672 THE CHURCH coMPARED To A VINEYARD. Book IV. Boar, and other evil Bea(\s; it ers, who for their Subtilty and Cruelry are called hath many Enemies. Foxes. By little Foxes, Cant. ii. IS· fome underfiand fuch as feem devout, and very humble, and yet preach hurtful and poifonous Doctrine, yea, bring in damnable Herefies, which greatly tend to the fpoiling of God's Vineyard, 2 Pet. ii. 2, 3· And then the Church is greatly annoyed alfo by the wild Boar, as David ihews, '!'he Boar of the Wood doth wajle it, and the wild Beajls of the Field de·vour it, PJal.lxxx. I 3· by which are meant the cruel Enemies the Church met with in thofe Days; like as in thefe latter Times, ihe hath the Pope, who may fitly be compared to a wild Boar; and the bloody Pa– piUs to ravenous Beaf\s, Bcafts of Prey, fuch as continually delight in Blood and Ra– pine, and to tear the Lambs out of Chrift's Fold, or deftroy the precious Bunches of the tender Grapes. VIII. A Vineyard is continual– ly watched over, left any Thing ihould annoy or hurt it. VIII. So God is faid to watch over his People. Iil that Day jing unto her: A Vineyard of red Wine; I the Lord do keep it every Moment, left any hurt it. I will keep it Night and Day, !fa. xxvii. 2, 3· IX. Many that are idle are called IX. So God calls Men into hi' fpiritual Vineinto a Vineyard to work. yard, to labor therein, with the Promife of Reward. 'Ihe Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a Man that is an Houjholder, which went out early in the Morning to hire Laborers into his Vine– yard; and when he had agreed with thiLaborers for a Penny a Da;', he Jent them into tht f/ineyard. And be went out, andJaw others jlanding in the Market-place, &c. Matt. xx. 2-8. X. He that is employed to plant X. So thofe whom God employs as Planters and drefs a Vineyard, or is a faithand Vine-dreffi>rs in his fpiritual Vineyard, ought ful Laborer therein, is allowed ro eat of the Fruit thereof, viz. have a fufficient to eat of the Fruit thereof, be fides Maintenance allowed them. Who planteth a Vinehis Reward at Night. )"ard, and eateth 11ot of the Fruit thereof? Or who > , feedeth a Flock, and eateth not of the }.![ilk of the Flock? evw Jo the Lord bath ordained, that they who preach the GoJpel, jhould hve of the Gofpel, 1 Cor. ix. 7· XI. It is expected by the Owner of a Vineyard, that after much Coft and Pains is beUowed upon it, it ihould bring forth much Fruit. XII. A Vineyard, having had great Labor afld Coft bellowed upon it, and not yielding Fruit a(lfwerable to the Charge, greatly grieves and troubles the Owner, caufing him to lay it defolate, and care no more for it. XI. So after God hach beUowed much Pains and Cot\ on a People, as he did on Ifrael: What could have been done more to my Vineyard than I have done in it? he expects Fruit : And he looked that it jhould bring forth Grapes, and it brought wild Grapes, IJa. v. 4· XII. So when a People have had much Coil: and I'ains befiowed upon them by the Lord, and vet they remain barren and unfruitful, walking like Men, and bringing forth four Grapes, Grapes of Sodom, rather than good Fruit, he is greatly offended and grieved :hereat, and many Times dealeth by that People, Church, or Nation, as he threatened to deal by IJrael of old. I will take away the Hedge thereof, mtd it jhall be eat m up; and break do1Vn the Wall thereof, and it Jba!l be trodden down: And I will/ay it wajle, it jhall not be pruned nor digged, but there jhall come up Briars and '!'horns; 1 will cauJe the Rain to rain upon it no more, &c. lJa. v. 3• 4• 5• 6, 7• 8, 9· Therefore I Jay unto you, '!'be Kingdom of God ./hall be taken J;-om you, and given to a Nation bringing forth the Fruits thereof, Matt. xxi. 43· Which of all Judgments is the mofi fevere; God deliver his Church in England from fo fore .a Stroke. I N F E R E N C. E ~ 1. THIS may teach the Church and People of God to take heed they anfwer the · Pains and Coil: God hath been at with them. It is not a little, but much Fruit that ·God expects from us; and not only Grapes, but good Grapes, fweet Grapes, viz, Fruits ofRighteoufnefs, James iii. 18. Rom. v. 17. II. And let all the Plants in this fpiritual Vineyard fee to it, that they be Plants of God's own·planting; for if they be not, they ihall be plucked up, Matt. xv. '3· · 1 If!. And
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