/' 0t ttw fckwtogfoj M PRINCETON, N. J. Collection of Puritan Literature. Division Section Number 22 / °\ Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2013^ http://archive.org/details/figglessOOroge THE frgg-fef5 Figg-Tree : 0^, THE DOOME O F A Barren and Unfruitful Profetfion law o

(through Gods goodncfsandYoursJ in that Parifh where you now Dwell ; all which time, I found your houfe to be both to me and mine, as the houfe. of Qneftphorus was to Paul, a houfe of great refrefh- ment; The fnadow of your Trees was to me, as Jonah his Gourd was to him, very comfortable ; but it pleafed God to prepare a worme (what worme I will not fay, but it went under the notion of an unknown Friend) which did fmite my Gourd, and fo gnaw the Stalk of my Shrowd, that it foon withered, to my grief, I,waniing thofe means (whereby tbeWortcfdoth ufually teftifie their thankful I neffe to their Benefactors) defire by this outward evidence, to ving, was fowttl reported j of by all that truly knew ; her j and the grace of God J that was in her ; and now . being dead , yet liveth in the godly Conversion of her Children ( both Sons and Daughters) who ma- nifefl the fruit of their re- ligious Education, by fuch a Converfation as becom- ethgodlinejfe. Should I ffeak^ of thofe excellent Parts that God hath bin p leafed to endow you withaH,yeur cMedefly would not lik* it, and thofe that are not well acquain- ted with you, would think, I flatter, {but that is be- neath my Callings and above mj Ski II). This I way truly fay {without flattery) , that God hath enriched yon with that which is more precious then Gold, ^yi true and lively Faith, accompanied with the grace of Know- ledge^ the Government of Temperance , the Orna- ment of a meek, ^d quiet Spirit^ the fupport of Patience^. the Splendor of Humility* fo thatwhilft you live, your Mother is j not dead : and albeit, Cjod \hath not given you a fruit - I jaHi T*he Epiflle 'Dedicatory. give evidence to die World , of rbe inward difpoiiticu of my hearty in prefenciog to you, and fending forth under your name , this Prmtleffe F'ggTrecThz Title pro- rniieth little, yet, I hope under the Leaves thereof you-vvilllind fome Fruit that will pleafe your Religious palate. 1 cannot doubr, buc that, as you were a Reli- gious Hearer of fome- thing of mine, that hath formerly pa'i the Prefle, (which, tntranfetny as it waspaflingby, you cal- led in) and gave it friend- ly entertainment:), fo yeu will be a profitable Rea- der of this, and give it Houfe-room and Heart- room and feeing K comes unto you, under your own name, it will be a welcome Gueft unto yon* And my poor Pray- ers (lull accompany it* and follow you : full iVomb , yet he h*th blesl jih with a fruitfnll Heart ; infomatih^ as that which the Prophet fpeakj , may in a good fen fe be Ap - plyed untojQti: The De- flate fhall have more Children then the marry- ed. To my {elf in Particu- larly en have bin like that godly Shunamke to Eli- ffoa; yon have jayned as a Tanner with ymr Hnf- bandy in his love and bounty-, providing Light and Lodging, Houfe-room and Fyrwg , and other ne~ eeffaries fitting for ** Eli- ma : and therefore I make bald to joyn you with him in this Dedication , cra- ving the like acceptance from you as from him. And I (hall put up this prayer to Hewcn, both for you and for htm : The ift.y4.5i. 2, King. 4. 10. The Epijlle Dedicatory. The Lord foaffift you with his Grace, that by this, and all otter good means , you may grow from Grace to Grace ; chat foperte&ing your Sanguifi- cation inthc fear of God , you maybe made per- fect in every good work, to do his will ■, working in you true which is well- pleating in his fight , through Jefus Cbrift o-ur Lord, Amen, Thus prayes he; who is Dodding-HurP, Novemb, i. J^5P. Mosi obliged to jott in the bonds of TbankfHllneJfe. 5\(jhetniah Rogers, To Phils, i Pct.3 i. z. TO The Reader. And more Particularly, to tny Wel- beloved, the Congregation of Dodding-Hurft in Effex. Good Retder, IN the Cloture of my Expofition upon that Parable of a Friend going to his Friend at Mid-night, Luke i r^.&c. I intimated my intent to go on, in the next place , with that enfuiog Parable, of a Son asking Bread of his Fa- ther , Luke 1 1 \ verfe i 1 . &c. But this, (as thou feeft) is ftept into the World before it .• Yet know, that it is upon the bifth, albeit , as yet,there is no ftrength to bring it forth : I douBt nor, but with God's affiftance, thou (halt fee, The Father's bleffing to attend both on this, and that before mentioned. To you that have bin Hearers (in part or whole) of what i$ now fet forth, I fhallufe the words of :St. Paul, To write the fame things to puy which you before have heard, to me it is not gritvouty hut for you it isfafe * For to ufe the words of St. Peter, Tn this that I now write unto you, / ftirr uf your fure mtndes by way of remembrance* The beft pfus are dull to conceive, hard to believe, apt to forget, and flow to pra£tiie: .Let our minds be never fo pure, yet there is great need of flirring up : Dead A(b:s we ftirr not up, but Embers, that be warm, tore- enkindle To the Reader. enkindle the live-coals that lye hid under them : When we lay on green wood, we blow the fire, and do doc ftirr it; when dry, we ftirr the fire, and need not blow it: Profelytes ftand in need of kindling ; well-improved Chriftians of ftirring up, and quickening. And fuch I truft you are, (if you be not, itis your flume:) God hath blefied you with the means for many years together; and, through the Religious care of wor- thy and confcionable Patrons and Patroneffes, (for which this Place and Parifti above many other have great caufeofthank- fulneffe) there hath bin a fuccellion of godly and painfull Paftors, who have bin fet over you, to watch for your Souls; whole Labours God hath fobleffcd, that there is not (for any thing that I yec perceive at prefent) any Faction or Fraction amongftyou: No Papift, Anabaptill, Quaker; nor any fuch like Schifmatique : youlive in amicy andpeaceone wihthe other (generally) ; which is not ordinary, and, in thefc rimes, a lingular mercy* And yet I fear, That charge which the Apoflle layetfr upon the Hebrews, may be layd on form of you : when as in regard of the long and plentiful means you have enjoyed, you ought to have bin Teachers (not Pubiique Preachers, for that you ought not to be, buc Teachers) to your Families, an^ one of another, in private communion; you had need to be taught the fir ft ^Principles and Fundamental^ of Religi- on. It hath pleafed God to bring me amongft you, and give me a comfortable Call unto you: For, befides che Nomination and free Prefentation of me to that Place, by the Godly and Judicious Patron ; I was acquainted with the joynt, and una nimous defire of you all, (vhich you tenified under yo ur hands, by way of petition to the Patron, that be would pirch his thoughts upon me), that I might He your Paft or ; This indeed, made me (it being undefired) much more willing to undertake this Charge, which ocherwifef I believe) I mould hardly have bin drawen unto ; And now, having undertaken it, I dehre- God's affiftance* and your prayers, thac I may be found faithful therein, whilftitftnl! pleafe the Lord to continue mc :amon^t you ; ^Andthat the Word may have free pajfage, and be glorified touty and by us, bxh Minifter and People: And this / pray a th.it Biddint' Hcb.j.u, iThcf.3.i. Phil. 1.9, 10, m. To the %eader. that your love may abound yet more And more in knowledge and in all 'judgment', that y oh may approve things that are excellent ; thatjoumaybe fimere, and without offence, tillthe d*y of Chrift, being filled with the fruits of Righteeufneffe, whiclo are bj Jefus Chrifl, mtothegloryandpraifeofGod: ifhaUfecond my pray- ers with my bdi endeavour?