The Barren Fig Trees Doom, Sermon 13
SERMON XIII
2. I proceed to the consideration of the reason of the Vine-Dressers request; under which he obligeth himself to his farther and more endeavours with it for its help to bear; till I shall dig about it, and dung it. The two expressions here used do signifie two known pieces of Husbandry that are wont to be employed about trees, to make them to bear: They that are skilful Gardeners when they see a tree to fail in point of fruitfulness, are wont to dig about the Roots, and lay them bare for a while, and afterwards to apply dung to them, and to cover them again, as a proper expedient to attain their end by; and these Metaphors do signifie the improvement of all suitable and proper means with sinners, to bring them to Repentance, and new Obedience: Not that Gods Servants have not been doing of this before, for men are not to be judged truly faithful, that neglect to urge and press the Truths of the Word upon Sinners, and endeavors to prevail with them to come unto God, and believe in Christ: but it intimates that they will persist in it; and that this consideration quickens them to more earnestness, and diligence in it; and it may also design a more particular and personal application unto such: and herein we are made to understand,
1. What is the efficacy of the discovery of Gods Anger ready to fall upon sinners in the heart of his Servants, viz. to rouze them up to a more earnest pursuit of their work, and for that end, to desire a farther respite to be given.
2. What is the reason why God is pleased to stop the execution of his threatnings after he hath denounced them, viz. that sinners may have more endeavours, and more sedulous, used with them for their Conversion; Hence,
DOCTRINE. Gods Servants request, and he sometimes mercifully grants a reprieve to barren Professors, after solemn threatnings; that they may have farther means used with them to render them fruitful.
It is true, there is only the int…cession it self expressed in the parable, but our Saviours design is to intimate, both that there was such a delay granted, and how it was obtained, and what was the motive for the one to ask, and the other to grant; and it is determined in this. There are two things whereof a distinct account may be here enquired after?
1. What influence this reason hath into the desires of Gods servants, to make them so earnest for a year longer?
2. On what account this argument & plea of theirs prevails with God?
1. What influence this reason hath into the desires of Gods servants, to make them so earnest for a year longer?
A. It is certain that desires have their motives, and rational desires are moved rationally. Now when Christs Messengers see the eminent danger that is over the heads of sinners, and the ax of Divine vengeance ready to cut them down; as humane pity cannot but stir in them the bowels of compassion; so there is not a little in this consideration to raise these desires in them to greater measures of ardency: and that in a double respect, viz. both with respect to themselves, and referring to those for whom these desires are:
1. In regard of themselves. There is a self-interest which Gods Ministers have in this affair, which stimulates these desires in them; and we may take a brief distinct account of it in these things.
1. They are sensible of the awful charge of souls lying upon them, and the solemn account they must be called unto for them. …re is no man that is duly qualified for the work of Christ in the Gospel, who hath not his heart affected with the frequent consideration of this; who doth not often think with himself, God hath put these souls under my watch, and made it my duty to give them faithful warning from him, of their misery and danger, and the duty which is required of them; and hath enjoyned me to be instant with them, in season, and out of season: to observe their state, and case, and accommodate counsels to them accordingly, and to be very earnest with them for their good; to deal with them plainly, and to with-hold no necessary and seasonable Truth from them. They often ponder on that as spoken to them, Ezek. 3. 17, 18. Son of man, I have set thee a watchman to the House of Israel, &c. and think with themselves, I must appear ere long before the dreadful Tribunal of the great Judge, and then Jesus Christ will ask of me, what is become of those souls whom I so solemnly enjoyned thee to look after? where are those Sheep and Lambs whom I gave thee a charge to feed for me.
2. They are also in some measure acquainted with their own sinful infirmities and Temptations. God is pleased to manage his treaty with sinners about the things which concern their peace, by men of like infirmities with themselves; and he is wont to make such as he sends upon this errand to apprehend it deeply: which apprehension hath been wont to make them many times too backward in accepting the Cmomission, as judging themselves insufficient for so weighty an undertaking, and therefore we have that of Moses, Exod. 4. 13. Oh my Lord, send I pray thee by the hand of him whom thou wilt send: q. d. any rather than me; and of Isaiah, chap 6. 5. I am a man of unclean lips; of Jeremiah, chap. 1… 5. I cannot speak, for I am a child; of Paul, 2 Cor. 2. 16. who is sufficient for these things? they feel so much of a dead and insensible frame in themselves, so much want of a tender and compassinoate pity for souls, so many discouragements ready to prevail over them, to make them omit their duty, or be deficient in it, which renders them apt to be jealous of themselves, and suspicious least they should give God just provocation against them,
3. Hence when they see Gods Judgments threatning of sinners to cut them down, they reflect upon themselves and are afraid. Tho… as to their integrity, and sincere desire to he faithful, and endeavour after it; they have the witness of their consciences; yet they suspect their deceitful hearts; and now be think themselves whether they have done all that they might, and had the opportunity of doing, to have prevented this: have they chosen suitable and seasonable subjects to insist upon? have they been distinct and particular enough in their applying of them? have they spoken plain and full? have they been earnest in it? and that both in their publick Preaching, and private advice, as there hath been opportunity? and are now ready to think, i… I had been more earnest and importunate, more solemn and serious, more zealous and affectionate, such a sinner might possibly have been perswaded.
