ashamed of my sin; yea,
but live such a life, that
men by that may see thy shame for sin. Ps. xxxviii. 18.
Je. xxxi. 19. By thy profession thou sayest, I have
turned from, left off, and am become an enemy to
every appearance of evil. 1 Th. v. 22. Ah! but doth
thy life and conversation declare thee to be such
an one? Take heed, barren fig-tree, lest thy life
should give thy profession the lie. I say again,
take heed, for God himself will come for fruit.
And he sought fruit thereon,'

You have some professors, that are only saints before men when they are abroad, but are devils and vipers at home; saints by profession, but devils by practice; saints in word, but sinners in heart and life. These men may have the profession, but they want the fruits that become repentance.1

thyself to every man's conscience in the sight of God?' 2 Co. iv. 2.

Second. God expecteth fruits that shall answer that faith which thou makest profession of. The professor that is got into the vineyard of God doth feign that he hath the faith, the faith most holy, the faith of God's elect. Ah! but where are thy fruits, barren fig-tree? The faith of the Romans was spoken of throughout the whole world.' Ro. And the Thessalonians' faith grew exceedingly. 2 Th. i. 3.

i. 8.

Thou professest to believe thou hast a share in another world: hast thou let go THIS, barren figtree? Thou professest thou believest in Christ: is he thy joy, and the life of thy soul? Yea, what conformity unto him, to his sorrows and sufferings? What resemblance hath his crying, and groaning, and bleeding, and dying, wrought in thee? Dost thou bear about in thy body the dying of the Lord Jesus?' and is also the life of Jesus made manifest in thy mortal body?' 2 Co. iv. 10, 11. Barren fig-tree, show me thy faith by thy works.' 'Show out of a good conversation thy works with meekness of wisdom.' Ja. ii. 18; iii. 13. What fruit, barren fig-tree, what degree of heart-holiness? for faith purifies the heart. Ac. xv. 9. What love to the Lord Jesus? for faith worketh by love.' Ga. v. 6.

Third. God expecteth fruits according to the seasons of grace thou art under, according to the rain that cometh upon thee. Perhaps thou art

Barren fig-tree, can it be imagined that those that paint themselves did ever repent of their pride? or that those that pursue this world did ever repent of their covetousness? or that those that walk with wanton eyes did ever repent of their fleshly lusts? Where, barren fig-tree, is the fruit of these people's repentance? Nay, do they not rather declare to the world that they have repented of their profession? Their fruits look as if they had. Their pride saith they have repented of their humility. Their covetousness declareth that they are weary of depending upon God; and doth not thy wanton actions declare that thou abhorrest chastity? Where is thy fruit, barren fig-planted in a good soil, by great waters, that thou tree? Repentance is not only a sorrow, and a shame for, but a turning from sin to God; it is called repentance from dead works.' He. vi. 1. Hast thou that godly sorrow' that worketh repentance to salvation, not to be repented of?' 2 Co. vii. 10, 11. How dost thou show thy carefulness, and clearing of thyself; thy indignation against sin; thy fear of offending; thy vehement desire to walk with God; thy zeal for his name and glory in the world? And what revenge hast thou in thy heart against every thought of disobedience?

mightest bring forth branches, and bear fruit; that thou mightest be a goodly vine or fig-tree. Shall he not therefore seek for fruit, for fruit answerable to the means? Barren fig-tree, God expects it, and will find it too, if ever he bless thee. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: but that which beareth thorns and briars is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing, whose end is to be burned.' He. vi. 7, 8.

Barren soul, how many showers of grace, how many dews from heaven, how many times have the silver streams of the city of God run gliding by thy roots, to cause thee to bring forth fruit! These showers and streams, and the drops that hang upon thy boughs, will all be accounted for; and will they not testify against thee that thou oughtest, of right, to be burned? Hear and tremble, O thou barren professor! Fruits that become thy profession of the gospel, the God of heaven expecteth. The gospel hath in it the forgiveness of sins, the kingdom of heaven, and eternal life; but what fruit hath thy profession of a belief of these things put forth in thy heart and life? Hast thou given thyself to the Lord? and is all that thou hast to

be ventured for his name in this world? Dost

thou walk like one that is bought with a price, | yard by the God of heaven, what fruit to Godward even with the price of precious blood?

Fourth. The fruit that God expecteth is such as is meet for himself; fruit that may glorify God. God's trees are trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified; fruit that tasteth of heaven, abundance of such fruit. For 'herein,' saith Christ, is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit.' Jn. xv. 8. Fruits of all kinds, new and old; the fruits of the Spirit are in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth. Fruits before the world, fruits before the saints, fruits before God, fruits before angels.

