high and exalted and vpon all the Olâ—es of Bashan and vpon all the high mountaines and vpon all the hilles that are lifted vp and vpon euery high to wel and vpon euery strong wall super valentissimos muâ—tissimoâ— vpon those that are most strong and fenced as Iunius glosseth the words and vpon all the ships of Tarshish and all pleasant pictures super opulentissimos â—rnatissimos vpon them that are most wealthy and gay c Esay 12.16 Iunius Ibid. but also vpon the Firre trees that is populares quosque all the people and the forrest of the vintage that is promiscuum numerum tenuium è populo the confused number of the poore amongst the people d Zach. 11.2 Iunius Ibid. Howle Firre tree for the Cedar is fallen because all the mightie are spoyled Howle ô yee Okes of Bashan for the forrest of the vintage is come downe The meane man must be brought downe as well as the mightie humbled e Esay 5.25 for euery man must beare his owne burthen f Galat. 6.5 euery one giue an account of himselfe to God g Rom. 14.12 and euery man receiue the things that he hath done according to that which he hath done h 2. Cor. 5.10 But what is the cause why so certainly so generally euery such tree must be so dealt withall For Gods thoughts are not as mans thoughts his wayes as mans wayes i Esay 55.9 that he should bate any vn worthily condemne them vndeseruedly No man can complaine of him as Dauid the type and Christ the Antitype of their haters 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They hated mee without a cause k Psal 35 19. Iohn 15.25 It is a mans voyce or rather a deuils not Gods Non amote Sabidi nec possum dicere quare I loue thee not Sabidius but I cannot tell why As Dauid then answered his brother when hee checked him for comming to the warre Is there not a cause l 1. Sam. 17.29 So is there not a cause of the Lords warre against these Trees Surely euery Tree at his first creation had his blessing to bring forth fruite according to his kinde m Gen. 1.11 and these Trees of the Garden if they will bee created a new in Christ Iesus n Ephe. 2.10 must haue a blessing to bring forth fruite in him which if with prophane Esau o Heb. 12.16 they haue set light by p Gen. 25.33.34 they are fit for nothing but the Axe and good for nothing but the fire Being then with the cursed Fig-tree barren q Math. 21.19 not bringing forth good fruite the Lord who is righteous in all his waies holy in all his workes r Psal 145.17 cannot bee vnrighteous in executing this vengeance vpon them Wee see then the euidence that is heere giuen in against them They bring not forth good fruit Now that wee may not thinke them thus condemned before their cause though it bee not vnheard be well vnderstood that wee may not cry with the Eunuch heere How can we vnderstand without a guide Å¿ Actes 8.31 Nouerint vniuersi bee it knowne to all that the fruites wherein they faile are the fruits of righteousnesse wherewith they should bee filled t Phil. 1.11 good workes wherein they should bee fruitfull u Col. 1.10 the fruites of the Spirit of God in all goodnesse righteousnesse and truth x Ephe. 6.9 Now these fruits are not all of one sort are not all subiect to one consideration for some of them are generall growing vpon all the Trees of the Garden vpon all the branches that are graffed in the true Vine such as are those good fruits of the Spirit to bee found on euery good Tree Loue Ioy Peace Long-suffering Gentlenesse Goodnesse Faith Meeknesse Temperance y Gal. 5 22i Some are speciall particular which euery Tree must bring forth according to his kind as being his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 proper fruite whereby hee must bee knowne z Luke 6.42 in that Calling wherein God hath set him For thus the Oliue Tree hath his fatnesse the Fig Tree his sweetnesse a Iudges 9 13 the Vine his Vinum laetificans Wine that cheareth God and Man and euery Tree planted by the riuers of the waters of the Sanctuary bringeth forth fructum suum his owne fruite in due season b Psal 1.3 As then according to that difference made by Saint Austen c Aust Epist 50 a King serueth God after one sort as hee is a man after another sort as hee is a King As hee is a man hee serueth him by liuing faithfully as hee is a King also hee serueth him by ordaining Lawes that command Iustice and forbid the contrary with conuenient authority So all the houshold of faith oweth a seruice to God after one sort in the generall fruites of holinesse d Rom. 6.21 and after another sort in the proper fruites of a particular Calling and as they are the seuerall Members of one Mysticall Body if Heads in Ruling if Eyes in looking about if Hands in working if Feete in walking For thus besides those generall duties of piety which lie equally on euery ones shoulders the Princes fruite that sitteth on the Throne is to doe equity and rightousnesse e 1. King 10 9. to bee as Nebuchadnezzers Tree shewed to him in a vision faire and fruitfull hauing meate in it for all making shadow for all the beasts of the field and and spreading its boughes that the fowles of the aire may dwell in it and of which all flesh may be sed f Daniel 4.9 the honorable mans fruite to hold it his greatest honour with Iabesh to call vpon the name of the Lord g 1. Chron. 