4. This fear puts them upon the resolution to be more intensly engaged in this, if God shall give them a farther opportunity. Fear of Gods displeasure at them, makes them to renew their purposes, and so in quickens them in their work. This was i… that made Paul to study the art of perswasion, to think that he as well as they to whom he Preached, must appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ, &c. 2 Cor. 5. 10, 11. they therefore draw up this resolve in themselves, that if God shall afford them more liberty to treat with such, they will be more solemn with them, tell them more plainly of their sins, and of Gods Judgments; plead harder, and entreat with more tenderness and compassion than ever: and all this to discharge the obligation lying on them, and satisfie their own consciences, and so provide for their more comfortable appearing before their Judge.
5. Hence, that they may have farther opportunity, they importunately beg for the sinners reprieve. They know that if he be now cut down, he will be put wholly beyond their farther care and charge; they can then no more pray for him, nor plead with him; and if they have not done all their duty to them, it will then be too late to endeavour it: so that their request is mainly built upon this plea, let him live, raise him up this once from death, spare him a while longer, give him a farther day, that so I may use more and more industrious endeavours with him before he goes hence, than ever I have done.
2. With respect to them for whom these desires are; viz. the sinners whom they see upon the brink of ruine. As it is their love to them that makes them to ask a year more for them, so a principal motive; is, that they may try farther with them, and there are these things that come into this consideration.
…. They know that sinners are converted and made fruitful by the use of means. That this is the ordinary way in … which God is wont to dispense his grace to the souls of men: when therefore God intends to have a people to his praise, …e plants them into a vineyard; he sends the Gospel to them, and affords them his Ordinances. If God hath much people in Corinth, Paul must tarry and preach there; for the gathering of them in: if therefore those that have so long been unprofitable, be at last made to serve God, they must be continued under the Ordinances: if the fig-tree ever comes to bear fruit, it must be be let grow in the Vineyard, and be there manured.
2. They also know that God is wont to give a blessing to his Servants industry in the use of means. Though all success depends absolutely upon God, and we cannot by all our care and endeavours bring home one soul to Jesus Christ; yet because God hath appointed the Gospel to be the instrument of Conversion and salvation; and hath required his Servants to use diligence and constancy in the dispensation of it unto men, he is therefore wont to encourage their industry, by giving good success unto it; not but that he useth his Soveraignty here, but he frequently doth so: Paul, who laboured more than all the Apostles, won more Souls unto Christ than any of them: Diligence must needs be nearest to success.
3. Hence the Sinners danger, moving their compassion, engageth them to be more industrious with them. When they see, unregen… … men, by neglecting a day of grace, to …ve provoked God to just anger, and that …ger to discover it self in the tokens of his righteous severity, their hearts are thereupon …irred in them, and they commiserate their dolefully dangerous condition, and that puts them to study what is their duty in this case, to prevent it: and because all that is in their power to do, is to be more earnest and instant in labouring with them for their good; now they shake off all their indispositions, and give themselves up to their work; they say, if I will not have this sinner to perish, I must pluck him as a brand out of the fire, I must cry aloud, and not spare him, but shew him his transgression, and plead harder than ever with him.
4. Hence they are not willing to despair but hope still concerning them. Despair of doing good, is that which e…eryates the spirits, and puts a damp upon all activity, yea makes men to cast off all endeavours: whereas on the other hand, hope oyls the wheels, warms the heart and gives activity to compassion: they are not therefore willing to think that sinners are hope…ess: though they have been careless and obstinate, yet it is possible that God may give them repentance, and they may come in at last: their ha…d heart may be softned, they may be brought to see the evil of their doings, and made to mourn for and turn from them; God can change them and means may be blessed unto them for good; they are not out of the reach of Almighty power to convert and save them.
5. This therefore makes them beg time for farther trial. They do it not with any design to aggravate the sinners guilt, though it unhappily proves so too often in the event; they would not make any mans miseries more and greater, if they could help it, but all they do in this regard, is in hope that it may be their Salvation; it is because they are not willing that these should perish: and because all their hope is in a farther probation, which only will allow unto them the opportunity of using means for their good, or unto sinners the opportunity for repentance: They do therefore seek unto God that he would grant this their request, and for that reason the vinedresser asks but one year more because it is meerly for probation that he desires it.
