The Barren Fig Trees Doom, Sermon
Luke XIII. 6, 7, 8, 9.
He spake also this Parable: A certain man had a Fig-tree planted in his Vineyard, and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
Then said he to the Dresser of his Vineyard, behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig-tree and find none; cut it down why cumbereth it the ground.
And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, & dung it.
And if it bear fruit, well; and if not, then after, that thou shalt cut it down.
SERMON I.
THE Occasion of this short and pithy Parable, is declared in the beginning of the Chapter. Our Saviour had b… (Chap. 12.) Preaching a solemn Sermon in the Audience of a Multitude; and after it, some of the company make report to him, of a bloody act of Pilate upon some Galileans: he knowing their hearts, and perceiving what improvement they made of it, in censure and not in self-application; reflecting upon themselves as being warned hereby: he therefore instructs them in the proper use which was to be made of that and such other Providences as sometimes fall out tacitly reprehending them for rash Judgment, in concluding those to have been unparallel'd Sinners: giving them to understand, that in these ways of Divine Dispensation, The… Judgments of God were unsearchable, and his ways past finding out. That, though God sometimes makes some Sinners notable Examples of his awful Severity, even in this world; yet there are as bad as they, if not worse, spared in the day of his Patience; and that therefore the best use the Living can make of such Exemplary Providences, is to consider themselves, fee how much they deserved it; that it was meer Sovereignty that made others and not them the Monuments of this Severity; that this was a loud call to Repentance, and if they did not improve it to that end, though they did now escape, yet Ruine and Destruction would ere-long fall upon them: and farther to set forth the great peril they were under, he …joyns this Parable. It was therefore nextly referred to the present state of the Jer…, to shew them upon what a precipice they then stood, and what danger they then lay open to, notwithstanding the present lenity they were partaker's in. But, because What is written, is written for our Instruction. There is a profitable Improvement to be made of it by us.
One Desig… of Christ's Parables is, by cloathing Spiritual Things with Earthly Language, to accommodate them the more to Humane Understandings, and to shew the rationality of them, by resembling them to such things as among men are accounted highly rational; and so to insinuate into the Affections.
The scope of this Parable is to shew what i… the true and proper standing that men have in the Visible Church, under all the Priviledges therein conferred upon them. Men are apt to mistake themselves in this, and to grow secure, but Christ would have them to know the thing as it is. The Parable is only proposed, the Reddition is left to ou… Meditation, and is easily gathered from the occasion. The Application is nextly personal; for the design is to express the state of the Fig-tree, and not of the Vineyard.
The principal heads to which the matter of the Parable may be reduced, are these:
1. The Subject about which it is spoken; A Fig-tree which a certain man had planted in his Vineyard, verse 6.
2. The barrenness of this Fig-tree taken notice of particularly by the Owner, ibid. And he came, &c.
3. The deliberation of the Owner with the Dresser about it, verse7. in which,
1▪ His Complaint against it; these three years, &c.
2. The Advice he gives to him that Dressed it, Cut it down why cumbereth it the ground.
4. The Intercession of the Dresser for the fig-tree, verse 8, 9.
These may be spoken to in their order; and several weighty and seasonable Observations may be made upon each of them.
1. The Subject of which the Parable is spoken: A certain man had a Fig-tree planted in his Vineyard. The Spiritual meaning of these Parabolical Expressions is to be enquired after: and here; What is meant by the certain man? What by the Vineyard? What by the Fig-tree? And what by its being planted in the Vineyard?
1. By the Certain Man, is certainly intended God, being to deal with men as men, he resembleth himself to a man; and it is not limited to this or that man in particular, but expressed of any man, under such a respect; to shew that it is of universal consideration; and it is sure, that God not only challengeth a propriety in all the world as his; but more particularly in his Church, as standing under special relation to him: and therefore,
2. By the Vineyard we are to understand the Visible Church. It is not to be restrained to the Church of Gods Elect, and Effectually Called; for though his Elect do till Conversion abide unfruitful, yet all his called ones do bring forth fruit unto him; but here is a Tree in the Vineyard that bears none, and i… supposed never so to do: I know Gro…ius, to favour his Arminian notions, interprets the Vineyard to mean the World, and the Fig-tree the Nation of the Jews; but, though a particular Church, is sometimes resembled by a Plant, as a Vine, Psal. 80. and an Olive, Rom. 11. and the Members of it to so many Branches; yet the World is no where, that I know of, called in Scripture Gods Vineyard, but the Visible Church often, Isa. 5. begin. 27.
