What if we find a field full of weeds? Writing in 1655, Phillip Goodwin speaks about how ministers should respond when they find weeds in the church. In his book Family Religion Revived, Goodwin writes:

If a tree in an orchard that hath born many bushels of brave apples, should at length hand laden with the bitterest crabs; if a parcel of ground once a garden of flowers, should be found a field full of weeds, or a field in which wheat withers, and tares flourish, and that after long tillage. Would not this make a minister lay his hands on his loins and cry, "Alas, alas, &c." How is the gold become dim? How is the fine gold changed? was the prophet’s complaint. How does a mother mourn when her child is struck with the dead palsy, or lies languishing in a consumption. And shall not a minster mourn, if his people be smitten with that epidemical disease of a dead palsy on the side God-ward? When he shall see a soul consumption, a woeful wasting in all the parts and limbs of religion. But on the other side, how sweet is the joy, how large a minister’s delight to look upon his people lively for God, and flourishing in good? That which is his great design in seeking, is his great delight in finding.