Exposition of Ezekiel 14-19, Commentary on Ezechiel · Chapter 15 – Chapter 16
CHAP. 15.
1. And the word of the Lord came unto me, ſaying.
2. Sonne of man what is the Vine tree more than any tree or than a a branch which is among the Trees of the Forreſt?
3. Shall wood be taken thereof, to doe any worke? or will men take a pinne of it to hang any Veſſel thereon?
4. Behold it is caſt into the fire for fewell, the fire devoureth both the ends of it, and the midſt of it is burnt, is it meet for any w…rke
5. Behold when it was whole it was meet for no worke: how much leſſe ſhall it be meet yet for any worke, when the fire hath devoured it and it is burned.
6. Therefore thus ſaith the Lord; God as the Vine-Tree, among the Trees of the Forreſt, which I have given to the fire for fewell, ſo will I give the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem.
7. And I will ſet my face againſt them, they ſhall goe out from one fire, and another fire ſhall devoure them, and ye ſhall know that I am the Lord, when I ſet my face againſt them.
8. And I will make the Land deſolate becauſe they have committed a treſpaſſe ſaith the Lord.
IN this ſhort chapter, under the ſimilitude of an uſeleſſe and fruitleſſe Vine-Tree, is ſet forth the condition of the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem, that is fit for nothing but the fire, and ſo are they fit only for judgement.
1. The Similitude is propounded in the 2. verſe, and illuſtrated in the 3, 4, and 5. verſes.
2. The Apodoſis and Application of it, to the men of Jeruſalem, is in the 6, 7, 8. verſes.
3. The authority of this Propheſie in the firſt verſe, And the word of the Lord came unto me ſaying. The Prophet did not form this parable or take it up from others, or by obſervation, but he had it from the Lord.
God often in Scripture cals Iſrael a Vine, and his Vinyard, Pſal. 80.8.14, 15. Iſai. 3.14, 27.2. Jer. 12.10. Ezek. 17.6. And they were a noble Vine. Jer. 2.21. A choice Vine, Iſai. 5.2. A goodly Vine. Ezek. 17.8. but becauſe it was now become a degenerate plant of a ſtrange Vine. Jer. 2.21. An emptie Vine. Hoſ. 10.1. or Brought forth wild grapes, therefore the Lord likens the Jewes here to the wood of a fruitleſſe Vine.
Wee ſhall a little ſhew you wherein the Jewes, who were the Church of God, reſembled the Vine.
1. Vines are few in reſpect of other Trees, ſo were the Jewes in reſpect of other people, Deut. 7.7. They were the feweſt of all people.
2. Vines are planted by hill ſides, by houſes, in gardens, orchards, &c. & the Jewes were planted in the choiceſt Land; Hoſ. 9.13. In a pleaſant place; In a very fruitfull hill Iſai. 5.1. The Vine was brought out of Aegypt, it was a choſen Vine, and was planted. Pſal. 80.8. but where? in a good Land. Deut. 8.7. even A Land of brookes, fountains, ſprings, valleyes, hills, in a Land flowing with milke and honey, the glory of all Lands, Ezek. 20.6. therefore cal'd A branch of his owne planting, Iſa. 60.21. Planted with his right hand, Pſal. 80.15.
3. Vines are weake, muſt have props and ſupports to uphold them, God dealt ſo by the Jewes, Deut. 1.31. In the Wildernes the Lord thy God did beare thee, as a man doth beare his Sonne, in all the way that yee went. Children are weake, and muſt be carryed in the Armes, and ſo God did carry them, Deut. 33.27. The Eternall God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlaſting Armes.
4. Fruitfull, no Tree ſo fruitfull as the Vine, Pſal. 128.3. its cal'd The fruitfull Vine, its fruitfull in branches, and fruitfull in cluſters; the Jewes were as fruitfull a Nation as any, Deut. 10.22. Thy Fathers went downe into Aegypt, with 70. perſons, and now the Lord thy God hath made thee as the Stars of Heaven for multitude; in a naturall way they were very fruitfull.
5. It ſpreads much, ſo the Jewes, who were Gods Vine, Pſal. 80.9, 10, 11. the Pſalmiſt ſaith there, of this Vine, that It filled the Land, covered the hills with its ſhaddow, ſent out her boughes unto the Sea, and her branches unto the River, and they ſpread farre.
6. Its pleaſant and delightfull, ſuch were the Jewes,1. Kings 4.25. Dwelt ſafely under their Vines. Iſai. 5.7. The Vinyard of the Lord of Hoſts is the Houſe of Iſrael, and the men of Judah his pleaſant plant, the Hebrew is, his plant of pleaſures.