* Read diligently what you have heard, apply confcionably what you read and hear, andbring forth fruit accordingly.- fo '(hall we one day rejoyce in this (both I and you), that \vc have noc heard in vain, nor laboured in vatn. Dadding-Hurft. Novctnb. i# 1650. Tour Servant for the furtherance of the Salvation of your Souls } 3\£ebemiah Rogers. The Errata's that have paft the Preffe, you {hall find in the end of the Book* -! AAA ^^ ^S ^ ^* **** &&&&&&& S$* fiB 281 * The Text. Luke, Chap. 13. vcrfe ^.7,8,^. H Verft 6. r -^ yp**^ dfi this Parable : A certain man had a Figg-Tree planted In his Vine- yard, and he came and fo fight Fruit there- on, and fonnd nine, 7. Then [aid he to the Drejfer of his Vineyard; Behold, this three years have I come, and [ought Fruit of this Figl'Tree-, and found none ; Cut it down, Why cumhreth it the ground? 8# And he anfwering [aid unto him ; Lord , let it alone this year alfo, tih I frail Dlgg about it and Dung it. g. And if it kar fruit, well ; and if not} then after that^ thou (halt cut it dow. a t A Summary ■ . ;— ■ 12* r"^ Summary of all the Principal T>o- Brines > Qolletted and Illujlrated from the fever al Verfes of the Frtiitlefs Figg-Tree 9 Luke 13. Verfe *♦ E f?ak* *lf* this Parable : \4 certain man had a Pigg-Tree planted in hie Vine- \WJ*rd') and he came and fought fruit there- 0x> and found n$ne. Dott.* *. The word fpoke by the mouth of God's Miniftcrfj is no leffe to be efteemed the word of God , than that which was fpoke n by Chrift immediately. P*g*9 2. Weighty muters friould be preffed and infifted on. i* 3. Repentance is a difficult, yet a ncceffary work. l7 4. Chritt was no (ilent Minifter of his Church. *t 5. Chrift fpake Parables* i$ 6*. God is reremb'ed to.Man in Scripture. 37 7. He takes upon him the Profeflion of an Husbandman. - 4° 8, The Church is a Spiritual Vineyard. 44 9» The Church ofChrift is but one. 58 * o. It is the peculiar Inheritance of the Lord* 6% xi# ManisaTreeMyftically. 71 12. Thofe I V The Contents. ia. Thofe Trees wherewith God furnifheth his Vineyard are of a Fruitful kind. 80 1 1 . Thofc Trees which God expe&s Fruit from? are planted Trees. • 84 14. The Church isGod'sNurfery*. • 89- 15. Vifiting follows Planting. 102 •i£. Fruit is expected from every Figg*Trec chat God hath ! planted in his Vineyard. 1 o 5 j 1 7. Where God hath well deferved, there many times he is j ill requited. 1 27 Verfe 7* Then [aid he-utste the 7)refer ej his Vineyard ; Behold, theft three years Icome> feekjng Fruit en this Figg-Tree > and find none : Cat It down> Why cumbreth it the Ground ? Dott* I. The Ministers of the Word and Sacraments , are the Dreflers of the Lords Vineyard. 1 53 2. The Dretfers of God's Vineyard fhould be as one, in their Matter's work. 171 3. God makes known his mind unto his Minifiers, and ac- quaints them in a Familiar manner with his intents and pur- pofes. 1 94 4. Great attention and regard is to be given to matters weighty. 203 5. Sin may not be looked upon with a regardleffe eye; or, God's complaints are not to be fleightcd or paft over? regard- lefly* 206 6* Barrenneffe in a Figg-Tree is fault enough. 21© 7. Circumftances of fin, give Aggravations to ir. 218 8. God alloweth and allotterh to every Figg-Tree, growing in his Vineyard, a due proportion of time for the bringing forth of Fruir. 221 9. Time allotted (for bearing fruit) neglected, aggravates the fault. The longer Time the greater Crime. 224 iof Tofinagainft the means, addeth wcight-untothefiivnc* is moft provoking. 249 1 1, It is God's ufual manner to Speak before he Strikes, to pronounce Judgment before he Executes ir. 261 1 2. Abfciflion The Contents. i 2. Abfdiffion and cutting down, is the Doom of an Hypo- critical and Barren Profeflfor. i%z 1 3 . No outward Privilcdge c*nfecure a finfull People from the ftroak of Vengeance* ■ 3 00 14. God's fev«reft Judgments have alvvayes moft equitable r^afons. 304 1 5. Barren Prof rfc>rs are Cumberfome. 313 VerfeS. ^Andhe tmfomng fajd Unto him, Lord, Utitdotit this ye at alfo , t ill I fhtll Digg *b*m it and Dmg H . * 2>*'tf. *t When God falls to complaining and threatning, it is high time, for fuchas have any IntereftinGod, to fall to praying, 326 2. When God is offended, Chrift fleps in and mediate$,and puts a (top to the prefenc proceedings of Jiivlke* 3 34 3. Faithful Ministers may not be wanting (neither are they wanting) in interceding and praying unto God in the behalf of that unprofitable People which is committed to their charge. 34» 4. Reverend Styles and Names ffiouid be given to our Sit- periours. 36i 5* The Lord of the Vineyard is Lord Paramount. $6i 6. The Lord alone is to be fought unto, in our prayers, and by our prayers* 366 7. It is as great a favour as can be expected or defired, for a finner to be a while-longer fpared : Or, To be let. alone or fpared a while longer, lias great a mercy as can be defired on a Sinner's behalf. 370 8. God's Patience hath a Period. 38° 9. Faithful Miniftersfeek not themfclves, but the gcodef thofe committed to their Charge. 3 &3 i®. Good Minifiers are great pains-takers. 3 86 1 1. Digging is one part of the Minifterial Function. 409 1 2. God's Minilters are toOung as well as Digg. 42© Verfe #. The Contents. Verfep. ^yindiflt fair fruit , well -y find if .not} then after that t hot* (halt cut it down, Doti. i, Afanhful Miniftcrcanno: but be deeply aft\ fled with grief, inthebehaifotiuch as remain unfruitful under his Ministerial Labours. 4*7 2. Where the Dreffer's diligence accompanies the O.vner's patience, there is hope even or the mort barren Tree, 43© *3. Ail will be well if we bear Fruit, though it belatefirtt ; Fruitfulnefs at laft will make amends for al 1, 436 4f Barrennefle may be founcj under the beft and powerfuli- eft means. 443 ?t The Dreffers of God's Vineyard mould b^endined to afls of Mercy? and not too forward in provoking God to afls ofjuflice. 456 6. By frequent prayer God is fo overpowred , . as that he cannot presently, deft roy. 45^ 7. Whatever be the Inftrumeot > or who ever be the Agent : God is the principal E fficient of thofe Judgments which befall a People. 469 8, Greiteft feverity attends upon defpifed Mercy. 483 9, We are to reft fatisfied and contented in the juft and defer- ved condemnation of the wicked 5 albeit, they are dearly belo- ved of us. 49 1 (THE '■ ■* .h,. ****&&&&&*&* 3w*" * * * *.*&tf>* * * * Reader. T His fame Author Mr. Nehemiah Rogers, hath late: ly printed, An Exf option on that Parable, Luke ii. 5 3 ii. Which of you fha'll have a Friend, and fhall go uito him at Mid-Night, Alfo $n that far able, Luke 7. 