Quest. But what is intended or meant by it here? what is Christs floor, which he is said to purge?

Answ. I answer, By floor is doubtless intended hereby more What meant by Floor. directly and immediately the Jewish Church, but in a more re­mote and comprehensive sense, any spiritual community of Chri­stians, Church, or body of People, professing religion.

1. The Jews were then Gods floor (or Gods People) as God himself is called an Husbandman, and they were a great Heap, John 15. 1. a mighty floor: But almost all Chaff; very Lees, i. e. loose, vain, empty, carnal, and unbelieving Men and Women. A more pro­phane and ungodly generation was hardly ever in the world; and but a very few godly ones among them, but a very little wheat, viz. few sincere ones, or believing persons in all that floor, who waited for Christs Coming, and did when he came, in truth receive him.

[Page 4] But now the Lord Jesus was come, with his Fan in his hand, to separate the Wheat from the Chaff, and not let them re­main any longer together on that floor, in that old Barn, i. e. in the Legal Jewish Church state, according to the external Co­venant of peculiarity God made with Abraham, and his natural Seed as such: Which had stood near its full period of time perfixed by the Almighty, but now must be pulled down, Je­sus Christ being come, and just a going to build a new spiritu­al Garner, or Gospel Church, to put all his choice Grain or Wheat into, viz. all believing and true penitent persons; this primarily I am satisfied is intended by floor: For the Jewish Church was not to abide or continue any longer than till the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, it being a Typical Church, when the Antytype was come that must needs vanish away.

2. Yet in a remote sence, floor may refer to any Spiritual Community, Church, or people, in the times of the Gospel; professing themselves to be Christians: Among which may be Chaff as well as Wheat: Evil and ungodly Persons, as well as Believers, gracious and true Religious ones; and the truth is, there is more than one floor of this sort in our days. For,

First, If we cast our eyes abroad, we shall soon espy a ve­ry National floor opened. great, old and decayed Barn, that hath a mighty floor or heap of People in it; called Christians, and Reformed ones too; But it is to be feared, when Jesus Christ comes with his Fan, to fan, and purge this floor, he will find it almost all Chaff: 'Tho' I doubt not, but in this great heap there will be found some Wheat, or godly Christians, but like as when a man comes into a Barn, and views a floor of Corn newly thrashed, he at first sight can hardly see or discern any thing save a heap of chaff: so it is here: Do but view the National floor, and you cannot but say, Sure 'tis a heap of filth, a heap of Chaff; for what an evil, polluted, and abominable Company; of People are in this floor! are there worse, or more noto­rious, more loose, light, prophane, unbelieving and ungodly Wretches living on the face of the Earth? yet call them­selves Christians, and members of Christ, and despise, nay re­proach others, as if they deserved not that Name. I questi­on whether there were worse in Sodom than some are who belong to this floor: Turks and Pagans abominate some of those actions and deeds of Darknessthat are among them, behold their hellish Debauchery.

[Page 5] 1. See what a heap of prophane Swearers and cursed Blasphemers are here, who daily belch out most abominable Oaths, calling upon the holy and patient God to Damn them every day: you may hear them as you walk along the streets; nay their ve­ry Children by the Example of their wicked Parents, learn to swear and curse, as soon as, nay before, they can speak plain.

2. Then, O what a great and a filthy heap of beastly and brutish Drunkards are in this floor also, who shew their Sins as Sodom, and hide it not! many of them go reeling along the Streets, and some spuing as they go, foaming out their own shame, and little think what Poyson they drink to their own precious and Immortal Souls, whilest they Tipple down their glasses of Wine and strong Drink; and this they do without all fear of humane, or divine Laws, having no dread of present nor future Punishment; tho' God positively theatens them, and all other ungodly Persons, with the loss of Heaven, and the Torments of Hell-fire (for, no drunkard shall inherit the kingdom of God, 1 Cor. 6. 9, 10.) yet they dread it not.

3. Behold also in this floor a third Sort, even as bad or worse than the other two, viz. Unclean Persons, or vile, filthy and impudent Whores and Whoremongers, who are the shame of this City and Nation! What a multitude of common Harlots are here among us, besides Secret ones, who are beheld by him whose eyes are like a flaming fire. Alas! they cannot hide their fil­thiness from his eyes, yet without fear how do they sin, 'till some bring Rottenness on their Carkasses, a Curse upon their Estates, Poverty on their Families, and Hell upon their own Souls: for he that commits Adultery with a Woman destroys his own Pro. 6. 32. Soul.

4. There is also another part of this floor, that are Chaff, which the fire of Gods wrath will Consume and burn up, viz. all tho proud and haughty ones. This Sin reigns at this time to such a degree that we may fear some sad and fearful Judgment is near; Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty Spirit bfeore a fall. Behold the strange Dresses, and high Heads! which clear­ly Pro. 16. 18. represents the Vanity and Haughtiness of the Heart: The shew of their Countenance testifies against them: Women go to the Assemblies of religious Worshp as if they went to Play-houses; and tho' God hath shewed in several poor Animals, his great Wrath and displeasure against this filthy Fashon, or high and shameful Head-dresses, yet they will not reform, nor leave them off: Nor is this sin only found among those of this floor, this [Page 6] heap, but also amongst others, who would be thought more pure, and of a finer sort: but let them know, the Fanner will suddenly come with his Fan in his hand; the day comes shall burn as an Oven, and all the proud, and all that do evil, shall be stubble, &c. Mat. 4. 1.