3. By the Fig-tree we are to understand particular Professors, that are related to the Visible Church; for Christ is here speaking to men personally, upon occasion of those persons who came to such untimely ends: and it is not unusual in Scripture, to express persons severally under the notion of Plants, see Psal. 52. 8.
4. By its being Planted in the Vineyard, we are to conceive, mens enjoying of the Priviledges and Benefits which are in the Visible Church, and Gods singular care expressed to them, in bestowing of these advantages on them; which, what they are, may be after considered.
I shall make some glances on this part of the Parable, it being introductory to the main Design in those things that follow.
And there are two Observations here:
DOCTRINE I. The Visible Church is Gods Vineyard.
The Spirit of God is pleased very often to use this resemblance to express it by.
The word properly signifies a place where Vines are planted and husbanded: but in the common usage of it, is extended to a plat for Vines, Figs, and Olives, all of which they were wont of old to Plant in their Vineyards. Men were used to have their Vineyards, and so hath God His; that is his Visible Church: Here two things:
1. In what respect it is resembled by a Vineyard?
2. On what account it is said to be God… Vineyard;
1. In what respect it is resembled by a Vineyard?
A. To distinguish it from the rest of the World; which is therefore compared to a Wilderness, in Opposition to the Church: and hence all those things wherein … is a difference between those two, and one is rendred in a better state than the other, are here to be considered: we may in particular referr to Isa. 5. 1, 2. where we have the principal things taken notice of, Viz.
1. A vineyard is a Select-Plat of ground taken off from that which is common, at the Choice of the owner. It is designed for a special use, and therefore the prudence and pleasure of the Owner is employed in making choice where, and on what spot he will have it, and by this Choice it is separated from his Other Land, and devoted to such an use. Thus the Church is a particular Company of men, taken from the rest of the world, at the pleasure of God, to be to him a peculiar people. Though he is Lord of all the world yet he hath not as yet pleased to extend the bounds of his Church to all, but it is planted where and as he sees meet, Christ therefore assigns it to his meer pleasure, Math. 11. 25.
2. Vineyards were wont to be planted on Fruitful Hills; so is the Church of God, Verse. 1. An Hill for it's Conspicuousness and pleasant S…ituation, being for delight as well as profit: The Visible Church is to be Visible; they are, as it were, on an Hill, Mat. 5. 14. they are not to be ashamed of their Profession, but to own it openly and before men. And a Fertile Place, fit to produce profit to the Owner, suitable for the growth of Vines, and such Plants as are to be planted in it. All places in the world, and all persons are in themselves alike capable of being spiritually fruitful; but where God plants his Church, he makes such places Fertile; and if there be any place where fruit is brought forth to his praise, it is there.
3. A Vineyard is wont to be …enced in for its preservation, and safety from damage: The barren Wilderness useth to be left open and common, for all manner of wild Beasts to range in, and feed upon; but a Vineyard is Fenced, verse 2. And as a Fence is to divide between that and the other ground, so to be a security to it, that Beasts may not come in and devour it; because so all the Industry and Cost of the Owner would be lost, and the Plants exp…d to be trodden down and wasted. Thus hath God made a Fence between his visible Church and the rest of the World; he hath set up a Wall or Hedg about it, to keep out such as are Enemies to him and his people; and carefully preserves is from mischief: this respects the special Providence of God, or that care which he takes in looking after it, in being a Wall of Fire round about it.
4. A Vineyard is wont to be planted with Select-Plants. In the Wilderness Plants grow of themselves; but in a Vineyard none are suffered, but such as are set by the Keeper at the pleasure of the Owner, and he is wont to make choice of such as are most likely and promising; and here the skill and choice of the Husbandman determines. There is a special Providence of God in bringing men into the visible Church, and giving them a Station there; he takes whom he will, and leaves whom he will; & usually in the first Plantation of Churches, there are men eminent and desirable, verse 2. He planted it with the choicest Vines, Jer. 2. 21. I planted thee a noble Vine.
5. The Husbandman is wont to use greatest care and pains in Manuring of his Vineyard: and this is exprest, verse 2. He gathered out the Stones, &c. and there are two things in it; a removing of all impediments, that would hinder the fertility of it, as throwing out stones, and weeding up such hurtful Plants, as are apt to spring up, shade the other, and eat out the heart of the Land; and the applying of all dunging digging and mending to it, that is accommodable to make it bear. Thus hath God been wont in his visible Church, to give them all helps and advantages in Ordinances & Providences to further & encourage them in Holiness, and Godly Conversation: there are no prudent courses omitted or neglected: He therefore calls them to judge in this Affair, verse 4.
