A47086:103
A trumpet blown in Zion, or, An alarm in God's holy mountain containing an exposition of that metaphorical Scripture, Matth. III, 12 : lately delivered in two sermons ... / by Benjamin Keach ...A trumpet blown in Zion, or, An allarm in God's holy mountain containing an exposition of that metaphorical Scripture, Matth. III, 12 : lately delivered in two sermons ... / by Benjamin Keach ...
London : s.n., 1694
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Even so sincere Christians, who are Christs Spiritual Wheat, abide faithful under the greatest Trials, Persecutions and Afflictions they can meet withal; they endure the Frosts and bitter North-Winds of Tribulation, and furious Storms of the Wrath of wicked men, which kills the false-hearted Professor, they die and wither away, they can't live, and maintain their seeming hope and Confidence, when true Believes can; a Hypocrite is but Summer Corn, or rather Weeds or Tares that spring up with the Wheat, tho' they look like it, yet are only the product of Natural Conscience, or the common Influences of the Sun, or Gospel of Jesus Christ.
4. An Ear of Wheat when it is near ripe doth hang down its head, the Corn being full and weighty, when light and empty Ears hold up theirs; commonly a light and chaffy Ear stands strait upright in a lofty manner.
So a true gracious Christian is of an humble Spirit, he hangs down his head (as it were) and is ashamed of his best Duties and Services, seeing so great weaknesses and Infirmities to attend him; he abhors himself, yea, loathes himself he knows he hath nothing to glory in, but in the Cross of Jesus Christ; he sees himself nothing; Unto me who am less than the least of all Saints, is 1this Grace given, (saith Paul:) what an humble Person was he, what a full and weighty Ear of choice Wheat was this Apostle: If you see a Man or Woman proud, or of an haughty and conceited Spirit, being lifted up, you may conclude they are but empty Ears, no true Grace being in their hearts.
So a true gracious Christian is of an humble Spirit, he hangs down his head (as it were) and is ashamed of his best Duties and Services, seeing so great weaknesses and Infirmities to attend him; he abhors himself, yea, loaths himself he knows he hath nothing to glory in, but in the Cross of Jesus Christ; he sees himself nothing; Unto me who am less than the least of all Saints, is 1this Grace given, (saith Paul:) what an humble Person was he, what a full and weighty Ear of choice Wheat was this Apostle: If you see a Man or Woman proud, or of an haughty and conceited Spirit, being lifted up, you may conclude they are but empty Ears, no true Grace being in their hearts.
5. Wheat hath its Chaff cleaving oft-times close to it, yea, it will stick and cleave so to it that it is not easily separated.
So it is with Christs Spiritual Wheat, the filth or Chaff of internal Corruption is very subject to cleave to them, and hard it is for them to get rid of it. When I would do good, Sin is present with me, for the good I would, I do not, but the evil which I would not do, that do I.1
Oh! wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of Death I am (as if he should say) even wearied with 1continual Combating, I cannot get rid of this dead Body, this inward Filth and Corruption, the remainders of Sin in my flesh; this Chaff cleaves to all Christs Wheat.
6. Wheat is of prime and and chiefest use, of it excellent things are made, as Meat for Princes. So the Lords faithful People are of chief use in Gods hand of all others, the Lips of the Righteous feed many.
7. That Nation that abounds with the finest Wheat is esteemed a choice Land, a happy Nation; So likewise that Kingdom and Nation in which are abundance of godly Christians, it is a happy Kingdom, a blessed Nation, because such are the common Interest of the Land or Place where they dwell; they are called the Pillars of the Earth.
7. That Nation that abounds with the finest Wheat is esteemed a choice Land, a happy Nation; So likewise that Kingdom and Nation in which are abundance of godly Christians, it is a happy Kingdom, a blessed Nation, because such are the common Interest of the Land or Place where they dwell; they are called the Pillers of the Earth.
8. Wheat is Threshed with the flail, to sever it from the straw and chaff, by the Husbandman; so God to sever the Wheat, i. e. the godly from the chaffy Professor, and free them of the Filth and Corruption of their own hearts, brings his flail of Affliction and Persecution upon them.
9. Wheat is also fanned, to cleanse it; and it is to be noted, that the fan in the Hand of the Husbandman tosses up the Wheat and Chaff together, and then he shakes it to and fro, this way and that way, on his knees.
So the Lord Jesus with his spiritual Fan tosses the Godly and Hypocritical Professor, by the same Afflictions, Trials, Persecutions and Temptations. And O what hurryings, tossings and Tumblings to and fro in their Spirits have some Christians met with in the late times, and still daily meet withal? they have their ups and downs, this Affliction, and the other Temptation, this Loss, and the other Cross: But yet, nevertheless, they are not tossed out, or blown away by the fan, but evident it is the Chaff is hereby purged out; while Christs Wheat is refined, they abide fanning, (as I hinted before) but so doth not the Carnal and light Professor: They are offended, through this means, as our Saviour shows, and are ready to say with that 1wicked man of old, this Evil is of the Lord, why should I wait upon 2him any longer? Believers know, God doth it not for his Pleasure, but for their Profit, that they might be partakers of his Holiness. 3Hence it is said, that they endure Chastening, and faint not when they are rebuked of the Lord.
So the Lord Jesus with his spiritual Fan tosses the Godly and Hypocritical Professor, by the same Afflictions, Trials, Persecutions and Tempations. And O what hurryings, tossings and Tumblings to and fro in their Spirits have some Christians met with in the late times, and still daily meet withal? they have their ups and downs, this Affliction, and the other Temptation, this Loss, and the other Cross: But yet, nevertheless, they are not tost out, or blown away by the fan, but evident it is the Chaff is hereby purged out; while Christs Wheat is refined, they abide fanning, (as I hinted before) but so doth not the Carnal and light Professor: They are offended, through this means, as our Saviour shews, and are ready to say with that 1wicked man of old, this Evil is of the Lord, why should I wait upon 2him any longer? Believers know, God doth it not for his Pleasure, but for their Profit, that they might be partakers of his Holiness. 3
I answer, Christ hath a twofold garner.
First. His Church is his garner.
1. A Garner is prepared on purpose to retain, and safely 1to secure the Wheat in a heap together, where it is carefully to be looked after. So is the Church of God appointed and ⟨p. 30⟩prepared to receive and secure his faithful People together; 'tis not built for Chaff nor Tares, and great care and pains is required of Christs servants in looking to, and taking care of his Spiritual Wheat in his Church.
1. A Garner is prepared on purpose to retain, and safely 1to secure the Wheat in a heap together, where it is carefully to be look'd after. So is the Church of God appointed and ⟨p. 30⟩prepared to receive and secure his faithful People together; 'tis not built for Chaff nor Tares, and great care and pains is required of Christs servants in looking to, and taking care of his Spiritual Wheat in his Church.
2. Yet through the Negligence or want of Wisdom in the Servants, oft-times some Chaff is brought into the Garner with the Wheat, which when the Husbandman see's it, by viewing his Grain, he is Troubled at his servant; see (saith he) what abundance of Chaff you have brought in with the Wheat, which spoils the beauty of it to such a degree, that it does not seem to be near so good as indeed it is.