9.10 to honor him by whom he is honored to open his treasures and to offer gifts vnto Christ h Math. 2.11 The Iudges fruit to execute iudgment truly and vprightly in the gate i Zach. 8.16 the man of warres fruite to do violence to no man to accuse no man falsely and to bee content with his wages k Luk. 3.14.18 The Pastors fruite to rule well in the house of God to labour in the word doctrine l 1. Tim. 5.17 The rich mans fruit to bee rich in distributing and communicating m 1. Tim. 6.18 The subiects fruit to yeeld obedience to Principalities and Powers n Titus 3.1 The seruants fruit to be subiect to their Masters and please them in all things o Titus 2.9 And in a word euery particular mans fruit wherein hee is called therein to walke and abide before God p 1. Cor. 7.20 And as the figge tree cannot bring forth Oliues nor the vine figges q Iam 3.12 so neither ought one of these trees planted in the courts of the Lords house bring forth the fruit that is peculiar to another but still euery one according to his kinde Simcon and Leui brought not
bringeth not forth good fruite Lastly the nature of the punishment standing vpon two feete 1 Such a Tree is to be Hewne downe that it may not cumber the ground and offend other good plants 2 It must be cast into the fire that it may receiue as it hath deserued for the end of such Trees is to be burned t Hebr. 6.8 The certainty of the vengeance heere denounced standeth in the doore of the Text like Abraham in the dore of his Tent. Therefore It is not a bare affirmation which were enough but a demonstratiue conclusion inferred out of his premisses which is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 superaboundant For if the words of Gods mouth are mighty and operatiue Dixit facta sunt u Psal 33.9 much more are the counsels of his heart infallible indiuertible The counsell of the Lord standeth for euer the thoughts of his heart to all generations x Ibid. vers 11. Therefore as Saint Ierome saith well If we beleeue not God when hee speaketh yet let vs beleeue him when hee sweareth So if we beleeue not God when hee doth nakedly Affirme yet let there be a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a full assurance of faith in vs when hee doth regularly Conclude and compell vs as it were by force of Argument As then all the promises of God are Yea and amen in Christ Iesus I will not saith hee y 2. Cor. 1.20 falsify my truth I will not alter the thing that is gone out of my lips z Psal 89.33 So all his denunciations of vengeance are stable yea immutable as the Lawes of the Medes and Persians which alter not a Dan. 6.8 Moriendo morieris Thou shalt surely die the death b Gen. 2.17 was Adams doome if hee should fall into sinne the words being doubled because the thing was established as in Pharoahs dreame c Gen. 41.32 Whether vengeance then come in the morning as vpon the Sodomites d Gen. 19.23.24 vpon whom about the rising of the Sunne Gehennam è coelo misit deus e Saluianus l. 1 de gubernat dei God sent an hell out of heauen Or at noone day as to Haman who was caught from his dinner to the gallowes f Ester 7.9 Or at euentide as to Ahab who being wounded in warre dyed in his Chariot about the going downe of the Sunne g 1. King 22 35 Or in the night season as to Chedorlaomer and the Kings that were with him whom Abraham ouertooke and smote by night h Gen. 14.15 Whether it come serius aut citiùs later or sooner yet certis passibus illa venit it commeth surely without failing The Lord that recompenceth will surely recompence i Ier. 51.56 Know certainly that yee shall die by the sword by the famine and by the pestilence k Ier. 42.22 And that vision that Habecuck saw against the capitall sinnes not onely of his times but also of all times Pride Couetousnesse drunkennes and Idolatry must surely come l Habacuk 2.3 Therfore not so much for the secresie as for the certainty thereof is vengeance sealed vp amongst Gods treasures m Deut. 32 34. yea bound with the indissoluble band of an oath The Lord sweareth that hee will haue warre with Amalecke from generation to generation n Exod. 17.16 I haue sworne vnto the house of Eli that the iniquity of Elies house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for euer o 1. Sam. 