7. Moſt paines required about Vines of any plants or trees; much digging, dreſſing, pruning, ſupporting, fencing is needfull; The Jewes had much paines or coſt beſtowed upon them, Iſai. 5.4. What could have been done more to my Vinyard, that I have not done in it? Other Trees are little looked after, but the Vine muſt have ſpeciall care, Joh. 1.5.2. the Husband-man obſerves every branch, the fruitfull and unfruitfull, Amos 3.2. You have I known of all the families, &c.
Verſ. 2. What is the Vine Tree more then any Tree?
The Hebrew is, foreign the wood of the Vine; ſo the Sept. foreign: ſo the French, du bois de la Vigne: the word foreign ſignifies moſtly a living Tree, as Gen. 1.11. Let the earth bring forth the fruit-Tree Pſal. 1.3. Like a Tree planted by the Rivers of waters, yet ſometimes it notes, the Trunke & body of a Tree cut downe, as in Deut. Ye ſhall ſerve gods, the worke of mens hands, wood and ſtone. Some would underſtand it here of the Vine-Tree, dead and cut downe, but that needs not, its more ſutable to Scripture, to take it for a fruitles Vine-Tree, neither dead nor cut downe, but as if dead and cut downe; and what is ſuch a Vine more then other Trees? its not only lower, weaker, more bunched, wreathed, unſightly than they, but its of leſſe uſe than any of the Trees of the Forreſt; they ſerve to make Temples, pallaces, houſes, ſhips, muſical and martiall inſtruments, and tooles, for many uſes, but for the Vine-Tree, it ſerves not for any ſuch uſe. By the interrogation, he ſets out the unuſefulneſſe of it; its ſo farre from being equall to the Trees of the Forreſt, as that its not comparable to a branch of one of thoſe Trees. Take one arme or branch of an Oake, Elme, or Aſh, it would be of more uſe to the Joyner or Carpenter, than the wood of a thouſand Vines.
Therefore it followes,
Verſ. 3. Shall wood be taken thereof to doe any worke?
This is a great derogation from the Vine, the wood of it is not fit for any worke; the wood of other Trees is fit for varietie of ſervices within doors and without, this for none. The Hebrew is, ad ſaciendum ipſum in opus, to make it into worke, its not fit to make a pinne of, which is a ſmall thing, and for ſmall uſes, as to hang a cloake, hatt, or band on; Will men take a pinne of it to hang a Veſſel thereon? no, no, they will not, they know its unfit to hang the leaſt thing on it.
Verſ. 4, Behold its caſt into the fire for fewell.
Here he ſheweth what its fitteſt for, viz, The fire, neither is it the beſt fewell for that, for the branches of Vines, cut and bound up, if they be reſerved any conſiderable time, ne quidem igni fovendo apti ſunt.
The fire devoureth both the ends of it, and the midſt of it is burnt.
The rootes and tops, namely the branches, they are only for the fire, and quickly conſum'd in it, and whereas you may think the body which is the middle part may be good for ſomwhat, its otherwiſe, the middeſt of it that you think ſtrongeſt, ſoundeſt, moſt uſefull, burnes like the reſt, and you cannot make ought of it: other Trees when the rootes and tops are burnt, their bodies are improved, to ſeverall great and good purpoſes: the Vine-Tree is wholly combuſtible matter, and only for the fire. Some referre the ends to the 10. Tribes, and thoſe carryed away under Jehoiachin, the middeſt to thoſe that remained at Jeruſalem.
Is it meet for any worke?
Hebr. is, foreign Nunquid proſperabitur, will it proſper to worke? it will breake in pieces, deceive a mans expectation, come to nought and his labour will be in vaine.
Verſ. 5. When it was whole it was meet for no worke, how much leſſe ſhall it be meet yet for any worke when the fire hath devoured it.
Sanct: thinks that their Vines at this time were much waſted, for the Caldeans had been twice there, in Jehoiakims and Jehoiachins time, and where Armies come, they ſpoyle the Countries, pull downe buildings, cut up Trees, teare the Vines in pieces, and lay the Vinyards open to waſt; they had almoſt ruin'd the metaphoricall Vine the Jewes: as therefore the Vine neither whole nor burnt, was meet for any domeſtique or State Service; ſo this Jewiſh People neither in their proſperitie or adverſitie neither before the Caldeans afflicted, them nor ſince, have been ſerviceable to God or his Church.
Verſ. 7. Set my face againſt them;
See Chapter 14. 8. Concerning theſe words.
They ſhall goe out from one fire and another fire ſhall devoure them.
By fire is meant affliction, judgements, Pſal. 66.12. We went through fire and water, and there be ſundrie reſemblances betweene them.
1. Fire is dreadfull to mens thoughts, fire of Sodome, and fire of Hell how terrible, if you ſee a ſhip on fire, &c. So judgements, afflictions are exceeding terrible to the apprehenſions of many; the Sword how ſad did it make the hearts of many before it was drawne, &c. the plague now is terrible to your thoughts.
