The Barren Fig Trees Doom, Sermon 14
SERMON XIV
Verse IX.
And if it bear fruit, well; and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
3. IT follows that we proceed to consider of the issue that the Vine-Dresser comes to with his Lord about this Fig-tree: He desires but one year more to make some farther experiment upon it; and what then? why here is a double Hypothesis or Supposition that he makes about it, viz. either it will after this bear fruit, or else it will still remain barren; and upon each of these supposals he raiseth a rational inference or conclusion. We may in the first place take the Hypotheses themselves into consideration. The Vine dresser dares not to promise any thing positively, concerning the fig-tree; being uncertain what will be the return of all his labour and pains; the farthest that he can say, is, it is possible it may hear, and possibly it may not? however, if his Lord be but willing to try, he is willing to lay out his labour upon it:
Hence,
DOCTRINE. All the endeavours which are used by men for the rendring of Sinners fruitful, are uncertain as to the issue.
They that use them have no assurance that they shall obtain; they are not certain that sinners shall be converted, and made serviceable to the glory of God: they know not but that after all is done, they will remain as they were, as far from grace and holiness as ever. In prosecution of this Doctrine we may,
1. Enquire upon what grounds the evidence of this Truth is built, and
2. Resolve a doubt which is apt to be raised on this consideration.
1. In the enquiry into the grounds of the evidence of this Truth, we may take up with these conclusions.
1. That God knows who are appointed to obtain grace and salvation. We are not therefore to charge this uncertainty upon him, though men be at a loss, yet he is at none: this the Apostle vindicates, 2 Tim. …. 19. The Lord knows who are his. He not only knows them in the gross, or number; but who they are personally and individually; not only how many they are, but what are their names, and in particular: he is a chosen vessel, Acts 9. 15. and this must needs be, because his free Election is the first link in the Chain, whereof eternal glory is the last, Rom 8.29, 30. when therefore it was a time of the greatest obduration upon the Nation of the Jews, Paul satisfies himself in this, Rom. 11. 7. The Election hath obtained it; so that in this respect, here is the greatest certainty that can be, because Gods purposes are Unchangeable.
2. That the means of grace are nextly and directly appointed for the benefit of these. It was for the Redemption and Salvation of Sinners, that Jesus Christ came into the World; but for which he had never engaged in the work which he undertook: and to that end that his redeemed may be brought to participate in the good which he hath procused for them, the Gospel is promulgated, and the offers and invitations to accept of peace are made to sinners: and this is the reason why the Gospel is sent to this place, and not to that, because God hath some of his chosen ones here, whom he hath loved with an everlasting love, and whom he designs to call by these means, into the grace where by they may be saved: nor can it be said that ever the Gospel was sent unto such a place, where there were none of that number dwelling; though possibly there have bin more of them in some places than in others: it is therefore called the Gospel of Salvation.
3. Hence all these wheresoever they are, shall sooner or later be brought in by the means of Grace. There is no uncertainty in the thing it self as to the futurition of it; that shall be a truth in the winding up, Acts. 13. 43, As many as were ordained to Eternal Life, believed; these may possibly lie a great while in their sins, and abide barren under manifold essays used with them, there may be a great deal of time and cost for the present lost upon them; they may out-stand the three years of Patience, and fall into the one year of probation, before they bear an, fruit; but it is certain they shall turn to God before they dy, they shall not be cut down for their barrenness; they shall be born to God, though it be out of time.
4. But the Gospel means are sent to more than are chosen. Our Saviour more than once useth that assertion, many are called, but few are chosen, by which he doth not intend effectual vocation, for that belongs… to none but the few who are chosen, but the outward calling of the Gospel, by which men are brought into the visible Church, and are invited to come unto Christ, believing on him, to seek grace from him, whereby they may be …nabled to serve him, it is therefore such a call as men refuse to close cordially withal. Those whom God hath set his love upon, are, before their conversion, among the rest of the world, they are alike as to their natural state; and those unto whom the dispensation of the Gospel is committed, do not know how to distinguish these from others, and are therefore enjoyned to come unto such a people, and make offers of grace universally to all that hear them, Isa. 55. 1. Ho! every one that thirsteth come, Rev. 22. 17. whosoever will, let him take the waters of life freely; and Christ is by them as much offered to one as to another, and they are as seriously and solemnly invited to come in unto him; and accept of his grace; and if they refuse to entertain these offers, they will be inexcusable, and their guilt will be aggravated, Joh. 15 21.
