A47542:69
A golden mine opened, or, The glory of God's rich grace displayed in the mediator to believers, and his direful wrath against impenitent sinners containing the substance of near forty sermons upon several subjects / by Benjamin Keach.
London: printed by the author, 1694
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.
2. May be some glorious Truths, or Truth of Jesus Christ, is revealed, or cleared up to his Church in General, to which several Persons of the same Congregation may not only want Light in, but may be filled with Prejudice against, and not only against the Truth, but against the Church or Minister for seeking to bring it in; and this may rise to such a height, through their Pride and Stubbornness, that they will not abide any longer Members thereof, but violently rend themselves by Schism, and so are purged out. Tho' (as 'tis observed by an Husband-man) some light Corn, may be good Wheat, may be fanned out with the Chaff, which he knows how ⟨p. 14⟩to recover by fanning the Chaff also afterwards. And thus it was with some of those who were called Christ's Disciples, they could not, would not endure that blessed Truth Christ 1preached to them, of Eating of his Flesh, &c. but cried out, This is a hard saying, who can bear it? and so went away and walked no more with him. O see what the Effects of preaching some Truths may be! how many are there who cannot bear in this day sound Doctrine, but desert his People, and some Truths of Christ, and seem to shut their eyes against them, calling them Error and false Doctrine, and what not? And this way God takes (in his wise Providence) to purge out some rotten Members, which possibly were a reproach to his People: And although' may be some Wheat, may by this means through Satan's Temptations, and Corruptions of their own hearts, and their great Ignorance, be fanned out with the Chaff, they being carried away by the Craftiness and Subtlety of such whom Christ hath a mind to sever from the Body; yet he knows how to gather up the Wheat again, as the Husbandman doth.
2. May be some glorious Truths, or Truth of Jesus Christ, is revealed, or cleared up to his Church in General, to which several Persons of the same Congregation may not only want Light in, but may be filled with Prejudice against, and not only against the Truth, but against the Church or Minister for seeking to bring it in; and this may rise to such a height, through their Pride and Stubborness, that they will not abide any longer Members thereof, but violently rend themselves by Schism, and so are purged out. Tho' (as 'tis observed by an Husband-man) some light Corn, may be good Wheat, may be fanned out with the Chaff, which he knows how ⟨p. 14⟩to recover by fanning the Chaff also afterwards. And thus it was with some of those who were called Christ's Disciples, they could not, would not endure that blessed Truth Christ 1preached to them, of Eating of his Flesh, &c. but cried out, This is a hard saying, who can bear it? and so went away and walked no more with him. O see what the Effects of preaching some Truths may be! how many are there who cannot bear in this day sound Doctrine, but desert his People, and some Truths of Christ, and seem to shut their eyes against them, caling them Error and false Doctrine, and what not? And this way God takes (in his wise Providence) to purge out some rotten Members, which possibly were a repoach to his People: And altho' may be some Wheat, may by this means through Satans Temptations, and Corruptions of their own hearts, and their great Ignorance, be fanned out with the Chaff, they being carried away by the Craftiness and Subtilty of such whom Christ hath a mind to sever from the Body; yet he knows how to gather up the Wheat again, as the Husbandman doth.
3. Others, whom Christ would have purged out of his Church, may be suffered to suck in some evil, corrupt and dangerous Principles, or Errors in Fundamentals, like that of Hymeneus and Alexander, whose Errors being discovered, were purged out.1
3. Others, whom Christ would have purged out of his Church, may be suffered to suck in some evil, corrupt and dangerous Principles, or Errors in Fundamentals, like that of Hymeneus and Alexander, whose Errours being discovered, were purged out.1
4. Also others fall into notorious and scandalous Sins, and so are purged out.
5. Some who are Chaff, or unsound Christians, may be suffered to take up undue offences against the Church, or Churches to whom they belong, and by giving way to Temptation, they may become unreconcilable, magnifying their own Wisdom and Self-conceitedness, and so by a secret hand of God be discovered and purged out: But it must be considered that the use and exercise of the Keys, or Rules of Church-Discipline, is appointed by Christ, as the proper Fan by which those sorts of Persons last mentioned, and some others, are to be purged out of the Church or Congregations of the Saints. Now the Fan of Discipline is two-fold.
