That the infinitely just and holy God should have spared you, unconverted man, unconverted woman, up till now, is no small thing, but a matter for adoring wonder.1. You are like a fig-tree planted in a vineyard. If there be none to spare, whereof the owner may make money, yet sufficiat ad usum suum, ad esum suum — that he may eat the labours of his own hands; no, "none." No fruit is more delectable to the taste, nor more comfortable to the heart, than that which comes from the grape. They must not only abound in some kind of fruit, but must bring forth fruits of all kinds.III. "The whole earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof; the round world, and they that dwell therein," saith the Psalmist (Psalm 24:1), and yet in regard of the affection that He bears unto the Church, He doth in a manner count Himself owner of nothing but this. Christ groaned, as it seems, under the Jews' malice.(N. "Sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily"; and, as the consequence, the heart of the sons of men is often fully set in them to do evil. N. Norton, D. D.A gentleman once entered a hall with his little son, when they saw a number of well-dressed people, some of them standing together in groups, while others sat at their ease. Zealous they seem outwardly, when they are cold at heart or else lukewarm. Highly are you favoured, brethren; you are members of a pure Church; you assemble to a pure form of worship. But "God seeth not as man seeth"; man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart, as was told Samuel.(N. Is not this the true way of estimating the importance of a Christian Church? Then the conquest is most glorious, because then it is most difficult. Shall mercy be preached to you for ever in vain? THE DOOM THAT IS PASSED UPON THE BARREN FIG-TREE: "Cut it down, why cumbereth it the ground."1. Many that sometimes looked green and promising under the means of grace, have lost all now. The leaf of the asp resembles the tongue, but the leaf of the fig-tree, man's hand. There may be separate fruit for a man, and separate fruit for a woman. Why a fig-tree should be mentioned rather than any other tree, some reasons may be rendered, as this in general: The fig-tree was very common in Judea, and frequently planted in their vineyards, for that the vine delighteth much in its neighbourhood and shade; and thence is it that we so frequently find them joined together in the Scripture (Deuteronomy 8:8; 1 Kings 4:25; Psalm 105:33; Joel 1:7 and Joel 2:22; Amos 4:9; Haggai 1:19). Their aims and ends in all their devotions is self.4. Yet it may be perceived by their soaking of the ground and drawing away nourishment from corn and plants that are near unto them. What is the use of its remaining longer, but to fill up room in that garden on which I have bestowed so much pains, to intercept the light of the sun from the other trees that are bearing fruit, to draw away the sap from them?V. The tree takes up of its own soil, and by a strange process of transformation, what it took up in one form, earthy, comes out at last in another — for beauty and for usefulness — heavenly. Though He bears long, He will not bear always. Some exalted, others brought down. Let these and all such other be advised not to flatter themselves nor suffer themselves by vain pretences to be undone. THE INTERCESSION OF THE VINE-DRESSER.1. Beware of being cumberers of the ground.4. The mischiefs which attend the unfruitful and are wrought by them. W. Skeffington, M. A.O could there be laid out before our eyes the secret and wonderful workings, the incessant and anxious care, of which the inner life of any one soul is the object, how should we be lost in amazement at the unmerited, the marvellously constant, love of God! There is no comfort to the vine-dressers from that part of the ground such occupy, though otherwise much might arise from it, if it was planted with other trees. For the First: The phrase or expression. Rogers. But why is it resembled to a vineyard, rather than to another thing? The will-not of unbelief makes the grace of God of none effect.2. Their convictions are stifled, their affection to the things of God is gone, and the gospel is become tasteless to them.4. GOD HAS PLACED US IN THE MOST FAVOURABLE CIRCUMSTANCES FOR THE BRINGING FORTH OF FRUIT. The flattering courtier likes well the clasping ivy, which yet is an enemy to all trees and plants, it undermineth walls, and is good only to harbour serpents and venomous creatures, insomuch that Pliny wonders it should be honoured by any, or counted of any worth; and yet heathen emperors have used to make them garlands of it, and wear them on their heads. The individuality of God's gracious dealings. Haply not so thick with fruits as the "vines of Engedi"; every land is not a Canaan, to flow with milk and honey. It is thus with many an unprofitable and barren Christian, he is a soaker, and that in respect both of things that concern this life and a better; and so cumbersome. Once the sap was thrown into its proper channel the tree continued to bear. "This year also" — a grant from infinite grace, as the result of love's pleadings, and in pursuance of love's designs.1. Compared with the rest of mankind, they are like an enclosed field or garden, in the cultivating or adorning of which the proprietor lays out great pains and expense.II. Here we see —1. Unproductiveness is decidedly criminal.2. Sound. He likeneth Himself to man, and speaks after the manner of men unto us. Now seeking implies divers things: First, an earnest desire to find the thing sought for, as Luke 15:4; Matthew 13:45. At this period my whole soul was filled with horror, being conscious that I was not prepared to pass my final scrutiny. And the true measure of the emptiness is the extent of the culture. The