The Barren Fig Trees Doom, Sermon 6
SERMON VI
Verse 7.
Then said be unto the Dresser of his Vineyard; behold, these three years I come seeking fruit of this figtree, and find none, cut it down, why cambreth it the ground.
III WE now proceed to consider the deliberation of the Owner of the Vineyard with the dresser of it; in which there are two things.
1. The complaint which he makes against this Particular fig-tree.
2. The advice which he gives to him about it.
The Person spoken to is called the Dresser of the Vineyard. Men were wont often to keep their Gardeners, to look after their vines and fruit-trees, that were skilled in that sort of Husbandry: and this cannot be meant of God, whom else-where Christ calleth The Husbandman, Joh. 15. 1. for it hath been already observed that he is intended by the Owner. Some apply this to Christ, unto whom there is given a Mediatorial Dispensation of all affairs that concern his Church: but I rather suppose that it aims at the Ministry of the Gospel, whom it is certain that Jesus Christ, who is the Lord and Planter of this vineyard, employs in the manuring of his visible Church: they are therefore said to be Pl…nters and W…erers, I Cor. 3, 6. and to be La…onrers together with God, chap. 4. 1.
Before I proceed to the consideration of the deliberation it self, give me leave to make a few brief glancing remarks, upon the person deliberated withal, viz the Dresser of the vineyard. And here we may observe;
1. The dignity which Christ puts upon his Ministry, and the trust which he puts in them. It is a great honour that is done unto men to put them into places of trust. God hath a singular respect to, and care which he takes of his Church; to betrust any then with the office of looking after and dressing of this Vineyard, argues a great deal of confidence that he puts in them, and honour that he confers upon them. God is a great King, and these are his Children, for to them pertains the Adoption; and it is a noble employment to be made Tutors to a King's Children: men are wont to be curious in their choice of such: and God is much more, in the directions which he hath given about the qualifications of such whom he will accept in this station. Moses mentions it as a great preferment which God had advanced Korah and his Brethren unto, Numb. 16. 9.
1. Hence they who despise the office and work of the Ministry, despise God. Such as reproach them, reproach God himself. It is not to be denied, but that there are th…se who are preferred among men to the place of the Ministry, whose unworthy Carriage in it, and mismanagement of it, makes them deserve to be exploded, and not acknowledged to be called by God, or approved of him: but this ought not to be interpreted as redounding to the ignominy of the work it self, or the contempt of those whom God hath made faithful in it. It is true, Christ could do his work without them, but he hath pleased to chuse this way to dispense himself in; and that employment which God himself hath seen meet to put honour upon, ought not to be vilified or thought light of, by such as profess themselves to be his people, and to hope for his salvation.
2. We are here also acquainted with the Duty of Gospel Ministers. The Title her… put upon them, is not only a character of their dignity, but of their duty … Their work is to dress the Vineyard. The word signifies one that is to work about the vines; i.e. to do the business that appertains to the tending and looking after them: and this intimates that there is no little care and charge lying upon those that are engaged in the Ministry, no little labour incumbent on them to be exercised withal; and this will appear from the consideration of two things in the Comparison or Title.
1. A Vineyard hath a great many plants in it, all of which belongs to the Vine-dressers care, and every one of which calls for dressing. A Church is a Company of visible believers, or professors, with their Children, in some there are more, in others fewer: now each individual of these belongs to his Charge; and it is a solemn Charge that Christ hath laid upon him, 2, Tim 4. begin▪ A Seasonable administration belongs to these and to that end, care is to be used to know the state of the Vineyard; and that is by the several plants which are in it, Not only Truths, but seasonable Truths are to be preached; and he that hath souls to look after, must needs have a great care lying upon him.
2. There is a deal to be done to and for the Vineyard, and the several plants that are in it. He that hath a Vineyard to look after, shall never want work: there are so many things that belong to the dressing & tending of it; there is digging, & du…nging, and weeding, and transplanting, & pruning, and under-setting, and keeping up the hedge, and watching against wild beasts and robbers: and all this is a constant work; if it be once done. It will be to do again and again. There is no less lying on the Ministers of Christ, if they will prove themselves faithful: there are Children, tender plants in the nursery, to be looked after, and to be removed from those beds into the rows, when they are fitted for it: there are grown persons, who should be laboured with that they may be prepared for full communion: and there are those that have attained to it: each of these have their portion to be allotted to them. There are the unbelieving, who are to be called upon and not let alone; the Obstinate, who are to be solemnly warned; the Scandalous, who are to be, according to their merit, censured; the Careless, that are to be seasonably reproved; the Sorrowful, that must be comforted; the doubting Souls, that must be satisfied; &c. there is the Word and Ordinances which are to be dispensed to all in publick; the sick that must be visited; Corrupters and Seducers must be watched against; Families in private must be visited; &c. and an account is to be given in to Christ the Lord and Owner of his Church, of all this, as they expect a reward of Grace at his hands: and if they have wilfully neglected or omitted their duty in these regards, they are in danger of being cut in sunder by him, and made to receive their portion wi… Hypocrites.