5. What a cursed heap is there also of Atheists; and Graceless Wretches, who contemn God and all Supernatural Revelation of the Divine Being, and Religion! these despise and ridi­cule the holy Gospel, or at best will acknowledge no other Worship nor Religion, than what the old Heathens owned, and were taught by the Light of Nature: The preaching of the Cross, or of 1 Cor. 1. 18. a Crucified Christ, is to these foolishness; others that can't believe, nor will receive that Doctrine that comports not with their own carnal reason: What believe they can be justified by the Righteousness and Obedience of another! and their own Inhe­rent Righteousness no part of their Justification before God! This is a strange Doctrine. For there are of this sort in this heap, such as are grievously corrupted, and erroneous, carried a­way with Arminianism, Socinianism and Antitrinitaism, and dis­allow of the chief Corner-stone God hath laid in Sion: For if Christ be not the most high God, God by Nature, Coequal and Coeternal with the Father, and one in Essence, 'tis Idolatry to yield divine Worship and homage to him; for that glory Isa. 42. 8. God will not give unto another. The gods-that have not made the Heaven and the Earth, even they shall perish. Jer. 10. 11.

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 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; [Page 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 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 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 [Page 8] Devil; Whosoever doth not Righteousness, is not of God, neither he that loveth not his Brother. 1 Joh. 3. 10.

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, Rom. 1. 28. 29. Fornication, Wickedness, Covetousness, Maliciousness, full of En­vy, Murther, 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 cloath their own Children, whilst their bowels are shut up against the poor Members of Christ or Children of God; they'll spare more to gratifie 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 Chirists 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 Sion: Fearfulness will e're long surprize the Hipocrite. [Page 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.

Quest. 2. What is intended by the Fan?

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.

Quest. But what is meant by Christs Fan in a spiritual sense? what is signified hereby?

First, I answer, By Christs Fan is meant his Word, his holy Go­spel, especially the Doctrine thereof; 'tis by this he cleanses, and What is meant by Christ's Fan. purges his floor. Now you are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you. (Now the unclean person, the Traytor Judas John 15. 3. is 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 Act. 15. 9. Annatators. Justification, 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, [Page 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 Rom. 4. 5. worketh 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 Rom. 10. 3. [Page 11] personal 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 Joh. 3 9. no 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, Joh. 6. 60. who 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, Joh. 6. 66. that 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: (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 [Page 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, 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 Ax 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.’

‘ Secondly, There is (saith he) something more in it; the Lord by the power of his Spirit doth cut us off from any pow­er of our natural Gifts and Parts, and spiritual Gifts also, or from any Confidence of our own sufficiency; the Lord hath cut us off from hope in the Righteousness of our Parents, and from boasting of Ordinances. And again he saith, This we read of, Mat. 4. 1. It is spoken of the Ministry of John the Baptist, which did burn as an Oven, against all the Scribes and Phari­sees, and left them neither the Root of Abraham's Covenant, nor the Branch of their own good Works: He cutteth them off from the Covenant of Abraham, &c. And by cutting them off from the Root, he leaveth them no ground to trust on.’ Thus Mr. Cotton on The Covenant, p. 177, and p. 21, 22. Now evident it is, that nothing but the dispensation of God's [Page 13] Providence, or the Expiration of that period of Time deter­mined by the Almighty for the standing of the Church of Is­rael, could cut the Jews off as a Nation, from being a Church and peculiar People unto God; I mean in respect of that Le­gal Covenant. I deny not but that the Covenant of Grace God made with Abraham, and with his true spiritual Seed, stands firm for ever and ever, and none in that Covenant can be cut off, nor fanned away: for the Jewish Priesthood, Church-state and Church-membership, and all their Church-priviledges, were to remain until Christ came, or until the time of Refor­mation; that is, till the Gospel-days and Gospel-dispensation took place, and no longer: But now that time being come, and they not seeing an end put to the old Covenant-Church, as it was made with the natural Offspring of Abraham; and that their right to legal Ordinances, and Church-membership, could not give them any right to Gospel Ordinances, nor Gospel-Church-membership, and they not believing in Christ, not ac­cepting of the Terms of the Gospel, were all of necessity purged out or fanned away, by the Fan of the New Testament-dispen­sation, and so were no longer a people in any sense in Cove­nant with God.

Thirdly, Christ hath also another Fan in his hand, viz. The Fan of Church-Discipline. And many persons falling into sin are purged like Chaff out of his floor. Hereby,

1. Sometimes some evil and corrupt Persons, who get a­mong God's people (or into his Church) and pass a while for Wheat, i. e. for gracious Persons, yet in time God suffers them to fall into one Temptation or another, by which means they are fann'd away, the Holy Jesus by his wise Providence make­ing a discovery of them, and their evil Tempers and Dispo­sitions.

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 [Page 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 Joh. 6. 60. 66. preached 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 Subtlity 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 Errours being discovered, were purged out. 1 Tim. 1. 20.

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 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 1 Cor. 5. 45. such a one unto Satan, for the Destruction of the Flesh, that the 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.