2. Its painefull, and ſo are the judgements of God, they put a Land into travaile, Iſai. 26. when the judgements of God were abroad, what ſaith the Prophet, v. 17. Like as a woman with Child that draweth neare the time of her delivery, is in paine, and cryeth out in her pangs: ſo have wee been in thy ſight O Lord. Gods judgements breed terrible pangs, in thoſe are under them.
3. Fire inlightens the eyes, and judgements inlighten mens underſtandings, vexatio dat intellectum, Hoſ. 5.15. In their affliction they will ſeeke me early; then they will ſee the nature of their ſinnes, the danger of their lives, the great need they have of mercy, and therefore will ſeeke me early: hence it is that God ſaith ſo oft after judgements threatned, They ſhall know that I am the Lord.
4. It refines, ſo doe the judgements of the Lord, Zach. 13.9, I will bring them through the fire, and refine them as ſilver is refined. The Babyloniſh Furnace, purged out their Idolatry, Iſai. 1.25. I will turne my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy droſſe, and take away all thy Tinne. When God takes away his hand of merciemercy from a Nation, and turns his hand of judgement upon it, then he purges, &c.
5. It conſumes, and ſo doe his judgements, Pſal. 21.9. Thou ſhalt make them as a fiery Oven, in the time of thine anger, the Lord ſhall ſwollow them up in his wrath, and the fire ſhall devoure them. Famine devoured its thouſands, &c.
The ſcope of the words is, that they ſhould have judgment after judgement, if they eſcaped one, they ſhould fall into another, untill they were conſum'd.
Verſ. 8. Becauſe they have committed a treſpaſſe.
Hebrew is, foreign praevaricati ſunt praevaricationem, he meanes not one treſpaſſe only, but its a ſingular put for a plural, and is cleared by that, Chap. 14.13. If a Land ſinne againſt me by treſpaſſing grievouſly, foreign there is little difference in the words, and thoſe here might have been ſo rendred, They have treſpaſſed grievouſly.
Obſer. 1. The Miniſters of God have warrant to uſe Pararables, ſimilitudes, in their teaching of the people, God himſelfe doth it here, he brings in a parable of the Vine-Tree, and allegorizeth upon it, and the Scripture is frequent in parables and allegories. Chriſt was much in parables; they help memory, if familiar and knowne, they convince more fully then plaine ſpeeches.
2. That men are apt to glory & confide in the priviledges they have, What is the Vine-Tree more then any Tree? the Jewes becauſe they were Gods Vine, Gods people, thought themſelves better then any, then all other, that they ſhould never be cut downe and deſtroyd; what are not wee Gods Vine, his pleaſant plant? hath he not made a hedge about us, done much for us? will he pluck up the hedge and lay us waſt? No man would ever deſtroy his owne Vine, and Vinyard, and ſhall we thinke God will deale ſo by his? The Jewes doted upon their priviledges, that they were Abrahams ſeed, they had the Temple, that they were a plant of Gods planting; and its incident to moſt, to adhere to, and confide in ſome priviledges they have; but whence had they, or any, their priviledges? if they were the people of God, his Vine, the Lord choſe them, they choſe not him, he planted them, and pleaſed to call them his Vine, and Vinyard, what ever excellencie or priviledge they had, it was from his free grace and good Pleaſure, neither they nor we can merit, or purchaſe ought at the hands of God; let us not glorie in priviledges, in carnall excellencies, have any confidence in the fleſh, but remember the more priviledges we have, the ſtronger obligation is upon us, to admire free grace, and to honour the God of our mercies.
3. The Lord knowes what all Trees are, the Vine-Tree in the Vineyard, and the Trees of the Forreſt, the Cedars of Lebanon, the Oakes of Baſhan, and ſhrubs of the Wilderneſſe, he knowes the goodlineſſe or meanneſſe, the talneſſe or lowneſſe, the weakneſſe or ſtrength, the fruitfulneſſe or unfruitfulneſſe, the uſefulneſſe or unuſefulneſſe of every Tree: he knew what Trees the Jewes were, and what Trees the Gentiles were, which Tree was fit for the fire, and which fit for other ſervices; he knowes eve y mans nature, qualities, operations, uſes and ends.
4. Trees in the Forreſt and Wilderneſſe, may be of better uſe than Trees in the Orchard and Vineyard, wild Trees may exceed thoſe are planted, What is the Vine-Tree, to a branch among the Trees of the Forreſt, ſhall wood be taken thereof to doe any worke? Will it ſerve for a pinne to hang a hat on? no, other trees you may take the wood and Timber of, and imploy many wayes. The Heathens that were Trees of the Forreſt, had more good in them, than the Jewes who were his Vine; they did more ſervice to the world, they were more juſt, diligent, faithfull, bountifull, pittifull than the Jewes, they were fitter for Temple-worke than the other: and is it not ſo now? are not many Forreſt-Trees better than us Chriſtians?
