Church Reformation, Sermon 1
CHVRCH REFORMATION. THE I. SERMON: April 12. 1643▪
Matth. 3. 12.
And he will throughly purge his Floore.]
THe whole verſe is a plaine and familiar, but elegant Allegory, under which the Baptiſt ſetteth forth unto us the Soveraign Authority of Ieſus Chriſt, with the Exerciſe of that Authority. His Authority, in the firſt words. Whoſe fanne is in his hand. The Exerciſe of that Authoritie in the ſequell of the verſe; which is ſet forth unto us, firſt, more Generally, over his whole Church; He will throughly purge his Floore. Then more Particularly, towards his Elect▪ by way of merciemercy, He will gather his wheat into his Garner. Towards Reprobates and Ʋnbeleevers, by way of Judgement. Hee will burn up the Chaffe, &c.
It is the ſecond of theſe that my eye is upon at the preſent, (having alreadie inſiſted upon the former) viz. the Exerciſe of Chriſts Soveraigne Authoritie in generall, over and upon his whole Church: He will throughly purge his Floore.
Here by way of Explication, and Illuſtration, two maine particulars are to be unfolded:
1. What is that Floore which Ieſus Chriſt will Purge?
2. How that Floore of his ſhall be Purged. At this time of the firſt of theſe.
Chriſt▪ floore, vvhat?H … Floore.] To tell you what a Floore is, were needleſſe, whe…her the Houſe-Floore, or the Barne-Floore: Both well enough knowns. We have here to deale with the latter of theſe. foreign, aream, the Barn-Floore: viz▪ the place where the Husb…n…an uſeth to Threſh, and Fanne, and Winnow his Corne.
Generally, this inferiour vvorld, vvhichwhich is.I, bu… what is Chriſts Floore? An. The whole World, (ſay ſome) viz. this Inferiour World. And not unfitly may it be ſo called (ſaith Aretius.) A Floore, and Chriſts Floore.
Being firſt the Subſtratum, the loweſt part of the A floore▪ being the pavement of Gods houſe.world. Such is a Floore, whether the Honſe or Barne-floore, it is the loweſt part of the roome, the Pavement: ſuch is this in…eriour world wherein wee live, the Pavement of Gods houſe, or Barne. Adhaſit Pav… mento, ſo the vulgar Latine readeth that of the Pſalmiſt. Pſa. 119. 25▪ My ſoule eleaveth to the duſt, to the earth, to the Pavement. Compare the whole world to a Houſe or Barne, Heaven is the Roo…e, Earth is the Floore, a Floore for ſcite and ſcituation.
Secondly, and principally, a Floore, and Chriſts Chriſts floore; vvhere he exerciſeth divers pieces of his husbandry up on his corne.Floore, for the uſe that he puts it to, which is analogically▪ by way of reſemblan…e, the …ame with that which the Husbandman maketh of his floore. The Floore (as I told you) is the place where the husbandman exerciſeth thoſe peices of husbandrie upon his Corne; Threſhing, Fanning, Winnowing it. Such a Floore is this preſent world. Palaestr… eſt i… quâ Chriſtus ſuos exer…t, ſaith Aretius. It is the place wherein Chriſt exerciſeth his Church, and people with Affliction, Tribulation. In the world ye ſhall have Tribulation, Iohn 10. verſe laſt.(ſaith our Saviour to his Diſciple…) foreign. Preſſuram habebiti…. Ye ſhall have Preſſur…s, Tribulations, and that of divers kinds. To follow the Metaphor cloſe. Here is Threſhing, here is Fanning, here is Winnowing, all to be met with in this Floore, this preſent world.
1. Threſhing. In the Barne-floore, the Strawe and Threſhing.the Corne, both are threſhed together, and that with the ſame Flaile. In this preſent world, Gods owne People, and his Enemies both are Threſhed. His Enemies, wicked and ungodly men, which are as the ſtraw in this floore, they are threſhed with plagues and judgements, which are the ſtroakes of Gods flaile, Iſaiah 25. 10.of his revenging juſtice. Moab ſhall be threſhed under him, even as the ſtraw is threſhed, (ſo the Geneva readeth that of the Prophet Iſai.) Iſaiah 25. Moab, all the Enemies of God and his Church, they are as Straw, and as Straw oft times they are threſhed, even beaten to pleces. And as the Straw, ſo the Corne; as Gods Enemies, ſo his own people they alſo ſometimes feele of the Flaile here: I the ſame flaile, being exerciſed with the ſame Iudgements, the ſame calamities, the ſame for kinde, for ſubſtance. Moab is threſhed, and Iſrael is threſhed. Iſaiah 21. 10.O my Threſhing! or Thou whom I doe threſh, ſaith the Lord, ſpeaking of his owne people, his Iſrael, as ſome interpret it. Iſaiah 21. 10. Them God threſheth ofttimes with his owne hand; ſometimes leaving them to Satan and his Inſtruments to be threſhed by them, by the exerciſes of cruel…ie upon them. They have threſhed Amos 1. 3.Gilead with threſhing inſtruments of iron, ſo the Prophet Amos complaineth of the horrid cruelties exerciſed by bloody enemies upon the people of the Lord. Amos 1. 3. Well may this world bee called a Floore, here is Threſhing. In the world ye ſhall have Tribulation, Threſhing, as the word [Tribulation] properly ſignifieth.
2. And ſecondly there is Fanning, and that with Fanning.the fanne, the Croſſe, whereby God often ſcattereth Ie… 15. 7.his owne people to and fro upon the earth. I will fanne them with a fanne in (or through▪) the gates of the land. VponUpon this I have inſiſted largely already in handling the former part of the verſe.
3. And thirdly, here is winnowing too. God winnoweth Winnowing.his people. I will ſift (or winnow) the houſe of Iſrael amongst, all nations like as corne is ſifted (or winnowed) with a ſive. Amos 9. 9. God winnowes, and by his permiſſion Satan winnows them. Simon, Simon, (ſaith our Saviour) Satan hath deſired to have you to winnow you; or ſift you. Luke 22. 31. God winnowes, and Satan winnowes, both by the winde of Tentations. God by Tentations of Probation, Satan by Tentations of Seduction; the one for the trying, purging; the other for the ſcattering, deſtroying of them. All theſe pieces of husbandrie doth this great Husbandman exerciſe in this inferiour world upon his Corne, his Church and people, and therefore well may it be called a floore, his floore.
Tribulations here not to bee vvondred at.A meditation not unuſefull: Let it ſerve to ſtay the hearts of Gods people in reſpect of the many and manifold preſſures and tribulations that here they meet with upon earth. Alas, can they looke for other, conſidering the place and condition they are in? They are Gods Corne, I, but as yet they are as Corne in the floore. O my threſhing (ſaith the Lord) and the Corne of my floore. Iſaiah 21. 10. Filius Areae, ſo the originall Hebrai…me hath it, The ſonne of my floore. Gods people, his Saints, even whil'ſt they are here, they are ſonnes. Behold, now are we the ſonnes of God, ſaith S. Iohn 3. 2. Sonnes, but filij Areae, not Apothecae; ſonnes, or corne of the floore, not of the Garner. Now corne, whil'ſt it is in the floore, it muſt looke for no quiet: that is reſerved for the Garner. Gods Corne, his Saints, when they ſhall be laid up in his Garner, received into thoſe heavenly manſions, then ſhall they enter into their reſt, a perfect Heb 4. 9, 10.reſt, where they ſhall never more feele of the flaile, or the fanne, or the ſive. All theſe are for the Floore. And let not any wonder to meete with them there. Thinke it not ſtrange concerning the fiery tryall, ſaith 1 Pet 4. 12.S. Peter: what ever our trials be, what for nature, what for number; are we threſhed, fanned, winnowed, make not ſtrange of it; remember the place where we are, and the condition we are in, whileſt we are here below, we are like corne upon the floore. But I will not dwell here.
The floore ſhall be purged.This World is Chriſts Floore, and this floore he will purge, throughly purge. This will he doe at that laſt and great day, when he ſhall come from Heaven with the fanne in his hand, (the fanne of the laſt Judgement) then will he purge this inferiour World from all the droſſe of corruption which now cleaveth to it, delivering it from the bondage of corruption, to which it is now made ſubject through the ſinne of Man, and under which it groaneth, as the Apoſtle hath it, Rom. 8. 21, 22. Then making a new Heaven, and a new Earth, Rev. 21. 1.a new roofe, and a new floore to this houſe of his. But to let this paſſe, not being the marke I aime at.
Chriſts floore, more ſpecially is his Church viſible. Aquin. ad locum.By the Floore here, more properly and peculiarly we are to underſtand the Church. Not the World, but the Church in the world, that is, the floore; For (as Thomas well noteth it out of Chryſoſtome) if we will drive the Allegorie to the head, the World muſt be the wide field. So our Saviour interprets it, Mat. 13. 38. The field is the world.] The floore here properly is the Church of Chriſt in this world.
The Church. But what Church? why the viſible Church of Chriſt upon earth. The viſible Church; The viſible Church what.what is that? A ſociety, or company of men and women, called out of the world to the knowledge and acknowledgement of the true God in Christ. A company of men profeſſing faith and obedience: faith in Chriſt, obedience to Chriſt: profeſſing to receive Chriſt as their Prophet, Priest, King. Their Prophet, to be taught by him: their Priest to be reconciled to God through him: their King to be ruled and governed by him: This is the viſible Church; which is either univerſall or particular. Ʋniverſall, the whole company of ſuch as prefeſſe the Goſpell throughout the whole world. Particular, ſuch as profeſſe the Goſpell in ſuch a Nation, ſuch a Province, ſuch a Citie, ſuch a Towne, ſuch a Family; Every of which in ſeverall conſiderations and reſpects, may be called a Church. Not only the Church, in ſuch a Family; (The Church that is in thine houſe, Philem. 2.) or the Church in ſuch a Towne, ſuch a City: (The Church at Corinth, at Philippi, &c.) But the Church in ſuch a Province, ſuch a Nation; wherein, though there may be many particular Congregations and Churches, yet they may be called one Church; and that not without ſome warrant from Scripture. St. Peter writing to the Churches diſperſed 1 Pet. 1. 1.through ſeverall Countries, viz. through Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Aſia and Bythinia, (as the 1. verſ. 1 Pet. 5. 2.of his Epiſtle directs it) he yet ſpeaketh of them ſingularly, calling them one flock: Feeds the flock of God which is amongſt you; It is his charge to the Elders of thoſe Churches, cap. 5. 2. many Churches, many flocks, and yet one flock: Not to goe from the Text. The Baptiſt here ſpeaking of the Church of Chriſt, diſperſed through Judea and other parts of the world, the Church under the new Teſtament, which is made up of many particular Congregations and Churches; he yet ſpeaketh of it ſingularly, calling it one floore, He will purge his floore.] Not floores, but floore. Where ever Chriſt hath a Church▪ he hath a floore. Many Churches, many floores: yet put them together, all the Churches in ſuch a Province, ſuch a Nation, or through the whole world, Collectively and Aggregatively conſidered, they make up one Church, one floore. This I doe but touch by the way, to give ſome ſatisfaction to ſuch as are ſo ready to ſcruple the word, as if there were no colour of warrant from Scripture, to give the Name of a Church to any but to a Congregationall Church. Letting that paſſe.
Chriſts floore is his Church, or Churches, conſidered in a viſible State. And not unfitly may the viſible Church be ſo called. A floore, and his floore. Touch upon them ſeverally.
The viſible Church a Floore.Firſt, A floore, and that principally in two reſpects.
1. In reſpect of the Mixture that is in it. Here is the difference betwixt the Garner and the Floore. In the Garner there is nothing but pure graine: In the For mixture of Corne and Chaffe.Floore there is a mixture; Straw as well as Corne, Chaffe as well as Wheate, Tar…s and Titters, and Cockle and Darnill, as well as the good graine. Such a difference there is betwixt the Church Militant and Triumphant, the Church upon Earth, and the Church in Heaven. The Church in Heaven is all pure: Thither ſhall no un…lean… thing enter. No chaffe, no droſſe, Rev. 21. v. laſt.nothing but good and pure corne to be found in that garner. But it is otherwiſe in the floore, in the militant and viſible Church upon Earth, here is a mixture, Corne and chaffe, good and bad together; Elect and Reprobate, true Believers, Hypocrites, and happily perſons openly wicked, all aſſociated together in the ſame outward profeſſion. A truth which needeth no probation. This is the Houſe wherein there are veſſels of all ſorts, ſome of purer, richer, others of courſer, baſer mettall. In a great Houſe (ſaith the Apoſtle) 2 Tim. 2. 10.there are not only veſſels of Gold and of Silver, but alſo of wood and of earth; ſome to honour, and ſome to diſhonour.] A place worthy the pawſing on, and conſidering. Haply it may give ſatisfaction to ſome groundleſſe ſcandals and offences taken by ſome at thoſe undeſired, deplored mixtures which are to be found in the Churches of God amongſt us. In a great Houſe (ſaith he.) What is meant by this great Houſe? why the whole World (ſay ſome) which is Gods Houſe indeed, he being the God and Father of all the Families in Heaven and earth; Gods Houſe, and his Great Houſe; And in this great Houſe there are veſſels of Gold and of Silver, and of wood and of Earth, ſome to honour ſome to diſhonour, (i. e.) ſome elected, others reprobated and paſſed by. So the Apoſtle S. Paul carrieth and applies it, extending it to the whole world, Rom. 9. 21. A truth, but not ſo pertinent to this place. The Great Houſe here (as Calvin and others note upon it) denotes and points out more peculiarly the Church of God, the viſible Church. So much may be collected from the Context. The Church viſible is a Houſe, Gods 1 Tim. 3▪ 15.Houſe, (That thou mighteſt know how to behave thy ſelfe in the Houſe of God, which is the Church of the living God, (ſaith Paul to Timothy.) His Houſe, and a Great Houſe, foreign, the Houſe of the Great God, the Father of this Family, of a great and large Gal 6. 10.extent; and having many Inhabitants, Officers, Children, Servants, even all thoſe domeſtici fidei, the houſehold of Faith, as the Apoſtle calleth them. And in this great Houſe (ſaith the Apoſtle) there are not only veſſels of Gold and Silver, but of wood and of earth, i. e. ſome elect, others reprobates: Not only ſo, but ſome good, others bad; bad, and that oft-times not only cloſely and ſecretly, but openly and apparently ſuch. Not only hypocriticall and unſound, but ſcandalous Chriſtians. Such were thoſe whom the Apoſtle ſpeaketh ver. 16. ver. 17.of in the verſes fore-going: Prophane and vaine bablers; men whoſe words did fret as a canker, or cancer, whoſe very ſociety was infectious and dangerous. Two of theſe he there inſtanceth in, by Name. Of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus.] two dangerous and damnable Hereticks, denying and overthrowing that great Article of the Faith, the Reſurrection of the Dead; which being overthrowne, opens a wide doore to all lie…ntiouſneſſe and pro…aneneſſe. Such were theſe, and probably ſome other members of that Church at that time; perſons ſcandalous and dangerous, ſeduced themſelves, and ſeducing others. Such veſſels there were in that houſe, wooden and earthen veſſels; veſſels to diſhonour, foreign to diſhonour, and that both Paſſively and Actively, having diſhonour and ſhame for their portion, and diſhonouring the houſe, the Church of God whereof they were, members. Such veſſels, ſuch members, there may be and oft are in the Houſe, in the Church of God; perſons erroneous in their judgement, and ſcandalous in their lives. Such there may be.
So it is, de Facto, not de Jure.Miſtake it not: We ſpeake here de Facto, not de Jure, not what ought to be; but what may be, and will be. If we ſpeake de Jure, …s it ought to be, then that of the Apoſtle in the words f…re going, takes place. Let every one that calleth on the Name of the Lord depart ver. 19.from iniquity.] Every one that joyneth himſelfe to the Church of God, that taketh upon him the profeſſion of Chriſtianity, he ought to grace his profeſſion by an anſwerable converſation. In Solomons Temple the 1 King. 7. 49, 50.veſſels were all of pure Gold, and ſuch ſhould the members of the Church of Chriſt be. Thus it ſhould be, But thus it will not be. Some there are and will be, that ſhame their profeſſion by an unchriſtian converſation Veſſels to diſhonour. Neither is it a thing either to be ſtumbled or wondered at. Such veſſels there are in a great Houſe, and ſuch members there will be in the viſible Church, which is a mixed company.
This point I might further inlarge, and ſet of by thoſe common and obvious illuſtrations made uſe of by our Saviour himſelfe; of the draw or drag Net, Mat▪ 13. 47.wherein there are fiſhes of all ſorts, good and bad. The ver. 30.Field wherein there was Tares, as well as Wheate. The wedding ſupper whereat there were gueſts of all ſorts, good and bad (ſaith the Text.) But I will not, neither Mat. 22. 10.need I goe from that Metaphor in the Text, which is ſo cleare and expreſſe, as that ſcarce an Expoſitor falls upon it, but meeteth with this truth in it: The Church, the viſible Church is a mixed company. Such is the floore, a place of mixture, wherein there is (as I ſaid) Corne and Straw, Wheat and Chaff, &c. all brought in together. Such is the Church. Such it ever hath beene, and ſuch it ever will be, as long as the 2 Pet. 2. 13. Iude 12.Moone hath her spots, the Church will have hers; even ſuch spots as Peter and Jude ſpeaketh of, perſons ſcandalous in their lives, diſgracing the Church as ſpots doe the garment wherein they are.
Reaſon. God will have it ſo.And will you ſee ſome Reaſon why it is ſo: Take it in a word. God will have it ſo, and Satan will have it ſo.
For the Tryall▪ 1 Cor. 11. 19.1. God will have it ſo, and that firſt, For the tryall of his own people. It is that which S. Paul ſaith of hereſies, There muſt be hereſies, why? That thoſe which are approved may be made manifeſt. And we may ſay the ſame of Hereticks and ſcandalous perſons, There muſt be ſuch in the Church, (I ſpeake it as the Apoſtle, de Facto) that thoſe which are foreign, approved of God, may be made manifeſt, more manifeſt to the world.
2. And ſecondly God doth it, (permits it) as for For the benefit of his people.the tryall, ſo for the good and benefit of his own people. Even as the Husbandman ſometimes ſuffers the Corne to lye in the Chaffe, that it may keepe the better. And ſuch uſe God ſometimes makes of hypocrites, of wicked and ungodly men, whom hee ſuffers to have a Name, and a Roome in his Church, he maketh uſe of them for the good and benefit of his own people: ofttimes uſing them as Conduit pipes, conveying many outward bleſſings and benefits to his Church through their hands, tending to the outward preſervation of it.
Satanwill have it ſo.Thus God will have it ſo. And ſecondly Satan will have it ſo. That E…viou… man in the Goſpell, which ſoweth Tares in the field, he alſo caſteth Chaffe into the floore. Mat. 13. 25.Which he doth through the inadver…ancie of thoſe which ſhould watch this floore, I meane thoſe which have, or ſhould have the overſight and government of the Church; Hereby ſeeking to poyſon the Church, by throwing in corruptions into it: corruptions in Doctrine, corruptions in Worſhip, corruptions in Manners; ſo to make a mixture, which he doth in oppoſition unto that God, who being himſelfe a pure and ſimple Eſſence, is moſt delighted in purity and ſimplicity. Put theſe together, and you ſee a firſt reſpect wherein the viſible Church of Chriſt is compared to a floore. A floore for mixture.
Secondly, A floore, Becauſe here is the ſame Huſbandry uſed that is in the Barne-floore. Here is threſhing, here is fanning, here is winnowing. All theſe ſhall we The Church a floore, for the Husbandry uſed in it.find no where more frequent, more ordinary then in the Church; as if the Church were the proper element for every of theſe. The Church is Chriſts threſhing place. O my threſhing▪] his fanning place, his winnowing place. No where ſhall we find the flaile, Iſa. 21. 10.the fanne, the ſive, more bu… then here. The Worlds flayle, Gods fanne, the Devils ſive; the flayle of Perfecution, the fanne of Affliction, the ſive of Tentation, no where ſo buſie as in the Church. Well may the Church in all theſe reſpects, be called a floore. But I will confine my ſelfe to the Text.
Here is the fanne at worke. What fanne? why that fanne, which is in the hand of Chriſt, the fanne of the Here the fanne of the Word at worke.word. This fanne is walking, and working in this floore, and not without ſome efficacie and power. What ever the Husbandmans fanne doth in his Barne-floore, that doth this fanne in the Church, which is the proper place for this fanne to ſtirre and move in; and in that reſpect againe, fitly called a floore. Here it is where Chriſt ſtandeth with the fanne in his hand, working upon his corne, his Elect, ſevering them from the chaffe of ſinnefull corruption, dreſſing them, that they may be pure corne, fit to be laid up in his heavenly garner.
The Church is a floore. And in the ſecond place Chriſts floore. The viſible Church is Chriſts floore. His, firſt, by The Church Chriſts floore.Guift. Secondly, His, by Purchaſe.
1. His by Guift: Guift from God his Father, who By Donation.hath indeed given unto him the whole world. Aske of mee, and I ſhall give thee the Heathen for thine Inheritance, Pſalm. 2. 8.and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy Poſſeſſion.] All the Kingdomes of the earth are put into the hands of Jeſus Chriſt, as Lord paramonnt over them all. Even Heathens and Infidels, which know him not, which never heard of his Name, yet they are under his governement; But the Church after a more ſpeciall ver. 6.manner, as being his peculiar Seigni…rie. I have ſ…t my King upon my holy hill of Sion.] In the Church, Chriſt hath a more peculiar intereſt; The Church it ſelfe, and all the members of it being given to him by God his Father: I, all the members of the viſible Ioſh. 17. 12.Church, they are alſo given unto Chriſt. Of all that thou haſt given me I have loſt none, ſave the Sonne of Perdition.] All the Apoſtles; I, Judas amongſt the reſt, though a ſon of perdition, loſt in Gods decree, and marked out for hell, yet given unto Chriſt to follow him in an outward profeſſion. And thus are all the members of the viſible Church; even all that profeſſe the Name of Chriſt, they are given unto Chriſt. And conſequently the Church is His, his floore, His by Donation.
And ſecondly, His by Purchaſe. What his Father By Purchaſe. … Sam. 24.gave him, he alſo bought and purchaſed. Even as David purchaſed the Threſhing-floore of Araunah the Jebuſite, that he might offer a Sacrifice upon it. Thus Chriſt hath purchaſed this floore, his Church; not that he might offer Sacrifice upon it, but that he might offer it up as a Sacrifice unto God his Father. Take heede unto your ſelves, and to the flock of God: whereof the Holy Act. 20. 18.Ghoſt hath made you overſeers, to feede the Church of God which he hath purchaſed with his own blood: The Church purchaſed with the blood of Chriſt. True it is, (if we ſpeake properly,) this purchaſe is peculiar unto Gods elect, his Church inviſible, for whoſe ſake Chriſt dyed: But for their ſakes, (from whom the Church taketh the denomination, as being the better and moſt conſiderable part of it) it is attributed to the whole Church, even to the Church viſible. It is his floore by purchaſe.
Yet further in the third and fourth place, It is his floore in reſpect of his preſence, his providence: His preſence in it, his providence over it.
In regard of his preſence in it, Ruth. 3. 7.His preſence in it, which is continuall. The Story telleth us of Boaz, that he went downe to his floore and lodged there, lying downe at the end of the heape of Corne. Even …o is Chriſt ever preſent in his Church. There he lyeth downe, there he lodgeth. [Shew me, O thou Cant▪ 1. 6.whom my ſoule loveth, where thou feedeſt, where thou lyeſt downe at noone;] It is the Spouſes ſpeech to her welbeloved; to which his anſwer followes. [If thou ver. 7.knowest not O thou faireſt among women, get thee forth by the ſteps of the flock, and feede thy Kids by the Tents of the Shepheards.] Would we know where Chriſt feedeth, lodgeth, where he manifeſteth his preſence chiefely and principally upon earth; It is in his flock, by the Tents of the Shepheards; In his Church, in the midſt of his Ordinances, Chriſt is ever preſent in this floore, manifeſting his preſence in it.
And fourthly, Exerciſing his providence over it. His providence, firſt in watching, then in governing.Providence over it, in Watching the Corne.
1. Watching in and over this floore. To this end, Boaz lay downe in his floore, at the end of the heape of corne, to watch it, leaſt it ſhould be ſtroyed, or ſtolne, or purloyned away. To this end is Chriſt preſent in his Church, his floore, viz. to watch his corne in it; to defend his people againſt enemies without, or enemies within: to defend his Church againſt the open hoſtility of bloody tyrants and perſecutors, Beasts which would ſtroy this corne; as alſo againſt the ſecret devices of cunning ſeducers, Theeves that would ſt…ale Mat. 24. 24.away his corne, deceiving the very Elect if it were poſſible. To this end he watcheth in this floore; watcheth, and that, not as Boaz did in his, lying downe Pſal. 121. 4.and ſleeping there. No, The watchman of Iſrael neither ſlumbereth nor ſleepeth. He exerciſeth a ſpeciall providence Ordering the buſineſſe in it.in watching over this floore.
2. And ſecondly, In ruling and governing it, ordering all the buſineſſes in it. Even as the Huſbandman ordereth all the buſineſſe in his own floore, giving direction to his ſervants, for threſhing, fanning, &c. So hath Chriſt the ordering of this floore. Not an Ordinance in his Church, but is of his ordering and appointing. He it is that ruleth the whole buſineſſe of his Church, both for ſubſtance, and materiall circumſtances; preſcribing Lawes to his Church, governing it, which he doth by his word.
Put theſe together, and you ſee the doctrinall part of this firſt Branch of the Text, opened and illuſtrated. I ſee, I muſt wade no further into it at preſent. What uſe ſhall we make of this which hath been ſpoken?
Ʋſe 1. Anabaptiſts con…uted.As briefely as I may. Firſt, Is the Church of Chriſt a floore in reſpect of mixture? Here, (ſwimming with the ſtreame of Expoſitors,) I might take a juſt occ… ſion to fall upon that Anabaptiſticall errour wherever it is found, which affirmes and maintaines the true viſible Church, to conſiſt only of true believers, ſuch as are good. A doctrine charged upon us by our Adverſaries of Rhemes, in their Gloſſe upon the Text; but with what truth, let the joint conſent of all the writers Vid F…lk and …rtvvright, ſuper Text.of our profeſſion teſtifie, all which with one vote have cenſured, and condemned the Tenet, upon all occaſions averring and maintaining the viſible Church of Chriſt to be a mixed company, mingled of good and bad, believers, hypocrites, &c. Such a company the Church here is. As for thoſe who ſeeke for any other Church▪ here upon earth, they ſeeke for that which they ſhall never find. Mundam in mundo immundo Eccleſiam, (ſaith Aretius.) A pure Church in an impure world. Thoſe which will joyne themſelves to no Church but ſuch an one, they muſt, (as the Apoſtle ſaith,) goe out of the world for it. But I will not ſpend 1 Cor. 5. 10.time in confuting of this Errour, which I preſume there is none here preſent that will dare to owne. To come nearer.
Ʋſe 2. Be not offended at mixtures in the Church amongſt us.In the ſecond place. Is the Church of Chriſt a floore in reſpect of mixture? why then let not any be ſcandalized, or offended at what ever mixtures, either are, or are ſuppoſed to be in the Church or Churches of God amongſt us. Mixtures happily there may be; mixtures there are; we grant it. Poſſible ſome corruptions cleaving to ſome of the Ordinances; However corrupt men mingling themſelves with the people of God, not only coming with them into the houſe of God, but ſi…ing downe with them …t his Table, having communion with them in the moſt ſacred ordinances of God. A ſad mixture, I pleade not for it. B…t what? ſhall we hence inferre a nulliti… of the Church? No true Church becauſe o… theſe mixtures? Surely the very Barne-floore will cry out againſt this inference. There we ſee wheate and chaffe lying upon the ſame heape, and who wonders at it … Doe we mee…e with a li…e mixture in the Church or Churches of God, be not …andalized, be not o…ded at it▪ I… i… that (I nonceive) which the Apoſtle … aimes and drives at in the place fore▪named, a Tim. 2. to take off that ſcandall which any might take at ſcandalous Apo…at…, perſons openly wicked in the Church.
Mixtures not pleaded for▪Here let me not be miſtaken (a thing which we are very … to in poin… of the nature.) It is far from my purpoſe to patronize what ever mint…res in the Church of God, to plead either for Admiſſion or Toleration of perſons openly prophane and ſeandalous; their Admiſſion into the Church, their Toleration in the Church: Much leſſe for the promiſcuous reſorting of all ſorts of perſons to the Lords Table, without any regard had to their q…alific…tions or converſations. An errour I confeſſe, which, till it may be redreſſed, I ſhall mourne over; wiſhing that all this 1 Cor. 5. 7.Leaven were purged out▪ and this floore of Chriſt amongſt us throughly purged from the chaffe and droſſe of what ever corruption is yet remaining in it. But in the meane time, though I plead not for mixtures, yet But the Church.let me plead for the Church, that Church whereof God hath made me a member and a Minister, which all the mixtures that are in it, cannot Ʋnchurch, make to be no Church; or yet warrant a ſeparation from.
The Church of the Jewes, at this time, when the Baptiſt preached to them, it was (I ſuppoſe) in as corrupted, nay a far more corrupted ſtate then the Church of England at this day is, or ever yet was ſince the firſt Reformation of it. How was that floore all covered with chaffe? How many foule corruptions had even overſpread the face of that Church? Humane Inventions, and Traditions being brought in, even to the thruſting out of the Ordinances of God. Ceremonies eating out the heart, the power and ſubſtance of Religion. Thoſe which ſate in Moſes his chaire, as vile as could be imagined: A generation of vipers. Such were their Mat. 23. 16. ver. 3. Ioh. 11. 49. Hoſe. 4. 9.teachers and Church-governours, Blind guides, having a corrupt and unlawfull entrance into their calling, and demeaning themſelves as corruptly in it; and, no queſtion, like Prieſts, like people. The ſtate of that Church moſt corrupt; little elſe but chaffe to be ſeene in that floore; yet for all that, a floore ſtill; So the Baptiſt here calleth it, telling them that Chriſt would purge that floore of his. Purge it, not preſently leave it, caſt it off, or elſe breake it up, (as ſome hot ſpirits would doe at this day; who becauſe of the chaffe that is in it, would preſently be breaking up the floores; For ſome ſuppoſed corruptions in the Church, preſently unchurch it; a matter of a higher nature then many in this laſt age have taken it to be. Not ſo) but purge it, purge it, So will Chriſt deale with his floore, hee will throughly purge his floore.
Object. The Church of Engl…n… a true Church.True may ſome ſay: If it were a floore of Chriſt, then it ought not to be broken up; if a true Church, then purging would ſerve the turne. But ſuch is not the Church of England, ſuch are not the Churches in England. And why not? why they faile in conſtitution, which is a fundamentall errour. They are not rightly conſtituted. And why not? Becauſe the members of them were not rightly gathered, nor yet knit and joyned together in the formality of a Church Covenant. Even as if one ſhould reaſon after this manner; It is the ſame man, though in other cloathes; the ſame argument though in different expreſſions. The Corne was not brought in at the right doore, or the floore is not a boarded floore; or at leaſt the boards were not joynted and faſtened together, not right layed at the firſt; but either it is a Clay floore, or elſe the boards are layed looſe and warping; therefore it is no floore, no true floore. The abſurdity of the one will ſufficiently diſcover the weakeneſſe and inconſequence of the other.
Queſt. Anſw. A … Church how known.But how then ſhall we know a true Church if we ſee it? A. Why even as we may doe a true floore, I will not goe out of the Text for a demonſtration. Where the fanne is ordinarily at worke, there is the floore; and where Chriſts fanne is ordinarily at worke, there is his floore, his Church; What this fanne is, I have told you already▪ the fanne of the Word, the word preached. This is the fanne which the Baptiſt here principally ſpeaketh of, the fanne of the word, which is in the hand of Chriſt, both in reſpect of liberty and efficacie (as I have ſhewen you.) Now where this fanne is ordinarily at worke, where the word is ordinarily preached and diſpenſed in the publick miniſtery of it, eſpecially if it be with efficacie and power, certainely there Chriſt hath a Floore, a Church. Now this I think will not be denied, but that this fanne hath been at worke in the Churches of Chriſt amongſt us, and that with ſuch efficacie and power, as no where more. Strange, that any ſhould queſtion whether Chriſt have a floore, a Church amongſt us or no.
Object.But it may be ſaid, the Fanne may worke out of the floore, ſometimes in other corners of the Barne, and ſometimes abroad in the open field. And thus (ſay our adverſaries of the Seperation,) the word may be, and often is preached, where there is no true Church. Paul preached Acts 17. 16.the word to the ſcoffing Athenians (ſay they) who yet were no true Church.
Anſw. The ordinary and ſetle ſpreaching of the Word a note of a true Church.To this Evaſion I have inſinuated an anſwer already, in that I ſaid, not the Preaching, but the ordinary Preaching of the word, is an effentiall marke and note of a true Church. The word may be preached two wayes. Either Occaſionally, or Ordinarily in a ſetled way. Now, in the former way it may be preached to Heathens and Infidels, where there is no more but the Paſſive Capacity of a Church. It is the latter of theſe that we conclude to be an evidence of a true Church, viz. the ſetled preaching of the word amongſt a people that profeſſe ſubjection to it. Where the fanne is conſtantly at worke, day after day, and weeke after weeke, who queſtions but there is a floore? Where the word is preached in a fetled way, day after day, weeke after weeke, yeare after yeare, to a people profeſſing ſubjection and obedience, and not without power and efficacy, (eſpecially being attended and accompanied with the S…ales of the Covenant, the Sacraments, for ſubſtance rightly adminiſtred) ſurely it cannot be denied but that there is a Church, a true Church. And this is it we ſay for the Church of England, or Churches in England, (for I am not curious or ſcrup…lous about the word.) In this floore Chriſts fanne hath beene ſtirring, and that lively; his Goſpell hath beene preached, and that powerfully, ſucce…ſefully▪ and that for more then a whole age together. How much Corne is now layed up in Gods Garner, which this Fanne hath dreſſed in this Floore? How many bleſſed ſoules now triumphing in Heaven, which were here gained and brought home unto Chriſt, by the miniſtery of the word in this Church? And ſhall we yet queſtion, whether it be a true floore or no, upon a bare ſuppoſall that the Corne was not brought in at the right doone, or that the boards were not layed right at the firſt? whether a true Church or no, becauſe of ſome ſuppoſed failings in the firſt conſtitution? The Argument happily is diſpleaſing to ſome of you. Let me tell you, it is not pleaſing to my ſelfe. Had I not met with it ſo full, that I could not baulke it without manifeſt injury to the Text, and to ſleighting of the generall current of Expoſitors writing upon it, (whoſe company I ſhall ever make much of,) I would not have fallen with it at preſent.
Ʋſe 3. Comfort, Chriſt will have an eye to this his Floore.A word or two more (to ſweeten your pallates) and I have done. Is the Church Chriſts floore? here is Comfort to the Church, and to all that wiſh well to it. The Church being his floore, he will have an eye to it. So will a faithfull ſervant have to his Maſters floore, he will have an eye to it, that the Corne ſhall not be either ſtollen or ftroyed. Such a faithfull ſervant will Chriſt approve himſelfe unto God his Father. Moſes was Heb. 3. 2.faithfull in all Gods Houſe, and Chriſt will be faithfull in his Floore, in looking to his Corne, that it be not ſtroyed. Threſhed, fanned, winnowed it may be, but stroyed it ſhall not be. Not a Graine of Wheate ſhall miſcarry in this Floore. Expreſſe and emphaticall is that of the Prophet Amos, in the place fore-named. I will ſift the houſe of Iſrael amongst all Nations, like as Corne Amos 9. 9.is ſifted in a five, yet ſhall not the leaſt graine fall upon the earth.] Marke it, Gods Corne may be ſifted, winnowed, but not a graine of it ſhall fall to the earth; If Wheate, it ſhall not be stroyed: Why? Chriſt will have an eye to this floore, to his Church: not any true member of it Ioh. 6. 39.ſhall periſh or miſcarry. Of all that his Father hath given him he will looſe nothing.
Ʋſe. Exhortation, Let Chriſt have the ordering of it.A word of Exhortation, and but a word. Is the Church Chriſts floore, let him have the ordering of it, and of all buſineſſes in it. This priviledge we will allow the Huſbandman, to order the buſineſſe in his own floore. Let Chriſt doe as much in his Church, in ordering all the publick Ordinances in it. And who but he ſhould doe it? It being his floore, over which he hath an abſolute Soveraignty. So much for this time.