[Page 15] 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 publick 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 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 Second sort that this Fan of Discipline takes hold of, are such that suck in Heresies or Capital Errors; these after Tit. 3. 10. the first and second Admonition, ought to be rejected and delive­red up to Satan, that they may not learn to Blaspheme. 1 Tim. 1. 20.

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; Matth. 18. 17. the 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 publick Congregation Rom. 6. 17, 18. 2 Thess. 3. 6, 14, 15. Matth. [...]8. declared 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 Busibodies, Tat­lers, 2 Thess. 3. 6. Matth. 18. 17. or Idle; or such that neglect their Duties in attending on the Church in times of solemn Worship, or that make Parties, or [Page 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 prehemience, 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 Heresie. Mat. 18.

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: Suoh were some of you, but ye are washed, but ye are Sanctified, but ye are Justified in the Name of the Lord Je­sus, 1 Cor. 6. 11. and 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 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 Act. [...]. from all filthyness of Flesh and Spirit, that they may perfect Holyness in the fear of God. 2 Cor. 7. 1.

But let me tell you that the Spirit and Grace of Christ in this respect is [...] a Fan, rather to Cleanse the Saints, by [Page 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 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 Mat. 3. 3. Work, 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 Perseoution, 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 purifies 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 Mat. 13. 20. 21. of 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 gat [...]er: 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 sit 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 [...] doth it [...] 12, 10. not for his pleasure, but for our profit, that we [...] 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 Isa. 27. 9. Sin. And thus the Lord purgeth away the filth of the Daughter of Sion, and the Blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof, by the [Page 18] Spirit of Judgment and by the Spirit of burning. The Rod of Affliction, or Furnace of Persecution, cannot purge out the Isa. 4. 4. filth 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 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 twofold.

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 Rom. 9. 6. Souls, 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: [Page 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 Mat. 21. 29. leave him, and disown him, nay, may be cryed out Crucifie, Crucifice him: So and in like manner in our former days of Joh. 12. 13. Liberty, 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 sil­thy and rotten hearts of some, and slavish fear and weakness of Faith in others, who were left to a sinful Complyance and Con­formity, building again that which they had destroyed, and de­stroying that which they had been a building; and thus it ap­pears Jer. 23. 28. as 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 Jer. 23. 28. Wheat 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: Pro. 13. 5. The Prayers of the wicked are abominable to the Lord, because their persons are not accepted in Christ: Whatsoever [Page 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 Aegypt for thy Ransom, Aethiopia and Sheba Isa. 43. 3, 4. for thee. God so little values graceless persons, that he will sacrifice thousands of them in love and mercy to his faith­ful ones.

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 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 James 1. 26. words 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 Eccl. 10. 14. himself, and lessning 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 [Page 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, Cloaths 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 besure 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; For out of Mat. 12. 34. 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 v. 35. evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give an account thereof in the day of Judgment. v. 36.

For by thy word thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. v. 37.

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 vilisie 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 Psa. 15. 1. Gods 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 [Page 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 sear 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 Mat. 12. 24. Devils but by Belzebub the Prince of Devils; ascribing that to the Devil that was proper to God alone, and wrought by his almighty Power.

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: ‘He either decieveth Jam. 1. 26. 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 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.

[Page 23] 3. Their light, empty and airy Attire, Dresses, and antick Antick Head-Dresses disco­vers the vanity of the Heart. Fashions, which they wear and take delight in, doubtless too much discovers the Lightness, Vanity and Emptiness of their Spirits: I am perswaded 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 Antick 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 1 Cor. 11. 10. before 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 meer 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 perswasions 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. 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 [Page 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 that i. e. 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.

Likewise such who for every small matter refrain from coming to the Lords Table; may be any trivial offence shall hinder them; they are offended with this Person, and that Per­son, and so cast a slight upon Christ, and on his Sacred Or­dinance, and thus persist from time to time: They can go to Church, or stay at home: Can pray, and hear, and can for­bear: Religion is a light and indifferent thing with them. This shews such are under fearful Temptations, or else loose and light Professors in the sight of God.

5. Such are Chaff that only have the husk or shell of Christi­anity: Chaff is the husks of Wheat; many Professors please them­selves with the external part of Religion, having a form of Godliness, but are Strangers to the Life and Power thereof: Like the foolish Virgins they have Lamps, but no Oyl a Name; but want the Nature of true Believers; can talk and discourse of Religion, of the Covenant of Grace, and excellency of Christ; they may have, I grant, clear Notions in their heads of the Mysteries of the Gospel, and defend it too against opposers, yet their Hearts are unsanctified, and never felt nor experi­enced [Page 25] the work of Faith with Power; they have the out-side of a true Christian, the Shell of the Wheat, but if tried and searched there's nothing but Chaff, no Kernil in them, they want the root of the Water: All true Believers have past through the Pangs of the New Birth; they found they were once Dead, but are now alive, once blind, but now they see, once lost in their own Eyes, but now found, once Carnal, but now Spiritual, once had their affection set on things below, but now on things above; Sin was once Sweet and Pleasant to them, but now 'tis bitter and Loathsom in their Eyes, because they see it is so in the sight of God: Their Judg­ments are informed, their Understandings savingly enlightned; Christ and heavenly things are valued and esteemed above all things here below, yea, above ten thousand Worlds, by them; and their understandings are not only brought to assent to the truth of Christ, to the Glory and Beauty of Christ; but their wills also are subjected to him, they are brought to consent, and yield themselves to the Lord; they believe, and love, believe and obey, believe and suffer reproach, taking up the Cross, putting on the yoke of Christ; their affections are so changed, and under divine Influences, that what they loved once, they hate, and what they once hated, or liked not, they dearly love and approve of now: But thus it is not with Chaf­fy Professors: They may be changed from open Prophanness to an outward Reformation of life, but their Hearts are not chang­ed, Sin is not Crucified in them, self is not subdued; that enmity that was naturally in their hearts, or dislike of the Life, and Power of strict Godliness is not removed; they act only from common Illuminations of the Spirit, and so they put a force upon themselves, when found in religious Duties; and find not a natural Inclination and sweet Propencity in their hearts to heavenly things, and this shews they are no more then Chaff.