3.14 Let no man then when hee heareth the words of Gods curses denounced against his euill waies sing a requiem to his owne soule blesse himselfe in his heart saying with the stubborne in heart I shall haue peace though I walke according to the stubbornnesse of mine heart p Deut. 29.19 with the wicked I shall neuer be moued q Psalme 10.6 with the sinners Euill shall not come r Amos 9.10 with the grieuous trespassers Euill shall not come vpon vs the Prophets are but winde and the word is not in them f Ier. 5.12.13 with the frozen in their dregges The Lord will do neither good nor euill t Zeph. 1.12 For as the Lord liueth it is his owne attestation if he whet his glittering sword and his hand take hold on iudgement hee will render vengeance on his enemies and reward them that hate him hee will make his arrowes drunke with their bloud and his sword shall deuoure their flesh u Deut. 32.40.41.42 But I haue many things to say I passe from the certainty and come to the subiect or persons vpon whom this vengeance must bee inflicted A Tree Now all Trees are not of one sort of one ranke for some are Trees of the Forrest some of the Garden What Trees then must this Axe hew at Not those of the Forrest For what hath hee to doe to iudge them being without x 1. Cor. 5.12 but the Trees of the Garden for them hee iudgeth being within y Ibidem and in the Garden Not those flourishing Palmes that bring forth fruite still z Psal 92.12.13 but those ligna arida dry Trees a Esay 56.3 Such as will bee Citizens of Syon and yet not suffer the Lord that reigneth in Syon b Esay 52.7 to rule ouer them c Luk. 19.14.27 Such as will bee in the Vineyard yet will yeeld no fruite to the Lord of the Vineyard d Mat. 21.34 for such Chaffe will grow with the Wheate e Math. 13. such Tares will spring vp with the good Seed and such vessels of dishonour will thrust themselues into the great house of Gods Militant Church f 2. Tim. 2.20 though being in the Church they are not of the Church g 1. Iohn 2.9 no more then the Elect being in the world are of the world h Ioh. 15.19 Those Pharisees then of the Concision the brethren of the Separation which stand apart will not come neere our Churches as though they were holier and sounder then they i Esay 56.5 and which can finde no rest for the soale of their foote but the Synagogue of Amsterdam are not led with the feruour of zeale but transported with the fury of Schisme whilst they leaue Gods Floare because of some Chaffe breake his net because of some baggage of fish depart out of his house because of some vessels of dishonour and forsake his field because of some cockle Non propter malos boni deserendi k Angust epist 48. sed propter bonos mali tolerandi Good men are not to be forsaken for ill mens sakes but the ill are rather to be tolerated for the goods sake Doth the Oliue Tree presently loose his fatnesse or the Fig-tree his sweetnesse because the pricking bramble groweth neere them Doth the Lillie cease to be a Lillie because it is amongst the Thornes l Cant. 2.2 Hath our Mother lost her beauty yea her face it selfe if there bee a
open the Parables themselues also c August in Psal 77. if wee consult with the heauenly Oracles the light of them will dispell the darkenesse that hangeth on the face of this Text Nihil enim fere c. saith Saint Austin d August de doctr Christ l. 2. cap. 7. For the most part there is nothing fetched out of those obscurities which are in the Scriptures which we may not finde more plainly spoken in another place Let vs know then that the Lord who speaketh of himselfe according to the Hebrew prouerbe With the tongues of the sonnes of men and of whom according to that golden rule of Athanasius those things which in Scriptures 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are spoken according to humane affection are to be vnderstood as becommeth the nature of God is pleased to take vpon him the name and profession of an Husbandman whose husbandry his Saints are e 1. Cor. 3.9 Of a Maister Of a Vineyard f Esay 5.1 whose Vineyard is the house of Israel the men of Iudah his Plants g Ibid. v. 7. being a Vine noble for generosity h Ierem. 