40, — 5 i. There was a| certain Creditor, which had two Debtors, \&e. Alfo on that Parable, Luke io.3©j — 38, A certain man went down from Jerufalem to jericho, and fell amongft Theeves> &c. All to be fold by Geortf Sawhridge, at the Biile en Lud-gate-H'tU* m #. Tl ie Shewing the Method Obferved and f the Reference id that Particle [Alfi] fTh: Preface, I vtrf.6. Hel fpakealfo this i Parablc:whereiThcInftruftioii [HefpakethiscTheDoaor [ Parable] nocifyiog JTheDoarin [ fTheOwner3s lis Pa-. ! we cocfi. >le. JCf THE FiggJcfs Figg-Tree. T e x T. LUKE 13,6, 10# Hefyakealfothis Tarab>e, ^4 certain man had a Flgg-Tree plated in his Vineyard ; and he came \and fought fruit there- on ; and found none^ &C« T is ftoryed of Caligula-, that he feared nothing fo much as Thunder , to drown the noile whereof he had an Enfigne made> where \ith he would make a kind of thundering noic- when ic thundred in the Clouds, and by the help of Burning-glaffes (which he ufed) he | would ca(i forth flafhes of fire, in the face of Heaven. Not | much un'ikeis thepra&ifeof Impenitent and obdurate hn- I ners they ieemto tremble at the Judgments of Almighty I | God; when notwithstanding they ! way, daring the God of Heaven, to their utter ruine. Cart your eyes but a little back, and yon {ball read offobve ! i ( acquaint him at this time with it, andfeem defirous to have his Judgmen: both of the Faft&nd Perfohfi The quick and peircmg eye of our Sariour ( probably) difccVefed therein, a raine or tiapp laid, to entangle him in his taHc, (whatever other pretence might by thern be made), j Should he have Patronized the Perfons (lain, then he would have bin accu'ed for a friend o;' Rebels, and feditious Per- fons ; fhould he hive fpoken the lent againtt Pitatcs cruelty, he might have bin charged to have bin an enemy to Cafar; mould he have approved of the Fact 5 then had he bin accu- fedto the People as an Abettor of the Romane Prefideht in that bloody MalTacre • Our Saviour (therefore) gives no di- j rect anfwer to them, but takes occallon from thence, to enlarge! The F/gg - lefs Figg - Tree. '3 enlarge his for ner Do&rine, and enforce it upon the confer- ences of rhe Reporters,, as well as others; Suppefe ye that th&fe Galileans werefimers above all other Galileans, becaufe rhty furfered fucn things f / tell jots nay* but except ye repent je (kail all likewffe psrijh. And that chey m ght notthink him to be beholding to them for that example (for the illuflracieg of his Doctrine) he purs them in mini of another Accident which fell out not long be'ore, and nearer home, which was the fall of the Tower of Siloam in Jernfalem^ whereby eighteen of the Builders, or Repairers of it (which is mo(Hikely): were (lain outright : thefe were not alone deftroyed, becaufe they alone were wicked. For fome are punifhed when others no leffe wicked arefpared; in whole temporal repreivement the Judge of all the World doth reprefenttheneceflity of the laft Affize, and may a flu re fuch as live in the like fmfull courfes, of the fame> o/f oarer vengeance without Repentance. They are punimed that we may be warned, they corrected that that we ma/ be amended , (for executions are done upon offenders for the benefit of the living , and not of dead(who cannot be bettered by Admonition nor Example) fo that we may not rafhly judge and cenfure them to be worfe then others, whom wc fee to be airlifted more than o- thers : Nor yet flatter our felves in our finful wayes, for that the like Judgments have not befallen us, that have on others ; For / tellyou (faith our Saviour) (as before I told you J, Except y oh 'Rjpeni^you (kail all likewifeferijh. Bat were weas great fmners as they, (might iome of there his Hearers fay), how comes it to paffe that wefpeei better then they ? This Client Objection Chrift give* an anrwer unto, in rne Parable now read, refembling God unto a Husbandman ; who having a barren and fruitleffe Figg-tree growing in frs Vineyard .from which after much pains and colt beftoweden it, and fo me fruitful return with much patience expect ^fin- ding none, heexpofuilates with his 'ervant about the fteri- lity and barrenneffe thereof, giving him a charge to cnti: down, or flub it up, that it may no longer take up that room ft 2 in Vcrf. z. 3 Vcif. 4. $. Ok-cit. * whereon a more fruitful plant might grow. But the DrelTer or the Vineyard (his fervantj being grieved) tha: fe good'-y a tree ( o look rp mi) (Vu d be flub- bed up at the root, dwtires his Maimer's patiericea while lon- ger, promifing tobeftow fomemore paints upon it j than tormerly he had done, hoping that then it would recom- pence its foriaer deficiency j which if it did nor? then down itfhould, and no longer be fuffered to ftand. This is your cafe (faith Chrift.) and the cafe of the whole Jewifh Nation : God hath chofen you to be a peculiar people to himfelf; He hath planted you in a rich and fruitful foyle, flowing with miik and honey : He hath fent his fervants amongft you, who in no good point of Husbandry have bin wanting to you; and> with much pa.ience, hath long expired fome anftvera- ble returnof fruitful obedience from you ; which not finding, helbrigKirice paft fentence againft you, and refolved upon your utter extirpation and ruine : But through the earneft prayers and fupplications put up unto him by his Servants and Prophets on Jcrttfalems behalf; he hath hitherto fpared you, proving if at leatt, now at Lift, you will bring forth fruit meet for Repentance : which if you do, i: will be well for you ; but if not, no priviledge will exempt you from the ftroak of Vengeance* A-nd thus we have acquainted you both with the Occajlon of propounding this Parable, and with our Saviour's Scope and drift in the propounding of it. I ftiall in the next place cut out my work, and lay before you the feveral parts and members of it. The Parts are Generally :wo; xht Preface } and the Parable irfelf. The 'Preface we have in thefe words of the Evangel Ift ; He fpakj alfo this Par Able, intimating a %eference to what went before, in that Particle [Alfo], And thz Inftruttion which folio .yes after, He f pake this Parable. Where we may take notice of the DcEior or Teacher [He fp*k£], And then the Dettrine or leflfon taught [ This Parable ]. The *P arable it {k'f^ is fir ft Propounded^ A certain man had a Figg-tree^-. verW. And then Profecttted, verf.j. — i o* In the Propounding part, we have the Subjetl and the Pre- dicate confide b!e. The | The Figg-lefs Figg-Tree. The Subject, A certain man had a Flgg-tree flamed in his Vineyard ; And there the Owner j and his Poffeffion. The Owner, A certain many where we (hall (hew you, firf*, who he was, A man : 2d what he was, A Vlnltor or Husbandman; His Poffejfion, hzhtda Figg- tree planted in his Vineyard, notifying firfct the Nature of his Inheritance in General*, [ A Vineyard ] : For Vnltj one, A Vineyardpoi Vineyards^ and for Property h His* ] ThentheP/*»*ofnotein/]M*M/ thereon growing, which is fet forth by its kind and quality : for £jW Generally^ Tree; fpeaficallyj zFigg-tree. And for Quality: No wilde one butplanted, (fuch was its Original); andthat in no barren foyle, but in the Vineyard before mentioned, there was its fite or placing*. The Predicate^ [ #* *vf*»* and fought fruit thereon , and found none.']' And there we have to take' notice, firrtof the Owners Vifitation of that his Vineyard and Figg tree, he came unto it : fecondly of his Expectation from ki\he fought fruit thereon , £/tf f>. lfa.5.7. ' ' MatMi.$3, I 45- s?>4> r. Deur.^.i^aj. 68,9, &7§, ^i37i>& 7y> i.& io£,j. Ifa. 5. 1. Math. 11.34. John 1.-13, John j. r. John 6.4. to reiemblehimfelf toman, andafcribe unco himfclf fun- dry poiicions , notions, and traditions of men, and foto fpeakinmins Language, that he maybe the better under- Hood by man : Here he referable? himielf unto a Husband- m*n} to let forth his care over his Church, which is here re- fe nbied unto a Vineyard. ftis Vmejardis the Church Catholique here on earth, and fo it is often termed in Scrip:ure, a J PfaL%o.