SERMON X.

THE FRUITLESS FIG TREE.*

LUKE XIII. 6-9.

He spoke also this parable. A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came and sought fruit thereon and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of the vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none: cut it down, why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it and dung it: and if it bear fruit, well; and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down?"

In this parable the vineyard represents the visible Church, and in a larger sense the world. The trees are the members of the visible Church, and in a larger sense mankind in general. The planter and owner of the vineyard is God. The dresser is the Lord Jesus Ghrist.

The first idea suggested by the parable is, that men are placed in this world for no other end than to bring forth fruit to God. For what other end are fig trees planted in the vineyard but to bring forth

• Preached in a revival of religion.

fruit? You were not sent into the world to buy and sell and get gain. The only reason why you are here rather than not here, is, that you may have an opportunity to serve your Creator and Master.

Another idea suggested is, that God has an absolute right to all the services which men are capable of rendering. Shall not he that planted the vineyard eat the fruit thereof? Has not he who created the materials of which you were made, and then formed them into men, and breathed into them immortal souls; and created the world, and placed men in it, and owns it all; has he not a right to all the services which you can possibly render? Can you be justified in living to yourselves a single hour?

Another idea is, that to render his vineyard fruitful God has appointed one to dress it. This dresser, the Lord Jesus Christ, waters his trees with the dews of heaven, fences round them with his protecting providence, prunes them by affliction, and supports them when they are ready to fall, until he can lift his hand to heaven and say, "What could have been done more to my vineyard that I have not done in it?" He has made a full revelation of God and of a future state,-of man's duties, ruin, and recovery. He has given his word and ordinances; he has sent out his Spirit; he has filled the world with expostulations and entreaties; until it can be said, If they hear not these, neither would they be persuaded though one rose from the dead.

Another idea is, that God attentively watches men to see if they are fruitful. The owner of the

vineyard is represented as coming year after year; that is, as often as fruit was to be expected. God attentively observes men as often as they have an opportunity to perform public or private worship, to hear a sermon, to drop a word of instruction, to relieve the poor, or to cast their gifts into his treasury. On such occasions he fixes his eye upon them as though they were the only objects of his attention. And as he is always expecting fruit, he always watches them. His eyes follow them into every corner. If a sinful deed is done in darkness,-if a vain word is uttered in secret,-if an unhallowed thought lurks in the heart,-lo he knoweth it altogether.

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We are further taught that there are some trees in God's vineyard on which, when he after year seeking fruit, he finds none. regenerate man is of this description. Though his life may be regular towards his fellow men,—though he may observe the forms of devotion, and even transact with covenants and sacraments, yet as his heart is always under the dominion of selfishness, he never brings forth any fruit which a holy God can approve. There are many who not only do not bring forth good fruit, but are constantly bringing forth bad fruit. They profane the sabbath, they take the name of God in vain, they reproach religion and its professors, they are wholly buried up in the world. A hundred times a day they violate the rule to do to others as they would have others do to them. How certain that such do not answer the end for which they were sent into the Vol. I.

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world. If a figtree, that is good for nothing but its fruit, remains barren, it answers no part of the purpose for which it was planted. It is utterly useless. It cumbers the ground. It stands in the way and exhausts the soil. It is fit for nothing but to be cut down and cast into the fire. So those who do nothing for God are only an encumbrance on the face of the earth,-a grief to christians and a stumbling block to sinners. Some of them, by their turbulent passions, keep the world in commotion, and all of them, by their vain and careless lives, spread a moral pestilence around them. And since they will not do any good, they are fit for nothing but to feed the flames which will enlighten the universe into the knowledge of divine justice. Unless they are made of some use in this way, their existence will prove a curse to the universe.

We are further taught that God, wearied out with coming year after year seeking fruit and finding none, at length raises his hand to cut the sinner down, and would send him quick into hell, but that the Mediator steps in and pleads, Father, spare him a little longer, and I will try some more powerful means for such a time: if he bears fruit, well; if not, then after that thou shalt cut him down. Now then the matter is fairly at issue. The trial is begun, in view of heaven and earth, which is to decide his destiny for eternity. It is to be for a limited time; after which, if he remains unfruitful, he will be destroyed without remedy. Awful crisis! Angels look down snd tremble for the issue.

Here is one put upon his last trial whom Christ

seeks to reclaim by affliction. He teaches him, as Gideon taught the men of Succoth, with briers and thorns. His affairs go wrong, or his health fails, or his friends die. This is the only means selected for the final experiment. If it succeeds, well; if not, he is irrecoverably lost.

Here is another put upon his last trial whom the Saviour seeks to render fruitful by more ample means of instruction and impression. He puts religious books into his hands. He stirs up christians to entreat him. He gives him more frequent opportunities to attend religious meetings. These are perhaps the only means chosen for the great experiment. If they avail, well; if not, he is forever lost.

Here is a third put upon his last trial to whom Christ presents the example of others pressing into the kingdom of heaven. He shows him a revival of religion, with all its solemn attestations and appeals. If this brings him to stretch out his hands to a passing Saviour, the trial is happily ended; if not, his doom is unalterably fixed.

He

Here is a fourth put upon his last trial whom the Saviour plies with still more powerful means. is awakened by the Spirit of God. His danger, guilt, and ruin are laid open before him. Perhaps he knows not what ails him, and little thinks that the Spirit of God is making the last decisive experiment upon him. How it will issue no man can tell. Many go back from every stage of conviction and plunge into a deeper hell. If all this light and entreaty can bring him to repentance, well; but if