The Barren Fig Tree, Section 5 – Section 7
[Had] a Fig-tree planted in his Vineyard.
He doth not say, He planted a Fig-tree, but there Was a Fig-tree there, he Had, or found, a Fig-tree planted in his Vineyard.
The great God will not acknowledg the barren Fig-tree, or barren Professor, to be His Workmanship, or a Tree of his bringing in; only the Text saith, He Had one there. This is much like that in Matthew, Chap. 15. 13. Every Plant which my Heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Here again are Plants in his Vineyard, which God will not acknowledg to be of his planting: and he seems to suggest, that in his Vineyard are many such—Every Plant, or all those Plants, or Professors that are got into the Assembly of the Saints, or into the Profession of their Religion, without God and his Grace, shall be rooted up.
And when the King came in to see the Guests, he saw there a Man that had not on a Wedding-garment; and he said unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither, not having on a Wedding-garment? Matth. 22. 11, 12. Here is one so cunning and crafty, that he beguiled all the Guests; he got and kept in the Church, even until the King himself came in to see the Guests. But his subtilty got him nothing; it did not blind the Eyes of the King; it did not prevert the Judgment of the Righteous. Friend, how camest thou in hither? did overtake him at last, even a publick rejection; the King discovered him in the face of all there present. How camest thou in hither? My Father did not bring thee hither, I did not bring thee hither, My Spirit did not bring thee hither, thou art not of the Heavenly Father's planting, How camest thou in hither?
John 10. 1. He that cometh not in by the Door, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a Thief and a Robber. This Text also is full, and plain to our purpose; for this Man came not in by the Door, yet got into the Church, he got in by climbing; he broke in at the Windows, he got something of the Light and Glory of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in his Head; and so (hardy Wretch that he was) he presumed to croud himself among the Children. But how is this resented? what saith the King of him? Why this is his Sign, The same is a Thief and a Robber. See ye here also, if all they be owned as the planting of God, that get into his Church, or Profession of his Name.
Had a Fig tree, had one without a Wedding-garment, had a thief in his Garden, at his Wedding, in his House. These climbed up Some other way. There are many ways to get into the Church of God, and Profession of his Name, besides, and without an entring by the door.
1. There is the way of lying and dissembling, and at this gap the Gibeonites got in; Josh. 9. 3, 4, &c.
2. There is sometimes falsness amongst some Pastors, either for the sake of carnal Relations, or the like; at this hole, Tobiah the enemy of God got in; Nehem. 13. 4, 5, 6.
3. There is sometimes negligence, and too much uncircumspectness in the whole Church, thus the Uncircumcised got in; Ezek. 44. 7, 9.
4. Sometimes again, let the Church be never so circumspect, yet these have so much help from the Devil, that they beguile them all, and so get in. These are of that sort of Thieves that Paul complains of; false Brethren brought in unawares, Gal. 2. 3, 4. Jude also cries out of these, Certain Men crept in unawares, Jude 4. Crept in! What, were they so lowly! A voluntary humility, (Col. 2. 22, 23.) a neglecting of the Body, not in any humor. Oh, how seemingly self-denying are some of these creeping things, that yet are to be held, (as we shall know them) an abomination to Israel, Lev. 11. 43, 44.
But in a great House, there are not only Vessels of Gold, and of Silver, but also of Wood, and of Earth; and some to Honour, and some to Dishonour; 2 Tim. 2. 20. By these words the Apostle seems to take it for granted, that as there hath been, so there still will be, these kind of Fig-trees, these barren Professors in the house, when all Men have done what they can; Even as in a great house there, are always Vessels to Dishonour, as well as those to Honour and Glory; Vessels of Wood, and of Earth, as well as of Silver and Gold▪ So then there must be wooden Professors in the Garden of God, there must be earthy, earthen Professors in his Vineyard; but that methinks is the biting word, and some to Dishonour. That to the Romans is dreadful, (Rom. 9. 21, 22.) but this seems to go beyond it; That speaks but of the Reprobate in general, but this of such and such in particular. That speaks of their hardening but in the common way; But this, that they must be suffered to creep into the Church; There to fit themselves for their place, their own place, Act. 1. 25. the place prepared for them of this sort only. As the Lord Jesus said once of the Pharisees, These shall receive greater damnation, Luke 20. 47.
Barren Fig-tree, fruitless Professor, hast thou heard all these things? Hast thou considered that this Fig-tree is not ackdowledged of God to be his, but is denied to be of his planting, and of his bringing unto his Wedding? Dost not thou see that thou art called a Thief, and a Robber, that hast either climbed up to, or crept in at another place than the Door? Dost thou not hear, that there will be in God's House, wooden and earthly Professors, and that no place will serve to fit those for Hell, but the House, Church, the Vineyard of God! Barren Fig-tree! fruitless Christian! do not thine Ears tingle?
And [He] came and sought Fruit thereon.
