The Figless Fig Tree, Table of contents – Table
A Summary of all the Principal Doctrines, Collected and Illuſtrated from the ſeveral Verſes of the Fruitleſs Figg-Tree, Luke 13.6, 7, 8, 9.
Verſe 6. HE ſpake alſo this Parable: A certain man had a Figg-Tree planted in his Vineyard, and he came and ſought fruit thereon, and found none.
Doct. 1. The word ſpoke by the mouth of God's Miniſters, is no leſſe to be eſteemed the word of God, than that which was ſpoken by Chriſt immediately. Page 9
Doct. 2. Weighty matters ſhould be preſſed and inſiſted on. Page 11
Doct. 3. Repentance is a difficult, yet a neceſſary work. Page 17
Doct. 4. Chriſt was no ſilent Miniſter of his Church. Page 18
Doct. 5. Chriſt ſpake Parables. Page 26
Doct. 6. God is reſembled to Man in Scripture. Page 37
Doct. 7. He takes upon him the Profeſſion of an Husbandman. Page 40
Doct. 8. The Church is a Spiritual Vineyard. Page 44
Doct. 9. The Church of Chriſt is but one. Page 58
Doct. 10. It is the peculiar Inheritance of the Lord. Page 68
Doct. 11. Man is a Tree Myſtically. Page 71
Doct. 12. Thoſe Trees wherewith God furniſheth his Vineyard are of a Fruitful kind. Page 80
Doct. 13. Thoſe Trees which God expects Fruit from, are planted Trees. Page 84
Doct. 14. The Church is God's Nurſery. Page 89
Doct. 15. Viſiting follows Planting. Page 102
Doct. 16. Fruit is expected from every Figg-Tree that God hath planted in his Vineyard. Page 105
Doct. 17. Where God hath well deſerved, there many times he is ill requited. Page 127
Verſe 7. Then ſaid he unto the Dreſſer of his Vineyard; Behold, theſe three years I come, ſeeking Fruit on this Figg-Tree, and find none: Cut it down, Why cumbreth it the Ground?
Doct. 1. The Miniſters of the Word and Sacraments, are the Dreſſers of the Lords Vineyard. Page 153
Doct. 2. The Dreſſers of God's Vineyard ſhould be as one, in their Maſter's work. Page 171
Doct. 3. God makes known his mind unto his Miniſters, and acquaints them in a Familiar manner with his intents and purpoſes. Page 194
Doct. 4. Great attention and regard is to be given to matters weighty. Page 203
Doct. 5. Sin may not be looked upon with a regardleſſe eye; or, God's complaints are not to be ſleighted or paſt over, regardleſly. Page 206
Doct. 6. Barrenneſſe in a Figg-Tree is fault enough. Page 210
Doct. 7. Circumſtances of ſin, give Aggravations to it. Page 218
Doct. 8. God alloweth and allotteth to every Figg-Tree, growing in his Vineyard, a due proportion of time for the bringing forth of Fruit. Page 221
Doct. 9. Time allotted (for bearing fruit) neglected, aggravates the fault. The longer Time the greater Crime. Page 224
Doct. 10. To ſin againſt the means, addeth weight unto the ſin, and is moſt provoking. Page 249
Doct. 11. It is God's uſual manuer to Speak before he Strikes, to pronounce Judgment before he Executes it. Page 261
12. Abſciſſion and cutting down, is the Doom of an Hypocritical and Barren Profeſſor. Page 282
13. No outward Priviledge can ſecure a ſinfull People from the ſtroak of Vengeance. Page 300
14. God's ſevereſt Judgments have alwayes moſt equitable reaſons. Page 304
15. Barren Profeſſors are Cumberſome. Page 313
Verſe 8. And he anſwering ſayd unto him, Lord, let it alone this year alſo, till I ſhall Digg about it and Dung it.
Doct. 1. When God falls to complaining and threatning, it is high time, for ſuch as have any Intereſt in God, to fall to praying. Page 326
Doct. 2. When God is offended, Chriſt ſteps in and mediates, and puts a ſtop to the preſent proceedings of Juſtice. Page 334
Doct. 3. Faithful Miniſters may not be wanting (neither are they wanting) in interceding and praying unto God in the behalf of that unprofitable People which is committed to their charge. Page 342
Doct. 4. Reverend Styles and Names ſhould be given to our Superiours. Page 361
Doct. 5. The Lord of the Vineyard is Lord Paramount. Page 362
Doct. 6. The Lord alone is to be ſought unto, in our prayers, and by our prayers. Page 366
Doct. 7. It is as great a favour as can be expected or deſired, for a ſinner to be a while-longer ſpared: Or, To be let alone or ſpared a while longer, is as great a mercy as can be deſired on a Sinner's behalf. Page 370
Doct. 8. God's Patience hath a Period. Page 380
Doct. 9. Faithful Miniſters ſeek not themſelves, but the good of thoſe committed to their Charge. Page 383
Doct. 10. Good Miniſters are great pains-takers. Page 386
Doct. 11. Digging is one part of the Miniſterial Function. Page 409
Doct. 12. God's Miniſters are to Dung as well as Digg. Page 420
Verſe 9. And if it bear fruit, well; and if not, then after that thou ſhalt cut it down.