USE I.
Hence how much do they mistake who think the work of the Ministry to be an easy employment? Many there be that undervalue it, and account it a small matter▪ and … to those in this Office who give occasion to have it so thought, by their supine negligence: who with the Sluggard, let their Field be grown over with nettles, for want of care and tendance. But certainly, they that with any conscience study their Duty, and endeavour to be as much as they can in the discharge of it, find it to be far otherwise. Paul thought the care of the Churches, to be more than all the trouble and difficulty that he met with otherwise, 2 Cor. 11.28. well then might he in the serious contemplation of it cry out, who is sufficient for these things? certainly, without a great deal of special assistance from the Spirit of God, they cannot in any competent measure discharge their duty acceptably: it would be a burden too heavy for an Angel to stand up under; what then is a weak man to undertake it? well might Moses, and Jeremiah decline it, and had not God himself promised to be with them, it had been madness in them ever to have engaged in it. That promise of Christ to his Disciples, was very necessary and seasonable to back his solemn Charge he had given them withal, Mat. 28. 19, 20.
USE II.
Pity and pray for, and encourage Christ's Ministers in their work. They need no mans envy, but every mans compassion, and prayers too: they that are sensible of the weight of duty lying on them, do earnestly desire i… of every one that fears God. How often have we Paul importunately asking it of the Churches whom he writes unto? little do you know the sore Temptations, mighty discouragements, and many sinking thoughts which these Servants of Christ struggle withal, through sense of their own frailty, and the greatness of the work incumbent on them, and the solemnity of the Charge under the aw whereof they are, and the trembling thoughts of the amazing account they must shortly give in to the Lord Jesus Christ: give them then many a lift, by your ardent supplications for them. One of the Ancients was wont to say, he often wondred …ow … was possible that any Minister should ever be saved: and truly, it is rich grace that their hopes can only rely upon. Encourage them in their work; let them know, That their labour it not in vain in the Lord.
3. We may here also observe, That Ministers may be faithful in their places, and yet be unsuccessful. We find that the Owner of the Vineyard seeing the unfruitfulness of his Fig-tree, finds no fault with the Vine-dresser, lays nothing of it to his Charge; but his whole Complaint and Threatning is against the tree it self. And he would not have treated so fam…liarly with him, if he had not esteemed him to be faithful: And yet for all this, here is a barren tree in the Vineyard: and we find that if men under the watch of the Ministry do perish through their default, God will require their blood at their hands, Ez…k. 33. 8. But yet they may do their work conscientiously, and men for all that perish; but now they are quit, verse. 9. Here observe;
1. A Minister is then to be acknowledged faithful to his office relation, when he doth conscientiously attend all the duties of it, as he hath opportunity and ability. Fidelity in any duty, of any relation, must b… lock… upon in an Evangelical Sense, else the … must cry, Lord enter not into Judgment. Faithfulness appears in a care to mind the work we are in, to discharge the trust reposed in us, to spend and be spent in the work of Christ, and for the good of Souls▪ to be instant in season and out of season? To divide to every one the portion belonging to them, rebuke to whom rebuke, &c. And all this as God gives them strength and advantage, not shunning any thing which God hath Commanded them to do.
2. That there are such placed by Christ in his Church, is evident. The love and care which Christ hath for it, cannot but put him upon it to provide such for it: and when his people have bin never so degenerate, and offered the greatest affronts to such as these, he hath yet sent them, and enabled them to bear all, and discharge their duty notwithstanding: It is he that thrusts out labourers into his harvest; and he can make them labourers indeed: there have bin such formerly; Paul was so, he could appeal to the consciences of this Ephesians. Acts. 20. 29, 27. and he hath the residue of the Spirit with him, Men may put others in, and he may Providentially suffer it, for their punishment; but he hath required all to be such, and all that he sends in mercy are so: there are none without their insirmities, but there are those that are wise, and sincere, and diligent, and have his spirit upon them.
