The Barren Fig Tree, Section 9
And he came and sought Fruit thereon, and found none.]
Nothing will do but Fruit: Mat. 21. 34. He looked for Grapes; when the time of Fruit drew near, he sent his Servants to the husbandmen that they might receive the Fruit of it.
Quest. But what Fruit doth God expect?
A. Good Fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth Good Fruit, is hewn do on, Mat. 7. 19. Now before the Fruit can be good the Tree must be good, for good Fruit makes not a good Tree, but a good Tree bringeth forth good Fruit; Do Men gather Grapes of Thorns, or Figs of Thistles? A Man must be good, else he can bring forth no good Fruit; he must have righteousness imputed, that he may stand good in God's sight from the curse of his Law. He must have a Principle of Righteousness in his Soul, else how should he bring forth good Fruits; and hence it is, that a Christians fruits are called, Gal. 5. 22, 23. The fruits of the Spirit, the fruits of Righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, Phil. 1. 11. The Fruits of the Spirit, therefore the Spirit must be there: the Fruits of Righteousness, therefore righteousness must first be there; but to particularize in a few things briefly.
First, God expecteth Fruit that will answer, and be worthy of the Repentance, which thou feignest thy self to have. Every one in a Profession, and that hath crouded into the Vineyard, pretendeth to Repentance; now of every such Soul, God expecteth that the Fruits of Repentance be found to attend them. Mat. 3. 8. Bring forth Fruits therefore meet for Repentance, or answerable to thy profession of the Doctrine of Repentance. Barren Fig-tree, seeing thou art a Professor, and art got into the Vineyard: thou standest before the Lord of the Vineyard, as one of the Trees of the Garden: Wherefore He looketh for Fruit from thee, as from the rest of the Trees in the Vineyard; Fruits, I say, and such as may declare thee in Heart and Life, one that hath made sound Profession of Repentance. By thy Profession thou hast said, I am sensible of the evil of Sin: Now then, live such a Life, as declares that thou art sensible of the Evil of Sin. By thy Profession thou hast said, I am sorry for my Sin: Why then, live such a life as may declare This Sorrow. By thy Profession thou hast said, I am ashamed of my Sin, Psal. 38. 18. yea, but live such a Life, that Men by that may see thy shame for Sin, Jer. 31. 19. By thy Profession thou sayest, I have turned from, left off, and am become an enemy to every appearance of evil, 1 Thess. 5. 22. Ah! but doth thy Life and Conversation declare thee to be such an one? Take heed, barren Fig-tree, lest thy Life should give thy Profession the lye. I say again, Take heed for God himself will come for Fruit; And he sought Fruit thereon.
You have some Professors, that are only Saints before Men, when they are abroad; but are Devils and Vipers at home; Saints by Profession, but Devils by Practice; Saints in Word, but Sinners in Heart and Life. These Men may have the Profession, but they want the Fruits that become Repentance.
Barren Fig-tree! Can it be imagined that those that paint themselves, did ever repent of their Pride? or that those that pursue this World, did ever repent of their Covetousness? or that those that walk with wanton eyes, did ever repent of their fleshly Lusts? Where, barren Fig-tree, is the Fruit of these Peoples Repentance? Nay, do they not rather declare to the World, that they have repented of their Profession? Their fruits look as if they had. Their Pride saith, they have repented of their Humility: Their Covetousness declareth, that they are weary of depending upon God; and doth not thy wanton actions declare, that thou abhorrest Chastity? Where is thy Fruit, Barren Fig-tree? Repentance is not only a sorrow, and a shame for, but a turning from Sin to God, Heb. 6. it is called Repentance from dead works. Hast thou that Godly Sorrow that worketh Repentance to Salvation, never to be repented of? 2 Cor. 7. 10, 11. How dost thou shew thy carefulness, and clearing of thy self; thy indignation against Sin; thy fear of offending; thy vehement desire to walk with God; thy zeal for his Name, and Glory in the World; and what revenge hast thou in thy Heart against every thought of Disobedience?
But where is the Fruit of this Repentance? Where is thy Watching, thy Fasting, thy Praying against the remainders of Corruption? Where is thy Self-abhorrence; thy blushing before God, for the Sin that is yet behind? Where is thy tenderness of the Name of God and his Waies? Where is thy Self-denial and Contentment? How dost thou shew before Men the truth of thy turning to God? Hast thou renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness? 2▪ Cor. 4. 2. Canst thou commend thy self to every Man's conscience in the sight of God?