A47542:81
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.
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 5filth of Sin that is in the Lords People, without the operations of the Holy Spirit:
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:
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.
Quest. Thirdly what is meant by the Chaff?
Answ. I answer the Chaff may be understood to be two fold.
1. Men and Women who get into Gods Church, or among his People, but are not Wheat, but vile Hypocrites, pretending to be that which in truth they are not; thus all that are of Israel are not Israel. Tho' they bore his Name, were called Jews, called Saints, yet were unsound at heart, and graceless 1Souls, or mere Chaff in Gods sight.
1. Men and Women who get into Gods Church, or among his People, but are not Wheat, but vile Hypocrites, pretending to be that which in truth they are not; thus all that are of Israel are not Israel. Tho' they bore his Name, were called Jews, called Saints, yet were unsound at heart, and graceless 1Souls, or meer Chaff in Gods sight.
2. By Chaff may also be intended Sin, or that Filth and Corruption which cleaveth oft-times to the best of Gods People, which Christ must and will purge out.
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⟩The wheat must be threshed and fanned, nay fanned again and again, before all the Chaff can be severed from it. So unsound Professors or some Hypocrites in the Church, seem to cleave so close to the Godly, and are in such seeming union and and oneness with them, that the Lord sees there is no other way to sever them from each other, but by threshing his wheat with the flail of Persecution, and then the chaff flies away by the wind of this fan. O what a multitude seemed to cleave to our blessed Saviour, and to be his Disciples, in a day of peace and prosperity, when he was riding in Triumph to Jerusalem, Crying out, Hosanna, blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord! but when our Saviour came to the Cross, how did they 1leave him, and disown him, nay, may be cried out Crucify, Crucifice him: So and in like manner in our former days of 2Liberty, what great numbers flocked to our Assemblies, and made a profession of Religion; but when that hot persecution arose, how did they fall off, and disown that People which once they seemed to cleave unto: The fan of persecution fanned them away as chaff, and not only a multitude of Professors, but also how many great Preachers did basely betray the truth which they professed, and in their Pulpits seemed a little before zealously to maintain, particularly that of Separation from the National Church. This way Christ took to discover the filthy and rotten hearts of some, and slavish fear and weakness of Faith in others, who were left to a sinful Compliance and Conformity, building again that which they had destroyed, and destroying that which they had been a building; and thus it appears 3as Chaff, cannot bear fanning, but is blown away; so chaffy Professors cannot bear spiritual fanning, i. e. they cannot stand in an hour of Temptation, but fall away. Alas! tho we have now again multitudes that seem to cleave to our Churches and to our Assemblies, yet should Christ come with his Fan upon us, you will soon see (it is to be feared) the former Effects again.
3. Chaff is of very little worth or value unto Wheat: What is the Chaff unto the Wheat, saith the Lord? One peck of good 1Wheat is worth many Bushels of Chaff. So ungodly men and and women are but of little worth in Gods sight; a wicked man to him is loathsome, as Solomon shows, and that which is loathsome and hateful in our sight we value not, but cast away: 2The Prayers of the wicked are abominable to the Lord, because their persons are not accepted in Christ; Whatsoever ⟨p. 20⟩the ungodly do, or whatsoever show they make of Religion, let them Pray, Hear, Read, Preach, or give to the Poor, it is not regarded nor accepted of the Lord; one godly Person is more to him than a multitude of unsanctified and hypocritical persons. The tongue of the just is as choice as silver, the heart of the wicked is but of little worth. The best part of a Child of God is his Heart, tho' he thinks that is the worst of all; and the worst part of an unholy man is his Heart, tho' he thinks that is best of all. Saints are wheat, Hypocrites chaff, the one is Gold, the other Dross in Gods esteem. Hence the Lord saith, Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee, therefore will I give men for thee, and People for thy life: I will give Egypt for thy Ransom, Ethiopia and Sheba 3for thee. God so little values graceless persons, that he will sacrifice thousands of them in love and mercy to his faithful ones.
3. Chaff is of very little worth or value unto Wheat: What is the Chaff unto the Wheat, saith the Lord? One peck of good 1Wheat is worth many Bushels of Chaff. So ungodly men and and women are but of little worth in Gods sight; a wicked man to him is lothsom, as Solomon shews, and that which is loathsom and hateful in our sight we value not, but cast away: 2The Prayers of the wicked are abominable to the Lord, because their persons are not accepted in Christ; Whatsoever
4. Chaff is light and airy, it is no ponderous thing, therefore the wind carries it this way and that way at every turn: Nay, every small breath of wind moves it to and fro, whereas wheat stirs not, moves not, but abides in its place, it being a weighty and ponderous thing. Even so all hypocritical and unsound Professors, whatsoever they seem to be at some times, (by making a show of Religion and pretending to Piety) yet they are in Gods sight as light as vanity; they are like chaff, not serious, weighty and ponderous, they are but a flash, a shadow, and no substance, having mere dry, barren and empty Souls: And their lightness appears and shows it self in many respects.
4. Chaff is light and airy, it is no ponderous thing, therefore the wind carries it this way and that way at every turn: Nay, every small breath of wind moves it to and fro, whereas wheat stirs not, moves not, but abides in its place, it being a weighty and ponderous thing. Even so all hypocritical and unsound Professors, whatsoever they seem to be at some times, (by making a show of Religion and pretending to Piety) yet they are in Gods sight as light as vanity; they are like chaff, not serious, weighty and ponderous, they are but a flash, a shaddow, and no substance, having meer dry, barren and empty Souls: And their lightness appears and shews it self in many respects.
1. It appears sometimes by their light, frothy and airy talk and discourse: They may sometimes seem serious, but if watched, they will be discovered, their Tongues will betray them, by their foolish and vain words, and communication: They setting no watch before the door of their lips, and bridle not their Tongues, therefore their Religion is vain; as the Apostle James shows: They are full of vain 1words and foolish talk; The words of the wise are gracious, but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself: They are offensive to others, and pernicious to themselves: A fool also is full of Words; either a Talkative, or else full of vain Boasts, magnifying and admiring 2himself, and lessening the worth and worthiness of others: His vain and light Tongue discovers a vain, carnal, proud and empty heart, some unprofitable matter in discourse or another you shall observe these people will be full of: May be talk and prate of this Man, or that Woman, to pick up one thing ⟨p. 21⟩or another to their reproach, (who are gracious persons) and instead of discoursing of a Sermon they have heard, or telling their Experiences, may be they will tell you what Garbs, Clothes and Dresses, such and such People had on, or else they talk of their earthly and worldly Affairs, or some Idle Jests, Stories, or foolish Talk; but little of God be sure is in their mouths, when they are out of the sight and hearing of sober and pious Christians: Indeed as our Saviour intimates, how can they being evil, speak of good things? there is much vanity in their unsanctified Hearts, and their Tongues discover it;3 For out of the abundance of the Heart the mouth speaketh; a good man out of the good treasure of the heart, bringeth forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.4
1. It appears sometimes by their light, frothy and airy talk and discourse: They may sometimes seem serious, but if watch'd, they will be discover'd, their Tongues will betray them, by their foolish and vain words, and communication: They setting no watch before the door of their lips, and bridle not their Tongues, therefore their Religion is vain; as the Apostle James shews: They are full of vain
But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give an account thereof in the day of Judgment.1