5. People degenerating from the condition they were ſet in, loſe their eſteeme and favour; this people of the Jewes was a noble Vine, a choice Vine, a good Vine; but now it was become a degenerate plant of a ſtrange Vine, Jer. 2.21. I had planted thee a noble Vine, Exod. 15.17. Pſal. 44.2.wholly a right ſeed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a ſtrange Vine unto me? they were become like Sodome and Gomorrah, Iſai. 1.10. Heare the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodome, give eare unto the Law of our God ye people of Gomorrah, now their Vine was of the Vine of Sodome and of the fields of Gomorrah, now their grapes were of gall, and their cluſters were bitter, Deut. 32.32. and why ſo? Iſai. 1.4. they were a ſinfull Nation, a people laden with iniquitie, a ſeed of evill doers, children that were corrupters, they had forſaken the Lord, his Ordinances, Truths, worſhip; they had changed their glorie, and wandred after Idols, Jer. 2.11.20. they oppreſſed in the Gates, the Citie and Land were full of violence, and bloody crimes, Ezek. 7.23. and hereupon they loſt their favour with God, and eſteeme they had of him, ſo that he came to abhorre them, Pſal. 78.59. He greatly abhorred Iſrael, forſook them, delivered them into captivitie, and into the enemies hand; verſ. 61. Becauſe they degenerated ſo, God branded them with diſgraceful titles, as a Rebellious Nation, impudent children, Ezek. 2.3.4. Hypocriticall, Iſai. 10.6. Lying, Iſai. 30.9. Reprobate ſilver, Jer. 6.30. Sonnes of the ſorcereſſe, ſeed of the Adulterer, Iſai. 57.3. Soothſayers, Iſai. 2.6. Supplanters, ſlanderers, Jer. 9.4. An aſſembly of treacherous men, verſ. 2. A homeborne ſlave, Jer. 2.14. Thornes and briars, Iſai. 2.17. Naughty figs, Jer. 24.8. A Garden without water, Iſai. 1.30. Scorpions, Ezek. 2.6. A generation of Vipers, Matth. 3.7. When this Vine loſt its ſweetneſſe, it loſt the intereſt it had in the heart of God, and the more it degenerated, the more diſtaſtfull and reproachfull it became. Degeneracie from God and his wayes, is a provoking ſinne, God had done more for his people, than any people in the world, he had given them ſuch a Land, ſuch Ordinances, Lawes, priviledges, as none elſe had; and now for them to forſake God, was a grievous treſpaſſe, they violated many bands of love, they brake the covenant of their God, and did ſecretly accuſe God, as not being ſo good as he had promiſed to be unto them, therefore Mich. 6.3. O my people what have I done unto thee, and wherein have I wearied thee? teſtifie againſt me. I brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt, and redeemed thee out of the houſe of ſervants, &c.
Its good for us therefore to keepe cloſe to God, not to admit of any undervaluing or diſcouraging thoughts of God and his wayes, let not your hearts draw you back from God, Heb. 10.38. If any man draw backe, my ſoule ſhall have no pleaſure in him. Drawing back, is the way to perdition, Heb. 3.12. Take heed therefore, leaſt there be at any time, in any of you, a heart of unbeliefe, to depart from the living God: if you would be honourable and fruitfull, you muſt cleave fully to God and keep cloſe to him, and his wayes, Joh. 15.4. The Branch cannot beare fruit of it ſelfe, except it abide in the Vine, no more can yee except you abide in me.
6. That people which is fruitleſſe, and uſeleſſe is determind of God to deſtruction, The Vine Tree being barren and of no uſe, was given and caſt into the fire, and ſo ſhould the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem, for they were neither fruitfull nor uſefull.
1. Not fruitfull, Hoſ. 10.1. Iſrael is an emptie Vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himſelfe, this ſeemeth a contradiction, that Iſrael ſhould be cald an emptie Vine, and yet bring forth fruit, but it is not, the fruit was ſelviſh fruit, and that is as no fruit in Gods account, it brought forth branches, leaves, and wild grapes, but God reckon'd not theſe for fruit: their Idolatrie, ſuperſtition, oppreſſion, violence, and injuſtice, were wild grapes, their hypocriſie, formall profeſſions, carnall confidences, their faſtings and ſacrificings, were leavie things, they had no fruit unto holineſſe, and righteouſneſſe, their worſhipp was not pure, Lawes were not executed, ſo that they were unfruitfull towards God and Man.