5. We cannot know antecedently to conversion who are chosen, i. e. by any ordinary notes or signs. God did sometimes immediately reveal this to his Extraordinary Ambassadors of old, although not always: but there are no ruies given us, by which we may conclude positively that such are Elected, and thereby encourage our selves particularly to use endeavours with them that they may be called; there being no Scripture Rules on which we can proceed: and therefore such a Faith hath no foundation. There is no…ing in their good natures; for God sometimes chuseth the most rugged dispositions, when he passeth by the most ingenious; that young man, Mat. 19. bad fair, but he fell short: not by any impulse on our spirits, making us to be more earnest and sollicitous for them than others; for God may thus encourage endeavours in us, to make them thereby become the more inexcusable.
6. Men cannot convert whom they please. The new birth depends not on the wills of men Joh. …. 13. Our good will may animate us to our duty and because our love to them makes us very loth that they should perish, it will excite industry in us: and Gods end is thus accomplished by us; but our Grace cannot infuse it, though wee have never so much of it in us. What Godly Parent would lose one of his Children? What Godly Minister would lose any of his Flock? What Godly Christian would see any one of his neighbours perish if this could be? If it could be in his power to bring them home to Christ there should none of them ly out from him. Men▪ work is, in their place to endeavour this, but the efficacy of it depends upon an higher vertue; I. Cor. 3.6: I have planted, Apollos hath watered, but God gave the encrease.
7. As none but God can bless the means with success, so he doth his pleasure in it: Christ, speaking of Regeneration, tells us, Joh. 3.8. The wind blow…th where it listeth, so is every one that is born of the Spirit of God: As it is of grace, so that it may appear to be so. God takes and leaves as he sees meet, Rom. 8. 18. He hath mercy on whom he will have mercy. All the labours of his people are under the Soveraign Dispose of his hand; they may throw out the Net, but it is he who must bring the fish into it, if they take any, or else they may toil all night and catch none: nor is he obliged to do it, he is neither obliged to sinners to convert them, for it is by grace that any are saved; nor is he engaged to such as seek and endeavour it, for he can recompense their labour fully in another way, if he please to frustrate it in the thing it self.
8. There are none that know whether God will give his blessing to, or with-hold it from their utmost endeavours. If he do afford it, their labour shall be succeeded, if he restrain it, sinners will remain impenitent under all. This God hath kept as a secret with himself; and therefore all our endeavours must needs be under uncertainties, and the issue must be dubious to us. Doubtless God hath holy ends in keeping his Servants in suspense; however, they are to do their work, without any demurr. Ezekiel must deliver his Message, whether the people will hear or forbear.
2. Here is a doubt which calls for some resolution, viz. Is it not matter of great discouragement on the spirits of Godly men to labour under such uncertainties, or what is it that … animate them to their work.
A. Flesh and Blood may possibly take discouragement at it, and be ready to think, what shall I lose all my labour, and possibly, instead of bringing men to Christ, and Salvation, make them worse, and encrease their condemnation? but Grace will teach us other lessons. Here then let these few things be considered for our satisfaction in this point.
1. That there is all reason that God should have the soveraign disposal of his won gifts. That he be acknowledged to be supream, and arbitrary in his dispensing of himself to the children of men, must needs be his indisputable prerogative, who shall find fault with him for doing with his own what he will? if …e should have left all the whole race of man kind in their natural estate, and bestowed his grace upon none of them, there would have been no ground for … …ind fault with him, or lay any … to his charge; for all were forfeited, and fallen into his hands, and lyable to his revenge; if then he will give his special favours to some and not to others, and that according to his own pleasure, without acquainting us with the reason of it, it concerns not us to dispute, or make any demurr in our thoughts about it: the highest reason, and ultimate resolution of these things, which ought to set us down satisfied, is, what if God will, Rom. 9. 22.
2, That every Christian is under an indispensible duty in his place, to endeavour all that he can to promove the salvation of others. Ministers in their place, Parents in their place Governours in theirs, and neighbours in theirs: this is a general duty that influenceth every relation that men … according to the different manner … it is to be attended: and this is … lay men under strong engagements … … vour it to the utmost; considering that otherwise they will bring themselves under guilt, … not be able to answer it unto God, … …e shall call them to an account about it. For men to take any discouragement in a known duty, is to hearken to Satans temptation, and to provoke God to anger against them. Though success be a great encouragement in duty, yet that which firstly ought to engage the conscience of one that fears God, is that it is his will. Duty is our part, success is his, we may desire it, and ought to pray for it; but when we have done all, we must leave it with him, Ezek. 9. 11.
3. That this uncertainty carries motive in it to do duty to all. As we do not know that we shall prevail with them, when we have done all; but that they may continue in their impenitency; so on the other hand, we do not know but that we may be instrumental of doing them good, that which carnal reason takes discouragement from, that grace encourageth it self by. I am sure it is an argument which the spirit of God makes use of to animate us to this constancy, Eccl. 11. 6. If we did certainly know that such an one would grow worse by all, and at last perish after he had used utmost endeavours with him for his salvation, this would make us to despair, and that would quite dishearten us from doing our duty; but as long as we know not what the event shall be, we now fetch our encouragement to obey Gods Precept from the precept it self under which we are, and so commit it to the Providence of God with humble submission: as becomes us.
