this doth not every Tree: No, not every Fig-Tree that stands in the Vineyard of God. Those words also, John xv. 2. (Every branch in me that beareth not Fruit, he taketh away) assert the same thing. There as branches in Christ, in Christ's body mystical (which is his Church, his Vineyard) that beareth not Fruit, wherefore the hand of God is to take them away. I looked for grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes, Isaiah v. that is, no Fruit at all that was acceptable with God. Again, Israel is an empty Vine, he bringeth forth Fruit unto himeelf, Hos x. 1. none to God; he is without Frait to God. All these, with many more, show us the truth of the observation, and that God's Church may be cumbered with fruitless Fig-Trees, with barren Professors.

Had a [Fig-Tree.]

Although there be in God's Church that be barren and fruitless, yet, as I said, to see in appearance, they are like the rest of the Trees, even a Fig-Tree. It was not an Oak, nor a Willow, nor a Thorn, nor a Bramble, but a Fig-Tree. Ezek. xxxiii. 30, 31.-They came before thee as the pcople cometh; they delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinances of their God; they ask of me the Ordinances of Justice, they take delight in approaching to God, Isaiah Iviti. 1, 2, 3, 4: and yet be but barren, fruitless, and, unprofitable Professors.— Judas also was one of the Twelve, a Disciple, an Apostle, a Preacher, an Officer, yea, and such an one also, as none of the Eleven mistrusted, but preferred before themselves, each one crying out, Is it I? Is it I? Mark xiv. 19. None of them, as we read of, mistrusting Judas, yet he, in Christ's

eyes, was the barren Fig-Tree, a Devil, or fruitless Professor, John vi. 70. The foolish virgins went forth in the world, had lamps and light, and were awakened with the other; yea, had boldness to go forth when the midnight cry was made with the other; and thought that they could have looked Christ in the face, when he sat upon the throne of judgment, with the other; and yet but foolish, but barren Fig Trees, but fruitless Professors, Matt. vii. 22, 23. Many, saith Christ, will say unto me in that day, this and that, Luke xiii. 26, 27, and will also talk of many wonderful works : yet, behold, he finds nothing in them but the Fruits of Unrighteousness: they were altogether barren and fruitless Professors.

Had a Fig-Tree [planted].

This word (planted) doth also reach far: it supposeth one taken out of its natural soil, or removed from the place it grew in once; one that seemed to be called, awakened; and not only so, but by strong hand carried from the World, to the Church; from Nature, to Grace; from Sin, to Godliness. Thou broughtest a Vine out of Egypt, thou didst cast out the Heathen and plant it, Psal. lxxx. 8.Of some of the branches of this Vine were there unfruitful Professors.

It must be concluded, therefore, that this Professor (that remaineth notwithstanding fruitless) is, as to the view and judgment of the church, rightly brought in thither; to wit, by confession of Faith, of Sin, and a show of Repentance and Regeneration (thus false Brethren creep in unawares). All these things this word, planted, intimateth; yea, further, that the Church is satisfied with them, consents they would abide in the Gar

den, and counteth them sound as the rest. But before God, in the sight of God, they are graceless Professors, barren and fruitless Fig-Trees.

Therefore it is one thing to be IN the Church, or in a Profession; and another to be OF the Church, Ezek. xviii. 10. and to belong to that kingdom that is prepared for the Saints that is so indeed. Otherwise, being planted shall it prosper, shall it not utterly wither, when the East wind touchethit? it shall wither in the furrows where it grew:

Had a Fig-Tree planted in [his] Vineyard.

In [his] Vineyard-Hypocrites, with rotten. hearts, are not afraid to come before God in Sion. These words therefore suggest unto us, a prodi gious kind of boldness and hardened fearlessness. For what presumption higher, and what attempt more desperate, than for a man that wanteth grace, and the true knowledge of God, to crowd himself (in that condition) into the House or Church of God or to make profession of, and desire the name of God should be called upon him?

For the man that maketh a profession of the religion of Jesus Christ, that man hath, as it were, put the name of God upon himself, Daniel ix. 19, chap. xxxvi. 20, 21, 22, and ii. 39, and is called and reckoned now (how fruitless soever before God, or men) the man that hath to do with God, the man that God owneth, and will stand for. This man, I say, by his profession, suggesteth this to all that know him, to be such a Professor.Men, merely natural, I mean men that have not yet got the devilish art of hypocrisy, are afraid to think of doing thus. And of the rest durst no man join himself to them, but the people magnified them, Acts v. 13. And indeed it displeaseth God,

men uncircumcised And again, When who hath required

They have brought, saith he, into my sanctuary, Isa. i. 12. you come to appear before me, this at your hands to tread my courts, saith God,* Job i. 6. and ii. 1. They have therefore learnt this boldness of none in the visible world, they have only took it of the Devil, Matt. xiii. 25-38; for he, and he only (with these his Disciples), attempt to present themselves in the Church before God. The tares are the children of the wicked One. Matt. xxiii. 38; the tares,, that is, the hypocrites that are Satan's brood, the generation of vipers, that cannot escape the damnation of Hell.

[Had] a Fig-Tree in his Vineyard."

He doth not say, He planted a Fig-Tree, but there was a Fig-Tree there; he had, or found, a Fig-Tree planted in his Vineyard.

The great God will not acknowledge the barren Fig-Tree, or barren Professor, to be his workmanship, or a Tree of his bringing in, only the text saith, he had one there. This is much like that in Matthew, Every plant which my heavenly Fathsr hath not planted shall be rooted up, Matt. xv. 18. Here again are plants in his Vineyard, which God will not acknowledge to be of his planting: And he seems to suggest, that in his Vineyard there are many such. Every Plant, or all those Plants, or Professors that have got into the assembly of the Saints, or into the profession of their religion, without God and his grace, shall be rooted up.

And when the King came in to see the guests, he saw a man that had not on a wedding garment, and he said unto him, Friend, how camest thou in

hither, not having on a wedding garment? Matt. xxii. 11, 12. Here is one so cunning and crafty, that he beguiled all the guests; he got and kept in the Church, even until the King himself came in to see the guests: but his subtlety got him nothing. It did not blind the eyes of the King; it did not pervert the judgments of the righteous. Friend, how camest thou in hither? did overtake him at last; even a public rejection: the King discovered him in the face of all there present. How camest thou in hither? My Father did not bring thee hither, I did not bring thee hither, my Spirit did not bring thee hither, thou art not of the heavenly Father's planting, How camest thou in hither?

He that cometh not in at the door, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. John x. J. This text is also full, and plain to our purpose; for this man came not in by the door, yet got in the Church, he got in by climbing; he broke in at the windows, he got something of the hght and glory of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in his head; and so (hardy wretch that he was) he presumed to crown himself among the children. But how is this resented? What saith the King to him? Why this is his sign, the same is a thief and a robber. See ye here also, if all they be owned as the planting of God, that get into his Church, or Profession of his name.

Had a Fig-Tree.-Had one without a weddinggarment, had a thief in his garden, at his wedding, in his house. These climbed up some other way. There are many ways to get into the Church of God, and Profession of his name, besides, and without an entering by the door,

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