%*9. J fa 5 7. Matb.ii.S3A5' And however the whole earth be the Lords, and the f alnetfe thereof, as we read, Pfal. 2 4. 1 ?2j^ o5>4,?. Yet this Vineyard the Church, he- termer h his In- reritancezs if he counted himfelf to be owner onely o'that Dem.9.26,19. Pf*l.33.i*>& *%>9,& l*£i>V\& J9>i\ & 106,5:. - This Plgg-tree platttcd&nd fued in his Vineyard,is princi- pally intended of the Jewi(h Nation, but more generally to be extended to every ^Particular Church and Congregation ; yea to every Individium or Particular Perfon, that profeflfe themf elves members of the Church Catholique, and live within the pale of it (faith dufiin.) Thz Drejfer of this Vineyard mentioned, is to be under- flood of Chrift principal) and primarily ; and of the whole Company of Prophets, Apoftles-, and Ministers of the G of pel fecundarily { who are all the Under-Dreffers of it, and though many, yet by mEnaflagc Humeri, are fumm'd up in one* [Drefer,] nor Dreffers. The fruh expected is faith and good workj, as is (hewed , IJ*A&* Matb.ii.34* This fruit God finds not, but the contrary, l[a. 5. 7. The three years fpoken of (in reference to the Jews) may not atxufle (i conceive) be underwood of the time of thrifts publique Cftiimftery amongft them , which had now bin three years and upwards : And his comming for fruit 5 of his feveral goings up to Jerufalem at three folemn PaJfovers9 year by year , for three years together. But in reference co lis that live under the Go'pe1, 1 underftand th'i large proportion of time which God allowes to us for our Repentance , and producing of the fruits of Fai:h and Obedience : Three beiP7 . The Figg-lefs Figg-Tree. 9 being put for many ^ a definite, for an indefinite, a certain for an uncertain number, as elfe where wc &nd ? 2 Cor. i».8. The Cutting down of this Figg-tree, (as it refpe&ed the Jew- ifh Synagogue and Hare) fees form rhe utter fubverficn and extir- pation of it) with the detirucYionof the City and Temple by the %omans : But as it concerns ut, Co it notes the Lord's rej/ftwg and cafling off a people for their barrenneffc, according to that vve read, Heb. 6. 8, The /Mr, craved for (paring of it \n resell of the Jews, is thought by fome to be that very year when as Chrift propoun- ded [his Parable unto them, which was the fourth current of his publique Preaching.; but better they, who underhand it of the time of the Affiles preaching amongft them after Chrid's death, and before the deftru&ion oijerufalem : One year put for forty (faith Ca]etan)% And in Relation unto w wc underftand it, of the time of Gods patient forbearing of «*; obtained by the Pray- ers of Gods faithful Servants>notwithftanding our manifold pro- vocations. The Digging & dunging about the Jevyifn Figg-trce,fets forth unto us, the fainesand labours that Chrifls Apoftles and faithfal Servants bellowed on that pe-»ple,t© bring them to Repentance ; immediately after the Death of Chrift:and fo likewife it denotes the paines and labours that the Minifters of the G off el now take, about the Chriiiian PX:g-tree, for the fructification of it. AU this, with other particulars we (hill (God willing) declare more fully in the Prole cuti on and Explication of each part in order. And firft of the Preface. - . Hefpake alfe this *P arable ]. Which words are the words of the Evangellftyand net \) t im- mediate words of Chritf, and yet no leffe to be efteemed the word •f Godt then that which Chrift fpal^e rvith his own mouth. Of all holy Writ it is Generally laid, Holy menfpake at they wire moved by the Holy Ghojt, 2 Pet. 1**1. In the oldtime God (pai^e by his Prophets, L'ik: 1. 70. Heb.i.L I will be with thy mou>h ( fa id God to Mofes) Exod. 4. * i> I have put words into thy mouth faidGod to Jeremiah,}^ J .9. The Holy Cjhofl fpflke j by the mouth of 'David, \M Peter ^ Aft.i. i^. And this is true i , C alio 2 Cor. 1 *, Hcb, 6, J, Text. Obf. 2- PCC. I. 21. Lute 1 .70. Heb. i. i. Exod. 4. 12. J:r. 1. 3. ASs i.iV. io The Figg-lefs Figg-Tree. alio of rbofewho wrore the Hew Teftament ; for all Scripture z Tim, 3. I i given by ir.fpirationfrom God, faith /><*#/, 2 lim.^.i 6. Gods f if* ! ipiric did fuggett and dictate, both for matter and manner what- I foever they wrote or delivered for Do&rir.e. It is net yon that ffe*kci but the fpirt of my Father nhkh fpcaketh in you y faith ■ Math. 10. ChrilU Math. 10. 2 %. z8- I I do not fay, that all things which thefe holy men wrote^vere written by divine inspiration, for lone things which they 1 wrote, were written humanely, (as their humane affaires, corn- i Rob inf. ' mon to rhem with other men, required j, nor was all which Epy of , ttiey fpakefusgetiedbythefpirit immediately, neither wasall fafoture: w^ere^n l^cJ were divinely infpired both in preaching and Ip'bf. %[ ' iwr,*tlngi brought into the publiquetreafuryofthe Church, and made a part of Caaonical Scripture; but onely fo much as the ! Lord in wifdome faw requifite to leave to his Church, as the Ruleoffcaith and Obedience ; fo as that the Scripture fhould j neither be defective, through brevity, nor yet burthenfome by ; too great largeneffe and prolixity. But this I fay, thatwhatfo- ( ever we find written in the Holy Scripture^ (albeit upon fome , ifpecialoccafion penned by the Pen-men thereof, as this Pre- \ face was) is no leflfe to beefleemed than the word of the eternal I Godjthan that which Chrift himfeU fpakq immediately,wkh his own mouth, when he was on Earth. i Aft. 10. 'as what God himfelf fhould fpeak,^#. ^.33. The fame did ! sir the 7 hejfaloniaus (for which St. P**/blefleth God), When they , heard the word they received it not, as the word of men, but a* ' Thef - ^ is in truth the word of God , I Thef. *. 13. Then it is mod \ \ e * 2l likely ro work effectually to our Converfion, and the Salvation I 1 Cor. 14. of the foul, 1Or.14.25. We thatareMiniflersmuftfpeakas I Mf. [die words of God, alwayes putting a difference betwixt it, and 'the words of man* yielding thereunto greareft Reverence- as J Luke 4. |our Saviour dU? Lufy 4. 16, 20. and abfolute credence and 1 16> xo' ! obedience : But I (hall carry this point no farther, ; . ! In The Vigg-lefs Figg-Tree. In this Introduction or Preface we have to take notice ,fifft, of the De pn dune e or Reference in that Partic e J$> Alfo (before we come to the kind or nature of 'the following Inn ruction), \_AIfo~\ is a Copulative, and knits the Parable en lu in® to the former difcouric: Our Saviour bad before called upon his Hear- ers, for a ierious & feafonable Repentance,urged and preffed that Doctrine from the tudd-n Judgments that had befallen otheis, ana would befall them in cafe they fpeedily repented not ; Re- peated and reheated whai he had aflerted, that they might lay to heart, & reft affured of the truth of what he had delivered>and after all this (when one would think that he bad faid enough to the point) he adds this Parable [*//*] to what had bin laid; thence we conc'ude that, Weighty matters yvottld pfprejfed on the Confciencer and in- fifledon. Once fpeaking is not enough, there mutt be an of- ten reiterating, repeating,and inculcating of the fame thing, if it be of weight and moment. Solomon, ttyled by way of eminency,the ^^c/^r,fpeakingof the vanity of the World, and worldly things, and lecking ro expell and fupplant out of mens heart the love of them, how often doth he inculcate the vanity of it ? Vanity of Vanities faith the Preacher, Vanity of 'Vanities , all u Vanity ; which one verf (faith Chryfoftomeybzy who are great in the world, (if they were wife) would write on all their walls and garment?, in fero, in domo, in ]anuisy in irgreffibus, & ante omnia, in confeientiisfms, in their common mee:ing places, in their private houfes, on their doors, in their entries, and above all in the":. Consciences- that fo they might have it alwayes before their *yes, and al- wayes have it in their minds. And our blcffed Saviour (a wifer the -< Solomon) di'cowrfing of the Kiagdome of Heaven (a matter of much moment) that he might leave the fkongerimprefli on of it in our minies, pro- poundeth many Parables one after another, as we read, Math A 3. He begins with the Parable of the Sower, verf-$m and having ended that 5 ^Another Parable put he forth Oaith the Evange- lift,) and then ^Another, and after that Another, and then Aga'my and ^Again, and Again, pegging ia (as ic were) one with another, inculcating the lame doctrine over and over,that .._. C 2 vvc II Deft. Eccif. 