The evill of fruitleſſeneſſe lyes in this,
1. A Vine or people that are fruitleſſe, deceive Gods expectation, Iſai. 5.4. I looked that it ſhould bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes: God had taken great paines, been at great coſt with his people, waited long for grapes, and when all came to all, there were only wild grapes, verſ. 7, I looked for judgement, but behold oppreſſion, for righteouſneſſe, but behold a cry.
2. It offends God to have ſuch Trees in his Vineyard, People that bring forth nothing but wild grapes, curſed Fruit. How grievous was it to God, that there was no juſtice in the Land, Jer. .5 11. Runne to and fro through the ſtreets of Jeruſalem, if there be any, that executeth judgement, that ſeeketh the truth, and I will pardon it. Iſai. 5.3. Judge betweene me and my Vineyard. it argues, God was troubled: though they had no good fruit, yet they had evill fruit too much, ſuch as offended, his eyes, his eares, his taſt, therefore Iſa. 1.5. I will hide mine eyes from you, yea when you make many prayers, I will not heare: and the grapes they bare, were ſowre grapes, diſtaſtfull unto the Lord.
3. Fruitleſſeneſſe is a reproach to God, who is the Husbandman of the Vineyard, as if he were not skilfull, or negligent, and did not what was fitting, to make the Vine to beare,Matth. 7.16. and therefore Iſai. 5.3, 4. Judge between me and my Vineyard, what could I have done more: I have done all is fitting, for a prudent and induſtrious Vine-dreſſer to doe, and my Vine is a reproach to me; when men till their Land, ſow it with the beſt ſeed, and it brings forth nothing but Thiſtles, Nettles, or weeds, its a reproach to the owner: if other people had had that paines taken with them, thoſe meanes and mercies beſtowed upon them which the Jewes had, they would have brought forth fruit unto repentance.
4. Fruitleſſe ones are a burthen to God, to the godly, and to the place where they grow.
1. To God who ſpeaking of this People, Iſai. 1.24. Saith, Ah I will eaſe me of mine Adverſaries, they were a mighty burthen unto him. Amos 2.13. Behold I am preſſed under you, as a cart is preſſed that it full of ſheaves.
2. To the godly; Lots righteous ſoule was vexed with the Sodomites, 2 Pet. 2.7. they were a Vine that brought forth nothing good. David ſighed and ſaid, Woe is me, &c. ſuch hinder the liberties, and ſad the Spirits of thoſe are truly good.
3. The place where they grow, Luk. 13.7. The barren fig-tree muſt be cut downe, and why? it cumbers the ground, keeps out others which might be ſet up in the place, ſucks up the moyſture and fatnes of the earth, overſhaddows and prejudiceth the plants are neare.
5. Such are ſlighted, look'd upon as worthleſſe, inconſiderable; take a Vine or Tree hath no fruit, its not regarded: its not the leaves or branches, but the fruit makes it eſteemed, its not a leavie profeſſion, but a fruitfull converſation makes people to be eſteemed. Mark. 14.3. A woman beſtowes a box of precious oyntment upon Chriſts head, ſome envyed at it, but Chriſt ſaid ſhe had wrought a good worke, and this begate ſuch an high eſteeme of her, in the heart of Chriſt, that to honour her, he ſaid, the fact ſhould never be forgotten, but where ever the Goſpell ſhould be preached in the world, that ſhe had done ſhould be ſpoken of, for a memoriall of her, verſ. 9. ſhe was a Tree bare good fruit, and was honour'd for it, but fruitleſſe Trees are not minded, not valued; take a man that doth no good, we ſay he is an idle, an emptie man.
6. Fruitleſſeneſſe declares a man to be an evill man, a Tree is knowne by its fruit, if it have good fruit its a good Tree, if ill, its an ill Tree, but what if it have no fruit? you cannot ſay, its neither good nor bad, God hath no ſuch Trees, in his garden; in that it hath no fruit, its an ill Tree; a barren Tree cannot be good; when Chriſt found no fruit upon the Tree, he dealt with it as with an evill Tree.
7. That is fruitleſſe, is neare to a curſe, Matth. 21.19. when Chriſt ſaw a fig-tree without figs, what ſaid he to it? Let no fruit grow on thee hence forward for ever, and preſently the fig-Tree withered away, Heb. 6.8. The ground that brings forth bryars and thornes, not hearbs meet for the dreſſers, is rejected and nigh unto curſing, Prov. 10.7. The name of the wicked ſhall rot, Wicked men are fruitleſſe, and God will curſe their names, Eſau, Jeroboam, Judas.