6. And lastly, Chaff I told you was Light, and every breath of wind will move it, this way, and that way, and if it rises high it will may be blow it quite away, there being no Ker­nel in it, whereas the Wheat abides.

So Chaffy and vain Professors are startled at every small blast of Persecution, and presently begin to move out of their place, and shun assembling themseves with Gods People: Nay, every wind of corrupt Doctrine is ready to blow some of this sort a way; they are unsettled Persons, they want weight, or [Page 26] are not rooted in the Truth, wanting a good Understanding, and a Principle of saving Grace in their Hearts; Be not car­ried away with divers and strange Doctrines, for it is good to have the heart established with Grace, and not with Meats. Heb. 13. 9.

This sort are soon corrupted from the Simplicity of the Gospel, by the Cunning Craftiness of Men, being ready to re­ceive any strange Notion, or close in with a New Scheem of Religion, some turning to Judaism, and add Moses to Christ, or joyn to the Gospel their own Works; they are commonly corrupt, either in Principles or Practices, or in both, making a stir about the Mint, Annis and Commin, i. e. about the smaller matters of Religion, as concerning Meats and Observation of Days, as if in such things lay the great stress of Christianity; how many are there who like those false Teach­ers, and deluded People in the Primitive Times, plead for Justification some other way than by Faith only, and bring in their own inherent Holiness and sincere Obedience, and add that to the Merits of Christ, in point of Justification before God; or exalt the Power and Will of the Creature, to the Eclipsing the Doctrine of Free-Grace. Sirs, tho' I will not deny but many sincere Christians may be shaken by the wind of false and corrupt Doctrine, or drawn away through the sub­tilty of men, yet no doubt chiefly they are the Light, For­mal and Chassy Professors which are carried away, and Tos­sed too and fro with every wind of Doctrine, and this be­cause of the want of Grace, a sound Judgment and a good Understanding in the Mysteries of the Gospel. A good under­standing (saith David) have all they that do his Commandments. Psa. 111. 10 Moreover, such who seem unsetled in their places in Gods House, or particular Churches where they are Members, being uneasie, and every little difference that may arise in a Con­gregation is ready to turn them away; or seem to be moved and disturbed at the Charges the Interest of Christ, or which the House of God calls for; these I say, give cause to fear they are but Chaff, or under great Temptation, if Sincere.

Secondly, By Chaff may also be meant, Sin, Filth and Cor­ruption, which cleaveth to the Hearts and Lives of true believers, Sin is likened 10 Chaff. which Christ by the Fan of his Word, Spirit, and Afflictions, as you have heard, purges out: He shall purify the Sons of Levi, and purge them as Gold and Silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. This is spoken of Jesus Christ, Mat. 3. 3. whose Fan is in his hand: It shews his Work and Office, [Page 27] namely, to refine and fan his People, not only Members, but Ministers also, signified by the Sons of Levi, that they all may offer acceptable Service unto God: Besides, our Lord Jesus sometimes makes use of wicked Men as a Fan in his hand to purge his People, and thus he did of old fan Israel by the Ba­bylonians, and by the Assyrians; I will send unto Babylon Fanners, as I have sometime fanned and scattered my people by them; so will Ger. 51, 2. Chap. 4. 11. 12. Jer. 35. So Jer. 15. 7. I fan them by the Medes and Persians, who shall empty the Land of them; After Christ hath fanned or purged away the Chaff and Filth of the Daughter of Zion, he will fan their Enemies, and they being all Chaff, the wind of his Indignation will drive them away. Let this be noted, that Christ hath many ways to fan and purge his People, yet still it is for their good, and they shall lose nothing but their chaff, their Sin and Corruptions thereby.

Quest. Fourthly, Why are the Saints compared to Wheat? Answ. I answer, for many Reasons.

1. Wheat is a choice Grain, the best Grain, so true Believers Why the Saints are compared to Wheat. are a choice People in Christ's sight: The righteous is more excel­lent than his Neighbour; they are called the excellent in all the Earth. God calls his People his Jewels, or choice Treasure; Prov. 12 26. Psa. 6. 3. Mat. 3. ult. they are men of a high and heavenly Birth, of a high sub­lime and excellent Spirit, they are espoused by an excellent person, act and are influenced by excellent principles, and have glorious Ends and Aims in all they do; and from hence may be compared to Wheat.

2. Wheat hath much pains used with it, the ground must be made good, it must be well plow'd and manured before the Wheat is sown; so the hearts of poor sinners must be first made good, and by spiritual Convictions be plowed up, before the seed of Grace is sown; for like as Believers are compared to Wheat, so is also the Grace of God.