2. Upon what account this argument and plea of theirs prevails with God to let sinners alone a little longer?
A. We are not to suppose that mens pleadings, can alter Divine Purposes. Or make God to take up other resolutions concerning any than he hath from eternity determined in himself. But this is to be well remarked that God puts this into the hearts of his servants and he puts these arguments into their mouths, and suffers these pleadings to prevail with him to answer their requests; and he hath holy designs in all this. Now the reasons why God is willing to forbear, that he may so give his servants farther opportunity to take pains with sinners, after they have continued barren under so many means, and so much patience as hath been already afforded them, are such as these.
1. He doth it to give his Ministers the opportunity to discharge their Consciences, towards such Sinners: that so, whether these will hear or forbear they may save their own souls; and may have peace in themselves, in that they have done their duty to the utmost of their power. By this means their savour comes to be more sweet unto God, whether these be saved or perish. It is true, Gods Ministers need pardon of all their defects every day; and if God should be strict, they could not stand: But as it cannot but be their great grief to think, these and those sinners are gone, and we have not discharged our duty to them: so, on the other hand, it will afford them great inward peace, though they cannot infallibly determine, what effect it hath wrought on them for their eternal good, yet that they have been faithful, and done their utmost as instruments in this affair. We see how chearfully Paul can take his last leave of his Ephesians on this account; when he can say, Act. 20 26, 27. I am pure from the blood of all men, for I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God; and God would have the souls of his faithful servants comforted in their work.
2. God sometimes intends that some sinners shall be new-born out of time. There are some of Gods Elect, that are by his holy pleasure suffered to stand for a long while in his vineyard, and to grow worse and worse under and by all the pains and cost that have been expended upon them: yea to run up to such an height of wickedness, as to provoke him to break in upon them with his Judgments, and to threaten them with destruction; and when he hath laid them up in the irons of affliction, he then bores their ears to instruction; and so he brings them in at the last to be made the eternal monuments of his glorious Grace, and to shew his mighty power, by making them astonishing instances of his praise. Such an one was Manass…h, and Paul tells us that he was such an one too, born out of time; when therefore it is so, and such are ready to perish, he is pleased, together with putting it into the hearts of his Servants to importune him, also to let them live yet longer, that there may be an opportunity to instruct and help them to Salvation: and herein also he mightily honours his Servants, by giving them the lives of such at their request.
3. And God sometimes doth it to make his …r…th the more illustrious upon them at last in their destruction. It is an awful expression of the Apostle, Rom. 9. 22. What if God willing to shew his wrath, and make his power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath, fitted to destruction. Sinners have provoked God to destroy them; such as have enjoyed Vineyard-priviledges, even all the means of Grace, and despised them, have greatly added to this provocation: and now, what if God sees meet to let them alone, after they have greatly incensed his anger against them, that they may fill up an extraordinary measure, and thereby be made the more eminent and singular instances of his wrath in the day of his vengeance! who shall lay any thing to his charge? and though the desires of his Servants have another designed aim than this, yet if he sees meet to suffer their sincere endeavours, and more than ordinary labour which they are at with such, to turn to their more fearful account; herein he is no loser, nor shall his Messengers lose their reward.
USE. I.
This Doctrine affords us a rule of probable conjecture, what God will do with a professing people, when his judgements are upon them for their barrenness. Whether he be like to proceed in a way of anger or to suspend his wrath. All serious souls are thoughtful at such a time, what God intends to do, and would be very glad if he would shew them a token for Good; It is true, the best and most desireable token is, when his Judgements work them up to an universal repentance and reformation: that saith that God will certainly return to them, and do them good: but mean while, it is no contempt…ble presage that God will yet spare, and delay to execute all his wrath on such a people if he produce these two things in his servants.
1. If he makes them earnest and importunate with him to spare his people. When God had given that advice, Joel. 2. 17. Wee have that animadversion, made upon it, verse 18. then will the Lord be jealous for his land, and pity his people. Where there is a reall praying ministry in a place, though God may afflict, And sorely chasten such a People, for their provocations, yet there is great hope that he will not lay them walle: he must call these off, and stop their mouths before he can do that work, these, like Jacob, have power with God, and their servent prayers of faith, with which they do importunately & unweariedly follow him to hold hands; especially when that is in conjunction.
2. That he quickens them to be more solemn in their work, when they are much enlivened in their Ministry which he hath committed to them; when they do imitate Christs Mediation in both parts of it, they pray hard to God to pardon and heal his people, and they as earnestly warn and entreat sinners to repent: this speaks as if God were resolved to renew the treaty with his people, and for that reason, spirits his servants rightly for the duty incumbent on them in the management of it. Let all then that fear God, and tremble at his Judgments, pray hard to him, that he would thus pour out of his spirit upon his Ambassadors, in this the day of his sore Controversy with us: that when there are so many indications of his anger and dark clouds impending over us, in respect to the whole state of our affairs, there may be this dawn of the light of Gods countenance upon us, to encourage us to hope and believe that he will not thus leave us nor forsake us.
