Taylor - Houston-Packer Collection BS2755 .T394 1619

CHAP. 3.14. 742 4 I Tfa,S.G. z. toh.ts.6. c.ífCoanne><tarie vpox the our day is, euen the day ofour vifitation. Oh let vs therefore confider, how much time we haue already !oil, and how little remained] behind, and this cannot but be as a loudc voice in our caresunto fruitfulneffe. ;. Heauenly wifedea ewhich to fromabone, itfuUofgood fruits : which ifit haue taken vp our hearts w!ll bewray it felfe, in lose, in ioy,peace,long fuffering.,gentlereffe,goodneffe, faith mee1.neffe, temperance and fuch like:and as naturally we retoyce to fee eucty thing about vs fruitfull,our fields, our cattell, ourorchyards; euen fothis fupernaturall wifedome wouldmake it the delight ofour foules,to fee our hearts and lines laden with the belt fruits. 4. Thebarren condition bath littlecomfort in it , and,the danger of vnfruitfulnes is very great. For Gods fearefull difpleafure disburdeneth it felfe,and feáfeth on fuch perlons by fundry degrees. r. The Lord re- iclteth them: for if theLords labour be not anfwercd,hewill pull down thefince, breakedowne the wall,kaue his ownevineyard to waft, owne it who will: and what can be more fcarefull , then fora man ro be left by God, tobecome a lodge for deuills, and luits,and wafting finnes;which yet is the hateof many a man, who isvtterly vnfeeling and (enfles of ir. z. Degreeof Gods curie on luck fruideffe branches, is the withering, which prefeutly followed) their cagingforth: and this the Lord bringeth on them twowayes ; fometimes by rcmoouing meaner offruitfulneffc; and fo having laid his vineyardwalf,he threatneth in thenext place,that the elandsfhouldnot raine vpon it, Ifa.5.6. And fometimes by blowing vpon thegifts hehad giuen;he fhal loofe his fappe and greennes he once had: the vnprofitable Cement after conuiclion muff haue his talent taken fromhim: and this curie is fo eminent upon many men, that computing themwith themfeluesnot long fince, a man may fay as the difcìplcs of thefiggetree, againft which the carte was patuéd from the month of Chrift, how fanne-u thefiggetree withered? 3. An other degree is , that no meanes final' be able henceforth to doe fuch a petrol] any good ; but the curie becing paffed againfi him,this is one branchof it, that be (hall be like the heath in the wildernee,whichfhallnotfee when any good commeth. Now the heath it bath good comming vpon it, the raine talleth, the fun fhineth, the fpring& fummer feafon returneth upon it, but it Teeth none ofthis good, but remaineth a Brie and parched heath (till : euen fo is -it with a barren foule , which God bath begunne tocurfe , the raine, the fanne, the feafon,the word,Sacramencs,daies ofgrace,Ielits Chrift him_ felfedoe himno good;he fees nogood towards him in all thefe:nay,the word iudgeth him,the Sacramentsare poyfon voto him,and Chrili him felfe is a rocke of offence to him, on whom he breaketh the neckeofhis foule. Hence was it, that after theLord had reicéted his vineyard, he- fends

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