4. There is a great deal of Hope notwithstanding this uncertainty. Hope is the spring of action; it is that which thrusts men forward into all their business. Thus it is done in the world, and in the management of all the affairs of this life, men go upon it. The Husbandman sows in hope; the Merchant adventures his Estate to manifold perils in hope; there is no assurance in these things; all that they can say, is, if God wills it shall prosper; and they withal observe that this is the way in which the Providence of God is to be served, and unto which he is wont ordinarily to give his blessing. Now there is as good hope here: God is pleased to convert sinners by the use of means; it is the way that he hath appointed for it, it is not therefore impossible but that he may give his blessing to our endeavours, and make them to succed; nay, it is very probable, that if he makes us diligent and earnest, he doth intend to give us the desired success: the Word of God gives us as much encouragement to this, as to any thing else, and more too.
5. That if these endeavours do succeed, we are well paid for all our labour. The joy and comfort of it, will give us abundant satisfaction. If we may but save a Soul from going to the pit, if we may but win a sinner over unto Christ, and be instrumental of bri…ing him in unto him, that he may have service from him we shall never think much of any thing that we have done for the obtaining of it: All these travailing pains are now forgotten, for the joy that there is one born to Christ, who shall serve him here, and live with him for ever. If the honour of God be very dear, and the Souls of sinners very precious to us, this will be our joy. and our triumph both now, and in the day of Christs and the very hopes and forethoughts of it are enough to put life into our endeavours.
6. But supposing that we should fail in our desires and hopes on this account, we shall be no losers still. Our labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. It will indeed be our present grief and bitterness of heart, but we shall not lose our recompense. The rewards which God bestows upon his people, are not according to the success, but according to their integrity and faithful industry. If we pray for the conversion of these or those, & they be not converted, Our prayers shall return into our own bosoms, if we take pains with them and all com… to nothing as …o them, but seems to be as water spilt on the ground, yet God will not forget our labour of love, but will remember us in the day of Recompense: with this Christ comforts himself, Isa. 49. ….
USE. I.
This may serve to caution us against carnal confidence on the one hand, and despair on the other. This caution concerns all these whose business it is to endeavour the conversion of sinners unto God; these are two dangerous rocks that we must carefully steer between if we would keep a right course in this duty.
1. Beware of carnbal confidence. Let us not make too large and positive promises to ourselves with respect of our labour: let us not say and conclude, that because we find our hearts to be mightily carried out for the good of them whom we have to do withal, so as to make us unweariedly industrious with them, and to use all manner of endeavours that we are capable of; that therefore they must needs be converted, as if by our own grace or industry we were able to do it in and for them; or as if by our care we had obliged God to a necessity of doing it for us, upon our laying ourselves out; this is a carnal conclusion, and it flows from ignorance, and pride, and presumption, and it thereupon offers unto God no little provocation, to withdraw his blessing, and so to disappoint our expectation lest otherwise we should be lifted up with self-applause, and burn inodnse to our own not, and so rob him of the honour of his work.
2. And let us avoid despair of doing good▪ what-ever seeming discouragements there may be before us, what though a great deal of the pains which we have taken seems to be lost, and sinners are as far from being fruitful as ever; nay, they grow worse, and more rooted in their wicked courses; what though we have tried all the ways that we can think of with them, and all seems to do them no good, but rather hurt; yet let not this make us to cast off our endeavours, to despond and to say it is in vain for us to do any thing more, but let us say as Peter did to Christ, Luk. 5. 5. we have toiled all the …ight and taken nothing: nevertheless at thy … I will let down the net. We cannot be … that the time is past, or that this sin… … not be still turned unto God; he … it, and for ought we know he will … it may be at the next throwing out … will come into the net, and be ta…
USE. II.
This Doctrine tells us that it is no good Rule to judge of mens fidelity by their success. It is a thing which is too much practised among men; but the truth in hand will convince us how not only uncharitable, but also how ungrounded a conclusion it is, for, if men are but instruments in Gods hand, and used by him at his meer pleasure, to do what work he sees meet to do by them, and have no certainty of the efficacy of their endeavours; then, for others to say, that because there is not such fruit of their labours as were to be desired, therefore they believe no… at all or are not industrious, or sincere in what they do, is a very censorious inference: that, because such a Minister brings name more souls to Christ, than such another doth, therefore this man is not so faithful or so painful as he: because this parent hath towardly & hopeful Children, & that other hath such as are rebellious, and Scandalous, therefore he is careless and negligent of them, is a conclusion which the premises will not prove. It is indeed a duty for every man to examine himself; and such events have great motive in them, to put them upon it, the more Solemnly to enquire, if such a Providence be not a punishment of such a neglect, and if they discover it, to bewail and reform it; but that is must needs be so, is contrary to the evidence of the Doctrine, and a placing of too much upon men.