5. Some who are Chaff, or unsound Christians, may be suffered to take up undue offences against the Church, or Churches to whom they belong, and by giving way to Temptation, they may become unreconcileable, magnifying their own Wisdom and Self-conceitedness, and so by a secret hand of God be discovered and purged out: But it must be considered that the use and exercise of the Keys, or Rules of Church-Discipline, is appointed by Christ, as the proper Fan by which those sorts of Persons last mentioned, and some others, are to be purged out of the Church or Congregations of the Saints. Now the Fan of Discipline is two-fold.
First, The Act of Excommunication: In the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, with my Spirit, to deliver such a one unto Satan, for the Destruction of the Flesh, that 1the Spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. The Persons, Christ by this Fan of Discipline purges out, are of three sorts.
1. All gross and scandalous Persons, who are Guilty of any Act or Acts of Immorality, as Theft, Swearing, Drunkenness, Uncleanness, Covetousness, Lying, &c. These being public and reproachful Crimes, the Offender ought forthwith (upon clear proof) to be purged out, that the Name of the Lord may not be exposed to contempt, and his People vilified by the ungodly World; and time given to him for the proof and Trial of the sincerity or Truth of his Repentance; which in part will be manifested by his Carriage and Behaviour under his Punishment; I mean the Righteous Censure of the Church.
1. All gross and scandalous Persons, who are Guilty of any Act or Acts of Immorality, as Theft, Swearing, Drunkenness, Vncleanness, Covetousness, Lying, &c. These being publick and reproachful Crimes, the Offender ought sorthwith (upon clear proof) to be purged out, that the Name of the Lord may not be exposed to contempt, and his People villified by the ungodly World; and time given to him for the proof and Trial of the sincerity or Truth of his Repentance; which in part will be manifested by his Carriage and Behaviour under his Punishment; I mean the Righteous Censure of the Church.
The Third sort are such who refuse to hear the Church after their case (in which they have offended) is regularly brought in against them according to the Rule contained in Matthew; 1the offence at first may be against one brother, and the offended party is first to tell him his fault between himself and his Brother or Sister that hath offended him alone: Whom if he can bring to see and acknowledge his evil, it is to proceed no further; but if he cannot, then he is obliged by the holy Law of Christ to take one or two more, and go to him, and strive to convince him, and bring him to a sight and sense of his iniquity; but if he cannot do it, then it ought to be brought unto the Church, and if he will not hear the Church, then the Fan of Excommunication is to be used in the Name of Jesus Christ, and they purged out.
The Third sort are such who refuse to hear the Church after their case (in which they have offended) is regularly brought in against them according to the Rule contained in Matthew; 1the offence at first may be against one brother, and the offended party is first to tell him his fault between himself and his Brother or Sister that hath offended him alone: Whom if he can bring to see and acknowledge his evil, it is to proceed no further; but if he cannot, then he is oblidg'd by the holy Law of Christ to take one or two more, and go to him, and strive to convince him, and bring him to a sight and sense of his iniquity; but if he cannot do it, then it ought to be brought unto the Church, and if he will not hear the Church, then the Fan of Excommunication is to be used in the Name of Jesus Christ, and they purged out.
As to such who rend themselves from a Church, or violate their sacred Covenant by irregularly withdrawing themselves, they ought to be marked, and solemnly in the public Congregation 1declared to have withdrawn, rent, and cut off themselves from the Communion of the Church, and no longer to be owned nor looked upon as Members, and none to Communicate with them until they have given satisfaction by Repentance.
As to such who rend themselves from a Church, or violate their sacred Covenant by irregularly withdrawing themselves, they ought to be marked, and solemnly in the publick Congregation 1declared to have withdrawn, rent, and cut off themselves from the Communion of the Church, and no longer to be owned nor lookt upon as Members, and none to Communicate with them until they have given satisfaction by Repentance.