Wheat must be weeded as well as gathered into the Barn, and also Threshed, fanned, and well Purged.

Believers may be compared to Wheat upon this respect, Christ takes much pains (to speak after the manner of men) with his own Elect, not only by Plowing, Manuring, but by sow­ing, watering, weeding, fanning and Purging them like Wheat.

3. Wheat will endure cold Frosts and Snow, and all manner of bitter and sharp Weather, better than any other Grain. Sow Barly before Winter, and you will find but little of it will live, but Wheat will live in the sharpest Winter that can come; [Page 28] what a good Harvest had we here in England after the last great Frost; alas, the Wheat was not destroyed thereby, but was made better, the Weeds and Worms being killed, which is found to hurt and annoy it oft-times.

Even so sincere Christians, who are Christs Spiritual Wheat, abide faithful under the greatest Trials, Persecutions and Af­flictions they can meet withal; they endure the Frosts and bit­ter North-Winds of Tribulation, and furious Storms of the Wrath of wicked men, which kills the false-hearted Professor, they die and wither away, they can't live, and maintain their seem­ing hope and Confidence, when true Believes can; a Hypocrite is but Summer Corn, or rather Weeds or Tares that spring up with the Wheat, tho' they look like it, yet are only the pro­duct of Natural Conscience, or the common Influences of the Sun, or Gospel of Jesus Christ.

4. An Ear of Wheat when it is near ripe doth hang down its head, the Corn being full and weighty, when light and empty Ears hold up theirs; commonly a light and chaffy Ear stands strait upright in a lofty manner.

So a true gracious Christian is of an humble Spirit, he hangs down his head (as it were) and is ashamed of his best Duties and Services, seeing so great weaknesses and Infirmities to attend him; he abhors himself, yea, loaths himself he knows he hath nothing to glory in, but in the Cross of Jesus Christ; he sees himself nothing; Unto me who am less than the least of all Saints, is Eph. 3. 8. this Grace given, (saith Paul:) what an humble Person was he, what a full and weighty Ear of choice Wheat was this Apo­stle: If you see a Man or Woman proud, or of an haughty and conceited Spirit, being lifted up, you may conclude they are but empty Ears, no true Grace being in their hearts.

5. Wheat hath its Chaff cleaving oft-times close to it, yea, it will stick and cleave so to it that it is not easily separated.

So it is with Christs Spiritual Wheat, the filth or Chaff of internal Corruption is very subject to cleave to them, and hard it is for them to get rid of it. When I would do good, Sin is present with me, for the good I would, I do not, but the evil which I would not do, that do I. Rom. 7. 21.

Oh! wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of Death I am (as if he should say) even wearied with v. 19. & 24. continual Combating, I cannot get rid of this dead Body, this inward Filth and Corruption, the remainders of Sin in my flesh; this Chaff cleaves to all Christs Wheat.

[Page 29] 6. Wheat is of prime and and chiefest use, of it excellent things are made, as Meat for Princes. So the Lords faithful People are of chief use in Gods hand of all others, the Lips of the Righteous feed many.

7. That Nation that abounds with the finest Wheat is esteem­ed a choice Land, a happy Nation; So likewise that Kingdom and Nation in which are abundance of godly Christians, it is a happy Kingdom, a blessed Nation, because such are the common Interest of the Land or Place where they dwell; they are called the Pillers of the Earth.

8. Wheat is Threshed with the flail, to sever it from the straw and chaff, by the Husbandman; so God to sever the Wheat, i. e. the godly from the chaffy Professor, and free them of the Filth and Corruption of their own hearts, brings his flail of Affliction and Persecution upon them.

9. Wheat is also fanned, to cleanse it; and it is to be no­ted, that the fan in the Hand of the Husbandman tosses up the Wheat and Chaff together, and then he shakes it to and fro, this way and that way, on his knees.

So the Lord Jesus with his spiritual Fan tosses the Godly and Hypocritical Professor, by the same Afflictions, Trials, Per­secutions and Tempations. And O what hurryings, tossings and Tumblings to and fro in their Spirits have some Christians met with in the late times, and still daily meet withal? they have their ups and downs, this Affliction, and the other Temp­tation, this Loss, and the other Cross: But yet, nevertheless, they are not tost out, or blown away by the fan, but evi­dent it is the Chaff is hereby purged out; while Christs Wheat is refined, they abide fanning, (as I hinted before) but so doth not the Carnal and light Professor: They are offended, through this means, as our Saviour shews, and are ready to say with that Mat. 13. wicked man of old, this Evil is of the Lord, why should I wait up­on 2 King 6. 33. him any longer? Believers know, God doth it not for his Plea­sure, but for their Profit, that they might be partakers of his Holi­ness. Heb. 12. 10. Hence it is said, that they endure Chastening, and faint not when they are rebuked of the Lord.

Quest. 5. What is intended by Christs Garner?

I answer, Christ hath a twofold garner.

First. His Church is his garner.

1. A Garner is prepared on purpose to retain, and safely The Church is Christs Spritual Garner. to secure the Wheat in a heap together, where it is carefully to be look'd after. So is the Church of God appointed and [Page 30] prepared to receive and secure his faithful People together; 'tis not built for Chaff nor Tares, and great care and pains is re­quired of Christs servants in looking to, and taking care of his Spiritual Wheat in his Church.

