Use 2

USE II.

This doctrine then should call us all to a more careful self-examination. The very hearing of it may stir up every one of us to reflect upon ourselves, and say to our own souls, how is it with me? What fruits do I bear? I am a plant in the vineyard? I make a profession, but what do I do? Wherein do I answer God's just demands of me? If I am in the orchard, I should bear then, but do I? When Christ told his disciples that one of them should betray him, how did it put them all upon solemn enquiry? Every one said, is it I? If I should only say that there is one in the congregation, of whom it is true, that when God looks for fruit on him, he finds none; it might rouse every one: but let me tell you, I am afraid there are a great many such, and it may be of them that make a fair show too, and pretend high. Well, what does it speak to you, but that you should bring yourselves upon the trial; and to that end, labor to inform yourselves what is fruit, and what is not, and accordingly search into your hearts and ways, and see how it is with you. Of what moment it is for you thus to do, you will see when we come to consider the doom of the barren fig-tree expressed in the sequel.