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A book for boys and girls

or, Country Rhimes for Children. By J. B. [John Bunyan]

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XXXIII. Upon the barren Fig-tree in God's Vineyard
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XXXIII. Upon the barren Fig-tree in God's Vineyard

What barren, here! in this, so good a soyl?
The sight of this doth make God's heart recoyl
From giving thee his Blessing: Barren Tree,
Bear Fruit, else thine end will cursed be!
Art thou not planted by the water side?
Know'st not thy Lord by Fruit is glorifi'd?
The Sentence is, cut down the barren Tree:
Bear Fruit, or else thine End will cursed be!
Hast not been dig'd about, and dunged too,
Will neither Patience, nor yet Dressing do?
The Executioner is come, O Tree,
Bear Fruit, or else thine End will cursed be!
He that about thy Roots takes pains to dig,
Would if on thee were found but one good Fig,
Preserve thee from the Axe: But barren Tree,
Bear Fruit, or else thy End will cursed be!
The utmost end of Patience is at hand,
'Tis much if thou much longer here doth stand.
O Cumber-ground, thou art a barren Tree,
Bear Fruit, or else thine End will cursed be!

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Thy standing nor thy name will help at all,
When fruitful Trees are spared thou must fall.
The Axe is laid unto thy Roots, O Tree!
Bear fruit, or else thine End will cursed be!