, 2`,ty6 ` .5. 1,0 The .`Difcouerie ofHypocrifie. The firlt Sermon. Mar. 3. no. Zia* rsthe Axe laid to the root ofthe Trees : Therefore enerytreewhich bringeth trotforthgoodfruit is hewn downandcadi into thefire. 233 H IS verfe is a part ofthe Sermon, which lehnBetptift Theoceaioa thePore-runner,and (as I may focali him) the harbin. of thewords. ger ofour Saviour Chrift,made in the Wildernesat the timeofhis firet pteaching.Itteas direftedprincipallyto theSadduces and Pharifes,whobeing tranfported rather witheumlation& .nalice,then furredvp by anytruth of seale,went out with others to be partakers of Iohnr.Mi. niftery.lalowthe Spirit of God revealingunto Johntheir great hypocrifie, in that they accuflomed themfeluesto an outward (hewof re. ligion without fincerity,he takes themvpvery roughly and very roundly,calleth them agenerarionofvipers,ftirreth them vp very powerfullyto repentance,labou- rethto ouerthrow their prefuming uponthe outward prisiledge ofbeingAbra. hams feed, an though God were therefore bound co ehem; and now in thisverfe . be threatneth themwith eternal' condemnation without fpeedy repentance:This is the occafionand generall drift ofthis derfe. To makeway to the profitable handling ofit, itTall báxerygood toexamine Thewa- in particular,the fenfe and meaningof the words.Knorr thistherfore: It pleafeth °fig God intheScripture,ro takevotohimfelf the naméand title ofanHtnbandman', aloh.rf.s. anrefpeet that he is the firfl planter,and the continualldreffcr and manurerofhis Çhurch,whíchChurdialfo isfometime called a Vineyard', fometimes.Godt Imp b ofa,q.r. bandy c : And heere inthis place, the people lining inthe Chutch ofGod, and er Car,;.g, profefsingreligion; are Called trtes,fuch ofwhom muchgood & wholefomefruit is expefted. By the Axe, is vnderflood the poneerfull minificryof the Word ; thereby the hcauensare cut (asit were)to hallen eithereheirdamnation,or their faluation. By the root of the rrees,aremeant the faultsand confciencesofmen,to which the Word is wagapplyedt and the latter claufe (therefore emery tree Which bringeth not forth goodfruit,ishrwen downand raft intothe fire)figureth out ontovs the finali renter=which ¿hall paffe upon all chore, who sender.the preachingof theGofpell, (hall romaine vnfruitfull. Sóthat it is all one asibex had laidvote. the Pharifes; Howfoeuetyou haue formerly prefirmed uponGods'patience, and hauepromifed peace roto yourlehnes, yet now it the timeto looke onto it with greater care, for theLordwillbedallied with no longer,bee now begins to take fuckacourfe among you by the miniltcryof theGofpell, that it (hall louve ap. peacewhobehis : neither shall now your glorious (heroes auaileyou anymore: forafter this, all they that remainewithout fruits worthy amendment of life, Mallbe preparedand fitted by the power ofthe Word, ontoeternal' defìrú&ion. This is the meaningand true fenfeofthis verfe. Having foundout the meaning, let vs cometo the examination of the parts The cederof ofir, that fo wemay findewhacthe intent of the Spirit ofGod is to reachvs in "handlingthe this place. Markethis therefore, thatas the main thing heremeant, isthesaini_ Text. fieryofthe Word; fo touchiogtheminiaeryand teachingof the Word,we haue hero
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