If a Vine be fruitleſſe, God will take away what he hath beſtowed, and undoe what he hath done, Iſai. 5.5. I will tell you what I will doe to my Vineyard, I will take away the hedge thereof, and it ſhall be eaten up; and break downe the wall thereof, and it ſhall be trodden downe. The hedge and wall were Gods protection, and defence of them; now becauſe the Vine had no good fruit, was an empty Vine, the Lord would preſerve them no longer, but expoſe them to ſpoyle and ruine, God made a Law concerning fruitfull Trees, that they ſhould be preſerved Deut. 20.19. and God himſelfe is careful of fruitfull Trees and Vines that bring forth good grapes, Iſai. 65.8. As the new wine is found in the cluſter, & one ſaith, deſtroy it not, for a bleſſing is in it, ſo will I doe for my Servants ſake. If Gods Trees, Vines be fruitfull, God will preſerve them, prohibit others to wrong them, Pſal. 105.15. Touch not mine annointed, and doe my Prophets no harme. Cant. 2.5. Take us the Foxes, the little Foxes that ſpoyle the Vines, for our Vines have tender grapes. When the Vines doe beare good cluſters and wine, the Lord is carefull to preſerve them, he is a hedge and wall unto them, but when they are barren, or bring forth ſowre grapes, he will protect and bleſſe no longer, he will undoe what he hath done, take away what he hath beſtowed, Matth. 21.43. The Kingdom of God ſhall be taken from you, and given to a Nation, bringing forth the fruits thereof; the Jewes had the Title to be Gods People, the Goſpell was preſented to them, both ſhould be taken away, and be beſtowed upon the Gentiles, who would bring forth the fruits thereof: ſeverall Kingdomes have ſeverall fruits, and the fruits of God Kingdome, are the fruits of the Spirit.
9. Fruitles Trees muſt be cut down or pluck'd up, Luke 3.7. Cut it downe. Matth. 3.10. Now the Axe is laid unto the root of the Tree. The Jewes were a fruitleſſe Vine-Tree, and when Chriſt came, he laid the Axe to the root, and quickly they were cut downe, and ſometimes he puls them up by the rootes, Jud. 12. Trees whoſe fruit withereth without fruit, twice dead, pluckt up by the rootes; Fruitleſſe Trees are twice dead, dead in the body and branches, and dead in the root, dead by nature, and dead by their Apoſtacie, from that Profeſſion they made, and theſe God plucks up by the roots, there ſhall nothing of them remaine.
2. They were not uſeful: as the Vine-Tree, if fruitles, it muſt be cut down, or pluckt up, it is unſerviceable for any work, to make a pinne of, other Trees when they are growing or cut downe, ſerve for divers uſes at Sea and Land, this people were come to ſuch a paſſe, as that they were unfit for any uſe, Jeremiah tels you they were like naughty Figgs, that could not be eaten, Chap. 24.8. and like the girdle he hid in the banke of Euphrates, Chap. 3.7. which was marred and profitable for nothing, you know what Chriſt ſaith of ſalt, when it hath loſt its ſavour its good for nothing, but to be caſt out and trodden under foote, Matth. 5.13. ſo the Vine-Tree when it hath loſt its fruitfulneſſe, its cluſters, and wine, with which it cheared God & man, its good for nothing but to be caſt into the fire, ſuch a Vine-Tree were the Jewes, Jer. 4.22. My people is fooliſh, they have not knowne me, they are ſottiſh Children, and they have none underſtanding, they are wiſe to doe evill, but to doe good they have no knowledge.
Let England, London looke to it, we have been the Vine and Vineyard of the Lord, he hath made a hedge and wall about us, he hath of late digged us and pruned us, he lookes for fruit, good fruit, the power of godlines, not the forme, through reformation not a halfe one, juſtice, not oppreſſion, love, not bitternes, taking off burdens, not laying them on, countenancing of the Saints, not reproaching, &c. if we be found without ſuch fruit, or having ill fruit, the Axe is ſharpening, we ſhall be cut downe, and caſt into the fire like the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem; let us now then after ſuch warnings, ſuch mercies and deliverances from the wild beaſts and Boares, bring forth fruit meet for repentance, meet for the Goſpell, meet for all that God hath done for us.
1. We have been neare cutting downe like the Fig-Tree, Luke 13.6, 7, 8, 9. A man had a Fig-Tree, planted in his Vineyard and came three yeares to ſee what fruit it had, and there was none, either no figgs, or naughty figgs, and then he ſaid to the Dreſſer cut it downe, but the dreſſer interceding, prevail'd for an other yeare. Lord let it alone this yeare alſo, if it beare fruit, well, if not, then cut it downe: ſo here, &c.
