Use 2

USE II.

For Exhortation: And it may be directed,

1. To all visible professors; let the consideration of this truth teach you,

1. A lesson of thankfulness to God for this great favor and dignity that he has advanced you to. Think what a favor it is, and how much you are priviledged by it, think how it is with the Heathen World, who are without God, without Christ, &c. and how comes it that you are not so? What are you by nature better than they? From where came this but from the mere good pleasure of God? It was only because it so seemed good to him to make you thus to differ? Is there any distinguishing mercy in having the Oracles of God, the hopes of salvation, and all encouragements to further you in the pursuit of it? Let him have the praise of it?

2. To endeavour after fruitfulness: to bear much, and to bear good and sweet fruit. Are you in the vineyard? Bear then: are you fig-trees there? Then bear figs. Let your fruit prove that you are indeed trees of righteousness, such as may be a credit to the vineyard wherein you grow; and let this consideration be a quickning motive to you to be more diligent in these endeavours; say, what shall I render to the Lord for all these benefits to me? And the answer will be, glorify God: and Christ tells you how that is to be done (John 15:8). Often rouze up your backward souls with such a thought; what do I do in the vineyard? What have I all this price in my hands for? What will God say of me, if I should prove unprofitable in my generation? Will not the ground that I grow in, and all this husbandry that is laid out upon me, rise up in the judgment against me, if for all I should prove barren?

2. To children and young ones in particular; are you God's fig-trees? Do then as the fig-tree does: labor to put forth betimes, and to bear early fruit. Is it not spring-time with you through God's mercy? Have you not all the means and advantages of being good betimes? And let me assure you children, that God thinks it long before you set your selves to seek and serve him: and oh how acceptable would it be to him to see you make haste and not delay to devote your selves to him, by forsaking of youthful lusts, and dedicating your blooming years to him. How pleasant would it be to see little fig-trees bringing forth, and their branches laden with figs? Might there be more of this to be observed, it would be the most joyful token that can be, that God will not forsake his little vineyard in this land.