The Second part of the Fan of Discipline is that rule laid down by the Apostle, of withdrawing from every Brother and Sister that walketh disorderly; as such that are Busybodies, Tattlers, 1or Idle; or such that neglect their Duties in attending on the Church in times of solemn Worship, or that make Parties, or ⟨p. 16⟩cause Division in the Church, and refuse to live in Obedience to Christ, under the due and just Government thereof, or to obey them that are set over them in the Lord, or who strive to have the preeminence, like Diotrophes, being Vain-glorious, prating against, or despising of Dignities, or the just Authority of Christs Ministers, or Angels of his Churches, as the beloved Apostle speaks, 3 Joh. 9, 10. Wherefore if I come, I will Remember his deeds which he doth, prating against us with malicious Words, and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the Brethren, and forbideth them that would, and casteth them out of the Church. These are to be marked and withdrawn from, 2 Thess. 3. 6. Not to be counted as Enemies, but exhorted as Brethren: Unless they provoke the Church to further and a more severe Censure. Some of this sort oft-times strive to draw away disciples after them, and seek to disquiet the Peace of the Church, and in a fawning and flattering manner to deceive the hearts of the Simple; therefore these, if they will not hear the Church, are to be quite fanned out also by Excommunication, and to be looked upon as an Heathen-man or Publican, as in the Case of Notorious and Scandalous Sinners, or such who are guilty of Heresy. Mat. 18.
The Second part of the Fan of Discipline is that rule laid down by the Apostle, of withdrawing from every Brother and Sister that walketh disorderly; as such that are Busibodies, Tatlers, 1or Idle; or such that neglect their Duties in attending on the Church in times of solemn Worship, or that make Parties, or ⟨p. 16⟩
Fifthly, Jesus Christ hath also another Fan in his hand to purge his floor, or cleanse his Wheat from the Chaff, filth and defilement of Sin, namely, the Holy Spirit; and by this means he cleanses and Purifies in a gracious manner the Souls of his own People: Such were some of you, but ye are washed, but ye are Sanctified, but ye are Justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus, 1and by the Spirit of our God. What filthy Creatures were those Corinthians, before the Lord Jesus by his Spirit had purged and Sanctified them.
Faith, of the the Operation of God, is a most excellent Grace; it is by Faith in the Blood of Christ that we come to be purged from the Guilt of Sin; Faith applying his Merits and Righteousness unto the Soul in Justification; and such is the Nature thereof, that it makes holy the Hearts and Lives of all such Persons in whom it is by the Spirit wrought or infused in Sanctification: And hath put no difference between them and us, Purifying their hearts by Faith. Yea, it cleanseth them 1from all filthiness of Flesh and Spirit, that they may perfect Holiness in the fear of God.2
Faith, of the the Operation of God, is a most excellent Grace; it is by Faith in the Blood of Christ that we come to be purged from the Guilt of Sin; Faith applying his Merits and Righteousness unto the Soul in Justification; and such is the Nature thereof, that it makes holy the Hearts and Lives of all such Persons in whom it is by the Spirit wrought or infused in Sanctification: And hath put no difference between them and us, Purifying their hearts by Faith. Yea, it cleanseth them 1from all filthyness of Flesh and Spirit, that they may perfect Holyness in the fear of God.2
But let me tell you that the Spirit and Grace of Christ in this respect is as a Fan, rather to Cleanse the Saints, by ⟨p. 17⟩purging out the Chaff of Corruption, which naturally is in their Hearts and Lives, than to purge Hypocrites and gross Professors out of the Church, and to that I Principally refer here.
But let me tell you that the Spirit and Grace of Christ in this respect is as a Fan, rather to Cleanse the Saints, by ⟨p. 17⟩purging out the Chaff of Corruption, which naturally is in their Hearts and Lives, than to purge Hypocrites and gross Professors out of the Church, and to that I Principally referr here.
6. Moreover Christ hath the Fan of Persecution, or the Sufferings of the Cross, and all other afflictions which he brings upon his People, which he uses to purge and purify their Souls, and his Churches too.