1.2. Cap, 2 1, ii3I7,2£. Cap 4.7, 8, 16. Cap?. 7, 10. Cap.tf.2,4, 9. Cap.7. *. Cap. 8. 10. Cap.eu. 8; 10. Math. 15. p Vcif.14. Verf. 31. Verf. 3$. Verf. 44- : Verf. 4 ?. Verf. 47. 12, \ The Figg-lefs Figg-Tree. Re«f. Phil. 3. i. Ifa. 28.10, Ads 13. 4?" 4*- i Luke 2,4. I Mark 14. i A&s 10. ; 13, 14. I yiunquam \ fatis' difci- I /#- : Sene- we may attain to the undemanding of thofe things, which con- cern the Myfteries of that Kingdonae , which do fo nearly concern is. And this is not more then needs ; for us it isfafe, Phil. 5.1. and that, firli in re(pe6l of our Ignorance and dullneffe in fpiri- -tuaif matters, (especially in fuch points as-moft efpecially con- cern us) the eye 01 the mind is opened by degrees, cow a little and then a little, Ifa. 28* 10, Precept muft be upon precept, and li»e upon tint* and ir is not ordinary to underftand aright what is delivered upon- the firft delivery: which might be one reafon why the Gentiles defired Paul to Preach over the (ame Sermon unto them, ABs 13. 42. which he did accordingly, verf.Jtf. Beer newly broached, taftes better at the fecond or third draught, (we know) then at the. firil : and fo it is many times in Ser- mons. Secondly, In refpecl of the weakneffe, and flipperinefleof our Memories, which like Sives or Boulters let flip the finefi Hour, and retain little befides the bran: in regard whereof the frequent inculcation of the fame.do&rine is neceffary* When the Difciples wereput in mind by the two Angels, of the words of Chrift, then they remembred them, 1.7*^*24,6,2. and upon the fecond Crowing of the Cot k, Teter called to mind the words that Jefus had (aid unto him, Mark+i^. 71. Thirdly, In regard of our backwardnefle to believe and Pra- cYife, tfeat which is required of us. Upon the firft voyce that cameto Peter , willing htm to Rife -kill and e*t^ *A&s 10.13, He replyes, Not fo Lord, vcrf. 14. but when that Voyce is heard a fecond and third time, he learns obedience, verf 16. That wood which with a fingle wedge will not rive, is (pi with a double or treble one, fill we pra&ife enough, 'tis never (aid enough, faid Seneca. This tends to the J unification of the praclife of fuch Mini- sters as repeat to their Auditory, what they before have heard and learned, and fomet-imes infut foraewliac long and largely up- onanufeful point. Seeing they do but imitate their Lord and Matter herein, they need not be a fhamed of 10 doing. What we have faid bcfore,we may warrantably fay again, and repeat and beat upon the fame Doilrioe, till we perceive that our Hearers do The Figg-kfs Figg-*tree. if do rightly underhand it, and are affected with it: Holy Do- ctrines Are not like tricks done by (light of rnnd, to be (hewed but once, for fear that whan is admired ac firlt, uponafecond (hewing will become ridiculous; but, theoftener they are taught ^the becter (ufually) they will be underftood andlik- Yet this tends not to excufe any mans Ignorance, who is not pyaQCcu* able to Preach feifonably, and to break and distribute the bread ©t life according to the emergent neceffities of the Congregati- on at that time : nor is it intended to excufe any man*s idle- neffeandlazineffe, that will not imploy his time, his whole time upon his ftudy, but is enforced through a willful and con- traded necetfity, to Preach the fame thing again and again, tha: j he Preached before; He is not a Preacher fafTiciently qualified j that doth Co: but this I fay withall (faith a Learned Do ft or) ' Dl-. Donne. that he is not a Preacher fufficiently difcreet, that forbears the prelling of any neceflary point, becaufehimfelf or ibme other before him hath handled that before. Did not the Priefts walk with the fame Ark upon their fhoulders every day, once J°f- *• . for fixdaies together, about the walls of ' Jeric bo , and on the feaventhday they compared thofe walls feaven times before they fell ? Was not the King of Ifratl commanded to (mite the % King j 3 ground again and again, and blamed for ftriking. it no ofcener, 18. a/beithe had (track -in thrice? It is not once plowing, but the often breaking of the earth that makes it fruitful; fo not or.ee | fpeakingbut often urging, and frequent, inculcating of divine; truths that proves fucceffeful .; Reverend and learned UMelanc- thon found this to be true, which caufed him to go over the Epiitie to the Rmans , ten (everall times in his ordinary Lecture?. And yet in feeking the profit of our Hearer?, care muft be had, ; Cantim that we cloggnot their Sromacks, and marr their Appetites , (which may loon be. done if the greater care be not had).Tnere is Defatlgatio in Intellect ml] but, the foul may be wearied and ty- red as well as the body : Haft thou found honey, eatfo much yea a loathing of all the reft that they have heard from us. And this may happen either by a frequent and diforderly re- peating of the fame thing, (which ufualiy is occafioned through want of method, or want of matter) or by an overlong infixing upon fome truth, which being known, makes little or nothing to the Edification of the Hearer. Some things mutt needs be recalled, by the Minifter in Preaching, to guide the attention of his Auditory, into the en- fuirg diicourfe ; but the attention of an Auditory, may not be difcouraged with need lefle Tautology or Battology, nor tedi- ous repetition of the lame thing that hath bin often faid before, It is not commendable when a Minitter, with the Clock ihall ceil all that was to'd many hours before, and content bimfelf for that time, but with one (troak more ; rather,as Jtfeph's brethren upon their return to their brother, brought double money in their Sacks mouths; and as Jeremiah added in the fee ond role many words like unco the former. So mould a Minifter in his Repetitions, add to what was before delivered : Something (it may be) needs clearer explanation^ and lomething better confir- mation; And lbmethmg,it may be,upon the firtr delivery dipt the memory : Now as in "payment of money, if what was overfeen in the firft telling, be made up in the fecond ; fnch a drawing over will not be very grievous either to the Creditor, or Re- ceiver. Anditislikcwife neeeffary, that Tome truths mould be ©f- tener inculcated, and longer infixed on then others, (according to the Do&rine that you have heard) but it would be, of fuch truths as are mod ufeful and neceffary; There be fome things 11 1 (faith a very Learned and Excellent