A trumpet blown in Zion, or, An alarm in God's holy mountain containing an…A trumpet blown in Zion, or, An allarm in God's holy mountain containing an…

Quest. Why are Hypocrites or ungodly Persons in the Church compared to Chaff? and how may they be known?

Answ. I answer, Hypocrites and ungodly men in the Church are compared to Chaff;

1. Because Chaff before it is separated from the wheat, cleaveth close to it, and it is hard to sever it from the wheat, and it also seems like unto it: Even so some carnal and hypocritical Professors cleave to the Church, and seem to love and embrace the Godly in their Arms, and to lay them in their hearts; they walk in Company, nay in outward Fellowship and Church-communion with them; they Pray, and Break-bread with them, as if they were really gracious, and are not known to their Brethren to be otherwise: And as it is hard to discern them from the Godly, so 'tis as hard to separate such from them. Chaff is so much like to the Wheat, that some have taken it at first view to be Wheat; so are these taken to be Saints, and there may be no severing them from the Congregation of the Lord, till Christ comes with his Fan to purge his floor.

2. They may be compared to Chaff, in regard of the great pains that is, and must be used to separate it from the Wheat: ⟨p. 19⟩