2. Yet through the Negligence or want of Wisdom in the Servants, oft-times some Chaff is brought into the Garner with the Wheat, which when the Husbandman see's it, by viewing his Grain, he is Troubled at his servant; see (saith he) what abundance of Chaff you have brought in with the Wheat, which spoils the beauty of it to such a degree, that it does not seem to be near so good as indeed it is.

So it is here for want of Care, or through weakness or want of Knowledge in Christs Ministers and Servants, in discerning who are sincere Christians and who are not: Many unsound and Chaffy Professors are let into the Church or Churches of Je­sus Christ, which is displeasing unto him, because they spoil the Beauty and Glory thereof, and cause many to reproach his faithful ones; as it also renders them in the sight of the Carnal World not to be the People which indeed they are.

3. The Husbandman therefore causes the Wheat in his Gar­ner to be fanned again, to clear it of the Chaff that is got in amongst it; so Christ with the Fan of Persecution often times fans his, People to purge out the loose and prophane from among them.

Secondly, By the Garner is meant Heaven it self, into which Heaven is Christs Garner. all the Elect shall be put at the last day, and into this Gar­ner shall none come but pure Wheat: And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh a­bomination, Rev. 21. 27. or that maketh a Lye, but they which are written in the Lambs book of Life.

6ly. And lastly, What is meant by burning up the Chaff with un­quenchable fire?

Answ. I answer, by burning up the Chaff with unquenchable fire, What meant by burning up the Chaff. is meant the direful Wrath of God, which sometimes seizeth on ungodly persons in this world, and shall eternally take hold of all the Chaff in the world to come. The Wrath of God is often compared to fire in the Scripture. There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and a fire out of his mouth devoured; Coals were Psa. 8. 8. kindled by it. So in another place it is said, A fire goeth before Psa. 97. 3. him, &c. Shall thy wrath burn like fire, Psa. 89. 46. His fury Nah. 1. 6. is poured out like fire, and the Rocks are thrown down by him.

[Page 31] 1. Fire is a terrible and most amazing Element, especially when it breaks forth like a masterless Enemy, and none can stop it: So is the Wrath of God very terrible, when he poureth it forth in his greatest fury. O what a frightful Cry doth a dread­ful Fire that breaks out in a Town or City cause! what wringing of hands! Men tremble, Women miscarry oft-times, Chil­dren screech out, it frightens the very Fowls of the Air, and Beasts of the Earth, and turns all Faces into Paleness! how amazing was the flames of Sodom, and how terrible is the burn­ing of Mount Aetna! the Wrath of God when it furiously break­eth forth upon a People and Nation, or particular Person, causeth dreadful horror, it maketh the stoutest heart to quake, and the strongest hands feeble: At his wrath the earth shall trem­ble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation: His fury Jer. 10. 10. is poured out like fire, and the Mountains are thrown down before him: Can thy heart endure, or thy hands be strong, in the day when I contend Nah. 1: 6. with thee? Who can stand before his indignation? O how will the wicked fly into holes, quiver like a leaf, and cry to the Rocks and Mountains to fall upon them, and hide them from the face Rev. 6. 16. of him that sitteth on the Throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.

2. Fire breaks out sometimes very suddenly, when none think of it, but all are as they judge, safe and secure, yet in a mo­ment how are they surprized, when nothing but the horror and cry of fire, fire, fire, is heard in their ears. So Gods Wrath, like a dreadful and an unexpected fire, breaks out sometimes sud­denly upon the ungodly. How surprizing were the flames of Sodom, and the amazing hand-writing on Belshazars wall, when he was drinking Wine in Bowls! immediately the Kings counte­nance was changed, and he was troubled in his thoughts, so that Dan. 5. 5. 6. the joynts of his Loins were loosed, and his Knees smote one against the other: When they cry peace and safety, then sudden destruction com­eth, 1 Thess. 3. 3. as travail upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape.

3. A fire sometimes breaks forth in the Night, when men are asleep: So God comes upon men many times in the night of ignorance and unbelief, while they lye on their Beds of Ease and carnal Security, by amazing Judgments, or by sudden Death. How secure was the old World, and the rich man in the Gospel, to whom God said, this night thy soul shall be required of thee.

4. A consuming Fire destroys, wasts and devours exceeding­ly, as Sodom found, and London also by woful experience. So God when he breaks forth in his Wrath and Fury, he makes [Page 32] most lamentable desolation, The Lord shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them. The Wrath of God is Psa. 21. 9. 10. compared to a consuming fire: For our God is a consuming Heb. 12. ult. Fire.

5. A Consuming and raging fire spares none, the Palace of the Prince no more than the Cottage of the Peasant, the migh­ty Oaks as well as the lowest Shrubs are devoured by it; so the wrath of God seizeth, and will seize on all wicked men, on the mighty and honourable of the Earth, as well as the poor and contemptible ones; the King on his Throne, as well as the Beggar on the Dunghill: His wrath shall be on every one that is lofty, and upon every one that is proud and lifted up, and Isa. 2. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, Zeph. 1. 18. he shall be brought down; upon all the Cedars of Lebanon, and upon all the Oaks of Bashan.—He will come upon Princes as upon mor­ter, the whole earth shall be devoured by the fire of his Jealousy, nei­ther their Gold nor Silver shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lords wrath.

