Sermon 12

*Verse 8.* And be answering said to him, [illegible] it alone this year also, till I shall digg about it and dung it.

The fourth and last part of the parable comes now to be considered, namely: the interposition or intercession of the Vinedresser for this tree, in which he humbly sets himself to delay the execution of the sentence that had been past upon it, and accordingly pleads with his Lord for a little forbearance. We are not to think that man is more patient than God is, but it shows us what is man's duty and what use God is pleased to make of man in his providential dispensations. Here then observe.

1. The thing he petitions for, Let it alone this year also.

2. A reason of his request, Till I shall dig about it, and dung it. Under which is contained a promise of his using renewed endeavours with it.

3. The issue which he joins with his Lord in upon a double hypothesis, verse 9. of which afterwards.

1. Let us observe the thing which he petitions for, Let it alone this year also. Where consider.

1. The mercy itself which he pleads for; Let it alone: the word signifies, to remit: and is often used for the pardoning of sin; but it here intends, a suspending of the sentence past; and the meaning is, do not cut it down, but let it still stand in the vineyard: and enjoy the benefit of it.

2. The limitation of this request, This Year; that is, one season more; he is modest in his request, and yet he would fain have one trial more be made of it.

3. An argument insinuated in the word, also. q. d. you have had much patience towards it already, and it is but a little that I ask; it is but one trial more, and that cannot be so much as you have made already. To wave all particular observations that might here be made, we may from the whole gather this,