2. God hath beſtowed upon, and done great things for us, he hath taken us out of the Romiſh Aegypt, and planted us in Canaan, A Land that flowes with milke and honey; he hath given us the glorious and everlaſting Goſpell, which many other Nations have not, in it he hath given us, exceeding great and precious promiſes, with it pardon of ſinne, the ſpirit, Chriſt himſelf, all; to us Heaven is opened, we have viſions of God, dewes, ſhowrs and ſun-ſhine, to make us fruitfull; he hath done for us wonderfull things; hath he not fenced and walled us about with his protection; defending us from enemies without and within, ſo that neither Lyon nor Leopard, Boare nor Beare, Wolfe nor Fox, Jeſuites, Papiſts, Malignants, have been able to devoure us? hath he not delivered us from the greateſt dangers, moſt develliſh devices and plots, and out of many deaths? hath he not deſtroyed the Serpents and Scorpions? that ſtung us, or driven them into holes, made their Hoſts To fall, as a leafe falleth from the Vine, and as a falling Figg, from the Fig-Tree. Iſai. 34.4. Hath he not pluck'd up moſt of the Thornes and bryars that grew in his Vinyard, and remov'd the ſtones of ſtumbling out of the Eccleſiaſtick and civill Eſtate? hath he not turn'd curſes into bleſſings, wiſe counſels into fooliſh reſults, and by weak hands wrought glorious effects for us? hath he not diſappointed the expectations of our enemies, when they have been high, puzzeling the wit of Hell, non-pluſſing the powers of darkneſſe, cauſing their Deſignes to daſh out their owne braines, and to promote thoſe they were intended to ruine.
3. God bleſſes and proſpers a People that is fruitfull in good, Geneſis 49.22. Joſeph is a fruitfull bough, even a fruitfull bough by a well, whoſe branches runne over the wall, of him came two Tribes Ephraim and Manaſſes, and how did he proſper in Aegypt? to what a height and greatneſſe did he grow? he was the only man in all the Land, Gen. 41.44. Its ſaid of the man is fruitfull, that he ſhall proſper whatſoever he doth. Pſal. 1.3. Moſes exhorted the People to obedience, upon this ground, Deut. 29.9, Keepe the words of this Covenant and do them, that ye may proſper in all that ye do. When men are obedient unto the Will of God, and ſo fruitful, it pleaſes the Lord to bleſſe them; the Jewes were the terrour of Nations, whileſt they worſhiped God in his owne wayes, and executed juſtice in their Gates, 2 Cron. 32.30. Hezekiah proſpered in all his workes, he abounded in doing good, and proſpered accordingly, if you bring forth ſweet grapes and pleaſant fruit, you ſhall proſper in your families, ſhops, journeyes, worſhip, &c.
4. All Creatures are fruitfull one way or other, the earth is ſo plentifull in fruit bearing, that as it is the Mother of all living, ſo its the maintainer of them. What is there growes upon the face of the earth, which is altogether fruitleſſe, and doth not contribute ſomething to the good of man, and glory of its Creator? Clouds are the bottles of heaven, and being carryed over the quarters of the earth, they emptie there ſilver drops to enrich the earth. The heavens yeild us their light and influence, and move conſtantly to doe us ſervice; that old Servant of the world the Sunne, is not yet wearie of ſending downe her beames to warme us, and all other creatures: hath God made the heavens and earth uſefull and fruitfull for man, and all the fiſh, fowle, beaſts, birds, plants in them? and ſhall man be barren? it was a reproach for a woman in Iſrael to be ſo, and ſurely for a Chriſtian it is a great reproach to be ſo.
5. Its the appointment of the Lord Chriſt, that thoſe are his ſhould be fruitfull, John 15.16. I have choſen you and ordained you, that you ſhould goe and bring forth fruit: that they ſhould preach, pray, convert ſoules, worke miracles, plant Churches, ſet up his Kingdome, &c. and now if Chriſt hath choſen you to any places, in the Family, Citie, Church or State, he hath ordained that you ſhould bring forth fruit, he would not have a Parent fruitleſſe in the Familie, nor a Magiſtrate in the Citie.
6. Its an honour to God to be fruitfull; when a Vine is full of goodly cluſters, what a credit, what a chearing is it to the Vinedreſſer? when the ground yeilds great increaſe, its an honour to the Husbandman; when Trees are loaden with fruit, the Gardiner glories in it, come looke upon this Tree; when the Ewes beare Twins, its the Shepheards honour: and ſo when Chriſtians are fruitfull, its the honour and glorie of God, Joh. 15.8. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye heare much fruit. When Chriſtians are fruitfull, it provokes others, to praiſe the name of the Lord, Matth. 5.16. Let your light ſo ſhine before men, that they may ſee your good workes, and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven.