Doct. 1. A faithful Miniſter cannot but be deeply affected with grief, in the behalf of ſuch as remain unfruitful under his Miniſterial Labours. Page 427
Doct. 2. Where the Dreſſer's diligence accompanies the Owner's patience, there is hope even of the moſt barren Tree. Page 430
Doct. 3. All will be well if we bear Fruit, though it be late firſt; Fruitfulneſs at laſt will make amends for all. Page 436
Doct. 4. Barrenneſſe may be found under the beſt and powerfulleſt means. Page 443
Doct. 5. The Dreſſers of God's Vineyard ſhould be enclined to acts of Mercy, and not too forward in provoking God to acts of Juſtice. Page 456
Doct. 6. By frequent prayer God is ſo overpowred, as that he cannot preſently deſtroy. Page 459
Doct. 7. Whatever be the Inſtrument, or who ever be the Agent: God is the principal Efficient of thoſe Judgments which befall a People. Page 469
Doct. 8. Greateſt ſeverity attends upon deſpiſed Mercy. Page 483
Doct. 9. We are to reſt ſatisfied and contented in the juſt and deſerved condemnation of the wicked; albeit, they are dearly beloved of us. Page 491
Reader,
THis ſame Author Mr. Nehemiah Rogers, hath lately printed, An Expoſition on that Parable, Luke 11.5,—11. Which of you ſhall have a Friend, and ſhall go unto him at Mid-Night, &c.
Alſo on that Parable, Luke 7.40,—51. There was a certain Creditor, which had two Debtors, &c.
Alſo on that Parable, Luke 10.30,—38. A certain man went down from Jeruſalem to Jericho, and fell amongſt Theeves, &c.
All to be ſold by George Sawbridge, at the Bible on Lud-gate-Hill.
The Analyticall Table. Shewing the Method Obſerved and Followed (for the moſt part), in this Expoſition of the Parable of the Figg-leſs Figg-Tree, Luk. 13.6,—10.
…his Pa…e we …e conſi…ble,
The Preface, verſ. 6. He ſpake alſo this Parable: where
The Reference in that Particle [Alſo]
The Inſtruction [He ſpake this Parable] notifying
The Doctor [He ſpake]
The Doctrin [This Parable]
The Parable which is
Propounded, verſ. 6. A certain man, &c. where
The Subject, and there is ſhewed
The Owner,
Who he was [A certain man].
What he was [A Vinitor or Husbandman].
His Poſſeſſion, where
The Nature of the Inheritance [A Vineyard], where take notice,
Of the Unity of it, It was but [One],
Of His Propriety in it, It was [His Own].
The Plant of note, therein growing, … ſet forth
For Kind.
Generically [A Tree,]
Specifically [A Figg-Tree].
For Quality, ſhewing
It's Plantation it was [Planted],
Its Scituation [In his Vineyard.]
The Praedicate, He came and ſought fruit, &c. where
The Owners Viſitation of it [he came]
His Expectation from it, He ſought, fruit, &c. where
The Owner's gratious Acquiſition [He ſought fruit thereon]
The Figg-Tree's unthankful Retribution [He found none],
Proſecuted, verſ. 7, 8, 9. where we have
An Expoſtulation about it, verſ. 7. where
The Perſons Conſiderable in it,
Expoſtulating [Then ſayd He]
Expoſtulated-with, [The Dreſſer of his Vineyard]
The Subſtance of it; Behold, theſe three years, &c. which contains in it,
A ſad Complaint, and there conſider we
The manner of it [Behold] calling for
Attention.
Obſervation.
The matter [theſe 3 years], &c. where is ſhewed
The Grievance, which was Sterility and Barrenneſs.
The Aggravations
From the time ſpecified [three years]
From the coſt beſtowed intimated, in theſe words [This Figg-Tree.]
A ſevere ſentence cut it down, &c. where
The Object, [It]
The Doom [cut it down why Cumbers it, &c. and there
The Severity of the Sentence [Cut it down]
The Equity of it [Why Cumbers it the Ground?]
The Interceſſion made for it, verſ. 8.9. And there
The Perſons
Interceding [He ſayd.]
Interceded [Lord.]
The Requeſt, Let it alone this year alſo, &c. where
The Boon or thing requeſted, which is
Specified [Let it alone],
From the Circumſtance of Time [This year alſo].
From the End [till I ſhall Digg about it and Dung it.]
Enlarged, and that
The Terms on which the Requeſt is made, and that
On the Dreſſer's part, he would take pains with it; and
Digg about it,
Dung it.
On the Figg-Trees behalf, which hath two Branches:
1. Affirmative, If it bear fruit, Well; where
A Suppoſition [If it bear fruit,]
A Determination [well].
2. Negative, If not, then after that, &c. and there
An Addubitation or Suſpition [If not],
A Conceſſion [After that, thou ſhalt cut it down.]