Divine,) that are more ne- W ceflary then others, and we are not weary of ufing them often, I vea The Figg-Iefs Figg-Tree. i* yea alwayes : And ibmetbings again though neceflary and ufcful, yetifweufe them alwayes, we dial I quickly grow weary of them , if we feed conrtantly on them (as on Bief, Mutton, and the like); which albeit they are tbebeftj and we can hold longer with them, yet if we ufetnem alwayes and without change, the llomaok will be cloyed therewith : Butbread we arenot weary of, allbeitwe ufe it alwayes; nor are we weary of Drink-, thoughwe drink it conflantiy at our metis ; whatever other dainties and delicates we have, yetthefe are common concom- mitants oi all our eating and tea flings : fo it is with holy and divine"truths ; There are fome which it lb :y be rwore conveni- ent to conceal, then to make mention of, in a publique Audi- tory (as might beflnewed In iome fpecialties appertaining to thefeveDthCommandement). And there are others which al- beit found and good, yet they are too intricate and high for an Auditory of a mean capacity ; which a Minii-ler ( albeit his Text givcth him an occaficn to deal withal) may with good dif- cretion, forbear largely to infift upon, John 16.12. But there areoth^r divine truths which are neceflary to be known of all, being of daily rife, either for the ftablifhment of Faith, or praclile of Life; the ftate and wellfare of the fouls of our peo- ple, doth very much depend on the frequent iteration and in- ! culcatiqn of them ; nor will the Sromach of the Hearer be fo i foon cloyed with tbeie, as with other* And let me leave a word or two by way of Ufe,:o you that are ; our Hearers. Are we to infill upon weighty points without . wearimffe? then furely you are to attend upon that we fo of- j ten preflL upon you with much patience, God hat h fpokttt once. \ jta tw'iee have I heard it> (faith David) Pfa1. 62. 1 1. that TV* erbehn^ih unto God, what Ged fpeaks once, we may well hear twice; again and again,for it is worth the Hearing. But this is an ordinary Argument (may fome proud fpirit fay)we have heard it an hundred time?,till we are weary in hearing>that (jodU ^yiU might), what great matter is in that I And have you heard it fo often? then me thinks you mould get it (by. heart (hall I fay? nay) in your heart, fo as to make the right ufe of it,fo as to fear him, believe in him, humble your fouls before him, walk withhiminuprightnelTe; If thou makeli not this Ufe of it, it is John 16. 12. Vfi. V Pfal. 6z. Ub]ecb. Xefp. Pfal.nS. 6. Ifa.i? 3. Jcr. 10.7. Math. 10. 28. Rom. 4.. 10. _ " — : \6 The Figg-lefs Figg-Tree. iPct.?. Gen.17. 1 Tim, 4. 3- John zi, 17. Phil. 3. 1. 6 is requilite that thou lhouldtt hear it a hundred times more? I#* and a hundred to that, till it appe^rthat thou halt profited by what thou haft heard. Chrjfofieme pre.iched many Sermons to his people of Aiti* och againli fweaSog ; his Auditory began ro be weary of that fubje&i and asked him, When be would leave Preaching againlt I that (in and choofe fome orher Subject to difcourfe of? He told them that when t bey had lett Swearing he would leave Preach- ] ing againfi it, and not before. And I have reid of an Epigram- ; matilt, who reading his Poems and Epigrams in a certain A u- j citory, one of his Hearers interrupted him, fayingi This*is an ' old one, I heard it from you the lait year. Jt is like you did (laid he) ; but is not that vice in you yet, which the laft yeais ; Poem reprehended ? If your curiolity bring yon to fay to any Preacher, I have heard this Doctrine banded by you iefore* this Text, or this Sermon on that Text preached by you a year or two ago. You did fo,may he fay, and you may hear it again the re*: year, and the next to that; till it appear by your an:end niche that you did hear it, you may hear it often;. So long as the Devil rights with the fame ("word, give us leave to defend with the fame Buckler ; whilft he doth not vary the (in, nor the temptation, but tempis the Son to the fame wickedneffe that redid the Father, tie Daughter to the fame uncleannefle that be did the Mother ; v\ hat need we vary the Do&rine? Away then with that nice '^effe .with that itch of the ear which theApoftle complaines of, ro whom any reiteration, any Re- petition of the fame thing (be it never lo ufeful) is yrkfome and fatfidious : Ptur was greived bee aufc our Saviour faid the third time LoveflthoH me< We ought not to befo ; we may not be offended at the often inculcating and frequent prcifirg of the fame truth, feeing for us it it *f*rc thing. Make the right ure of it, fay no-, Ifl had thought to have heard the lame again; I would rot have come to Church to day, I knew this betore, have heard this often: But commune with thine own foul ra- ther, after this manner; I thought indeed tha.Ihad bin iuffi- ci >rtly iuftrutfed in this point, but I find it otherwMe, Goa !ees tba<-Ihave net enough learned it, and that I m lift make fome better ufc of it, he will not have me to take out, turn over another The Figg-lefs Figg-Tree. another leaf> nor take out a new letfbn, till I have learned the old one better. I will hear it as if I never heard it, read it as if I never had reid it before : Ic is Gods de(ire to fatten that nayl, which he knocks in with fo many hammers. As we have taken out this leflon from ChrifYs method or Manner of Preaching, in preffing and inculcaring his Do&rine on his Hearers ; fo from the Matter prefled, fomething might be obferved. When things are much urged and ingeminated, in Scripture, nfualiy three things are imported (as concerning the matrer tba: is prefled on us) : One is the Difficulty, another the Neceffity , the third is the Excellency thereof. Repentance is the fubjeil matter that Chrift prefleth (as you have heard) upon his Hear- ers, and all thefe three do meet in that duty. Repentance is z dfficult work.* God muft work it; It is not in mans power? a Tim* 2# 25. And he per advent tire will give it, no man is certain of it. Ic is a Supernatural Grace, not onely above nature corrupted, but nature created; for man in In- nocency had no need of it. It is a Necejfary work .• our Saviour before (hewed'the necef- fity of it, Except yen Repent , you {hall all peri(k, verf.3,5. So, Math. 5. 10. Turn or burn, there is no remedy* And it is a moR Excellent giao A fair Daughter of a foul Mother,yet the Father that begat the Daughter could never abide the Mother, nor ever came near her bed. And this fair Daugh- ter was the death of her Mother-, flie killed her that bred her, and was blcffed for fo doing ; She was no fooner born but (lie fpake, and did declare her own defires, and ever after doth work miracles; She maLs the blind to fee, the deaf to hear, the dumb to fpeak,and carts out Devi's : She looks backward, and moves forward ; is her felf a dark Cloud, yet brings a fair Sun Qiine : Is this a Riddie to you ? 1 will read it .- Sin is the Mother, Re- pentance is the Daughter, the Mother is black and ugly, the Daughter fair and lovely : God is the Father of Re- pentance, and He could never endure the Mother fin,, but hates her foriety ; beingbornfhefLw her Mother, for by Re- pentance fin is (lain, and in fo doing God doth blefle her ; fhe no fooner receives breath, but fhe cryes for pardon and forgivo D neffe : 17 DoSl. z Tim. 2 2?. Luke 13. 3, 5N Math. 3. 10. 8 The Figg-lefs Figg-Tree. Miracles (he works: the blind eyes are by her made to fik1- ynefleof fin; the deaf ear (hecauf-thto hear the I John 4.25. i \True \Cenvertm \ Dott. ;Mlth. 4. 