furnace of affliction has melted many. Did he not give you wages enough?" McCrie, D. D.)Bringing forth fruitRowland Hill, M. A.Every man is expected to be fruitful in some way or other; there is no situation in which a man cannot bring forth some good fruit. And can we wonder at this when we consider what a waste it is of time; what an abuse it is of privilege; what a contempt it is of the Divine goodness; what a disregard it is of the soul and eternity I Sin is to be estimated not by its grossness, but its guilt. Unprolific trees have been started, some by a very hard winter, others by a very warm summer, to yield fruit. (c) Sometimes, to exercise this patience of the vine-dressers themselves, which labour and take pains about these fig-trees, God will hereby sometimes prove them, and God will sometimes hereby trouble them; as St. Paul observes it in himself, from the non-proficiency and impenitency of the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 12. ult). Barren trees, that have leaves but no fruit.5. He is ready to send Christ away in the language of that foul spirit, "Art Thou come to torment me before my time?" If happiness consisted in doing nothing, God, that meant Adam so happy, would never have set him about business; but as paradise was his storehouse, so also his workhouse: his pleasure was his task. Rogers. It cannot be a real Christian. Rogers. "And what could He do more for us that He hath not done?" Low trees are subject to the browsing of beasts, trampling down with feet, and twenty other annoyances. First, in youth. The body and bulk of this tree is hard and tough, and the leaves unwholesome to any beast that doth not chew the cud. He hath chosen them from the rest of the world. For exhortation. Adams, D. D.)God and man dealing with unfruitfulnessA farmer, who had turned his attention to the raising of fruit, said to a friend as they sat at table, "I have cut down over fifty peach-trees to-day." He woke up a different man. He is the vinedresser, and His ministry of grace and truth is the means whereby it is faintly hoped Israel may yet, at the eleventh hour, be made spiritually fruitful. They are fathers, they are shepherds, they are spiritual watchmen, and what not to work them, and to engage them hereunto. God is content that we should have the good of all, but the praise of all He looks to have Himself.6. (2) Such barren trees are cumbersome and burdensome to other trees and plants that grow, or might grow, in the vineyard; and that divers ways. His disappointment.3. Historically the record is grand; intrinsically the power is the same to-day. We would gladly close our eyes and not witness the scene, but the authority of the text bids us still look on. Why thus it is now with those who are ministers and pastors of the Church. There is no comfort to the vine-dressers from that part of the ground such occupy, though otherwise much might arise from it, if it was planted with other trees. IV. It is thus with many an unprofitable and barren Christian, he is a soaker, and that in respect both of things that concern this life and a better; and so cumbersome. And what fruit can be compared with the fruit that a Christian bears? We may admire the artistic skill which can fashion matter into forms of beauty; but what are all the outside appearances of religion in the deceitful Pharisee compared with the holiness of life in the heart of the true believer? The minister shall be particular in describing his case, in alarming his fears. All other fruit that grows without this fence is but sour and bitter, seem it never so fair and glorious to the eye, yet it is but hedge fruit, or like unto the grapes of Sodom and clusters of Gomorrah (Deuteronomy 32:32).5. GOD PRONOUNCES SENTENCE OF DESTRUCTION ON ALL WHO, HAVING HAD SUCH PRIVILEGES, BRING FORTH NO FRUIT (see John 15:6; Matthew 7:19). "He is a jealous God" (Exodus 20:5; Deuteronomy 4:26). "If it bear fruit, well; if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down." These rendings, however, are most precious as the means of opening a way whereby the elements of spiritual life conveyed by the Word and the Spirit may reach their destination. So we might show of His other attributes.(N. So fruitful is the Church of God and every sound member of it; they are "filled with the fruits of righteousness" (Philippians 1:11).3. Thirdly, God will have a special care of us. 2. )The barren fig-treeW. Absolom was a goodly green, straight tree, none in Israel to be compared with him for beauty. He engages to use additional means to produce fertility — "Till I dig about it, and dung it." THE FIG-TREE WAS FAVOURED. Clarkson, B. D.)The parable of the fig-treeT. He is a good God; and being good, He must needs love goodness and hate iniquity (Psalm 45:7). He might have bidden the tiles fall from the roof, or the fever might have smitten you in the street; the air might have refused to heave your lungs, or the blood might have ceased its circulation in your veins. Clarkson, B. D.Those who enjoy the means of fruitfulness should bring forth fruit; those who are planted in the Lord's vineyard, and have a standing under the means of grace, should be fruitful. Denote that the tree of a new year SUGGESTS a RETROSPECT observe measure her ( Psalm 50:21 ; 3:15... Never too late ; but so deep was the question which settled the value of the sweetest virtue, the... The earth, but they are to understand by fruit, well for the sinner responsibility is to. More fruit they should bear Himself with our doings. therefore let each one us... Heinously resents it when He finds no fruit whatever, and is withered away and... He became illustrious for Christian attainment. ( N sort, but be. Christ has pleaded for you? 3 and riot, and that of... 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