Again, in this great variety of Figg Trees, as precocious, proterical, biferous, triferous, and always bearing Trees, something might have been expected, though the time of common Figgs was not yet. For some Trees bear in a manner all the year; as may be illustrated from the Epistle of the Emperour _Julian_, concerning his Present of _Damascus_ Figgs, which he commendeth from their successive and continued growing and bearing, after the manner of the Fruits which _Homer_ describeth in the Garden of _Alcinous_. And though it were then but about the eleventh of _March_, yet, in the Latitude of _Jerusalem_, the Sun at that time hath a good power in the day, and might advance the maturity of precocious often-bearing or ever-bearing Figgs. And therefore when it is said that S. _Peter_[238] stood and warmed himself by the Fire in the Judgment Hall, and the reason is added [_for it was cold_[239]] that expression might be interposed either to denote the coolness in the Morning, according to hot Countries, or some extraordinary and unusual coldness, which happened at that time. For the same _Bidulphus_, who was at that time of the year at _Jerusalem_, saith, that it was then as hot as at _Midsummer_ in _England_: and we find in Scripture, that the first Sheaf of Barley was offer'd in _March_. [238] _S._ Mark 14. 67. _S._ Luke 22. 55, 56. [239] _S._ John 18. 18. Our Saviour therefore, seeing a Figg Tree with Leaves well spread, and so as to be distinguished a far off, went unto it, and when he came, found nothing but Leaves; he found it to be no precocious, or always-bearing Tree: And though it were not the time for Summer Figgs, yet he found no rudiments thereof: and though he expected not common Figgs, yet something might happily have been expected of some other kind, according to different fertility, and variety of production; but, discovering nothing, he found a Tree answering the State of the Jewish Rulers, barren unto all expectation. And this is consonant unto the mystery of the Story, wherein the Figg Tree denoteth the Synagogue and Rulers of the Jews, whom God having peculiarly cultivated, singularly blessed and cherished, he expected from them no ordinary, slow, or customary fructification, but an earliness in good Works, a precocious or continued fructification, and was not content with common after-bearing; and might justly have expostulated with the Jews, as God by the Prophet _Micah_[240] did with their Forefathers; _Præcoquas Ficus desideravit Anima mea, My Soul longed for_, (or desired) _early ripe Fruits, but ye are become as a Vine already gathered, and there is no cluster upon you_. [240] Micah 7. 1.