed upon the Barren Fig-tree, after an Expectation excended for Three Years to see Fruit upon it. And Intercession is made, for One Year more of Expectation. The Consequence of what shall be found upon the Expectation to be still kept for This Year also, is here declared unto us. And an awful DOCTRINE shall introduce yet a fuller Declaration of it.
