1. There is the way of lying and dissembling, and at this gap the Gibeonites, Joshua ix. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, got in.-2. There is sometimes falseness amongst some Pastors, either for the sake of carnal relations or the like; at this hole Tobiah, the enemy of God, got in, Neh. xiii. 4, 5, 6.3. There is sometimes negligence and too much carelessness in the whole Church, thus the uncircumcised got in, Ezek. xlv. 7, 9.-4. Sometimes again, let the Church be ever so circumspect, yet these have so much help from the Devil, that they beguile them all, and so get in. These are of that

sort of thieves that Paul complains of; false brethren brought in unawares, Gal. ii. 3, 4. Jude also cries out of these, certain men crept in unawares, Jude 4. Crept in, What! were they so lowly! A voluntary humility, a neglecting of the body, Col. îì. 22, 23, not in any honour. Oh, how seemingly self-denying are some of these creeping things, that yet are to be held (as we shall know them) an abomination to Israel, Lev. xi. 43, 44.

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth, and some to honour and some to dishonour, 2 Tim. ii. 20. By these words the Apostle seems to take it for granted, that as there hath been, so there still will be, these kind of Fig-Trees these barren Professors in the house, when all men have done what they can; even as in a great house there are always vessels to dishonour, as well as those to honour and glory; vessels of wood and of earth, as well as of silver and gold: So then there must be wooden Professors in the garden of God; there must be earthly, earthen Professors in his Vineyard; but that methinks is the biting word, and

That

shonour. That to the Romans is dreadful, Rom. ix. 21, 22; but this seems to go beyond it. speaks but of the Reprobate in general, but this of such in particular. That speaks of their hardening, but in the common way; but this, that they must be suffered to creep into the Church, there to fit themselves for their place, their own place. Acts i. 25; the place prepared for them of this sort only. As the Lord Jesus said once of the Pharisees, These shall receive greater damnation, Luke xx. 47.

Bar en Fig-Tree, fruitless Professor! Hast thou considered that this Fig Tree is not acknowledged of God to be his, but is denied to be of his planting, and of his bringing unto his wedding? Dost thou not see thou art called a thief, and a robber, thou hast climbed up to, or crept in at another place than the door? Dost thou not hear, there will be in God's House wooden and earthly Professors, and that no place will serve to fit those for Hell, but the House, Church, the Vineyard of God! Barren Fig-Tree, fruitless Christian, do not thine ears tingle?

And [He] came and sought Fruit thereon.

When a man hath got a profession, and is crowded into the house and church of God; the question is not now, Hath he life, hath he right principles, but hath he fruit? He came seeking fruit thereon. It mattereth not who brought thee in hither; whether God or the Devil, or thine own vain-glorious heart: But hast thou fruit? Dost thou bring forth fruit unto God! And let every one that nameth the Lord Jesus Christ depart from iniquity, 1 Tim. ii. 19. He doth not say, and let every one that hath Grace, or let those that

have the Spirit of God; but let every one that nameth the name of the Lord Jesus Christ depart from iniquity.

What do men meddle with religion for? Why do they call themselves by the name of the Lord Jesus, if they have not the Grace of God, the Spirit of Christ, Rom. viii 9; Matt. xx. 1, 2, 3, 4,

5.

God therefore expected fruit: What do they do in the Vineyard? Let them work or get them out; the Vineyard must have labourers in it: Son, go to work to day in my Vineyard, Matt. xxi. 28. Wherefore, want of grace, and want of Spirit, will not keep God from seeking fruit. And he came and sought fruit thereon. He requireth that which he seemeth to have, Luke viii. 8. Every man in the Vineyard and House of God, promiseth himself, professeth to others, and would havė all men take it for granted, that an heavenly principle is in him, Why then should not God seek fruit?

As for them therefore that will retain the name of Christians, fearing God, and yet make no conscience of bringing forth fruit to him: He saith to such, away, As for you, go ye, serve every one his idols, and hereafter also: if ye will not hearken unto me, Ezek. xx. 39. Barren Fig-Tree, dost thou hear, God expecteth fruit; God calls for fruit; yea, God will shortly come seeking fruit on this barren Fig-Tree. Barren Fig-Tree, either bear fruit, or go out of the Vineyard, (and yet then thy case will be unspeakably damnable). Yea, lẹt me add, if thou shalt neither bear fruit, nor depart, God will take his name out of thy mouth, Jer. xliv. 26. He will have fruit. And I say further, if thou wilt do neither, yet God, in justice and

tighteousness will still come for fruit. And it will be in vain for thee to count this austerity: He will reap where he hath not sowed, and gather where he hath not strewed, Matt. xxv. 24, 25, 26. Barren Fig-Tree, dost thou hear?

Q. What if a man hath no Grace?

A. Yes; seeing he hath a Profession.

And he came and sought Fruit [thereon].

A Church then, and a Profession, are not places where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves and sins from God. Some of old thought, that because they could cry, The Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, that therefore they were delivered, or had a dispensation to do the abominations which they committed; as some in our days. For who, say they, have a right to the creatures, if not Christians, if not Professors, if not ChurchMembers? Jer. viii. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, &c. And from this conclusion let go the reins of their inordinate affections after pride, ambition, gluttony, pampering themselves without fear, Jude 12. daubing themselves with the lust-provoking fashions of the time; to walk with stretched-out necks, naked breasts, frizled fore-tops, wanton gestures, in gorgeous apparel, mixed with gold and pearl, and costly array. I will not here make inspection into their lives, their carriages at home in their corners, and secret holes: but certainly, persons thus spirited, thus principled, and thus inclined, have but empty boughs, boughs that want the fruit what God expects, and what God will come down to seek.

Barren Fig-Tree, thou art not licensed by thy profession; nor by the Lord of the Vineyard, to bear these clusters of Gomorrah: Neither shall the

Vineyard, nor thy being crowded among the Trees there, shelter thee from the sight of the eye of God. Many make religion their Cloak, and Christ their Stalking horse, and by that means cover them. selves, and hide their own wickedness from men: But God seeth their hearts, Luke xvi. 15; Job. xi. 27; Prov. v. 21, and xxi. 2, has his print upon the heels of their feet, and pondereth all their goings: And at last when their iniquity is found to be hateful, he will either smite them with hardness of heart, and so leave them, or awaken them to bring forth fruit. Fruit he looks for, seeks and expects, barren Fig-Tree!

But what! come into the presence of God to sin! What! come into the presence of God to thy sin. Alas, man! the Church is God's garden, and Christ Jesus is the great Apostle and High Priest of our profession. What! come into the House that is called by my name! Heb. iii. 1; Jer. viii, 8, 9, 10. into the place where my honour dwelleth! Psal. xxvi. 8; 1 Kings iv. 3, where mine eyes and heart are continually! What, come there to sin, to hide thy sin, to cloak thy sin! His plants (Song iv. 11, 13, 14, 15, and vi. 11.) are an orchard with pleasant fruits: and every time he goeth into his garden is to see the fruits of the valley, and to see if the vine flourish, and the pome granates bud.

Yes, saith he, he came seeking fruit on this FigTree. The Church is the place of God's delight; where he ever desires to be, there he is night and day. He is there to seek for fruit, 'to seek for fruit of all, and every Tree of the garden. Wherefore assure thyself, O fruitless one, that thy ways must needs be open before the eyes of the Lord,