USE III.
This truth also affords us a word of warning, to beware of negligence and boasting. Both of these we are too prone to, and either of them will certainly do us damage.
1. Take heed of negligence. How many are there who indulge in themselves sloth and neglect of duty, by this very argument, Viz. that all the pains that men can take will do nothing, except God hath appointed such an one to salvation; and if he hath, then he will bring him home to himself, whether I take pains with him or no: thus are we apt to abuse the Decrees of God for the indulgence of our our own sinfulness and …loth. Nay the inference it self which is thus … is false; and savours of ignorance; … who hath appointed the end; hath … the means too; and it is accor… … Scripture to say, it this had not been … had not fallen out: yea, it is awful to consider, that sometimes God appoints our neglect to be the occasion of their perdition, when we do so neglect, what saith the Scripture? I Sam. 3. 13. I will judge his house for ever, for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not; and when it is thus, our sin is nothing the less, yea, we become Accessaries. God had appointed the sinner to perish; and yet see what God saith to the Prophet, Ezek. 3. 18. He shall die in his sins, but his blood will I require at thine hand.
2. Take heed of boasting yourselves. If God shall succeed your painful endeavours, and make you instrumental of the saving good of those that are under your charge. Beware of being lifted up in your minds and arrogating it to your selves: but let it on the other hand humble you, and lead you to admire the rich mercy of God to you: and therefore, if you see others as painful as you, not so successful, do not insult over them, or prefer your selves before them: remember all these things are under uncertainties, and are the arbitrary dispensations of Gods Providence, who blesseth when and as he sees meet. Give God the Glory then, and say with Paul, I am nothing. Know it, that if your hearts begin to be puffed up, as if by your own vertue you had done this; he can soon put a blast upon your labours, and teach you by sad experience, that it is not your rising early and sitting up late that can accomplish any thing without him.
USE IV.
This may also teach us to have a care of placing to much upon men. It is true, all the gifts, and graces, and industry, which one hath and useth more than another, is of God, and he is to be acknowledged in it: but when they are best furnished for their work, and most faithful in the discharge of it, they are men still: they are but instruments in the hand of God; and Paul useth this as an argument to discover the vanity of his Corinthians by, in saying, I am of Paul, &c. I Cor. 3. …. who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but Ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord give every man. It follows not that because such a Minister is able, p…ons and painful, that therefore he must needs convert more unto God than another that is not so furnished as he is; that because we have Parents that are Godly, and are very diligent in doing their duty for us and to us, that we must of necessity be saved: If God hath placed us under such, we have a great dea… of reason to bless him for it, for every good and prefect giving is from him: but know it, that they may do all that lies in their power, and yet you may get no good by them; and if you confide in this, it is the way to get none.
USE V.
Let it be to exhort every Christian in his place, to do his duty, and so commend it to God. I do not say but that it is good and profitable for us, yea and we ought also to do it …o observe …hat success our labours do …nd, that we may either take encouragement by the blessing of God upon them, to be the more chearful in our work, and that God may have the praise from us: or to be quickned and awakened by the unsuccessfulness of them to more diligence: But if we have no certainty here, then it calls upon us to do these two things in conjunction.
1. To be faithful in doing what God requires of us. This is our province; we then know our place, and acknowledge it, when we take the command to be our obligation, and do what we do in Obedience thereunto: when we remember that we are Gods Servants, and that it is his work which we are employed in, and he will look after it, and carry on his own ends, in and by it: the love of God must constrain us in the…e things as it did Paul, 2 Cor. 5. 14. It is for us to say, however God disposeth of things, my work is to be faithful, that I may have a clear conscience, and peace before his Tribunal.
2. To commend our labours unto God, and that, not only by a submitting of them to his Providence, without taking of his work out of his hands, which is one part of this duty; but also by earnest prayer to him, confessing that all our endeavours without him will do nothing; call upon him, and beg hard of him, that he will confirm our work, and make our way prosperous. If we are uncertain, and all depends upon him; it saith that we should pray over all that we do: pray before, that God would direct and assist us; pray after, that God would bless this Sermon, that counsel, the other reproof for their good: we may else spend and be spent, and all we can do, turn to no account; but if we can prevail with God in their behalf, and he be pleased to send forth his spirit, and give a blessing to our endeavours, then shall they be fruitful, and we shall quickly see them, of unprofitable to become profitable.