Abel offered the more
Enoch walked with
Noah, by his

together, and burned them; curious books, though they were worth fifty thousand pieces of silver. I could add how many willingly offered themselves in all ages, and their all, for the worthy name of the Lord Jesus, to be racked, starved, hanged, burned, drowned, pulled in pieces, and a thousand calamities.1 Barren fig-tree, the vineyard of God hath been a fruitful place. What dost thou there? What dost thou bear? God expects fruit according to, or becoming the soil of the vineyard.

have they brought forth! excellent sacrifice.' lle. xi. 4. God three hundred years. He. xi. 5. life of faith, condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.' He. xi. 7. Abraham left his country, and went out after God, not knowing whither he went. He. xi. 8. Moses left a kingdom, and run the hazard of the wrath of the king, for the love he had to God and Christ. What shall I say of them who had trials, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection? They were stoned; they were O my brethren, what manner of persons ought sawn asunder; were tempted; were slain with the we to be,' who have subscribed to the Lord, and sword; they wandered about in sheep-skins and have called ourselves by the name of Israel? One goat-skins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented.' shall say I am the Lord's; and another shall call | He. xi. 35–37. Peter left his father, ship, and nets. himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall Mat iv. 18-20. Paul turned off from the feet of Gasubscribe with his hand unto the Lord, and sur-maliel. Men brought their goods and possessions name himself by the name of Israel.' Is. xliv. 5. Barren (the price of them) and cast it down at the apostle's fig-tree, hast thou subscribed, hast thou called thy-feet. Ac. xix. 18-20. And others brought their books self by the name of Jacob, and surnamed thyself by the name of Israel? All this thon pretendest to, who art got into the vineyard, who art placed among the trees of the garden of God. God doth therefore look for such fruit as is worthy of his name, as is meet for him; as the apostle saith, we should walk worthy of God;' that is, so as we may show in every place that the presence of God is with us, his fear in us, and his majesty and authority upon our actions. Fruits meet for him, such a dependence upon him, such trust in his word, such satisfaction in his presence, such a trusting of him with all my concerns, and such delight in the enjoyment of him, that may demonstrate that his fear is in my heart, that my soul is wrapped up in his things, and that my body, and soul, and estate, and all, are in truth, through his grace, at his dispose, fruit meet for him. Hearty thanks, and blessing God for Jesus Christ, for his good word, for his free grace, for the discovery of himself in Christ to the soul, secret longing after another world, fruit meet for him. Liberality to the poor saints, to the poor world; a life in word and deed exemplary; a patient and quiet enduring of all things, till I have done and suffered the whole will of God, which he hath appointed for me. That on the good ground are they which, in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.' Lu. viii. 15. This is bringing forth fruit unto God; having our 'fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.' Ro. vii. 4; vi. 22; xiv. 8.

Fifth. The Lord expects fruit becoming the vineyard of God. The vineyard,' saith he, in a very fruitful hill:' witness the fruit brought forth in all ages. Is. v. 1. The most barren trees that ever grew in the wood of this world, when planted in this vine

VOL. III.

Sixth. The fruit which God expecteth is such as becometh God's husbandry and labour. The vineyard is God's husbandry, or tillage. I am the true vine,' saith Christ, and my Father is the husbandman.' Jn. xv. 1. And again, Ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.' 1 Co. iii. 9. The vineyard; God fences it, God gathereth out the stones, God builds the tower, and the wine-press in the midst thereof. Here is labour, here is protection, here is removing of hindrances, here is convenient purgation, and all that there might be fruit.

Barren fig-tree, what fruit hast thou? Hast thou fruit becoming the care of God, the protection of God, the wisdom of God, the patience and husbandry of God? It is the fruit of the vineyard that is either the shame or the praise of the husbandman. I went by the field of the slothful,' saith Solomon, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; and lo, it was all grown

1 How great is the mercy that those horrid barbarities, perpetrated upon peaceful Christians, are now only heard of in those distant parts of Satan's empire, China and Madagascar ! Has the enmity of the human heart by nature changed? No; but the number of Christians has so vastly increased with a civilizing influence, as to change the face of society. What a paradise will this earth become when Christ shall reign in every heart!-(ED.)

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over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face is a professor in my church, that is barren, that thereof.' Pr. xxxiv. 80—32. beareth no fruit.

Barren fig-tree, if men should make a judgment of the care, and pains, and labour of God in his church, by the fruit that thou bringest forth, what might they say? Is he not slothful, is not he careless, is he not without discretion? O! thy thorns, thy nettles, thy barren heart and barren life, is a continual provocation to the eyes of his glory, as likewise a dishonour to the glory of his grace. Barren fig-tree, hast thou heard all these things? I will add yet one more.

Observe, However the barren professor thinks of himself on earth, the Lord cries out in heaven against him. And now go to, I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and I will break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down.' Is. v. 5.

'Behold, THESE THREE YEARS I come seeking fruit.'

Observe, THESE THREE YEARS." God cries out that this patience is abused, that his forbearance is "And he came and sought fruit thereon.' abused. Behold, these three years I have waited, The question is not now, What thou thinkest of forborne; these three years I have deferred mine thyself, nor what all the people of God think of anger. Therefore will I stretch out my hand thee, but what thou shalt be found in that day against thee, and destroy thee; I am weary with when God shall search thy boughs for fruit? When repenting.' Je. xv. 6. These three years. ObSodom was to be searched for righteous men, God serve, God layeth up all the time; I say, a rewould not, in that matter, trust his faithful ser-membrance of all the time that a barren fig-tree, or a fruitless professor, misspendeth in this world. As he saith also of Israel of old, forty years long was I grieved with this generation.' Ps. xcv. 10.

vant Abraham; but still, as Abraham interceded, God answered, If I find fifty, or forty and five there, I will not destroy the city.' Ge. xviii. 20–28. Barren fig-tree, what sayest thou? God will come down to see, God will make search for fruit himself.

And he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of the vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig-tree, and find none; cut it down, why cumbereth it the ground?'

These words are the effects of God's search into the boughs of a barren fig-tree; he sought fruit, and found none-none to his liking, none pleasant and good. Therefore, first, he complains of the want thereof to the dresser; calls him to come, and see, and take notice of the tree; then signifieth his pleasure: he will have it removed, taken away, cut down from cumbering the ground.

Observe, The barren fig-tree is the object of God's displeasure; God cannot bear with a fruitless professor.

THEN said he, &c.

THEN, after this provocation; then, after he had sought and found no fruit, then. This word, THEN, doth show us a kind of an inward disquietness; as he saith also in another place, upon a like provocation. THEN the anger of the Lord, and his jealousy, shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the Lord shall blot out his name from under heaven.' De. xxix. 18-20.

THEN; it intimateth that he was now come to a point, to a resolution what to do with this fig-tree. "Then said he to the dresser of this vineyard,' that is, to Jesus Christ, 'behold,' as much as to say, come hither, here is a fig-tree in my vineyard, here

These three years,' &c. These three seasons: Observe, God remembers how many seasons thou hast misspent for these three years signify so many seasons. And when the time of fruit drew nigh, that is, about the season they begin to be ripe, or that according to the season might so have been. Barren fig-tree, thou hast had time, seasons, sermons, ministers, afflictions, judgments, mercies, and what not; and yet hast not been fruitful. Thou hast had awakenings, reproofs, threatenings, comforts, and yet hast not been fruitful. Thou hast had patterns, examples, citations, provocations, and yet hast not been fruitful. Well, God hath laid up thy three years with himself. He remembers every time, every season, every sermon, every minister, affliction, judgment, mercy, awakening, pattern, example, citation, provocation; he remembers all. As he said of Israel of old, "They have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice.' Nu. xiv. 22. And again, 'I remember all their wickedness.' Ho. vii. 2. 'These three years,' &c. He seeks for the fruit of every season. He will not that any of his sermons, ministers, afflictions, judgments, or mercies, should be lost, or stand for insignificant things; he will have according to the benefit bestowed. 2 Ch. xxxii. 24, 25. He hath not done without a cause all that he hath done, and therefore he looketh for fruit. Eze. xiv. 23. Look to it, barren fig-tree.1

1 In the midst of these faithful admonitions, we venture to remark that, according to Lightfoot, so valuable was the fig tree that it was never destroyed until means were carefully used to restore its fruitfulness, and that the use of these means occupied a period of three years. This illustrates the wisdom of our Lord in selecting the fig-tree as the principal object

could do almost anything with God in prayer. | How many times did Moses by prayer turn away God's judgments from even Pharaoh himself! yea, how many times did he by prayer preserve Israel, when in the wilderness, from the anger and wrath of God! Ps. cvi. 23. Samuel is reckoned excellent this way, yea, so excellent, that when Israel had done that fearful thing as to reject the Lord, and choose them another king, he prayed, and the Lord spared, and forgave them. 1 Sa. xii. But yet neither Moses nor Samuel can save a barren figtree. No; though Moses and Samuel stood before me, that is, pleading, arguing, interceding, supplicating, and beseeching, yet could they not incline mine heart to this people.