3?, & i6> Luke 4. 1 f, neffe. word of truth, the dumb lips to cry out for grace, and the heart that was dead, becomes now alive to God, and the Devil thar, ruled in it is now expelled; She looks backward to fins part, and is humbled for them, yet (he moves forward to holy- n^ffe and perfection. In mort, Repentance is her felf cloudy, and made up of fadneffoyct everlafiing joy and happineiTe doth attend it. But this is too large a fubjeft for me tc Jifcourfe upon, from fo little warning as my Text gives, and yet were knot that I have pitched my thoughts upon another Texr, which requireth a larger handling of this Doctrine; I would fpend thefefew minutes that remain, in enlarging of the former particulars; wifhing that the voice of this Turtle were more heard in our Land, that Gods faithful Minilters would nor forbear Preach- ing it ; nor the people ever leave pra&iting it, till God be pre* vailed withall, to turn away his wrath from u*, which yet hovers v over our heads, as fome birds do over their prey. Nothing but Repe'ntance will clear our Coafts ; Repent England, Rz- pent > Repent, (aid Mr, Bradford at his death and Martyr- dome. From the word q£ Connexion [ Alfo ] we paffe to the Infirm ttioHy [He /pake this Parable J. And there we have the 'Bettor and the Bottrine, The Teacher and the Lefitt tanght} to take no- tice of. The Dodlor teaching, [Hefpake] He, before fpoken of, Je- fus Chrift the Saviour of the world, the promiled Mejfiahy of whom the woman of Samaria fpake;/£*0*p that the Mefliah will come^ and when be {ball come be-all decUre all things^ John 4« 2 5 • That Chrift is the chief Doftor and Teacher of the Church, we have heard proved from fome other Parables; 1 fhall not at this time enlarge upon that fubjeft. That which I com- mend at prefent to your Obfervaiion, is, Chrift was no filent Min'tfter^ no du**i> Prieft : He was noc tongue tycdi but a Preaching Minifter, as appears, (JHath. 4. I 23:C^o> 35) ~6,5r). Lxkeq. 15, 16, 17, &c. Infornuchthat ! all barehim witsfefs of this, verf. 2 3. He The Figg-lefs Figg-Tree. He was the fford> John i. i, 14+ andthac excludes filence and dnmbntffe;Ina man there arc three kinds offpeech. l.Ser- mointtatnt) that inward fpeech which the thought of man re- flecting on it fe(f producech within, Pfal. 1 4. 1 . *> Sermo ilUtm^ a fpeech of inference; that fpeech which is occafioned in him by outward things, from which he dravves conclusions and determines, 3. Sermo frolm us} that fpeech whereby he manifefts him- felf to other men. Chrift is all three, He is Verbnm Innattim, fo he is the Natural or Effential word, which God produced out of himfelf, and Jo he is God: He is Verbum Iliatt*m or soneepHm-i the word occafioned by the Fall of Adam ; which is Gods decree offending that his Son to be the Redeemer of* Mankind. He is Verbnm Pro(atum> which is the execution of that decree, or the manifeftadon and application of Chrift $ whereby this word God-man becomes ours. That Chrift, our Jefus, he that was anointed, our King, Prieftand Prophet, be- comes our actual Saviour. In neither of thefe fenfes, can he be faid to be a dumb or filent word : but we have now to do with the laft, He was the word tnanifefting and applying him 'eif un- to us, for our eternal i'alvation. But how came it then to paffe, that he ftood lb often dumb, and faid nothing, being queftioned for his life, as before Cm- fhafj (when falfe witneffes gave evidences againil him) the like before Herod, and before Pilatt ; before thefe he (pake not a word. And good Reafon the'e »vas for his filence before thefe. Being falfly acculed before Cmph*s he was ftlent, albeit urged to fpeak ; Firft, for that he knew he came thither to I'uffer, being fentof his Father for that purpofe, and no: at this time to de- fend himfelf; Secondly, that by his Silence and Patience, he might intimate the vanity and falfenefle of their accivatien?,and give us an eximple how to carry ourfe'ves in the like cafe, 1 Pet. 2. 21, Thirdly, for that he knew he mould be condem- ned, albeit he fhould have cleared his tnnocency; for his ene- mies were refolred to have his blood, and that hour he knew was now come. He held his peav.cbefore Bend (fay (bine) becaufe he had D 2 before l9 John 14. 1. 1» objea. Math. 16. 6&. .. Li.k %y»f Math.17. 14. io i , The Figg-lefs Figg-Tree. ! Mark. l. Luke 13.7. !fa.?3.7. I I i& s% 7. I Aas $.32, fy*. I Phil. 2.11. Pfal. 40.9, io5& 119, j 4*, 172. Rom. 10, 10. PfaJ. 22. 22. Pia!.ic8. before taken awny his voyce, in cutting off John the Baprifts head (who was his voice as we read, Mark,1* 2, 3.) and how can one fpeak that hath loft his voyce? But other reafons may bcrendredfor that; Firft, it might be to abate the pride and vanity o£ Herod, who imagined that Chrift would have (hewen fomemiraclebeforehim,Z<#^*3i7. but our Saviour to (hew how little he efteemed of his worldly grearneflfe, would not fo much as anfwer him a word : Secondly, he knew he flaould do no good with him, he being a man given up to all Voluptuouf- nels and vitioufnefs of Lire ; Thirdly, for that he knew he was to receive fentence not fromifoW a Jew,but homPilate aRomane, and that he was to dye by crucifying,after the Romane manner. And beingbefore Pilate he fceld his peace ; Firft, for that in his confeience he was convicted of his Ir>nocency,and therefore there needed no Apology before him, # Secondly,., he ftiewed thereby his magnanimity, in contemning death, had he an- fwered any thing, it might have bin thought that he had binde- firous to fave his Life, which he thirfted to lay down for mans Redemption : Thirdly,, that he might acknowledge our fm-guiltineffe, heftanding inourftead, and being now ready to difcharge our debt : There may be fome reafons of our Savi- ours filence at thofe times ; Then he flood dumb as a ftieep be- fore the Shepherd, that the Scripture might be fullfUled, which had fo foretold, !$$*%%.*!• tAtts%- 3 a. But when, or where do we read that he flood dumb as a Shepherd beforehis fhecp ? and that is the point we have now in hand. Letus make a twofold Ufe of this; Firft, feeing Chrift was not dumb in fpeaking to us for our good, let not us be dumb in the caufe of Chrift, but find a tongue for Him, fo as to confeffe his name, Phil.x.\ h declare his Tru:h, P/k/.4o.o,-io,cfr 1 19. 46j 172. fet forth his praife , Pfal. 34. 1, 3 5, »&,* 6S,U Viv&t & regnet ChrlJfy^Siid Lnther, in fpigbt of all adversaries. The tongue is the beft member that we have for this fcrvice, fo our old Eng\i(h Plalmes do read,*?/"*/. 