6. Wood, Hay and Stubble, are fit fuel for the fire to seize upon, and such things that are combustible make it to burn the more vehemently. And if high strong Towers cannot stand before a consuming fire, how is it possible for Briars and Thorns? Some Sinners are like stubble fully dry: They are fit Fuel for the Wrath of God like fire to take hold of. O what horrid Guilt lies upon some mens Consciences, just like a great heap or pile of wood, well dried, or Cart loads of straw, or dry stubble: What if God will to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long suffering, the vessels of wrath Rom. 9. 22. fitted to destruction.

A long Course in sin, Custom in sin, resisting the Grace of God, slighting Convictions, hardening the Heart against Reproof, stifling the Accusations of Conscience, and abusing the Patience and long Suffering of God, sits men for the fire of his Wrath; Whilst they are folden together as Thorns, and whilst they are drunk­en Nah. 1. 10. as Drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry. Such that are drunk with Pride, drunk with Pleasures, or whose Souls are surfited with the Riches and Cares of the World, the fire of Gods Wrath, as fit matter or combustable stuff, will seize upon.

7. A dreadful fire when it breaks out, turns all joy into sorrow, and makes a day of mirth a day of Mourning: So the consuming wrath of God, whether it seizes on the con­sciences of Men only whilst alive in the body, or on Body and [Page 33] Soul both here, or on the Soul at Death, it turns all joy in­to sorrow. O what extremity of misery do such feel! ask Ju­das or Spira, they could tell you.

8. Fire is a most cruel and dreadful tormentor; if a man be cast into a fire, what intollerable pain and anguish doth it put him to! but alas, alas, that's nothing to the Wrath of God, when God kindles it in the Consciences of men, nor to Hell fire. You will say, O 'tis a fearful thing to fall into a furious fire, into a burning Furnace, but O Sirs, how much more dreadful is it to fall under the Wrath of God! It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God: For our God is a consuming fire. Heb. 2. 12. If it be terrible to have a finger, a foot, or a hand to be burn­ed off, or to have the whole body cast into a Furnace of boyling Oil, (as some of the holy Martyrs were) how then can sinners, who are as chaff, bear the Thoughts of Gods wrath and vindictive Vengance, which is far more intollerable than any fire into which any Mortal was ever cast? For

1. Other fire burns only the external part, or temporal, or corporal matter, but the fire of Gods wrath burns and tor­ments the Spirit, the Soul, the invisible part.

2. Elementary fire is seen, but internal Wrath is only felt inwardly, it cannot be seen.

3. The fiercest fire that ever was kindled hath been over­come, and by Engines or Instruments put out, but the fire of Gods Wrath when kindled, and the Soul thrown into Hell, can­not be put out, nor be extinguished, 'tis unquenchable fire. Tho' the burning of Mount Aetna, and other burning Moun­tains, are impossible for man to extinguish, yet doubless they shall not burn always, they will be put out, but wrath shall burn for ever. So much as to the Explanation of our Text. From hence we may observe divers Propositions or Points of Doctrine.

1. Doct. The old floor is gone, 'tis removed, viz. The old Jew­ish Church, or national Church of Israel, the wheat that was in it being taken into Christs Gospel-Garner, and the chaff or all grace­less persons or unbelievers, are fann'd away. Now Christ hath removed the partition-wall that was between Jew and Gen­tile, and hath reconciled both unto God in one body. Now there is no knowing men after the flesh, fleshly Priviledges, i. e. be­ing Eph. 2. 16. 2 Cor. 5. 17. the Seed of Abraham, or being the Seed of Believers, as such, gives no right to Spiritual saving and eternal Blessings. Both those two People, Jews and Gentiles, that believe of twain are [Page 34] made one, i. e. one now man, or one Christian or Gospel-Church. And this is done by Jesus Christ, who by his Fan or Dispensa­tion of the New Testament hath abolished the old Covenant­right of Church-Membership; not the fleshly Seed, but the spiritual Seed of Abraham, are to be received into Christs Gospel Garner; Ye as lively stones are built up a spiritual House, 1 Pet. 2. 5. &c. But this I shall not prosecute.

2. Doct. Jesus Christ would have none but pure Wheat be gathered in­to his Garner; not the fleshly and spiritual Seed, not the Believer and the Unbeliever, not godly ones and ungodly ones, not the Chaff and the Wheat, as it was under the Law, in the National Church of the Jews. Not whole Parishes, or whole Nations, no, no, none but true Christians, or holy persons, sanctified and sincere, and truly gracious Souls.

3. Doct. Christs great Work and Office is to purge his People, to cleanse them, and make them holy, and to sever the Wheat from the Chaff, the pure from the impure; or to separate Hypocrites from his Church, and purge his Saints from all their inward Filth and Corruption: He would have no Chaff there, none that are false­hearted and unsound, such he will first or last purge out; and he will make them that are good to be much better, more clean, more holy, more pure, he will purge out the chaff of Hypocri­sie, Unbelief, Pride, Passion, Covetousness, Vain Glory, Car­nality, and all manner of Corruption whatsoever that is in them; he sets as a Refiner and Purifier of Silver, and he will throughly purge away their Dross, and take away all their Tin. The Isa. 1. 25. time draws near in which the sinners in Zion shall be afraid, fear­fulness shall surprise the Hypocrites: Who amongst us shall dwell with Isa. 33. 14. devouring fire? who amongst us shall dwell with everlasting Burnings?

