Sermon 15

IT follows that we consider the hypotheses severally, together with the inferences which the vine-dresser draws from them. The first thing that he supposes is, that this fig tree, after he has dug about it and dunged it, may possibly bear, though it were before barren; and truly, if he had not had some hope of this, he would not have asked liberty to make any farther trial upon it. The inference which he draws from hence is not expressed in the text, but intended. It is an elliptic kind of expression, and very frequent in Scripture dialect; in which there is something left to be supplied. What that is here, is to be gathered from that which is concluded upon the latter hypothesis, for contrary suppositions infer contrary conclusions. Our translation suitably supplies it with the word, [well] q. d. all shall be well; there will then be no occasion to cut it down, but it will be profitable for it to stand; it will be both honorable and serviceable in the vineyard; it will not repent you of this forbearance; nor shall I be sorry for the pains that I shall have taken with it; and it shall be well with that too; the reproach of its barrenness shall cease, and it shall be out of the danger of the threatening.

Hence,