A47542:89
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.
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.
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 cryed out Crucifie, 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 Complyance and Confirmity, 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
For by thy word thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.1
God will not only condemn men for evil actions, but their evil words also shall rise up against them at the great day: And as the gracious words which proceed from a sanctified and renewed Christian tends to his Justification, especially when the main design and purport of his Speech tends to exalt and magnify God and his Free-Grace in Jesus Christ; so the evil words of the unsanctified Christian tends to his Condemnation, and declares him to be but mere chaff, or a hypocritical person; but if idle Jesting and foolish Talking is the Character of a vain man, what is a detracting and back-biting Tongue, a Tongue that is set on fire by hell, who vilify and render odious such who truly fear God, that are not guilty of those foul things laid to their charge; such persons are not like to ascend 1Gods holy hill, nor abide in his Tabernacle, viz. That taketh up false and wicked slanders and reports against his Neighbour, to lessen his reputation among Men: And 'tis with the greater aggravation, when it is done out of Envy, Prejudice or Malice; and 'tis further aggravated when 'tis done to a Minister of the Gospel, on purpose to obstruct or hinder unthinking Christians to adhere unto his Doctrine, or receive that truth which they see not; but set themselves to oppose and gainsay, who do not only in an undue manner spread such Reproaches, but also raise them: It is a great evil to divulge or propagate a fault committed by a Brother, by making it public when it was private, (they breaking thereby the express ⟨p. 22⟩Precept of Jesus Christ, Mat. 18.) But it is far worse to publish false and groundless Slanders and Accusations of him or others: And tis an abominable evil in such who are ready to entertain, and easily to believe, and greedily receive such Reports of him who deserveth it not. Such men are by the Lord called vile persons, Psa. 5. 4. and are contemned by such that fear the Lord, howsoever great and honourable they seem to be. Moreover, if it be so great an evil for men thus to use their Tongues or Pens, to speak evil of, and to blaspheme innocent men, what is the Nature of their Crimes who curse and swear, and blaspheme the sacred Name of God and the holy Jesus? like as the Pharisees did, who said, this fellow doth not cast out 2
Christians, if you would not be found chaff at the great day, take heed of a reviling Tongue, least you deceive your selves, and all your Religion and Profession be vain:1 "He either deceiveth his own heart (saith our Annotators) in thinking himself religious, when indulging himself in things contrary to Religion, or else deceiveth his own heart, being blinded with self love, and lifted up with self-conceit, which is the cause of his Railing, Censuring, and speaking evil of others: Their Religion is vain, empty, and to no purpose, having no reality in it self, and bringeth no Benefit to them."
Christians, if you would not be found chaff at the great day, take heed of a reviling Tongue, least you deceive your selves, and all your Religion and Profession be vain:1 "He either decieveth his own heart (saith our Annatotors) in thinking himself religious, when indulging himself in things contrary to Religion, or else deceiveth his own heart, being blinded with self love, and lifted up with self-conceit, which is the cause of his Railing, Censuring, and speaking evil of others: Their Religion is vain, empty, and to no purpose, having no reality in it self, and bringeth no Benefit to them."
O what a Reproach doth the talkative and prating person bring on the Name of God: This Man, this Woman, say they, is a Member of such or such a Church, and see what vain talk, frothy words, and frivolous Discourse proceeds from their Lips: But much more evil is in such who back-bite, revile, and defame others (as was hinted before.) This I say may discover such to be but chaff.
2. They appear to be Chaff, not only by their light, vain, idle and back-biting Tongues, but also by their light Behaviour; for the lightness of the heart is as much discovered by a loose and airy Deportment, as by loose and vain words; their wanton Looks, and rolling Eyes, or other unseemly and uncomely carriage, shows in part what they are; they being not of a grave, sober, and serious spirit, but behave themselves as if they had no sense of the Omniscience of God upon their hearts, nor of his holiness, not setting the Lord always before them, gives cause to all to fear they are but chaff.
2. They appear to be Chaff, not only by their light, vain, idle and back-biting Tongues, but also by their light Behaviour; for the lightness of the heart is as much discovered by a loose and airy Deportment, as by loose and vain words; their wanton Looks, and rowling Eyes, or other unseemly and uncomely carriage, shews in part what they are; they being not of a grave, sober, and serious spirit, but behave themselves as if they had no sense of the Omnisciency of God upon their hearts, nor of his holiness, not setting the Lord always before them, gives cause to all to fear they are but chaff.
3. Their light, empty and airy Attire, Dresses, and antic 1Fashions, which they wear and take delight in, doubtless too much discovers the Lightness, Vanity and Emptiness of their Spirits: I am persuaded these high and shameless Head-dresses which some Women appear in, that come into Christian Assemblies, are but as Tell-tales of the Vanity, Pride, Emptiness, and Haughtiness of their hearts; who but they that sell Wine will put forth a Bush? I cannot see how a sober, serious Christian Woman should be satisfied to wear such Antic Dresses: Their Souls sure must needs blush at the Thoughts of them; when they consider whose Eyes behold them, First, Many gracious Men and Women, with no little trouble: And in the second place, their faithful Ministers, to the wounding and grieving their Souls. Thirdly, And a multitude of loose and ungodly People, who reproach and laugh at them, and cast contempt upon Religion on that account. Fourthly, And which is more, the holy Angels, they come into our Assemblies, and observe all, both Males and Females, how they do adorn their Profession and behave themselves. Women should cover their heads, because of the Angels; they ought to be in subjection, and therefore 2before all things their head ought not to be exalted, but to lye low, and be modestly attired; no doubt tis a palpable Breach of the holy Precept, for 'tis not a modest dress, becoming Women professing Godliness; tho' I dare not say but some sincere Christians may be overtaken with this Evil as well as others, yet I hope God will soon convince them of the odiousness of it: Yet no doubt it doth clearly discover that some of this sort are loose and vain persons, and but mere chaff in Gods sight, which the day that is coming will burn up: And such especially have cause to suspect themselves, who pride it in their own hearts, and take delight in those hateful and abominable fashions, and cannot bear to be told of it, tho' in never so wise and discreet manner, nor will they be brought by any persuasions to reform, and leave them off, tho' it wounds the very Souls of many of them they have Communion with. Fifthly, O that they that fear God would consider that he beholds them, and looks upon them, whose eyes are like unto a flame of Fire.