3. That these notwithstanding all their faithfulness, may miss of the desired success of their Ministry. This is signified in the Text, and witnessed to by the Scripture, and constant experience; and there may be a rational account given of this, if we consider,
1. That it is not their fidelity, but Gods blessing which gives the success. They are but Instruments used by God: their desires may be sincere, their endeavours hearty, and industrious; but the hearts of men are not to be wrought upon by them, but require Almighty Power to influence them. If they neglect their Duty they deserve blame, but, …ho Israel be not gathered, if they are faithful, their work and their recompense is with the Lord: and they shall be acknowledged by him: they always renounce themselves as to efficacy, only they endeavour to do Service; they plant and water, but they referr the increase to God, … Cor. 3. 5, 6. we have Christ himself complaining that his work was unsuccessful, Isa. 49. 4. God dispenseth his grace at his pleasure, John was a burning and a shining light, but he was despised. Christ taught as never man did, but they would not come unto him that they might have life, Joh. 5. 40. and he gives us a reason for it, chap. 6. 44.
2. That God sometimes, sends his faithful servants on the most unsuccessful errand. The direct end of the Ministry, is the Conversion and Salvation of men; but God sometimes judicially orders it otherwise. What a famous industrious and Evangelical Prophet was Isaiah? and …yet see how his Commission runs, Isa, 6. 9, 10. And when God leaves men to their own lusts and hardness of heart, the most softning means shall harden them the more, and the Gospel whose, proper scope is life, shall become a Savour of death, 2. Crr. 2. 16. The more is laid out upon them, the worse they grow: and yet even in this too will God be glorified, and his servants shall not lose their reward, they are still a sweet savour to God.
USE I.
Hence it is a hard measure to judge of a Ministers fidelity by his success. There is a Soveraign over-ruling hand of God in these affairs, and it is to be adored by us: to have nothing else to alled…e against any of Gods Servants, but that there is little good done by all his labour, and possibly a people do grow worse under it, and therefore he is not true to his trust, and there be nothing else that appears against him, is an Harsh censure, …s if they by their own vertue and good will could make men good when they please. It may be their affliction and sore grief, when it is not their sin; and calls for pity rather then Censure; to see them casting out the Gospel not so often, and toyling all night and catching little or nothing: their hearts have Sorrow enough already, for this they need not to be loaded with more: thus might Isaiah, Jeremiah Ezekiel, yea and Christ himself have been censured.
USE II.
This may teach us not to place too much upon men. It is a fault too frequent, and of dangerous consequence, for us to tarry at Instruments, and either on the one hand to adore them, or on the other to undervalue them. It is true, the Gifts, graces, industry, prudence, which God bestows upon them are to be acknowledged: but to have any mans person in admiration, to the contempt of others, as if this must needs be the converting man, and not the other, is to dishonour God, and give away his incommunicable glory to a Creature: nor can we do such men a greater displeasure: Paul is as much dissatisfied at them, who said they were for Paul, as those that were for Apollos; because they put too much respect upon him.
USE III.
Hence fidelity and not bare success shall be the Ministers trial and crown another day. I confess, that here in this life, they that bring in many to Christ, have abundance of joy, and are highly beloved by them that have experienced saving good by them; and they that comfort few or none, have abundance of grief and sorrow. But when they shall come to stand before Christ's Tribunal, and are to receive their reward, that man shall have no more commendation than this: he did no more for God, though God did more by him: nay, if there be degrees of reward according to what men have done and suffered for Christ, I am sure this man hath done as much, and suffered more: and if this were not the support of the hearts of some of Gods Servants, they would sometimes saint within them, Christ comforted himself with this, Isa. 49. 5. Though Israel be not gathered, I shall be glorious in the eyes of the Lord.
4. We may here finally observe, That God oftentimes signifies his displeasure against unprofitable Professors, to his faithful Ministers. Thus is the Owner of the Vineyard here brought in, deliberating with the Vine-dresser, complaining against, and threatning of the figtree. How God signified his mind of old to his Prophets, is plainly intimated in Scripture, he used to appear to them in dreams, visions by Angels, &c. whence their Prophesies were delivered in the Name of the Lord: and sometimes they were against the body of the people, when there was a general degeneracy, sometimes against particular persons. How he discovers himself in these respects to his Servants in Gospel-times, since extraordinary Revelations are ceased, …ay seem to be more difficult to apprehend: only we are told that we have a more sure word of Prophesie: and out of doubt there is still a truth in that which is expressed, Amos 3. 7.