And from hence Afflictions are compared to a Refiners fire: He shall set as a Refiners fire, and Purifier of Silver: He, that is the Messiah, i. e. our Lord Jesus Christ; this is his 1Work, viz. to purge his People, who in this Place are compared to Silver and Gold that is refined: As in my Text they are likened unto Wheat, in this he is compared to a Refiner, and hath his Furnace; in the other to an Husbandman, and so hath his Fan. Both these Texts allude to the same thing, and doing the same work, namely, to sever and separate the clean from the unclean, the Gold from the Dross, the Chaff from the Wheat. And evident it is, that Persecution, Trials and Afflictions, commonly make a great discovery who are Wheat or pure Gold, viz. Sincere Believers; and who drossy and chaffy Professors. If Wheat, Persecution purges and purified them: But if they are Chaff, it usually fans them away. But he that received the seed in stony places, the same is he which heareth the Word, and anon with joy receiveth it: Yet hath he not root in himself, but endureth for a while; for when Tribulation or Persecution ariseth, because 2of the Word, by and by he is offended. Thus the fan of Persecution purges these Chaffy Professors out of Christs Spiritual floor, or rather his garner: Namely, his Church, into which in a day of Liberty they got, and had a place; but they cannot bear the Wind and blast of Affliction and Tribulation: And as it purges out much Chaff, so also the Wheat is thereby refined and made more clean and fit for the Lords use. Of so great benefit is Persecution to Gods Church, that they cannot some times be without it; it is if need be that we are in heaviness; if we need it not, or if Christ sees there is no need of it, we shall never feel the Rod: He doth it 3not for his pleasure, but for our profit, that we might partake of his Holiness. And this Jehovah by the Prophet further makes known to us: This is the fruit of all, the taking away your 4Sin. And thus the Lord purgeth away the filth of the Daughter of Zion, and the Blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof, by the ⟨p. 18⟩Spirit of Judgment and by the Spirit of burning. The Rod of Affliction, or Furnace of Persecution, cannot purge out the
The Spirit is called a Spirit of burning, because like fire it burns up and consumes the Filth, Chaff and Dross that is in us: Before Trials and Persecution comes, Christ seems to have a very great floor, a great heap, or much Corn; but when he comes to try them with this fan in his hand, one great part thereof is found mere Chaff, and the wind drives it away. So much shall suffice as to the Fan in Christs hand by which he purgeth his Floor.
The Spirit is called a Spirit of burning, because like fire it burns up and consumes the Filth, Chaff and Dross that is in us: Before Trials and Persecution comes, Christ seems to have a very great floor, a great heap, or much Corn; but when he comes to try them with this fan in his hand, one great part thereof is found meer Chaff, and the wind drives it away. So much shall suffice as to the Fan in Christs hand by which he purgeth his Floor.
And from hence Afflictions are compaired to a Refiners fire: He shall set as a Refiners fire, and Purifier of Silver: He, that is the Messiah, i. e. our Lord Jesus Christ; this is his 1Work, viz. to purge his People, who in this Place are compared to Silver and Gold that is refined: As in my Text they are likened unto Wheat, in this he is compared to a Refiner, and hath his Furnace; in the other to an Husbandman, and so hath his Fan. Both these Texts allude to the same thing, and doing the same work, namely, to sever and separate the clean from the unclean, the Gold from the Dross, the Chaff from the Wheat. And evident it is, that Persecution, Trials and Afflictions, commonly make a great discovery who are Wheat or pure Gold, viz. Sincere Believers; and who drossy and chaffy Professors. If Wheat, Persecution purges and purified them: But if they are Chaff, it usually fans them away. But he that received the seed in stony places, the same is he which heareth the Word, and anon with joy reciveth it: Yet hath he not root in himself, but endureth for a while; for when Tribulation or Persecution ariseth, because 2of the Word, by and by he is offended. Thus the fan of Persecution purges these Chaffy Professors out of Christs Spiritual floor, or rather his garner: Namely, his Church, into which in a day of Liberty they got, and had a place; but they cannot bear the Wind and blast of Affliction and Tribulation: And as it purges out much Chaff, so also the Wheat is thereby refined and made more clean and fit for the Lords use. Of so great benefit is Persecution to Gods Church, that they cannot some times be without it; it is if need be that we are in heaviness; if we need it not, or if Christ sees there is no need of it, we shall never feel the Rod: He doth it 3not for his pleasure, but for our profit, that we might partake of his Holiness. And this Jehovah by the Prophet further makes known to us: This is the fruit of all, the taking away your 4Sin. And thus the Lord purgeth away the filth of the Daughter of Sion, and the Blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof, by the ⟨p. 18⟩Spirit of Judgment and by the Spirit of burning. The Rod of Affliction, or Furnace of Persecution, cannot purge out the 5filth of Sin that is in the Lords People, without the operations of the Holy Spirit:
