The Axe Laid to the Root, Sermon 1
THE Ax laid to the Root, &c. OR, One BLOW more at the Foundation of Infant Baptism, and Church-Membership.
MAT. III. 10.
And now also the Ax is laid to the Root of the Trees, every Tree therefore that bringeth not forth good Fruit; is hewn down and cast into the Fire.
THIS Text is metaphorical; there is no great difference between a Metaphor and an express Similitude; and for the better understanding the Mind of God therein, I shall
1. Open the Scope and Coherence thereof.
2. Explain the Parts and Terms therein contained.
3. I shall observe some Points of Doctrine reducable there-from.
4. Shall improve the Whole by way of Application.
First, From the Scope and Coherence of the Place, 'tis evident, that John Baptist endeavours to take off the Jews, particularly the Pharisees and Sadduces, from the external and legal Covenant God made with Abraham and his Fleshly-seed, or Off-spring. See vers. 7. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadduces come to his Baptism, he said unto them, O generation of Vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the Wrath to come.
Historians tell us, That there were Three more eminent Religious Sects amongst the Jews, the First were called Essenes, of whom we do not read in the Holy Scripture; their main Doctrine was Fate; they (say our Annotators) ascribed all Things to it. Secondly, The Sadduces were directly opposite to the Essenes, they ascribed nothing to Fate, but asserted the Liberty and Power of Man's Will, in the most largest Sence, or in the extravagant Height; they denied the Immortality of the Soul of Man, the Resurrection, Angels, &c. All which, the Pharisees owned. See Act. 23. 8.
The Pharisees, were outwardly a very Zealous sort of People; and, tho' they were tainted with that false Opinion of the Freedom of Man's Will to do Good, yet they▪ ascribed much to the Providence and Grace of God; they were Interpreters of the Law, and separated themselves from others; they spent much time in Fasting and Prayer: 1. They held, nevertheless, a Righteousness by the Works of the Law, by which they thought they were justified and accepted of God, and so stumbled at the Stumbling-Stone, Rom. 9. 32. 2. They gave a very corrupt Interpretation of the Law. 3. They held many un-written Traditions of equal force with the Law of God; by which means, they made void the Commandments of God. 4. They were a mere Hypocritical sort of Men in their Practices, being very strict and zealous for the smaller Matters of the Law, and neglected the weightier Things thereof.
Whether these Pharisees and Sadduces came with an intention to be Baptized, or only out of Curiosity, is hard to be resolved, since 'tis said, They rejected the Counsel of God against themselves, being not Baptized by John.
John however, sharply treates them both, calling them a Generation of Vipers, a sort of Serpents, of whom 'tis said, they make way into the World through the Bowels of their Dam. It may be upon this Account, he gave them that Name, or so called them, who thought through the Bowels (as I may so say of their Ancestors) or being the Seed of Abraham, or the Off-spring of Godly Progenitours, to come to Heaven; who hath warned you to flee from the Wrath to come. What is the Reason that you come to my Baptism? Whereas some of you think there is no Resurrection, no Heaven, no Hell, no Angels, nor no Spirits; or, you, who think you are so Righteous, as you need no Repentance, and so need fear no wrath to come, From whence comes this to pass that you seem to fear, or to be afraid of future Wrath, and the Vengeance of an angry God? Bring forth therefore Fruits meet for Repentance, ver. 8.
O come now and put your selves among the crowd of Poor Sinners, and Godly Penitent Persons; Repent of your false Doctrines you have taught; Repent of the corrupt and wicked Notions and Opinions you hold, and of the Vain and Hypocritical Lives you have led, and think not that a bear Profession of this will do neither; for you must bring forth Fruits of true Repentance, Fruits of true Holiness, from a thorough change of Heart that must be wrought in you.
But, (as if he should say) I know your Thoughts, I have heard what a Belief you are of, you think you are in Covenant with God, and so are faedorally Holy, and in a saved and safe Condition, because you have Abraham to your Father, you conclude, that Covenant God made with Abraham, and his natural or fleshly Seed, was the Covenant of Grace; and so the Promise is sure to you: And therefore, he adds, ver. 7. And think not to say within your selves, we have Abraham to our Father: For I say unto you, that God is able of these Stones, to raise up Children to Abraham.
You promise good to your selves, because you are the natural Off-spring of believing Abraham, you rest upon your Descent from him. The very same Plea we find they made to our blessed Saviour, Joh. 8. 33. We be Abraham's seed, and were never in Bondage to any Man. How sayest thou, yee shall be made Free: We were never under the Bondage of Sin, as others are; that Covenant made with Abraham being the Covenant of Grace, we are thereby set at Liberty, and no Man shall by his Doctrine make us believe the contrary, we are a free People, in respect of our Souls and spiritual Privileges, (for they could not mean otherwise, because they had often been in Bondage to Men, in respect of external Liberty and Freedom: First to Pharaoh King of Egypt, and then to Nebuchadnezzar, and now were so in Bondage under the Romans) I know (saith our Saviour) that ye are Abraham's Seed, according to the Flesh: They were his Off-spring; but that was no spiritual Advantage to them, tho' it did give them Right to legal Privileges and Ordinances under the Law, yet it signify'd nothing now, it would not profit them under the Gospel Dispensation, they must be the spiritual Seed of Abraham, and do the Works of Abraham, and walk in his Steps; which they did not, and therefore the Lord Jesus told them, vers. 44. Ye are of your Father the Devil, and the Lusts of your Father you will do.
John Baptist, intimates the same thing, when he called them a Generation of Vipers; tho' they intituled themselves to the Covenant of Grace, (like as some do now a-days) upon that, in Gen. 17. extended to Abraham's Seed, as well as to himself, and concluded, they were Members of God's Church, then on Earth, and could not therefore be deny'd any Privilege, or Ordinance, that of Right belonged to Covenant Children: But this great Prophet knew how blind and deceived they were, not understanding, that there were two Covenants made with Abraham, and also a Two-fold Seed (viz.) a Carnal or Natural, and a Spiritual Seed: they thought that Promise of God, made with Abraham, must be made of none Effect, if they should not be owned or allowed to be the Seed of Abraham; but, (saith the Baptists) God is able of these Stones, to raise up Children to Abraham. If he should turn Stones into Men and Women, who have Abraham's Faith, they would be certainly the true Seed of Abraham, and not such as they were, tho' they naturally proceeded from his Loins, according to the Flesh; or, God could of the Gentiles raise up Children to Abraham, and so make good his Promise to him, who said, In thy seed, shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.
And now farther to convince them, and so to take away, for ever, all their Hope and Pretences of Right to Gospel-Ordinances, and Church-Membership, by vertue of the Covenant made with Abraham; or, from the Consideration of their being his natural or fleshly Seed, he in the words I first read to you, says, And now also the Ax is laid to the Root of the Trees, therefore every Tree which bringeth forth not good Fruit, is hewn down and cast into the Fire, vers. 10.
Now, this now referrs to the time here in this Place, sometimes it referrs to the Matter or Occasion of what is spoken, Now the Ax is laid to the Root of the Trees; whatever is meant by the Root of the Trees, this is certain, the Ax was not till now, or until this time so laid, or thus laid to the Root: We cannot understand what the Holy Ghost intends hereby, unless we observe, and well consider the Scope and Coherence of the Text, which do's clearly unfold the whole drift and purport of the Baptists. He shew'd them before in the Context, that their Plea to Gospel Baptism, was not good nor pleadable, i. e. We are Abraham's Seed; they might Object, and say,
Obj. All the seed of Abraham, were taken into covenant with God, and all that sprang from his loins, were members of the visible Church; and had right to the external rites, ordinances and privileges thereof.
Ans. This John Baptist seems to grant, i. e. That it was so from Abraham's Time untill these Days, or under the Law or old Covenant-Dispensation; they had, he denies not, a Right to Jewish Church-Membership, and Legal Ordinances: But what of that, Now the Ax is laid to the Root of the Trees; that is, as Abraham was the Root, or common Covenanting-Father, as concerning the Flesh, out of which Root, all the Jews, his natural Off-spring, sprang; and, upon which Foundation, they and their natural Church-State was founded: Yet, now the Ax is laid to this Root, i. e. To this Covenant, i. e. The legal, or external Covenant made with Abraham; and down must the Building fall, when the Foundation is removed; down goes the Trees, when the Root (out of which they grew) is cut down. So much as to the Scope and Coherence of the Words.
Secondly, I shall explain the Terms and Parts of the Text:
1. Shew farther what is meant by the Root.
2. What is intended by the Trees.
3. What is meant by the Ax.
4. What by laying the Ax to the Root of the Trees, and by cutting down.
5. What by the Fire, and casting into the Fire.
First, By the Root is meant, that which bears up the Branches, and on which the Tree and Branches stand and grow; and 'tis from hence, from this Allusion, the Baptists makes use of these Words and Expressions. Now the Root, whereof he speaks, (as I conceive) was that Covenant God made with Abraham, and his natural Seed, or Off-spring; which Covenant did, in a mystical Sence, as clearly bear up the National Church of Israel, and all the Trees, i. e. Members or Branches thereof, as a common natural Root doth the Tree, or Trees that grow out of it.
2. And as by Root may be meant that Covenant made with Abraham, and his natural Seed, (from whence the National Policy, and Church of the Jews sprang, and was born up, and from whence it grew and was to abide) untill the Gospel Dispensation came in, and was established; so also by the Root may be intended the Foundation of all their Hopes, Confidence, and outward Privileges: For that, they (I mean the natural Off-spring of Abraham) had great Confidence in the Flesh, by means of that legal or external Ministration they were under, cannot be denied, and had many outward Rights and Privileges also, above all People then in the World; and if so, (I mean if this be granted, which I am sure cannot be denied) then it follows there was some Root, Ground, or Foundation, which they had, and upon which they built, and laid Claim to those outward Ecclesiastical and Civil Rights and Privileges; and that the Ground Root, or Foundation of all this, was that Covenant God made with Abraham and his natural Seed, is apparent to all who are not willingly Blind; for before those Covenant-Tranctions with Abraham, we read not that the People, from whom Abraham sprang, had any such Rights or Privileges granted to them, and what outward Privileges God promised them afterwards by Moses, 'tis signify'd in divers Places to be upon the Account of the Covenant made with Abraham, &c. And according to the exact Time, told by the Lord to Abraham, God brought his natural Seed out of the Land of Egypt.
This, from the Scope and Coherence of the Words; therefore I must affirm, is Primarily, and Chiefly intended by the Root of the Trees in this Place: But,
Thirdly, By Root, in a more remote Sence, may be meant the state and standing of every Ungodly, Unbelieving and Impenitent Person; let their Hopes, Expectation, and Confidence, be what it will, if he be not a good Tree, a Believing and True penitent Person, his Root, or Foundation on which he builds, let it be what it will, cannot secure him, for down he must go with all his vain Hopes, Works, Expectation and Confidence whatsoever with him, For now is the Ax laid to the Root of the Trees.
Secondly, By Trees are meant Men and Women, but chiefly the Seed of the Stock of Abraham, according to the Flesh; of whom the National Church of the Jews was made up, and did consist; as also, all wicked and unbelieving Persons whatsoever, who embrace not the Offers of Grace, in the Gospel, or believe not in Jesus Christ. For, as the Church of God is compared to a good Tree, and godly Men, in particular, are called good Trees, so is the adulterated Church of the Jews, compared to an evil Tree; and wicked and ungodly Persons, called, Evil and corrupt Trees: Yet it might be here noted, that they are in this Place compared to Fruit Trees, tho' to such that bring not forth good Fruit, as (by the Prophet) the Jewish Church is compared to a Vine, and an Olive Tree, tho' she brought forth sowre Grapes, Isa. 5.
Thirdly, As to the Ax, we all know an Ax is that Instrument used by Men to cut down Trees, at the Pleasure, or for the Profit of the Owner thereof; by the Ax here, may be intended divers Things, by which God may be said to cut down impenitent Sinners, or unfruitful Churches, or Bodies and Souls of Men. For cutting down may refer,
1. To the Souls of Men, &c.
2. To their outward Rights and Privileges.
3. To their Bodies and Souls both.
4. To their external, fleshly and corrupt Church State.
First, To the Souls of Sinners, which is done by an Act of God's Justice, when he cuts them off, from profiting by the means of Grace, giving them up to unbelief and hardness of Heart: And thus he in Judgment dealt with the Jews.
2. By giving them up to blindness of Mind, when they have Ears, and hear not; Eyes, and see not; Hearts, and understand not; God utterly leaving them to a seared Conscience, or gives them up to their own Heart's Lusts, and to walk in their own Counsel. Then they, in respect of their Souls, may be said to be cut down in Wrath for ever.
3. Or, when he takes away the Kingdom of God from them, i. e. The Dispensation of the Gospel. Therefore shall the Kingdom of Heaven be taken from you, and given to another People, &c.
Secondly, It may referr to the cutting down their Religious and Civil Rights, and Privileges.
1. When God takes away all the external and spiritual Immunities, Blessings and Favours, a People once enjoy'd.
No Gospel more preached to them, no Ministers to preach it, the Hedge of Protection and Preservation pluck'd up, and ravenous Beasts let in to devour them; like as God threatned the National Church of Israel, Isa. 5. The Sun to shine upon them no more, nor the Clouds to rain upon them. This is a dismal cutting down.
Thirdly, Their Bodies left to be destroyed by mercyless Enemies, or cut down by Famine, or Pestilence, as this very People were dealt with, when God brought in the Romans upon them, and their Souls cut off for their final Unbelief and Impenitency.
Fourthly, It may referr to the cutting down of their Church-State, Sacrifices, Priest-hood, Sabbaths, Temples, and all taken away and overthrown, and another People, another Seed, and more spiritual Church, constituted and established in the room thereof. And thus God dealt with this People, i. e. the Church of the Jews also, they were broken off, or cut down, and the Gentiles were grafted in, as the Apostle shews at large, Rom. 11.
The Ax, by which they are cut down, may be,
First, The Dispensation of God's Providence, or Time; Time is pictured with a Sythe; but then Man is compared to Grass, but it may be pictured with an Ax, since Men are compared to Trees; a Syth is no fit Instrument to cut down Trees: Men, as you have heard, are here compared to Trees, and when once the Time's set for the Jewish Church to stand, or abide in the World, was expired, Time, or the Dispensation of God's Providence, like an Ax, cut it down for ever; and so will the prefix'd Time appointed by the Lord, when 'tis come, even cut down at the Root, the bloody Idolatrous Church of Rome, when the Beasts 1260 years are expired, down she shall go with Vengeance; and unless Time lays The Ax at her Root, and at the Root of all other Corrupt and National Churches, there will be no cutting them down, nor will there be any, then able to save her or them: the standing of all Humane and Ecclesiastical States and Constitutions, are determined by the Almighty, who works all Things according to the Counsel of his own Will.
2. The Ax also may referr to the Gospel: The Word of God is an Ax to hew and square some Persons for God's spiritual Building, and to cut down others also, as Trees that are Rotten, and bear no good Fruit, Therefore (saith the Lord) I have hewn them by the Prophets; and what follows, mark it, I have slain them by the words of my Mouth, Hos. 6, 5. The Word of God either kills or cures; 'tis either a saviour of Life unto Life, or the saviour of Death unto Death, 2. Cor. 2. 16. Like as Sweet-Meats are to some Pleasant and Comfortable, and to others Pernicious and Deadly.
The Abuse of Gospel Grace cut the Jews down, and so it will all others who slight and contemn it; the Word either softens, or hardens, like as the Sun, who shining on the Wax, it softens that; but shining on the Clay, it hardens that. When the Word comes in Judgment, then 'tis like an Ax in the Hand of God's Justice. I find one Learned Man speaking thus on this Place, viz. The Word of God, which is a spiritual Ax, cutteth down spiritually Wicked Men, and Hypocrites, like rotten and barren Trees. This is it, which is elsewhere meant by plucking up, destroying, hardening, &c. Some, (saith he) expound this, not of spiritual Judgments, threatned in his Word against impenitent Sinners, but of the Power of the Romans, which were the Instruments of God, to destroy utterly the unfaithful and wicked Generation of the Jews. The former is (saith he) the best Exposition, but I conceive it may referr to both.
3. The Ax may refer to Men, whom God makes use of, as Instruments in his Hand, to cut down and destroy a Wicked and God-provoking People: Hence wicked Rulers and Kings, whom God raises up as Instruments in his Hand, to chastise and cut down a rebellious People, are called His Sword, and the Rod of his Wrath and Indignation, Psal. 17. 14. Arise, O Lord, disappoint him, cast him down, deliver my Soul from the wicked, which is thy Sword. And thus the Assyrian were an Ax in God's Hand, to use, as he pleased, and the Romans afterwards, to the Jews likewise.
Moreover, God's Israel is called his Ax, Thou art my Battel-Ax, and Weapons of War; with thee I will break in pieces the Nations, and with thee will I destroy Kingdoms. God's People, in the last Days, which are now very near, shall be his Ax, by whom, as Instruments in his Hand, he will destroy Babylon, Jer. 51. 20, 24. And I will render unto Babylon, &c. all the evil they have done to Sion, in your sight, saith the Lord. Reward her as she hath rewarded you, double to her double. Rev. 18. 6. Give her Blood to drink, for she is worthy. The Stone cut out of the Mountains without Hands, shall break to pieces all the Powers of the Earth, that oppose Christ's Kingdom, or, that stand in the way of its Establishment, Dan. 3. 34. 44.
4. By the Ax, may in the general be meant God's Wrath, however it is, or may be executed, or upon whom; Wrath will sooner, or later, cut down all the Ungodly, both false Churches, and tyrannical Powers of the Earth, and all who continue in Unbelief and in Rebellion against God.
The laying the Ax to the Root, discovers the final Fall and Ruin of Sinners, whether considered as a Church, or as particular Persons, dig up or cut down the Root, and down falls the Body and all the Branches of the Tree.
Fifthly, and Lastly, Therefore every Tree that bringeth not forth good Fruit, shall be hewn down and cast into the Fire. Now he draws a necessary Inferrence and Conclusion from the Premisses.
Every Tree, that is, every Man and Woman, or every Corrupt Church, be they who they will, either Jew or Gentile, Babylonian or Christian, if not Plants of God's planting, if not Fruitful to God, if they Answer not his Design and End, if they bring not forth good Fruit, they shall be hewn down and cast into the Fire of external and eternal Wrath; a Fire saith the Lord, is kindled in my anger, and it shall burn to the lowest Hell. Wrath ceases, and shall cease on them here; but at last they shall be cast into Hellfire, where the worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched, Mark. 9. 46.
1. The Words being thus opened and explained, I shall take notice of two or three Points of Doctrine.
1. Doct. Now the Dispensation is changed, to be of the natural Root, or of the National Church of the Jews, or the Seed of Abraham, according to the Flesh, as such is no Ground of Church-Membership; or, 'tis no Argument to be admitted into the Gospel Church, or to Gospel-Baptism.
2. Doct. Now in the times of the Gospel God is, and will be, severe with all ungodly, unbelieving and impenitent Sinners he strikes at their Root, at the Root of all their Hopes, false Faith, or fleshly Confidence whatsoever.
'Tis the first of these Propositions I shall in the first place insist upon and as I may be enabled, explain and prosecute amongst you; but the Time being near gone, let me now with a brief word or two, conclude at this Season.
1. Caution. Take heed on what you build your Hopes of Justification and Salvation, what is that which bears up your Spirits: for if you are Trees that grow not out of the true root, Jesus Christ, and the Covenant of Grace; if you have not Union with the Lord Jesus, or are not built on that Foundation, or Corner-stone God hath laid in Sion, down you fall; for now the ax is laid to the Root of the Trees.
2. Enquiry. Is not Morality a civil and honest Life, Doing to all as you would be done unto, the Ground or Foundation of your Hopes? Do you build upon this? if it be so, tremble: remember Christ saith, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. Joh. 3. 3.
If you have no other Ground of Hope, but from your own Moral Righteousness, when Death comes with his Ax, down you will go, and be cast into the Fire.
3. Consider, All you prophane and ungodly Ones, what is that which bears your Hopes up, what do you build upon; is it not on the mere Mercy of God, or Death of Christ: God (say you) is gracious, slow to anger, and we therefore have Hopes, and do trust to that: Christ dyed for Sinners, &c. You say right, God is mercifull; but what then, will you therefore presumptuously go on in ungodly and wicked Courses, oh! know he is just as well as gracious, and will in no wise clear the guilty. Exod. 34. 7. Except ye repent therefore, ye shall all likewise perish, Luk. 13. 3. 5. Shall the Goodness of God, which should lead you to Repentance be thus evilly improved; i. e. to strengthen your Hands, and encourage you to sin against him, and provoke him? 'Tis I fear with you as Solomon speaks. Eccl. 8. 11. Because Sentance against an evil Work is not executed speedily, therefore the hearts of the sons of men are fully set in them to do wickedly.
Christ 'tis true, dyed for Sinners, but you have no True Faith in him, he dyed to save Sinners from their Sins, and that they might live to him. See my Text, now the Ax is laid to the Root of the Trees, if you believe not on Christ, if you are not made new Creatures, 1 Cor. 5. 17. the Ax will cut you down, and that with Vengeance, and Wrath will at last cast you into the Fire: you must learn to know the way of Salvation, and how the Mercy of God shines forth in a Mediator: Christ hath satisfied his Justice, and by him you must come to God out of Christ, he is a consuming fire. Abused Mercy, O Sinner! will be turned at last into Fury; except you obtain an Interest in Jesus Christ, you are undone; for the Wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, Rom. 1.
3. Or are you Self-righteous Persons? Do you build on your own Righteousness, like the Jews and hypocritical Pharises; you, may be, think your States Good, because you are not Swearers, Drunkards, &c. may be, you read, pray, and hear Sermons, and give to the Poor, and do much good; but if you build your Hopes of Heaven on these Things; down this Ax will cut you also: Except your Righteousness exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes, and Pharises, you shall in no wise enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, Matth. 5. 20. nay, you must be found in the Righteousness of Christ, all ours is but dung, Phil. 3. 8, 9. you must in a word, bring forth good fruit, every Soul of you, or perish, and this you cannot do, till your Hearts are changed, and so you become good Trees: make the tree good, and then the fruit will be good; an evil Tree cannot bring forth good fruit, &c. all Works of unregenerate Persons, yea their Religious Duties, are but dead Works, not good fruits, nor can they bring forth good Fruits, unless they are planted by Faith into Jesus Christ: nay, I must tell you that Gospel-Holiness will not save us, it must be the Righteousness of God by Faith.