3. Their light, empty and airy Attire, Dresses, and antick 1
These Dresses, O ye Daughters of Zion, know assuredly none but foolish and vain persons do like and approve of, even none but the Devil and his Followers; is it not sad, in such a day of distress, sorrow and humiliation, when Gods Hand is lifted up upon the Nation, and thousands of poor Families want ⟨p. 24⟩Bread, that Christians should thus walk, and consume their Substance on their Pride and costly Lust.
4. They appear to be but chaff, who seem to make it a small matter to grieve the Hearts of sincere Christians; what care they who they wound and afflict, they'll have their Fancies, their Humours, tho' the thing in it self may be doubtful, whether a breach of Gods Law or not; and so like eating of Meats, that was a thing indifferent in it self, and might or might not be done. Nay, that make light of grieving the Holy Spirit, in themselves, and in others also; let the Lord be grieved, his Spirit grieved, his poor Ministers grieved, and his faithful Children grieved, they regard it not, but set light by it. These may also be suspected, i. e. that are indifferent in and about Closet and Family-Prayer, (and other weighty Duties of Religion) or are loose and formal in it: This shows they bear no weight, they are not ponderous, but light as Chaff. Moreover, such may be suspected, who set light by Hearing the Word of God; alas, to go to hear a Sermon is a light thing with some, if there be any worldly Loss attending it, tho' it be not to the Value of a Groat, they can't go, or if the Weather be not very good, they plead Excuse; as not being able to go so far, tho' may be the next day in worse Weather they can go about their earthly Business twice as far.
4. They appear to be but chaff, who seem to make it a small matter to grieve the Hearts of sincere Christians; what care they who they wound and afflict, they'll have their Fancies, their Humours, tho' the thing in it self may be doubtful, whether a breach of Gods Law or not; and so like eating of Meats, that was a thing indifferent in it self, and might or might not be done. Nay, that make light of grieving the Holy Spirit, in themselves, and in others also; let the Lord be grieved, his Spirit grieved, his poor Ministers grieved, and his faithful Children grieved, they regard it not, but set light by it. These may also be suspected, i. e. that are indifferent in and about Closet and Family-Prayer, (and other weighty Duties of Religion) or are loose and formal in it: This shews they bear no weight, they are not ponderous, but light as Chaff. Moreover, such may be suspected, who set light by Hearing the Word of God; alas, to go to hear a Sermon is a light thing with some, if there be any worldly Loss attending it, tho' it be not to the Value of a Groat, they can't go, or if the Weather be not very good, they plead Excuse; as not being able to go so far, tho' may be the next day in worse Weather they can go about their earthly Business twice as far.
God will not only condemn men for evil actions, but their evil words also shall rise up against them at the great day: And as the gracious words which proceed from a sanctified and renewed Christian tends to his Justification, especially when the main design and purport of his Speech tends to exalt and magnifie God and his Free-Grace in Jesus Christ; so the evil words of the unsanctified Christian tends to his Condemnation, and declares him to be but meer chaff, or a hypocritical person; but if idle Jesting and foolish Talking is the Character of a vain man, what is a detracting and back-biting Tongue, a Tongue that is set on fire by hell, who vilifie and render odious such who truly fear God, that are not guilty of those foul things laid to their charge; such persons are not like to ascend 1Gods holy hill, nor abide in his Tabernacle, viz. That taketh up false and wicked slanders and reports against his Neighbour, to lessen his reputation among Men: And 'tis with the greater aggravation, when it is done out of Envy, Prejudice or Malice; and 'tis further aggravated when 'tis done to a Minister of the Gospel, on purpose to obstruct or hinder unthinking Christians to adhere unto his Doctrine, or receive that truth which they see not; but set themselves to oppose and gainsay, who do not only in an undue manner spread such Reproaches, but also raise them: It is a great evil to divulge or propagate a fault committed by a Brother, by making it publick when it was private, (they breaking thereby the express ⟨p. 22⟩Precept of Jesus Christ, Mat. 18.) But it is far worse to publish false and groundless Slanders and Accusations of him or others: And tis an abominable evil in such who are ready to entertain, and easily to believe, and greedily receive such Reports of him who deserveth it not. Such men are by the Lord called vile persons, Psa. 5. 4. and are contemned by such that fear the Lord, howsoever great and honourable they seem to be. Moreover, if it be so great an evil for men thus to use their Tongues or Pens, to speak evil of, and to blaspheme innocent men, what is the Nature of their Crimes who curse and swear, and blaspheme the sacred Name of God and the holy Jesus? like as the Pharisees did, who said, this fellow doth not cast out 2Devils but by Belzebub the Prince of Devils; ascribing that to the Devil that was proper to God alone, and wrought by his almighty Power.