2.21 excellent for glory i Ezek. 17.8 and pleasant for delectation k Esay 5.7 And of a Gardener whose Spouse is a Garden inclosed the Plants whereof are an Orchard of Pomegranats with pleasant Fruite l Cant. 4.12 Now as in the floare of the Church there is mingled together chaffe to be seuered with the fanne and throwne into the fire and wheate to bee gathered into the Garner m Math. 3.12 In the field of the Kingdome of Heauen are tares to bee pulled out and burnt vp and wheate to bee carryed into the Barne in their due season n Math. 13 30. In the Net of the Kingdome of Heauen are gathered all kinds of things bad to bee cast away and good to bee put into vessels o Math. 13.44.48 So in this Vineyard of the Lords of Hosts in this garden of our Wel-beloued there are found both trees planted by the riuers of the water of the Sanctuary whose leaues shall not fade neither shall their fruite faile p Ezek. 47.12 and also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Trees of Autumne decaying whose fruite withereth yea without fruite twise dead q Iude 12. as the speech of the Holy Ghost riseth by degrees in that place These these Trees doth this Messenger before the face of the Lord being like to purging fire r Mal. 3.2 De coelo tangere strike at from heauen and not either Totum genus humanum all man-kind as some Interpreters would haue it ſ Hugo Cardin. Beda Iansen for they are the Trees of the Forrests t Esay 44.14 not of the Garden of the Lord or onely Genus Israeliticum the people of Israel as some restraine this commination u Chrys Hilar. Theophilact Muscul Piscat Maldon For though this Parabolicall speech be specially intended against euill Professours of his time by Iohn the Baptist heere as it is vsed also by our Sauiour against euill Prophets of the succeeding times x Math. 7.19 yet Communi ratione in a generall consideration all Pseudo-Christians that like the Angel of the Church in Sardis haue a name that they liue but are dead y Reu. 3.1 are vnderstood including herein who bearing not fruite in Christ must be taken away z Iohn 15.2 and being barren must be cut vp that they may not cumber the ground of Gods Sanctuary a Luke 13.7 Of which Trees not to the boughes or body but to the roote is laid already not to be laid hereafter not a knife to prune for such dressing is requisite for the good branches that bring forth fruit b Iohn 15.2 but an axe to cut downe Which whether wee enterprete with Saint Ierome c Hieron in locum of the Ministery of that most piercing d Heb. 4.12 word which is like as a fire and like an hammer breaking the Rockes e Ier. 23.29 and which by denouncing vengeance against all disobedience doth plucke vp roote out destroy and throw downe f Ier. 1.10 for so God heweth by his Prophets and slayeth by the words of his Mouth g Hos 6.5 Or with Chrisostome h Chris in locum to bee the Acutissima ira consummationis Gods most sharpe anger that will make an end of all With Maldonate the Diuinum Iudicium i Maldonat in locum diuine iudgement It commeth all to one there being but little difference betweene Gods voyce threatning and his hand taking vengeance on them Chrisostome summeth vp the whole hitherto very elegantly Nihil terribilius c. k Chris in locum There is nothing more more terrible then this manner of speaking for hee threatneth not them with a flying hooke nor with the destruction of the hedge nor the treading downe of the Vineyard but with a cutting Axe yea and which is more terrible with such an Axe that is at hand and cutteth euen presently Therefore Nihil certius nothing is more certaine it is a conclusion from the breathe of his mouth who is the God that cannot lie l Tit. 1.2 A Tree yea a Tree of the Vineyard of the Garden that no man may build vpon or boast of a plantation without fructification Euery Tree that no man may exempt himselfe from the common condition For hee that goeth about to except himselfe doth but deceiue himselfe That bringeth not forth good fruit that no man may thinke it enough to haue brought forth good fruite m Maldonat in locum nor place the whole duty of a Christian in abstayning from euill Is cut downe not shall be cut downe the time present intimating the presentnesse of the danger and hee threatneth not any slight stroke but cutting downe by all meanes n Musculus in locum And cast into the fire that like Iudas it might go into his owne place o Acts 1.25 This second Elias then walking in the spirit and power of the first Elias doth as it were call for fire from heauen p 2. King 1.10 against these barren vnbearing Trees that haue lost the blessing of their creation in Christ Iesus q Gen. 1.11 Ephes 2.10 to bring forth fruite according to their kinde But that we may take a suruay of the particulars in their rankes let vs marke First the certainty of the vengeance denounced Therefore It is not a matter nakedly affirmed but strongly concluded like the Apostles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 r Rom. 3.28 We conclude c. Secondly the subiect or person capable of this punishment A Tree of the garden which least the Iudge should shew himselfe partiall is amplified by the generall extent euery such Tree Thirdly the mouing cause hereof For farre be it from the Iudge of the whole world that hee should not do right ſ Gen. 18.25 that he should punish any vndeseruedly because it