The Barren Fig Tree, Section 2 – Section 4
Had a [Fig-tree.]
Although there be in God's Church that be barren and fruitless; yet, as I said, to see to, they are like the rest of the Trees, even a Fig-tree: 'Twas not an Oak, nor a Willow, nor a Thorn, nor a Bramble, but a Fig-tree. Ezek. 33. 31. They come before thee as the people cometh. Isa. 58. 2, 3, 4. They delight to know my Ways, as a Nation that did Righteousness, and forsook not the Ordinances of their God: they ask of me the Ordinances of Justice, they take delight in approaching to God; and yet but barren, fruitless, and unprofitable Professors. Judas also was one of the twelve, a Disciple, an Apostle, a Preacher, an Officer, yea, and such an one as none of the Eleven mistrusted, but preferred before themselves, each one crying out, Is it I? is it I? Mar. 14. 19. none of them, as we read of, (Joh. 6. 70.) mistrusting Judas, yet he in Christ's Eye was the barren Fig-tree, a Devil, a fruitless Professor. The foolish Virgins also went forth of the World with the other, had Lamps, and Light, and were awakened with the other; yea, had boldness to go forth when the midnight Cry was made with the other; and thought that they could have looked Christ in the Face, when he sat upon the Throne of Judgment with the other; and yet but foolish, but barren Fig-trees, but fruitless Professors: Mat. 7. 22, 23. Many, saith Christ, will say unto me in that day, this and that, and will also talk of many wonderful Works; yet, behold, he finds nothing in them, but the Fruits of Unrighteousness: they were altogether barren and fruitless Professors.
Had a Fig-tree [planted].
This word [planted] doth also reach far; it supposeth one taken out of its natural Soil, or removed from the place it grew in once; one that seemed to be called, awakened; and not only so, but by strong hand carried from the World to the Church; from Nature, to Grace; from Sin, to Godliness. Psal. 80. 8. Thou broughtest a Vine out of Egypt; thou didst cast out the Heathen and plant it. Of some of the Branches of this Vine, were there unfruitful Professors.
It must be concluded therefore, That this Professor (that remaineth notwithstanding fruitless) is, as to the view and judgment of the Church, rightly brought in thither; to wit, by Confession of Faith, of Sin, and a shew of Repentance and Regeneration, (thus false Brethren creep in unawares). All these things this word, Planted, intimateth; yea, further, that the Church is satisfied with them, consents they should abide in the Garden, and counteth them sound as the rest. But before God, in the sight of God, they are graceless Professors, barren and fruitless Fig-trees.
Therefore it is one thing to be IN the Church, or in a Profession; and another to be OF the Church, and to belong to that Kingdom, that is prepared for the Saint, that is so indeed. Otherwise, being planted, shall it prosper, shall it not utterly wither, when the East Wind toucheth it? It shall wither in the Furrows where where it grew, Ezek. 17. 10.
Had a Fig-tree planted in [his] Vineyard.
In [his] Vineyard. Hypocrites, with rotten Hearts, are not afraid to come before God in Sion. These words therefore suggest unto us, a prodigious kind of boldness and hardened Fearlessness: For what presumption higher, and what attempt more desperate, than for a Man that wanteth Grace, and the true Knowledg of God, to croud himself (in that condition) into the House, or Church of God; or to make profession of, and desire that the name of God should be called upon him?
For the Man that maketh a Profession of the Religion of Jesus Christ, that Man hath, as it were, put the Name of God upon himself, and is called and reckoned now, (how fruitless soever before God, or Men) the Man that hath to do with God, the Man that God owneth, and will stand for. This Man, I say, by his Profession suggesteth this to all that know him, to be such a Professor. Men meerly natural, I mean, Men that have not got the devilish art of Hypocrisie, are afraid to think of doing thus. And of the rest durst no Man join himself to them, but the people magnified them. Act. 5. 13. And indeed it displeaseth God, They have brought, saith he, Men uncircumcised into my Sanctuary. And again, (Isa. 1. 12.) When you come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my Courts? saith God. They have therefore learnt this boldness of none in the visible World, they only took it of the Devil; for he, and he only (with these his Disciples) attempt to present themselves in the Church before God. The Tares are the Children of the Wicked One; the Tares, that is, the Hypocrites that are Satan's Brood, the Generation of Vipers, that cannot escape the Damnation of Hell.