4. Doct. All true Beleivers, or all Christs Wheat, shall be saved, shall be received into Heaven, or be gathered into his glorious Garner above, and into which place no wicked person, no false-heart­ed professor, no hypocrite, no carnal and self-deceived Gospeller, shall come. Though some of this sort get into the Church militant, they shall not get into the Church triumphant, tho' they may get a seeming place in his Garner below, yet they shall have no place in his glorious Barn or Garner above. Sirs, you that seem to take delight in the Company of the Saints, and seem to feed and lie down with Christs sheep, yet know [Page 35] you shall one day be separated as Goats from the Sheep, as foolish Virgins from the wise, as Chaff from the Wheat, and as Dross from the Gold; all you that are not sincere must go to your place; and those that shall be set at Christs right hand shall receive the Kingdom prepared for them, and all that shall be on his left hand must go into everlasting fire, prepared Math. 25. 41. for the Devil and his Angels.

Doct. 5. A discriminating day will come, a day of severing the good from the bad, &c.

Doct. 6. That the Wrath of God is like fire, 'tis intollerable; or the misery and torments of the damned, or of all hypocrites and The Wrath of God, whether internal or ex­ternal, is intol­lerable. unbelievers, will be dismal and amazing; or there's no expressing how fearful their condition is and will be, who fall under the vindictive Wrath and Vengance of an angry God. I purpose to speak unto one or two of these Propositions, but at present I shall close with a word or two by way of Use.

Quest. But shall there not be an end of the Torments of the Dam­ned? will infinite Goodness be so severe with his offending Creatures? can this stand consistent with the Sweetness of his Nature and infinite mercy?

Answ. I Answer, there is a Perfection in every one of Gods divine Attributes; as his Love is infinite to such who are his Elect ones, who do believe in him, honour and obey him, so is his Hatred infinite to all those who despise, hate and dis­honour him.

2. God will be sure glorifie his Veracity, or the Truth of his Threatning: He that hath said, the righteous shall be saved with an everlasting Salvation, or shall have eternal Life, hath said, that the wicked shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the Glory of his Power: They are 2 Thess. 1. 8, 9. tormented day and night for ever and ever. Now since God hath Decreed and denounced eternal punpishment to obstinate sinners, it is sufficient to satisfie all Doubts about the Justice of it. Let God be true, and every man a Liar; for divine Justice and Wrath is the Correspondence of his Will, Actions, and Holiness of his Nature to the damned: As divine Love and ‘ [Page 65] Goodness is to such who are saved; we may therefore, saith one, as easily conceive there is no God, as that God is unjust, because absolute Rectitude is an inseparable per­fection of his Nature; is God unrighteous who taketh Vengance? Rom. 3. 5. 6. God forbid.’

3. Sin deserveth no less than an infinite and an eternal pu­nishment, therefore unless the Damned could give an infinite Satisfaction by suffering, they must suffer eternally, for they must lye in Prison until they have paid the uttermost farthing: But alas, how should they make full payment to Gods Justice who run continually into Debt, more and more! for the Damned in Hell do not cease sinning, they will sin to Eternity, and therefore must suffer to Eternity.

4. Nay, they will sin with the greatest Fury and Madness against God, when they come to be under the greatest sence of Despair imaginable; they will sin then like as the Devils do now, and will for ever, when they see they are deprived of all good, and only possess what is evil: O how will they hate God, blaspheme his holy Name for evermore! the blessed God is the Object of their Curses and eternal Aversation; in Hell is weeping and gnashing of Teeth. ‘Extream Sorrow and extream Fury, Despair and Rage (saith one) are proper Passions of lost Souls; their Enmity against God is direct and explicit, the Feaver is heightned into a Frenzy. If their Rage could extend to him, and their Power equal to their desire, they would dethrone the most High; Hatred takes pleasure in Revenge.’ 'Tis said of the Worshippers of the Beast, that they gnawed their Tongues for pain, and Blasphemed the God of Hea­ven Rev. 16. 10. 11. because of their pain: These Torments and Blasphemies of the Damned are clearly represented by these cursed impeni­tent Idolaters.

‘If a Criminal were justly condemned to a severe Punishment, and should contumeliously, with the greatest Fury reproach the Prince by whose Authority he was condemned, could it be ex­pected there should be a mitigation of the severity of the Sen­tence?’ How then should the righteous Judge of Heaven and Earth reverse or mitigate the Sentence against the Damned, who blaspheme his holy Majesty, and if they were able to effect as they are malicious to desire, would destroy his very being, and execute that on him which he in Justice inflicts on them?

5. To hast to the Application: The infinite Guilt that cleaves to sin, and the Consideration that they continually add more [Page 66] Guilt upon their own Heads, requires a proportion in punishment, as the Evil of sin exceeds our Thoughts: The Majesty of God being infinite, consequently the punishment of it will be infinite, and beyond our Conceptions; it will be a let­ting out of his infinite Wrath and utter extent of his power, there­fore unto the Wicked is reserved the blackness of Darkness for ever.