A47086:109
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.
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.
So it is here for want of Care, or through weakness or want of Knowledge in Christs Ministers and Servants, in discerning who are sincere Christians and who are not: Many unsound and Chaffy Professors are let into the Church or Churches of Jesus Christ, which is displeasing unto him, because they spoil the Beauty and Glory thereof, and cause many to reproach his faithful ones; as it also renders them in the sight of the Carnal World not to be the People which indeed they are.
3. The Husbandman therefore causes the Wheat in his Garner to be fanned again, to clear it of the Chaff that is got in amongst it; so Christ with the Fan of Persecution often times fans his, People to purge out the loose and profane from among them.
3. The Husbandman therefore causes the Wheat in his Garner to be fanned again, to clear it of the Chaff that is got in amongst it; so Christ with the Fan of Persecution often times fans his, People to purge out the loose and prophane from among them.
Secondly, By the Garner is meant Heaven it self, into which 1all the Elect shall be put at the last day, and into this Garner shall none come but pure Wheat: And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, 2or that maketh a Lye, but they which are written in the Lambs book of Life.
Answ. I answer, by burning up the Chaff with unquenchable fire, 1is meant the direful Wrath of God, which sometimes seizeth on ungodly persons in this world, and shall eternally take hold of all the Chaff in the world to come. The Wrath of God is often compared to fire in the Scripture. There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and a fire out of his mouth devoured; Coals were 2kindled by it. So in another place it is said, A fire goeth before 3him, &c. Shall thy wrath burn like fire, Psa. 89. 46. His fury 4is poured out like fire, and the Rocks are thrown down by him.
1. Fire is a terrible and most amazing Element, especially when it breaks forth like a masterless Enemy, and none can stop it: So is the Wrath of God very terrible, when he poureth it forth in his greatest fury. O what a frightful Cry doth a dreadful Fire that breaks out in a Town or City cause! what wringing of hands! Men tremble, Women miscarry oft-times, Children screech out, it frightens the very Fowls of the Air, and Beasts of the Earth, and turns all Faces into Paleness! how amazing was the flames of Sodom, and how terrible is the burning of Mount Aetna! the Wrath of God when it furiously breaketh forth upon a People and Nation, or particular Person, causeth dreadful horror, it maketh the stoutest heart to quake, and the strongest hands feeble: At his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation: His fury 1is poured out like fire, and the Mountains are thrown down before him: Can thy heart endure, or thy hands be strong, in the day when I contend 2with thee? Who can stand before his indignation? O how will the wicked fly into holes, quiver like a leaf, and cry to the Rocks and Mountains to fall upon them, and hide them from the face 3of him that sitteth on the Throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.