6. Vineyards were wont to have Towers built in them, Verse. 2. They were in danger of being Robbed, and for that Reason they set a Watch-house in the midst of them, where they kept some or other to have inspection of the Vineyard, and secure it from Thieves: This points to Gods special Care of, and Vigilant Providence over his Church, looking after it, that it be kept from the inroads of such as would be willing to do mischief in it: thus we have Gods declaring his care in this respect, Isa. 27. 2. for this cause all such as Devour it, are said to offend, Jer. 2. 3.
7. They used also to have a Wine-Press placed in the Vineyard, Verse. 2. And the use of it was to Tread the Grapes in, and press out the juice of them, and so Prepare the Wine to be drunk; for both the Fat and the Press are Comprehended in this word. This word, [Winepress] is in Scripture used Metaphorically for Gods Judgments upon his enemies and the afflictions that he brings upon his people, and for the sufferings of Christ: Properly it was an instrument of preparing the fruit for some noble Service; and it notes to us all the helps which God affords to his People in his Church, for their faithful serving him, and making their Obedience acceptable to him: and here the Sufferings of Christ challenge the first place, without which we could not be accepted; though all other helps to both Faith and Obedience are also comprehended.
8. Vineyard is planted with a Design of the Owners Profit, All wise Agents design something in what they do: no man plants a vineyard, but he would eat and drink of the fruits of it; it is therefore with this expectation that he is at the cost and labour with it; and so God looked that his Vineyard should yield grapes, verse 2. This is spoken after the manner of men; God knows what every one will do: but it is rational to expect in the ordinary course, that a vineyard, well manured, will answer the Owners design; and why should not the visible Church do so, in respect of God, who hath been at as much expence upon them?
9. All Plants in a vineyard do not answer the Owners end and expectation. There are some that bear no fruit at all, others that degenerate, and their fruit is sower, and not fit for the use for which it was planted; although some other improvement may possibly he made of it: and all that are in the visible Church, do not answer the husbandry that hath been laid out upon them. As there are fruitless branches in a vine, so there are fruitless fig-trees in a vineyard, that do just contrary to expectation, verse 2. but this will come in an after consideration.
2. On what account the visible Church is said to be Gods Vineyard?
A. Not only on a general account, as the whole Creation is called his, but upon more special and peculiar reasons, it is to be acknowledged for his propriety, and that more especially.
1. Because he hath done all that for it where▪ by it is made a vineyard, it is all his doing; he planted, he fenced it, &c. all the cost and labour which hath been laid out upon it is his charge: God tells them that he planted them, Jer. 2. 21. and whom shall the vineyard call Master, but him who made it so? all the World lay in common, all mankind were alike by their Apostasy, and God was under no obligation to them, or necessity lying on him to extend this favour to any, or to these more than others, to bring them into such an estate as that, but he, of his good pleasure, because he had a mind to make them his people, dealt thus with them.
2. Because the visible Church, and they that are in it, are by Profession devoted to him. There is an outward Sanctification, or Consecration of them to the Service of God: They do by Covenant, declare that they are none of their own but his. This properly belongs to the Profession of Christians, and they that deny it, deny themselves to be such: they say they are Gods propriety, and have given themselves up to him and his Service. Every time they renew their Covenant, they anew assert it: this is their plea with God in trouble, Jer. 14. 9. We are called by thy Name.
3. Because he expects more Service and glory from these than from other men, He will be glorified in all men; but he looks that these should glorifie him: he requires it, waits for it, and will be very angry at them if they do not pay it him. He reckons that all which he hath done for them more than others, should engage them to love him more than they do, and to endeavour to bring forth much fruit, whereby he may be glorified, Joh. 15. 8. and if they fall short here, they frustrate these expectations, i. e. they come behind of what in reason was to have been expected of them.
4. Because all the profit of the vineyard belongs to him. Who is the Owner but he who receives the Rent of the vineyard; or he unto whom it is in Justice due? It is true, God is not profited as to his eternal glory, by the best Services of any of his Creatures; but his Declarative Glory is in this way advanced, his Church therefore are peculiarly said to be to him for a name, and for a praise, Jer. 13. 17.
USE I.
For Information: Learn hence;
1. That God is to be acknowledged in all the benefits which his Church partakes in. All that they are or have more or better than the World, they owe it to him. His Vineyard lay open till he fenced it off, and had done so still, if he had not done it: are any place or people made to enjoy the Gospel and means of Grace? they are of Gods providing and bestowing; and that these are preserved to them in despight of all the malice of Satan, and rage of ungodly men, is because God is concerned for and looks after this Vineyard of his … yea, that there is a visible Church at this day in the World, and it is not long ago extinct, no thank to the enemy, nor to the people of God themselves, but to him; they may sing after the Psalmist, Psal. 124. begin. Had not the Lord been on our side, &c. nor is it any deserving of theirs, who have often provoked him to lay them open; but only because they are his, and it hath pleased him to make them his people, 1 Sam. 12. 22.
