A47086:120
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.
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.
2. Fire breaks out sometimes very suddenly, when none think of it, but all are as they judge, safe and secure, yet in a moment how are they surprised, when nothing but the horror and cry of fire, fire, fire, is heard in their ears. So Gods Wrath, like a dreadful and an unexpected fire, breaks out sometimes suddenly upon the ungodly. How surprising were the flames of Sodom, and the amazing hand-writing on Belshazzar's wall, when he was drinking Wine in Bowls! immediately the Kings countenance was changed, and he was troubled in his thoughts, so that 1the joints of his Loins were loosed, and his Knees smote one against the other: When they cry peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh, 2as travail upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape.
2. Fire breaks out sometimes very suddenly, when none think of it, but all are as they judge, safe and secure, yet in a moment how are they surprized, when nothing but the horror and cry of fire, fire, fire, is heard in their ears. So Gods Wrath, like a dreadful and an unexpected fire, breaks out sometimes suddenly upon the ungodly. How surprizing were the flames of Sodom, and the amazing hand-writing on Belshazars wall, when he was drinking Wine in Bowls! immediately the Kings countenance was changed, and he was troubled in his thoughts, so that 1the joynts of his Loins were loosed, and his Knees smote one against the other: When they cry peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh, 2as travail upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape.
3. A fire sometimes breaks forth in the Night, when men are asleep: So God comes upon men many times in the night of ignorance and unbelief, while they lye on their Beds of Ease and carnal Security, by amazing Judgments, or by sudden Death. How secure was the old World, and the rich man in the Gospel, to whom God said, this night thy soul shall be required of thee.
4. A consuming Fire destroys, wastes and devours exceedingly, as Sodom found, and London also by woeful experience. So God when he breaks forth in his Wrath and Fury, he makes ⟨p. 32⟩most lamentable desolation, The Lord shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them. The Wrath of God is 1compared to a consuming fire: For our God is a consuming 2Fire.
4. A consuming Fire destroys, wasts and devours exceedingly, as Sodom found, and London also by woful experience. So God when he breaks forth in his Wrath and Fury, he makes ⟨p. 32⟩most lamentable desolation, The Lord shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them. The Wrath of God is 1compared to a consuming fire: For our God is a consuming 2Fire.
5. A Consuming and raging fire spares none, the Palace of the Prince no more than the Cottage of the Peasant, the mighty Oaks as well as the lowest Shrubs are devoured by it; so the wrath of God seizeth, and will seize on all wicked men, on the mighty and honourable of the Earth, as well as the poor and contemptible ones; the King on his Throne, as well as the Beggar on the Dunghill: His wrath shall be on every one that is lofty, and upon every one that is proud and lifted up, and 1he shall be brought down; upon all the Cedars of Lebanon, and upon all the Oaks of Bashan.—He will come upon Princes as upon mortar, the whole earth shall be devoured by the fire of his Jealousy, neither their Gold nor Silver shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lords wrath.
5. A Consuming and raging fire spares none, the Palace of the Prince no more than the Cottage of the Peasant, the mighty Oaks as well as the lowest Shrubs are devoured by it; so the wrath of God seizeth, and will seize on all wicked men, on the mighty and honourable of the Earth, as well as the poor and contemptible ones; the King on his Throne, as well as the Beggar on the Dunghill: His wrath shall be on every one that is lofty, and upon every one that is proud and lifted up, and 1he shall be brought down; upon all the Cedars of Lebanon, and upon all the Oaks of Bashan.—He will come upon Princes as upon morter, the whole earth shall be devoured by the fire of his Jealousy, neither their Gold nor Silver shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lords wrath.
6. Wood, Hay and Stubble, are fit fuel for the fire to seize upon, and such things that are combustible make it to burn the more vehemently. And if high strong Towers cannot stand before a consuming fire, how is it possible for Briars and Thorns? Some Sinners are like stubble fully dry: They are fit Fuel for the Wrath of God like fire to take hold of. O what horrid Guilt lies upon some mens Consciences, just like a great heap or pile of wood, well dried, or Cart loads of straw, or dry stubble: What if God will to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long suffering, the vessels of wrath 1fitted to destruction.
