If it be
barren and fruitless under my gospel, if it turn my grace into
wantonness, if, after digging and dunging and waiting, it yet remain
unfruitful, I will let thee cut it down.
Gospel-means applied are the last remedy for a barren professor; if
the gospel, if the grace of the gospel will not do, there can be
nothing expected but, "Cut it down."
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets and stonest
them that are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy
children together, as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings,
and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate."
Matt. 23:37,38.
Yet it cannot be but that this Lord Jesus, who at first did put a
stop to the execution of his Father's justice, because he desired to
try more means with the fig-tree--it cannot be but that a heart so
full of compassion as his, should be touched to behold this
professor must now be cut down. "And when he was come near, he
beheld the city and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known, even
thou, at least in this thy day, the things that belong to thy peace!
but now they are hid from thine eyes."
When Christ giveth thee over, there is no intercessor, no mediator,
no more sacrifice for sin; all is gone but judgment, but the axe,
but "a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery
indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
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