Those of Gods servants that have obtained Grace to be faithful, as they are exceeding desirous to do good, so they cannot but be very observant to see what success their labours have; and as to the general state and frame of the people they are sent to, it is practically obvious, by the entertainment they give to, and improvement they make of the means of Grace which are afforded them. As to particulars indeed, there may be some who notoriously discover themselves by their lewd lives, & profligate carriages; others may act more closely, and make a fair shew, when indeed they are unfruitful, and so impose upon their belief and charity; and yet some of these do often render themselves very suspicious. Now God herein mainly signifies his mind to his Ministers in this respect, not by telling them this and that in particular is an Hypocrite, & hath no true grace in him; but he toucheth their hearts with an appearn…sion of his displeasure, and stirs them up providentially to give warning to his people and tell them of their danger, & to be much & frequent in insisting upon these themes: and it is an observation worthy of remark, that when God is about to manage a Controversie either more publick, or more personal, there are unaccountable applications in the Ordinances unto such, which oftentimes put men into admiration, and if the reason of this be asked, it may be considered.
1. That God is wont to give Sinners in the Visible Church, fair warning, before he falls upon them in his wrath. It is a priviledge of sinners that are under the means of Grace, to be told of their sins and have the denunciations of Gods wrath laid before them, before it siezeth them, that so together with a space to repent, they may have a loud call unto it: and this appertains to the singular long suffering of God, which he extends to such, and will render them the more inexcusable, if at last they by their impenitency force him to make a way for his anger; he therefore first slays them by the mouth of his Prophets, before he executes his vengeance upon them in his Providence; and because he useth his Ministers as Instruments, by whom he gives these warnings to his people, he therefore moves their hearts to eye and observe, and be deeply affected with the things that give him provocation, and accordingly guides their studies and meditations that way.
2. God often doth it with gracious purposes, sometimes to his Ministers, to quicken them to a more earnest and repeated diligent endeavour for the people, both by interpo…ing with God in their more ardent prayers to him for his Patience, and farther to call upon such, and by more particular and solemn endeavours with sinners to quicken and awaken them to their duty; and by this means, whether they will hear or forbear, these will have the more peace in the issue, that they have used their best endeavours to do them good; and if they have any grace in them, such apprehensions will raise it up, and put it upon more than ordinary vigour and improvement, in labouring for and with sinners, whose danger they see and fear. Sometimes to unfruitful sinners themselves, by giving a blessing to such endeavours, and perswading them to hearken to their solemn counsels, and accept of the calls to Repentance, that being rendred fruitful, he may have mercy upon them and spare them: and when it is so, his spirit sets in with, and gives efficacy to these endeavours.
USE I….
Let this then be a word of warning to all Unprofitable ones. If Gods servants who have obtained Grace to be faithful, are at any time spirited and engaged more particularly to bear a Testimony against your barrenness, and solemnly to declare your danger to you, and press the many threatnings of Gods word upon you; do not you flight or neglect it; count it not a light matter, or only a pang of their Zeal; but think with your selves, God hath been taking notice of me with a jealous eye, he is highly provoked at my so long remaining unfruitful, and is now sending me this rowzing message to alarm me, and give me an opportunity, which if I neglect, I must expect some sudden wrath to fall upon me. If his servants are thus afraid of his Judgements coming, well may I, who ly so wofully open to them, do not say they speak at random, of their own heads, or vent their passions, or discover their wishes: no, If they fear God, they desire the good of your souls, and that you may be Saved from the evil that is coming, expect the… that if you do not amend your ways & d… ings, it will not be long before God will come in earnest, either in some publick visitation or in some personal stroak that he will lay upon you, which will make you to wish that you had hearkned to his voice, in the mouth of his Messengers. If you thus do▪ and thereupon shake off your vain security and carnal confidence; and, bewailing your barrenness, go to him, who only can do it, to teach you to profit, and set your selves in good earnest to seek and serve him with all your hearts; it shall turn to your account, and God will turn away from his fierce anger, But if you shall notwithstaning this, persist in your evill courses, and say in your hearts, I shall have peace notwithstanding, & there is no evil nigh: if you say God hath not spoken by them but they declare a vision of their own, and you go on in your sinful state & ways, neglecting the admonitions thus given you in the name of the Lord; God himself will come out against you in his anger, & by some awful token of his displeasure, make you to know by a dear bought experience, that there leave been Prophets among you.