6. Wood, Hay and Stubble, are fit fuel for the fire to seize upon, and such things that are combustible make it to burn the more vehemently. And if high strong Towers cannot stand before a consuming fire, how is it possible for Briars and Thorns? Some Sinners are like stubble fully dry: They are fit Fuel for the Wrath of God like fire to take hold of. O what horrid Guilt lies upon some mens Consciences, just like a great heap or pile of wood, well dried, or Cart loads of straw, or dry stubble: What if God will to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long suffering, the vessels of wrath 1fitted to destruction.
A long Course in sin, Custom in sin, resisting the Grace of God, slighting Convictions, hardening the Heart against Reproof, stifling the Accusations of Conscience, and abusing the Patience and long Suffering of God, sits men for the fire of his Wrath; Whilst they are folden together as Thorns, and whilst they are drunken 1as Drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry. Such that are drunk with Pride, drunk with Pleasures, or whose Souls are surfeited with the Riches and Cares of the World, the fire of Gods Wrath, as fit matter or combustible stuff, will seize upon.
A long Course in sin, Custom in sin, resisting the Grace of God, slighting Convictions, hardening the Heart against Reproof, stifling the Accusations of Conscience, and abusing the Patience and long Suffering of God, sits men for the fire of his Wrath; Whilst they are folden together as Thorns, and whilst they are drunken 1as Drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry. Such that are drunk with Pride, drunk with Pleasures, or whose Souls are surfited with the Riches and Cares of the World, the fire of Gods Wrath, as fit matter or combustable stuff, will seize upon.
7. A dreadful fire when it breaks out, turns all joy into sorrow, and makes a day of mirth a day of Mourning: So the consuming wrath of God, whether it seizes on the consciences of Men only whilst alive in the body, or on Body and ⟨p. 33⟩Soul both here, or on the Soul at Death, it turns all joy into sorrow. O what extremity of misery do such feel! ask Judas or Spira, they could tell you.
8. Fire is a most cruel and dreadful tormentor; if a man be cast into a fire, what intolerable pain and anguish doth it put him to! but alas, alas, that's nothing to the Wrath of God, when God kindles it in the Consciences of men, nor to Hell fire. You will say, O 'tis a fearful thing to fall into a furious fire, into a burning Furnace, but O Sirs, how much more dreadful is it to fall under the Wrath of God! It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God: For our God is a consuming fire. 1If it be terrible to have a finger, a foot, or a hand to be burned off, or to have the whole body cast into a Furnace of boiling Oil, (as some of the holy Martyrs were) how then can sinners, who are as chaff, bear the Thoughts of Gods wrath and vindictive Vengeance, which is far more intolerable than any fire into which any Mortal was ever cast? For
8. Fire is a most cruel and dreadful tormentor; if a man be cast into a fire, what intollerable pain and anguish doth it put him to! but alas, alas, that's nothing to the Wrath of God, when God kindles it in the Consciences of men, nor to Hell fire. You will say, O 'tis a fearful thing to fall into a furious fire, into a burning Furnace, but O Sirs, how much more dreadful is it to fall under the Wrath of God! It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God: For our God is a consuming fire. 1If it be terrible to have a finger, a foot, or a hand to be burned off, or to have the whole body cast into a Furnace of boyling Oil, (as some of the holy Martyrs were) how then can sinners, who are as chaff, bear the Thoughts of Gods wrath and vindictive Vengance, which is far more intollerable than any fire into which any Mortal was ever cast? For
1. Other fire burns only the external part, or temporal, or corporal matter, but the fire of Gods wrath burns and torments the Spirit, the Soul, the invisible part.
2. Elementary fire is seen, but internal Wrath is only felt inwardly, it cannot be seen.
3. The fiercest fire that ever was kindled hath been overcome, and by Engines or Instruments put out, but the fire of Gods Wrath when kindled, and the Soul thrown into Hell, cannot be put out, nor be extinguished, 'tis unquenchable fire. Tho' the burning of Mount Aetna, and other burning Mountains, are impossible for man to extinguish, yet doubtless they shall not burn always, they will be put out, but wrath shall burn for ever. So much as to the Explanation of our Text. From hence we may observe divers Propositions or Points of Doctrine.
3. The fiercest fire that ever was kindled hath been overcome, and by Engines or Instruments put out, but the fire of Gods Wrath when kindled, and the Soul thrown into Hell, cannot be put out, nor be extinguished, 'tis unquenchable fire. Tho' the burning of Mount Aetna, and other burning Mountains, are impossible for man to extinguish, yet doubless they shall not burn always, they will be put out, but wrath shall burn for ever. So much as to the Explanation of our Text. From hence we may observe divers Propositions or Points of Doctrine.