When a Man hath got a Profession, and is crouded into the Church and House of God; the Question is not now, Hath he Life, hath he right Principles; but hath he Fruit, He came seeking Fruit thereon. It mattereth not who brought thee in hither, whether God or the Devil, or thine own vain-glorious Heart; But hast thou Fruit? dost thou bring forth Fruit unto God? And, let every one that nameth the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, depart from Iniquity, 2 Tim. 2. 19. He doth not say, and let every one that hath Grace, or let those that have the Spirit of God; but let every one that nameth the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, depart from Iniquity.
What do Men meddle with Religion for? Why do they call themselves by the Name of the Lord Jesus, if they have not the Grace of God, if they have not the Spirit of Christ? God therefore expecteth Fruit: What do they do in the Vineyard? Let them work, or get them out, the Vineyard must have Labourers in it: Son, go work to day in my Vine-yard, Mat. 21. 28. Wherefore, want of Grace, and want of Spirit, will not keep God from seeking Fruit; And He came and sought Fruit thereon, Luke 8. 8. He requireth that which He seemeth to have: Every Man in the Vineyard, and House of God, promiseth himself, professeth to others, and would have all Men take it for granted, that an Heavenly Principle is in him; Why then should not God seek Fruit?
As for them therefore, that will retain the Name of Christians, fearing God, and yet make no Conscience of bringing forth Fruit to him: He saith to such, Away! As for you, Go ye, serve every one his Idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me, &c. Ezek. 20. 39. Barren Fig-tree, dost thou hear? God expecteth Fruit, God calls for Fruit; yea, God will shortly come seeking Fruit on this Barren Fig-tree. Barren Fig-tree! either bear Fruit, or go out of the Vine-yard, (and yet then thy Case will be unspeakably damnable). Yea, let me add, If thou shalt neither bear Fruit, nor depart, God will take his Name out of thy Mouth, Jer. 44. 26. He will have Fruit. And I say further, If thou wilt do neither, yet God in Justice and Righteousness will still come for Fruit. And it will be in vain for thee to count this Austerity; He will reap where he hath not sowed, and gather where he hath not strewed, Matth. 25. 24, 25, 26. Barren Fig-tree, dost thou hear?
Q. What if a Man have no Grace?
A. Yes, seeing he hath a Profession.
And he came and sought Fruit [thereon].
A Church then, and a Profession, are not places where the workers of Iniquity may hide themselves, and Sins, from God. Some of old thought, that because they could cry, The Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, that therefore they were delivered, or had a Dispensation to do the Abominations which they committed; as some in our days. For, who (say they) have a right to the Creatures if not Christians, if not Professors, if not Church-Members? And from this Conclusion, let go the Reigns of their inordinate Affections after Pride, Ambition, Gluttony, pampering themselves without fear, Jude 12. daubing themselves with the Lust provoking Fashions of the Times; to walk with stretched-out Necks, naked Breasts, frizled Fore-tops, wanton Gestures, in gorgeous Apparel, mix'd with Gold and Pearl, and costly Array. I will not here make inspection into their Lives, their Carriages at Home, in their Corners, and secret Holes; But certainly; Persons thus spirited, thus principled, and thus enclined, have but empty Boughs, Boughs that want the Fruit that God expects, and that God will come down to seek.
Barren Fig-tree, thou art not licensed by thy Profession, nor by the Lord of the Vineyard, to bear these Clusters of Gomorrah▪ neither shall the Vineyard, nor thy being crowded among the Trees there, shelter thee from the sight of the Eye of God. Many make Religion their Cloak, and Christ their Stalking-horse, and by that means cover themselves, and hide their own wickedness from Men: But God seeth their Hearts, hath his print upon the heels of their feet, and pondereth all their goings: and at last, when their iniquity is found to be hateful, He will either smite them with hardness of Heart, and so leave them, or awaken them to bring forth fruit. Fruit he looks for, seeks and expects, barren Fig-Tree.
But what! Come into the Presence of God to sin. What, Come into the Presence of God to hide thy Sin, Alas Man! The Church is God's Garden, and Christ Jesus is the great Apostle and High-Priest of our Profession. What come into the House that is called by my Name▪ into the place where mine Honour dwelleth! Psal. 26. 8. where mine Eyes and Heart are continually! 1 King. 9. 3. What, come there to sin, to hide thy Sin, to cloak thy Sin! His Plants are an Orchard with pleasant Fruits, Song 4. 13, 14, 15. And every time he goeth into his Garden, it is to see the Fruits of the Valley; and to see if the Vine flourish, and if the Pomegranates bud.
Yea, saith he, He came seeking Fruit on This Fig-tree. The Church is the place of God's Delight; where he ever desires to be, there he is night and day. He is there to seek for Fruit; to seek for Fruit of all, and every Tree in the Garden. Wherefore assure thy self, O fruitless one, that thy wayes must needs be open before the Eyes of the Lord. One black sheep is soon espied, although in company with many; that is taken with the first cast of the eye; its different colour still betrays it. I say, therefore a Church and a Profession are not places where the workers of Iniquity may hide themselves from God, that seeks for Fruit; My Vine-yard, saith God, which is mine, is before me, Song. 8. 12.