1 08. ijmllfagaxdgive traifa with the beft member 1 have, even with my glory ^ as | our new Trarilation hath it, And why my glory* Not! onely becaufe it was one of the Excellences and Prerogatives of Man , above other Creatures , that he is-embkd to ufe his j tongue } The Figg-Iefs Figg-Tree. con°ue to the exprefling of his mind, but for that it is the In ttrument ordained :o the fetcjog forth of Gods glory, in the ad vancement whereof the glory of man (as. Gods principal Crea- ture) dath confift : Thence it was, that the Devil (as it were in fpi-ht) cook away from divers the ufe of the tongue in the days of our Saviour, and pefleffcd them with dumbneik, that they might not with the tongue give God that fervice,which was due unto him from it. And yet to this day he continues bis malice? for this dumb Devil is rife ever/ where, (faith a Worthy of our times), He is on the Bench when the mure or partial Judge, f peaks not for Truth and Innocency ; He is in [he Pulpit when the Prophets of God fm other, or halve, ©r adulterate, their Matter's meflage,^^ And whilft be ftopps the mouths of Chri- | ftiansfrom thefe ufeful and neceffary ducks required to be by j the tongue performed to God or Man? the dumb Devil rageta \ andreigneth. This dumbnefle is of dangerous conieqaence , That fiahdmg ftilloftheSun and Moon, which we read efy Je-fhua io, i *+ I gave an occafion of iheddingfo much blood of the Ammonites. j Now in the Original it is not, Jijfefit-, Sun ftand (till, but fdc foly Sun be filenr, fas the Margent of your Bibles will inform e ; you) he bids them fay nothing, make no noyfe, no rnotion.fiirr i not; fuppofethe Sun to be the Magidrate, and the Moon to be j theMinitter,(letit befo in your conceptions at prefent) if thefe I be iilent and dumb ; if they command not; pray nor, maintain notGodcaufe, Chrift'scaui'e, and the Churches caufe, the Cafe is dangerous, and yet it is to be feared, much blood hath bin fpilt through fuchfilence. It is dangerous in all, but in thofe who are in a more efpecial manner deputed to let forth Gods name, declare his truth', and give warning to the people, it is deadiy ; Ezsk. 3. 18. Ton that are the Lords Remember ancers be not filent, faith the Prophet, J fa. 62.6. Silence is thebafefl tenure fakh one, that a Minitter can hold his living by; Thofe Priefts of old, that did not bark, - ' were branded for dumb dtggs, I'a. 5 6. io. yea they were^r^- \dy doggs> faith he, who can nivtr have enoagh^ verf. 1 1, norr.ar- I vail then that they were dumb* A bone (you kno.v) in a doggs mouth doth marr his barking, that man, is fuch a Lecturer's I * ^^ good 21 • Luke 1 U 14. S. S. Halt. cont. m N.f. 1 Joflma 10, 10, Exck, 5. 18. lfa. 61. 6\ Te?wife JiUmia tlttum. Ifa. 56.10, IX. f«4- J in i f i Sam. lo 13. frj - Ecckf.j. 7. Pfal.33. I3>&39> Amos j. 13- Ads 19, 37. Ads 17. Mark 1, 44> 4) • The Figg-lefsFigg-Tree. good Benefadlor, yet he is an Ufurer, a Drunkard, or an Unclean liver: But chofe fins mutt not be fpoken of, Icaft fo much be loft Quarterly, &s. here is the mouth of the dogg flopped with acrull: Ochers have attained to fome high place and prefer- ment, and no fooner are they come to the high place, but they make an end of Pr ophefyirg, as did Saul, likewifeare choakedwkh bones, and ar j&3,i8. i Sam. io. 13. thefe : gigg'd with prefer- ment-. A dogs;, and a Jews trump, (we lay) are good for nothing if they hive iott their tongues; if it pleafe you, you may add the third, and take a Minister into the number. And yet there is a time tefptak^ and a time to keepfileuee/zith SoUmony Eccief. 3. 7. IWdoblened it, P/*l.3%tl3,& 39, *. and eve y prudent man (lull keep fi'ence in that time, for it is an evil time, faith ^yimos 5. 13. when there is danger of doing 1vorc hurt, then good by fpeaking ; when Gods glory is not cherein interelkd, the peace of the Church, and truth of the iofpel endangered by our filencr, and our own liberty by fpeak- ing hindred; thrnmay we Hand as Mutes, albeit we live in the in idft of raging Confonancs : And fo St.Patilzt Ephefus ,forbo:e exclaiming and crying out againll Diana, and their groffe Ido- latry, as may be gathered from the ipeechof the Town-Clark, Afts*9. 37. And why there, more then at ^Athens t his fpi- rit was tiirred in him there at Athens, when he beheld that Ido- latry that wasamongflt' em, c/f#*i7*t6\ Surely becaufe he law that fuch an inventive, would have done no good but much hurt, fork would prefently have abridged him of his liberty, and have railed up bitter Perfection again(l him : And upon the fame ground did our Saviour charge them, upon vrhom he had wrought his miracles not to fpeak of it to any man, Mark^ »♦ 44> 4?* Chriltian prudence enjoynes filence in evil times. Indeed, this is rather true in private perfons then in thofe whom God bath fenc to deliver his meffage unto his people; God layes his burthen on his Prophets, to burthen all forts of nun, wich all fores ef fin, andtotellthe greateft Potentates on Earth, that Petentes Potenter, the Mighty (tell be mightily tor- men: ~1 , and where we are commanded ro fpeak, we may not hold.our peace, (albeit bryars and thornes are with us, Eze%. 2. The Figg-lefs Figg-Tree. 25 6, cr 3, i 8.) It is fafetohold our faith, hold the truth, hold our profeffion, and to hold fart the forme of found words ; but hold our tongues we may, in no cafe. But yet affirmative pre- cepts not binding adfemper to all lisne?, only pro hie & nunc (as the School term is) wiidome (hould be (hewed by Minirters as well as others, (and much rather) in reproving and inveying againft fome corruptions tha: arc either in Church or State. And albeit his Text gives him occafion to do it, yet if the ini- quity of the times be iuch, that they will not indure it, and that more hurt (in all likelyhood) then good will follow thereupon, he may (without fear of being a Time-ferver) be filent and for- bear ; And this is the firrt life we fhouid put this point unto. The fecond is, If Chrirt have a Tongue for us, tuenletus find an Eare for him; hisgoodnefife in fpeakicg implyes an obligation. on us to hear him. And there is all the region in the World for it. Frirt, Cjodthe Father commands us tohear him Math. 17. > Filius frentinciat cjHdDeusfater dittat^ks my Father hath taught me, Ifpeakrhefe things faith Chrill. Joh.%. 16. Shall we hear the Serpent hiffing ; the Schifmatique feducing, &c. and not Him fpeiking ! mall n©t he that made the Eare command the Door ? he that gave the Hearing be heard before any other, cal- ling on us for Attention ? Secondly, He onelj is tverthy to be heard, and that both in re- fpeclof his Perfon, Office, and meiftge that he brings.. For his Person he is both God and man, iTim. 3. 16*. God ma- nifefted in the fie(h9 fo, Phil* 2. <5. God he is, as is evident, John 1. f . %«m. o. ^ and God fpeaking is worthy to be heard, Pfal. 50. 1 . k is the voyce of God and not of man, laid Herod's flat- tering Subjects, jifts 11.22. But we may truly fay when he fpeaks, Nen vox homlnem fonat> O detis ille I It is the preac God that -(peaks to us, 6 let us hear him, And as he is GW, fo true Man, Phii.i.y, %omi.l. John 1. 1 4. the greafteft,wifeft and eloquentert cf all the fons of men, and thefe dbrcfc forts of men uiually command the ears of rheir Auditory* Whzn great men fpeak, all iirten with great at tent ion; every man 1 Cor. 9 I*. Vfi. 2, Math, 17. I John 8.i£ r Tim. j4 16. Phil. 2. 6. Tohn 1. 1. Rom. 9.5. Ad.11.22, Phil. 2, 7. Row. 1. 3. John x.l 4. 24 i [ Eccicf. 13. Ads 1 a. Rcv.4. 10. Math. 12. Colof.2.3. 2 Sam. i£. 23- 1 Cor. 1, 20. , ; Atfs 14. : John 7.4^. Cant, y. 1 J. i Pfal. 1. 6. Pfal.no. 4. The Figg-lefs Figg- Tree. man holdech his tongue, and look vvh.it he faith, they praife unto the Skyes (faith the Son of S/rach). So we read the people applauded Herod, Atts 12.22, But who greater than Chrift? who can compare with him in greatnefle, before whom all Kings cart down their Crowns, Revel, 4. 10 > He is the wife ft of all the Ions of men.The Queen of the South came from a tar Country, to hear the wifdome of Solomon, and etteemed thofe happy who flood before him to hear his fayings, but behold a wifer then Solomon is here, He is the wifdome of the Father , all'treafures of wifdome and knowledge dwell in him, Colof. z. 3# Solomon was but a Child to him, Achho- p£