USE II.
This tells us that all the time that is afforded to a sinner, after some eminent deliverance is bestowed upon him, is probation time. It is an opportunity given him on very purpose, to see if he will yet at last improve the day of grace, and return to God. Such deliverances are not evidences that God is reconciled to them, and that their state is now good, because God hath heard prayers for them, and hath spared them from just now going to the pit: no, but they in their distress made promises, that if God would restore them, and give them a little more time, they would not live as before they had done: if they might have their life given them: and a few more Sabbaths and Ordinances allowed them, they would husband them better; and they who prayed with them, promised that they would dig about them, and dung them; this is the ground on which they were restored, and now they live upon trial, whether they will do so or no: and there are three things wherein this probation is to be taken notice of.
1. It gives them a new opportunity to return to God, and live to his praise. It affords, them not only farther time, but also a renewed season; it suffers them to stand still in the vineyard; it stops the ax of revenge from cutting them down; it gives them leave to go to Gods House, and there to hear his Word, and to be called upon, counselled and warned to repent; it lengthens out the day of their visitations, and holds the things of their, peace still before them: now, all the opportunities of grace which are bestowed upon men, are properly trials which God useth with them; for he will have his own glory by them in the conclusion.
2. Nay the very …eason upon which God gives them more time, is to see if they will do better now than they did before. It is upon a supposition that it will repent them after such dangers and deliverances, of their former neglects and that they will be thereby quickned to husband such an opportunity better; God saith, surely such a sinner, whom I have brought from the gates of the grave, who hath been restored to a new life, and that when he was almost beyond hope, will lead a new life; he will surely receive instruction, and hearken to the calls of the Gospel, surely he will not after this forget God, and return again to his old vain and sinful courses.
3. Hence if this be neglected the time is like to be short, The parable mentions but a year; and probations after provocations are …ot wont to be long: when Judgement is begun, God is in haste. To shew his pity, and how loth he is that sinners should perish, he will still hear a little longer: but, to shew his Holiness, he will not tarry long if the end be not answered. And there is great reason why God should now use speed, because if such eminent deliverances of his will not work on their hearts, but they out-grow, and get them over, there is little expectation that they should after that get any good by forbearance; for by this carriage of theirs they are the more desperately hardned in their sins.
USE. III.
For Exhortation to sinners; such as have had more observable sparing mercies afforded unto them: you have been brought low by your iniquity; God hath laid his hand heavy upon you; you were under a sentence of death in, your own apprehension, and the terrors of it made you afraid; you then reflected, and remembred how unprofitably you had lived, & how wofully you had despised all the means of Grace: then you earnestly called for prayers, and made a great many solemn promises; and God hath heard prayers for you, and granted you the desire of your souls and you are now escaped, and returned to his house again. Let the truth in hand urge these three lessons upon you, and put them in practice.
1. Beware of turning to your former courses again. It was our Saviours advice to one whom he had healed, Joh. 5. 14. Behold, thou ar… made whole, sin no more, lest a worse thing befal thee. If you find any temptation so to do▪ check your selves with this thought, certainly God did not deliver me for this; this will be an ill requital of the Lord for this great benefit to me; and know it, that if you do return to your vomit, after such afflictions, it had been better for you, if you had died under such …stroak of Gods hand, and been then sent down to the pit: little do you know what an aggravation this will will be to your guilt.
2. Be sure therefore now hearken to the solemn and earnest strivings with you in the Ordinances. Think when you come to the House of God again, what a mercy it is that when you were going to silence, God said return and live: now remember what it was for, viz. that you might have these means given you to invite you to Repentance, that are not afforded to them in the grave: If then he directs his Messengers to plead hard with you, and to lay your condition open before you, hearken as for your lives, for indeed it is your life; bless God that you have such another price in your hands, and be afraid of living unconverted one Sabbath more, left your hearts should grow harder again: and therefore,
3. Tremble so much as to think, that the next Judgment should come, and …ind you barren still. Remember, though you have escaped one, yet you are not secure; God hath more ways, and more Judgments to fall upon sinners by; beware of security: It is good to be often thinking, that as you are in Gods hand, so if you should by abusing this mercy of his, and living impenitent after it, stir up his indignation, and bring another visitation upon you, what little reason there will be, that you should expect another deliverance; what credit would God give to your promises, who have already so broken them with him? what aggravated provocation will be thus offered to him, to forbear no more? and what matter of horror and despair will it supply your minds withal, to think that such mercies, and such endeavours have been so lamentably despised by you.