2. That God is to be seen and adored in all the Tribulations that come upon his Church at any time. Is it his vineyard? then certainly there can be no breach made in its hedge, no beast of prey get into it to devour, nor inroads be made upon it, but by his permission, and over-ruling Hand; and when it is so, it is a witness of his displeasure; it faith there is some fault that he finds with it, that it doth not answer his expectation; that its returns have not been according to the improvement: they are therefore to look beyond instruments; yea his Church do acknowledge his anger in it, Psal. 80. 18. and this tells us what is the duty incumbent on the people of God, when at any time it is so, viz. to fall down penitently before him, to confess our unfruitfulness, and beg his mercy, and amendment of us; and in this way to wait for his return again to his vineyard.
3. How dangerous it is for any to go about to harm the Church. All the damage, mischief, st…oy that is done to the vineyard falls upon the Owner; he looks upon himself as touched in it, and thereupon concerned to sue for reparation: God accounts that they who touch his people, touch the apple of his eye, and therefore when they suffer, they can plead, it is for thy sake, Psal. 44. 21. and thereupon they can argue, arise, plead thine own cause, Psal. 74. 22. needs then it must be a daring and dangerous attempt for any to set themselves to pluck down the hedges, or bark the trees, or hurt the Vines; they resist God, and who ever resisted him and prospered? and this may help the patience of Gods people, and tell them what reason there is, why they should quietly and confidently commit all such things to him, knowing assuredly that he will find a time to right them, because his own glory is therein concerned.
4. That nothing is to be done in the visible Church without Gods Direction. If it be his vineyard; of his planting, ordering, disposing, who then shall dare to alter, or add to his pleasure about it? The Owner indeed may set Watchmen to guard, and Husbandmen to dress his Vineyard; but they must wait his advise and order in the management of it: and for them to add, alter, take away, without consulting him, much more against his direct Command, is audaciousness, and highly provoking; and if the Church be Gods Vineyard, we are sure that he hath stated it, put all the Plants in their Order and Method; for men then to displace, bring an Order into his Church, that never entred into his heart, and remove that which he hath established, is high contempt.
USE II.
For Exhortation, these few Lessons may be here Learnt:
1. Are we Gods Vineyard? labour we then to bring forth our fruits unto God. It is the complaint which he makes of Israel, Hos. 10. I. He is an empty vine, he brings forth fruit to himself. It is the Apostles demand, 1 Cor. 9. 7. Who planteth a Vineyard, and eateth not the fruit? Shall God be at all the Charge he hath laid out upon us, and shall he not have our fruits paid to him? shall we seek our selves, and our carnal interests, and neglect to glorifie God? God forbid! The great study and care lying upon us is to be always enquiring, how we may do most for God; how we may so live as he may have honour by us; and then we live as those that are not our own, but a… bought with a price. Then indeed we answer our end, when we bring honour to him, …. 43. 21.
2. Let us go to him for all the Manuring that we need at any time. Do we find Grace at a stay among us, and our fruitfulness impeded? it is his work to purge us that we may bring forth more fruit, Joh. 15. 2. Do our hearts grow hard? beg of him to dig them up again and make them mellow: are we barren? seek of him to mend us: do we find the briars and thorns of carnal lusts growing up, and beginning to stunt the graces of his Spirit in us? ask him to stub them up… and let us chearfully submit to his Husbandry in all these things.
… I Let this put us upon it the more to lament the degeneracy of the visible Church. Is that Gods Vineyard? and is all the rest of the World a Wilderness? and doth that begin to look like a Wilderness too? are there growing in it, instead of Plants of renown, the degenerate Plants of a strange vine? doth it bring forth instead of grapes, wild Grapes? it should deeply affect our hearts when we take notice of this, to think, this is God's Vineyard, and therefore how much of dishonour is there hereby brought to his Holy Name? these are they from whom alone he expects fruit, and do they answer his ends so little? let it be for a Lamentation.
4. Let us … him, and call earnestly for his help, when at any time the Church is under Oppression. Who should be acquainted with the damages done to the Vineyard, but the Owner? and let this be our great encouragement to pray hard, and to pray believingly in times of Calamity, to consider that we can go to God and say, thy Church, thy Chosen, thy Beloved are in distress▪ Thy Vineyard is laid wa…s. God hath given us this hold of faith to fasten on; and let us make the best improvement of it in the most cloudy and dark days of Affliction, because he who hath chosen Zion, will not forsake her.