7. Fruitfulneſſe is delightſome to God and Man, Hoſ. 14.5, 6. God would be dew to Iſrael, he ſhould grow, his beauty ſhould be as the Olive-Tree, (the beauty of the Olive-Tree, is to be full of Olives) And his ſmell as Lebanon; Lebanon was full of ſweet Trees and fragrant flowers, and fill'd all the parts thereabouts with a ſweet ſmell: ſo ſhould Iſrael be ftuitfull, and yeild a ſweet ſavour to God in Heaven, and men on earth, Jud. 9.13. The Vine cheared God and Man with its pleaſant and ſweet ſmelling wine. God in that it was offered in the free-wil-offering, for a ſweet ſavour unto God, Numb. 15.3, 5. Man, Pſal. 104.15. Wine makes glad his heart: ſo fruitfulneſſe in Chriſtians hath a ſweet ſavour, delights Heaven and Earth. The Philippians fruitfulneſſe was An odour of a ſweet ſmell, a ſacrifice acceptable unto God, Phil. 4.18. ſo prayers and praiſe are as incenſe and muſick unto him. Pſal. 141.2. Heb. 13.15. The Corinthian bountie and fruitfullneſſe ſo delighted Paul, that he boaſted of them, 2 Cor. 9.2. The ſavour of it extended farre, and made many to glorifie God on their behalf, verſ. 13. be fruitful then that you may pleaſe delight, God and Man, and leave a good ſent behind you.
8. Its the glorie of any to be fruitfull.
9. Chriſt is comming to ſee what fruit is upon his Vine-Trees, Heb. 10.37. Yet a little while, and he that ſhall come, will come, and will not tarrie, and when he comes, if there be ill fruit, or no fruit upon them, he will not only curſe thoſe Trees, but burne thoſe Trees, for his comming will be in flames of fire, 2 Theſſ. 1.8. The Inhabitants of Jeruſalem were not ſpared becauſe Barren, and the Inhabitants of London will not be ſpared if found Barren, if you be fruitfull he will tranſplant you and you ſhall be Trees of righteouſneſſe in the Heavenly paradiſe for ever.
Obſ. 7. When Gods face is againſt a people, he will follow that people with judgement after judgement, till they be conſum'd: I will ſet my face againſt them, they ſhall goe out from one fire, and another fire ſhall devoure them. If they eſcaped the famine, the plague ſhould take hold of them, if that did not the ſword ſhould, if that faild, the wild beaſts ſhould devour them, if by them they dyed not, captivity ſhould be their ruine; when God is wrath, he hath fiery judgements for the wicked, and if he ſcorch them in one fire a little, pull them out like brands, he will throw them into another fire, if he burne them a little more in that, and pull them out againe, at laſt, he will throw them into a devouring conſuming fire; The wrath of a King is as a Meſſenger of death. Pro. 16.14. but the wrath of God is as death it ſelf, it purſues ſinners, till they are burnt to Aſhes; wicked men are apt to thinke, that when they are got out of ſome one firie affliction they are ſafe, but another is preparing for them; Nebuchadnezzar had twice before been in their Land, carryed away Jehoiakim and Jehoiachin at ſeverall times, and now he was ready to come again, and after a long ſiege, he tooke the Citie, and carryed away many to Babylon: thoſe were left, he ſet Gedaliah over them, whom Iſhmael with many other ſlew, this Iſhmael preſently after was put to flight by Johanan, who alſo going into Aegypt, contrary to the counſell of Jeremie, is ſlaine there with diverſe others by the Babylonians, as Jer. 41.42.43.44. relates.
8. The ſins of the Inhabitants brings deſolation upon a Land, I will make the Land deſolate becauſe they have committed a Treſpaſſe. Canaan was a pleaſant and fruitfull Land, a very Paradiſe, but becauſe they committed a Treſpaſſe, corrupted Gods worſhip, and oppreſſed the People, therefore God layed waſt, the Land even his own Vineyard, he pluckt away the fence, broke downe the wall, and let in thoſe wild beaſts, beares, boares, and foxes; the Babylonians who toare the Vine in peices, and rooted it wholly up, and laid all deſolate; before they came, the Land was as the Garden of Eden, but they left it a deſolate Wilderneſſe. And where the Vines grew, there were bryars and Thornes, Iſai. 7.23. yea all the Land ſhould become bryars and thornes, verſ. 24. ſo Chap. 32.13. Ʋpon the Land of my people, ſhall come up Thornes and Bryars, yea upon all the Houſes of joy, in the joyous Citie. Pſal. 107.4. The Lord tunes a fruitfull Land into barrenes, for the wickednes of them that dwell therein.
If we would therefore prevent this, let us heaken to what is ſaid, Jer. 7.5, 6. If you throughly amend your wayes and doings, if ye throughly execute judgement between a man and his Neighbour, if ye oppreſſe not the Strangers, the fatherleſſe, and the Widdowes, and ſhed not innocent blood in this place, neither walke after other Gods to your hurt, then will I cauſe them to dwell in this place.