A47086:35
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. What abundance of carnal Worldlings, covetous and Earthly-minded Wretches are there also, whose gain is their Godliness, who value no Religion, but what suits with their filthy Lusts! some of these set up for Preachers, merely for their Earthly gain, and make a Trade of it, living profane and ungodly Lives, being Guilty almost of all manner of gross and abominable Sins, preferring humane Rites and Ceremonies above Christs Institutions, and a Form of Godliness above the Power of it.
6. What abundance of carnal Worldlings, covetous and Earthly-minded Wretches are there also, whose gain is their Godliness, who value no Religion, but what suits with their filthy Lusts! some of these set up for Preachers, meerly for their Earthly gain, and make a Trade of it, living prophane and ungodly Lives, being Guilty almost of all maner of gross and abominable Sins, preferring humane Rites and Ceremonies above Christs Institutions, and a Form of Godliness above the Power of it.
7. Besides, what a heap have we among us, of Traitorous, blind and deceitful Persons, who seek to betray the Protestant Interest, and all our Civil and Religious Liberties, into the hands of the common Enemy; who neither Fear God, nor Honour the King! As also what a multitude of Thieves, High-way-men, House-breakers, and bloody Villains, skulk and hide themselves in this heap! The very mentioning of these things is enough to grieve and wound our very Souls, considering how good and gracious God hath been to us in this Land; ⟨p. 7⟩and what a Nation this hath been, and what Wonders the Almighty hath formerly and of late times wrought for us, I mean for the Land in general. May we not fear that the Fanner will come with his Fan, and sever the Chaff in his direful Indignation from the Wheat, and let the Fire of his Anger seize upon it and burn it up? what can we expect but some amazing and fearful Judgments from the Lord, unless a National Repentance and Reformation, like that of Nineveh, doth speedily prevent it?
7. Besides, what a heap have we among us, of Traiterous, blind and deceitful Persons, who seek to betray the Protestant Interest, and all our Civil and Religious Liberties, into the hands of the common Enemy; who neither Fear God, nor Honour the King! As also what a multitude of Thieves, High-way-men, House-breakers, and bloody Villains, skulk and hide themselves in this heap! The very mentioning of these things is enough to grieve and wound our very Souls, considering how good and gracious God hath been to us in this Land; ⟨p. 7⟩and what a Nation this hath been, and what Wonders the Almighty hath formerly and of late times wrought for us, I mean for the Land in general. May we not fear that the Fanner will come with his Fan, and sever the Chaff in his direful Indignation from the Wheat, and let the Fire of his Anger seize upon it and burn it up? what can we expect but some amazing and fearful Judgments from the Lord, unless a National Repentance and Reformation, like that of Nineveh, doth speedily prevent it?
Secondly, There is another Heap, that may be called Christs floor, tho' not so big as the former, and tho' they seem to be more refined—yet if we consider them all together (for they are too much divided amongst themselves) what abundance of Chaff is there here also! Are there not many amongst these as bad as others, viz. People of ill and corrupt principles, bitter and censorious Spirits, and of scandalous lives: What Malice, Envy and Hatred, do they discover one against another, because of their differing Sentiments in and about some principles of Religion, rendering their Brethren odious to the World, Back-biting, Reproaching and Scandalizing each other, to the great dishonour of God, and shame of their sacred profession? one while charging and condemning the Innocent, and yet acknowledge not their Evil; and at another time striving to vindicate and clear such as are greatly guilty before God? both which are abominable and hateful in his sight, who will judge righteously, and render to every man at last according to his Works.
Secondly, There is another Heap, that may be called Christs floor, tho' not so big as the former, and tho' they seem to be more refined—yet if we consider them all together (for they are too much divided amongst themselves) what abundance of Chaff is there here also! Are there not many amongst these as bad as others, viz. People of ill and corrupt principles, bitter and censorious Spirits, and of scandalous lives: What Malice, Envy and Hatred, do they discover one against another, because of their differing Sentiments in and about some principles of Religion, rendering their Brethren odious to the World, Back-biting, Reproaching and Scandalizing each other, to the great dishonour of God, and shame of their sacred profession? one while charging and condemning the Innocent, and yet acknowldege not their Evil; and at another time striving to vindicate and clear such as are greatly guilty before God? both which are abominable and hateful in his sight, who will judge righteously, and render to every man at last according to his Works.
Certainly there is scarcely a worse Sin than the Sin of Backbiting; he that hates his Brother (Robbing him of his good Name out of Malice and Envy) is a Murderer, and no Murderer hath eternal Life abiding in him, 1 John 3. 17. such who are destitute of Christian Love and Charity, or hate their Brethren, clearly show they act contrary to the divine Principle of Grace, nay of Morality, and so are void of that sacred Life, Nature, and Image of God. For as love to the Brethren is an Evidence of our being the Children of God, so he that is possessed with Wrath, Envy, Malice, and Hatred, shows he is one of the Children of the wicked one, who is called the Accuser of the Brethren. Clear it is that this is a Diabolical Sin, and renders such in whom it is found, like to the Devil. In this the Children of God are manifest, and the Children of the ⟨p. 8⟩Devil; Whosoever doth not Righteousness, is not of God, neither he that loveth not his Brother.1
Certainly there is sarcely a worse Sin than the Sin of Backbiting; he that hates his Brother (Robbing him of his good Name out of Malice and Envy) is a Murtherer, and no Murtherer hath eternal Life abiding in him, 1 John 3. 17. such who are destitute of Christian Love and Charity, or hate their Brethren, clearly shew they act contrary to the divine Principle of Grace, nay of Morality, and so are void of that sacred Life, Nature, and Image of God. For as love to the Bretheren is an Evidence of our being the Children of God, so he that is possessed with Wrath, Envy, Malice, and Hatred, shews he is one of the Children of the wicked one, who is called the Accuser of the Brethren. Clear it is that this is a Diabolical Sin, and renders such in whom it is found, like to the Devil. In this the Children of God are manifest, and the Children of the ⟨p. 8⟩
Nay this great evil and wickedness is a sad sign that such are given up and left of God, as not retaining God in their knowledge, as the Apostle speaks of the Gentiles, who when they arrived to some degree of knowledge of God, yet did not glorify him as God; but violated his Law written in their Hearts: Therefore 'tis said, that God gave them up to vile Affections, and they were filled with all Unrighteousness, 1Fornication, Wickedness, Covetousness, Maliciousness, full of Envy, Murder, Debate, Deceit, Malignity, Whisperers, Backbiters, Despiteful, Proud, Boasters, &c. No doubt but that the Sin of Backbiting, Wrath, Malice, and Envy is as bad, if not worse, than Fornication, Swearing or Drunkenness; and lamentable it is to see this Sin, found among some who account themselves no small persons for Knowledge, Zeal and Piety in these days. But alas! alas! how sad and deplorable is their Condition, and vain that profession they make of Religion! let them repent of this their great wickedness, and get a changed heart. Moreover, are there not in this floor others who are proud, earthly, carnal and covetous Persons? they are called Nonconformists, but 'tis not so far as they ought from the Sins and Pollutions of this World, they conform to them in their detestable fashions and covetous practices: Do not many of them appear to love Sons and Daughters more than Christ or his sinking Interest? they can lay out plentifully to feed and clothe their own Children, whilst their bowels are shut up against the poor Members of Christ or Children of God; they'll spare more to gratify the Pride and base Lusts of their Children, than they will spare to supply the necessities of the poor Saints, or to support the Interest of Christ and his Gospel: Many pounds shall go for the first use, when a Shilling is thought a great deal with some of them for the second; they think nothing too much to enrich and uphold their own Families, whilst the Family of God suffers want, and the Cause of Christ languishes in their hands. O how little does the power of Grace and true Godliness shine amongst this sort! what formality and lukewarmness is there in these days, amongst such who are called Saints and holy Brethren! This, it is true, may be called Christ's Floor especially, but abundance of Chaff, no doubt will be found in it, when the Fanner comes to fan it. Look to it you Sinners in Zion:
Nay this great evil and wickedness is a sad sign that such are given up and left of God, as not retaining God in their knowledge, as the Apostle speaks of the Gentiles, who when they arrived to some degree of knowledge of God, yet did not glorifie him as God; but violated his Law written in their Hearts: Therefore 'tis said, that God gave them up to vile Affections, and they were filled with all Unrighteousness,
Fearfulness will ere long surprise the Hypocrite. ⟨p. 9⟩Who among us shall dwell with devouring Fire? who amongst us shall dwell with Everlasting Burning? Isa. 33.
Fearfulness will e're long surprize the Hipocrite. ⟨p. 9⟩Who among us shall dwell with devouring Fire? who amongst us shall dwell with Everlasting Burning? Isa. 33.
But so much as to what is meant by Christs Floor.
Answ. A Fan is a certain Instrument which the Husbandman uses to cleanse, or purge his Corn from the Chaff, evil Seeds, and all filth whatsoever: And this Instrument he holds in his hands, and uses upon his Knees, by which he tosses up the Wheat and Chaff together: And then shakes it to and fro, moving all at once, by which a wind is made, and the Chaff is blown away, and the Wheat separated and purged from it: Now John Baptist alludes to such an Instrument as this.
First, I answer, By Christs Fan is meant his Word, his holy Gospel, especially the Doctrine thereof; 'tis by this he cleanses, and 1purges his floor. Now you are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you. (Now the unclean person, the Traitor Judas 2is gone out from you:) Thro' my Word, i. e. through my Doctrine, you believing in me, and receiving me by Faith for Righteousness and eternal Life. 'Tis said Christ gave himself for his Church, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, Eph. 5. 26. Cleansing here imports the means by which it is wrought, or the Instrument, namely the Word of the Gospel, especially the Promise of free Justification and Sanctification by Christ, received thro' Faith, which Baptism was a Sign or Symbol of; see 1 Pet. 1. 22. Seeing ye have purified your selves in obeying the truth thro' the Spirit, &c. This was done in subjecting themselves to the Faith of the Gospel, to which the purifying of the heart is ascribed principally in 3Justification, whereby the guilt of Sin is purged away, as appertaining to the conscience; he alludes also to the sanctifying power and virtue of the holy Spirit. Compare this with Psal. 119. 9. Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way? that is, the way of his Heart, and also the way of his Life: The answer is, By taking heed thereto according to thy Word; that is, let him take heed according to that holy doctrine taught and held forth in God's Word; so that he attain unto a right knowledge of God, and of the Messiah, promised and typified by the Sacrifices of Aaron, by whose Blood, and thro' whose Righteousness only, Justification is to be had: for without Christs Blood there is no cleansing from Sin and filthiness, ⟨p. 10⟩neither of Heart, nor Life, for young nor old. It is not only to direct young Men to reform their Lives and Ways according to the Precepts of God's Word, nor to think by any degree of moral Righteousness or inherent Holiness they could be cleansed; no, no, but to take heed according to the mysterious and sublime Doctrine of God's free grace in Christ: Which was the only way of Salvation, as well under the Law as under the dispensation of the Gospel. Sirs, this was, and still is, Christs Fan, namely the glorious Doctrine of God's Grace thro' the Redemption that is in Christ's blood;
and it was by this fan Christ cleansed that Jewish floor, to which my Text primarily refers. For the Jews were his floor, in which was abundance of Chaff; and now Jesus Christ was come with his fan in his hand, to purge this floor; and evident it is, his holy Doctrine severed, or separated the Wheat from the Chaff; and by this means was the Wheat gathered into Christs Gospel-Garner, and the Chaff blown away: for as Chaff cannot endure the wind of the fan, so could not those unbelieving Jews, and hypocritical Pharisees, endure Christs holy and heavenly Doctrine. See Joh. 6. 52. to v. 60. How can this Man give us his flesh to eat? They thought he spake of a Natural eating of his flesh, as we eat the flesh of Beasts or Fish: His Doctrine was not understood by them. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily I say unto you, except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you, ver. 53.
Now the eating of Christs flesh, and drinking of his blood, is no other thing than the receiving Jesus Christ by Faith for Righteousness and eternal Life: Believing in Christ, coming to Christ, looking to Christ, leaning, trusting, or staying on Christ, receiving of Christ, and eating of Christ, imply one and the same thing: It is our going out of our selves to him, or feeding by faith on him, or resting, or relying on his Merits, on his Obedience in his Life, and in his Death, for Justification and eternal Life, without any Works done by us, or any Righteousness wrought in us, as the Apostle speaks. But to him that 1worketh not, but believeth on him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
But this mysterious and sublime Doctrine the Jews could not bear, but it was such a Fan as fanned them all away that believed not: For they being ignorant of God's Righteousness, going about to establish their own Righteousness, have not submitted themselves to the Righteousness of God. They thought their own ⟨p. 11⟩1personal and inherent Righteousness was that by which they must be justified, accepted, and eternally saved: they had meat of their own to eat; and therefore saw no need to go to their Neighbours door for it; they were full, and increased in Goods, and thought they had need of nothing: And hence the Doctrine of Justification by the Righteousness of Christ alone was rejected by them, it was not understood by them; that Christ's flesh should be Meat indeed, and his blood Drink indeed, was a strange Doctrine in their apprehensions; they could not conceive how such things could be, (as Nicodemus spake of Regeneration.) Nor can any Man whatsoever who will receive 2no point of Faith, but what his natural reason can comprehend; and thus this Doctrine of our Lord Jesus was a Fan in his hand, and it fanned away all the Chaff of that mighty Jewish floor, even all that received not that Doctrine, or who believed not in Christ, received not Christ by Faith for righteousness and eternal life: Nay it was such a Fan that it fanned away some of Christs Disciples, (not such who were his Disciples indeed,) but many that followed him, and who are said to believe on him; they believed he was the true Messiah, had some kind of faith, tho' not the Faith of Gods Elect: Many of his Disciples when they heard this, said, This is a hard saying, 3who can bear it? It seemed hard to them, because they could not comprehend it by their own carnal reason: From that time many of his Disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Such a Fan was this Doctrine then, and such a Fan it is now, 4that it may be said to make a discrimination between the pure Wheat and the Chaff: for no doubt all that receive not this holy. Doctrine (whatever fair show they make in the flesh) are but Chaff in the sight of God, and will be found such at the last day. Nor ought they to be suffered to abide in Christ's Garner on Earth, (as they shall not be gathered into his Garner in Heaven) but be esteemed as Chaff, or drossy professors, whatsoever their conversations may be:
(I mean such who eat not Christs flesh, and drink not his blood, i. e. wholly feed not upon Christ, rely not alone upon the Merits of a crucified Christ, or seek not Justification by his Righteousness only, but go about to bring in their own Works and inherent Holiness with Christ's Merits in point of Justification in God's sight.) But to proceed: But like as a Husbandman hath more Fans than one, even so also in the
Second place, Jesus Christ hath another Fan also, and that is ⟨p. 12⟩(I doubt not) likewise intended here: viz. The dispensation of God's Providence; for this was as a Fan in Christ's hand, by which he fanned away those unbelieving Jews, and so purged his floor: I mean, the time was now come, that their national, legal and external Church-State must be pulled down and dissolved; the Dispensation was changed, the Priesthood changed, and right of Church-membership changed; they having Abraham to their Father, or being the Seed of professing Parents, would do them no good, nor avail them any thing. Because the Covenant of Peculiarity God made with him and his natural seed as such, as to the Date of the Duration thereof, was now run out and expired, the Axe being now laid to the root of the Tree, ver. 10th. So that unless they receive Christ, believe in Christ, and are found gracious persons, fit Wheat for Christs spiritual Garner, or Gospel-Church (which is built up of lively stones) as Chaff the Gospel-dispensation like a Fan purges them out; as indeed it did, and blew them all away: And we are not alone in respect of this great Truth, for many of our worthy Brethren (who in some things differ from us) assert the same: particularly, Reverend Mr. Cotton, who speaking of this Text, Mat. 3. 10. saith, The first is the root of Abraham's Covenant, which this people much trusted upon, and of that it is which John Baptist speaketh, Now is the Axe laid to the root of the Tree, think not to say within your selves, we have Abraham to our Father; so that all their confidence that they had in Abraham's Covenant, Temple and Tabernacle, and such things, are burnt up, and so they have no Root left them to stand upon, and this is one thing intended by the Root.
Second place, Jesus Christ hath another Fan also, and that is ⟨p. 12⟩(I doubt not) likewise intended here: viz. The dispensation of God's Providence; for this was as a Fan in Christ's hand, by which he fann'd away those unbelieving Jews, and so purged his floor: I mean, the time was now come, that their national, legal and external Church-State must be pulled down and dissolved; the Dispensation was changed, the Priesthood changed, and right of Church-membership changed; they having Abraham to their Father, or being the Seed of professing Parents, would do them no good, nor avail them any thing. Because the Covenant of Peculiarity God made with him and his natural seed as such, as to the Date of the Duration thereof, was now run out and expired, the Ax being now laid to the root of the Tree, ver. 10th. So that unless they receive Christ, believe in Christ, and are found gracious persons, fit Wheat for Christs spiritual Garner, or Gospel-Church (which is built up of lively stones) as Chaff the Gospel-dispensation like a Fan purges them out; as indeed it did, and blew them all away: And we are not alone in respect of this great Truth, for many of our worthy Brethren (who in some things differ from us) assert the same: particularly, Reverend Mr. Cotton, who speaking of this Text,
First, I answer, By Christs Fan is meant his Word, his holy Gospel, especially the Doctrine thereof; 'tis by this he cleanses, and 1purges his floor. Now you are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you. (Now the unclean person, the Traytor Judas 2is gone out from you:) Thro' my Word, i. e. through my Doctrine, you believing in me, and receiving me by Faith for Righteousness and eternal Life. 'Tis said Christ gave himself for his Church, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, Eph. 5. 26. Cleansing here imports the means by which it is wrought, or the Instrument, namely the Word of the Gospel, especially the Promise of free Justification and Sanctification by Christ, received thro' Faith, which Baptism was a Sign or Symbol of; see 1 Pet. 1. 22. Seeing ye have purified your selves in obeying the truth thro' the Spirit, &c. This was done in subjecting themselves to the Faith of the Gospel, to which the purifying of the heart is ascribed principally in 3Justification, whereby the guilt of Sin is purged away, as appertaining to the conscience; he alludes also to the sanctifying power and virtue of the holy Spirit. Compare this with Psal. 119. 9. Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way? that is, the way of his Heart, and also the way of his Life: The answer is, By taking heed thereto according to thy Word; that is, let him take heed according to that holy doctrine taught and held forth in God's Word; so that he attain unto a right knowledge of God, and of the Messiah, promised and typified by the Sacrifices of Aaron, by whose Blood, and thro' whose Righteousness only, Justification is to be had: for without Christs Blood there is no cleansing from Sin and filthyness, ⟨p. 10⟩neither of Heart, nor Life, for young nor old. It is not only to direct young Men to reform their Lives and Ways according to the Precepts of God's Word, nor to think by any degree of moral Righteousness or inherent Holiness they could be cleansed; no, no, but to take heed according to the mysterious and sublime Doctrine of God's free grace in Christ: Which was the only way of Salvation, as well under the Law as under the dispensation of the Gospel. Sirs, this was, and still is, Christs Fan, namely the glorious Doctrine of God's Grace thro' the Redemption that is in Christ's blood;
But this mysterious and sublime Doctrine the Jews could not bear, but it was such a Fan as fanned them all away that believed not: For they being ignorant of God's Righteousness, going about to establish their own Righteousness, have not submitted themselves to the Righteousness of God. They thought their own ⟨p. 11⟩1personal and inherent Righteousness was that by which they must be justified, accepted, and eternally saved: they had meat of their own to eat; and therefore saw no need to go to their Neighbours door for it; they were full, and increased in Goods, and thought they had need of nothing: And hence the Doctrine of Justification by the Righteousness of Christ alone was rejected by them, it was not understood by them; that Christ's flesh should be Meat indeed, and his blood Drink indeed, was a strange Doctrine in their apprehensions; they could not conceive how such things could be, (as Nicodemus spake of Regeneration.) Nor can any Man whatsoever who will receive 2no point of Faith, but what his natural reason can comprehend; and thus this Doctrine of our Lord Jesus was a Fan in his hand, and it fanned away all the Chaff of that mighty Jewish floor, even all that received not that Doctrine, or who believed not in Christ, received not Christ by Faith for righteousness and eternal life: Nay it was such a Fan that it fann'd away some of Christs Disciples, (not such who were his Disciples indeed,) but many that followed him, and who are said to believe on him; they believed he was the true Messiah, had some kind of faith, tho' not the Faith of Gods Elect: Many of his Disciples when they heard this, said, This is a hard saying, 3who can bear it? It seemed hard to them, because they could not comprehend it by their own carnal reason: From that time many of his Disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Such a Fan was this Doctrine then, and such a Fan it is now, 4that it may be said to make a discrimination between the pure Wheat and the Chaff: for no doubt all that receive not this holy. Doctrine (whatever fair shew they make in the flesh) are but Chaff in the sight of God, and will be found such at the last day. Nor ought they to be suffered to abide in Christ's Garner on Earth, (as they shall not be gathered into his Garner in Heaven) but be esteemed as Chaff, or drossy professors, whatsoever their conversations may be:
