here is winnowing too God winnoweth 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 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 Hebraiâ—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 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 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 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 a new roofe and a new floore to this house of his But to let this passe not being the marke I aime at 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 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 Vniversall 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 through severall Countries viz. through Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia and Bythinia as the 1. vers. 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 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 Floore there is a mixture Straw as well as Corne Chaffe as well as Wheate Tarâ—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 unâ—leanâ— thing enter No chaffe no drosse 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 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 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 {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the House of the Great God the Father of this Family of a great and large 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 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 lieâ—ntiousnesse and proâ—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 {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} 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 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 â—s it ought to be then that of the Apostle in the words fâ—re going takes place Let every one that calleth on the Name of the Lord depart 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 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 wherein there are fishes of all sorts good and bad The 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 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 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 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 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 {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} approved of God may be made manifest more manifest to the world 2. And secondly God doth it permits it as for 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 oft-times using them as Conduit pipes conveying many outward blessings and benefits to his Church through their hands tending to the outward preservation of it Thus God will have it so And secondly Satan will have it so That Eâ—viouâ— man in the Gospell which soweth Tares in the field he also casteth Chaffe into the floore Which he doth through the inadverâ—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
CHURCH REFORMATION Tenderly handled IN FOVRE SERMONS Preached at the weekly Lecture in the Parish Church of Great Yarmouth By John Brinsley MAT. 3. 12. Whose fanne is in his hand and he will throughly purge his Floore IT is the first day of Iune Anno Domini 1643. Ordered by the Committee of the House of Commons in PARLIAMENT concerning Printing That this Booke Intituled Church-Reformation be printed JOHN WHITE LONDON Printed by G. M. for Iohn Burroughes at the Signe of the Golden-Dragon neare the Inner-Temple Gate in Fleet-street M. DC XLIII TO ALL THE SONNES OF PEACE In the Church of ENGLAND Especially those in the Towne of Great Yarmouth Grace and Peace WHen I entred upon the seventh Verse of this Chapter for there I first brake ground I cannot say that it was my purpose to have followed the Baptist to the end of his Sermon But Providence leading mee along it hath now brought me to the Borders the middle clause of the lâ—â— Verse of it Which when I fell in hand with I can say that it was farre from my thoughts to make my Meditations thereon any further publick then as the Pulpit rendered them But finding the Subject seasonable for the times I have beene induced to comply with the desires of some and approbations of others in sending them abroad as Noah once did his Dove out of the Arke when the Earth was covered with waters What entertainement they shall meete with or what returne they will make as I know not so neither am I overthoughtfull It is enough for me that I have endeavoured herein to please God and not men otherwise then in him and for him My desires I confesse have beene and are that this my service if possible might be acceptable to all However being a Service for Ierusalem I doubt not but it shall be so to you and all those who pray for the peace thereof whose I am and ever shall be Onely in the Lord John Brinsley 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 mercie He will gather his wheat into his Garner Towards Reprobates and Vnbeleevers 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 H â— Floore To tell you what a Floore is were needlesse wheâ—her the House-Floore or the Barne-Floore Both well enough knowns We have here to deale with the latter of these {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} aream the Barn-Floore viz the place where the Husbâ—nâ—â—an useth to Thresh and Fanne and Winnow his Corne I buâ— 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 world Such is a Floore whether the House or Barne-floore it is the lowest part of the roome the Pavement such is this inâ—eriour world wherein wee live the Pavement of Gods house or Barne Adhasit Pavâ—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 Rooâ—e Earth is the Floore a Floore for scite and scituation Secondly and principally a Floore and Christs Floore for the use that he puts it to which is analogically by way of resemblanâ—e the â—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 Palaestrâ— est iâ— quâ Christus suos exerâ—â—t saith Aretius It is the place wherein Christ exerciseth his Church and people with Affliction Tribulation In the world ye shall have Tribulation saith our Saviour to his Discipleâ— {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Pressuram habebitiâ— Ye shall have Pressurâ—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 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 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 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 oft-times with his owne hand sometimes leaving them to Satan and his Instruments to be threshed by them by the exercises of cruelâ—ie upon them They have threshed 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 the fanne the Crosse whereby God often scattereth his owne people to and fro upon the earth I will fanne them with a fanne in or through the gates of the land Vpon this I have insisted largely already in handling the former part of the verse 3. And thirdly
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 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 the fanne the sive more buâ—â—â— then here The Worlds flayle Gods fanne the Devils sive the flayle of persecution 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 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 Guift Secondly His by Purchase 1. His by Guift Guift from God his Father who hath indeed given unto him the whole world Aske of mee and I shall give thee the Heathen for thine Inheritance 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 manner as being his peculiar Seigniâ—rie I have sâ—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 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 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 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 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 â—o is Christ ever present in his Church There he lyeth downe there he lodgeth Shew me O thou 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 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 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 stâ—ale 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 and sleeping there No The watchman of Israel neither slumbereth nor sleepeth He exerciseth a speciall providence 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 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 occâ—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 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 time in confuting of this Errour which I presume there is none here present that will dare to owne To come nearer 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 siâ—â—ing downe with them â—t his Table having communion with them in the most sacred ordinances of God A sad mixture I pleade not for it Bâ—t what shall we hence inferre a nullitiâ— of the Church No true Church because oâ— 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 â— Doe we meeâ—e with a liâ—e mixture in the Church or Churches of God be not â—â—andalized be not oâ—â—â—â—ded at it Iâ— iâ— 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 Apoâ—â—atâ—â— persons openly wicked in the Church Here let me not be mistaken a thing which we are very 〈◊〉 to in poinâ—â— of the nature It is far from my purpose to patronize what ever mintâ—res in the Church of God to plead either for Admission or Toleration of persons openly prophane and scandalous 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 qâ—alificâ—tions or conversations An errour I confesse which till it may be redressed I shall mourne over wishing that all this 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 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 Vnchurch 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 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 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 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
as despicable an instrument rather to be scorned then feared and therewith should drive out all those no petty chap men Drovers and Bankers notwithstanding all their priviledges and protections which they had from the Masters of the Temple the chiefe-Priests c. as so many sheepe before him without opposition without contradiction what a worke Well may we say of it as Paul doth of the resurrection of Christ from the dead Hereby he declared himselfe to be the Sonne of God and that {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} with power mightily Whether there were at that time any Radij claritatis Rayes and beames of splendour and glory shining in and stâ—eaming from the face and countenance of our blessed Saviour striking an awfull dread and terrour into the beholders or no I leave it as I find it an uncertaine tradition or conjecture which may as safely or more safely be rejected then beleeved Non creditur quia non legitur But this we may say and make it good here were Radij divinitatis rayes and beames of Divinity a divine power put forth and manifested in this act The like we may say of this great worke the worke of Church-Reformation To purge the Church and that throughly from all corrupt persons and corruptions What a work To purge it from all corruptions You heard in the Chapter read even now what a stir what a tumult there was at Ephesus when once the great Goddesse Diana was but supposed to be touched What a dust it raised The whole City was in a confusion Now how many Diana's are there to be found in the Christian world Personall-Diana's and Church-Diana's All these must be not only touched but pulled downe and purged out And what hand but a mighty an almighty hand shall be able to effect this even the hand of Jesus Christ Againe To purge and cast out all corrupt men out of the Church what a worke a great worke first to discover them to find them out when once discovered a greater worke to cast them out And who but Christ can doe either of these Who but he can discover them Some so close so secret and hidden that their owne hearts doe not discover them much lesse can others Who shall doe it but he that is {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} he that knoweth and searcheth the hearts to whom all things are {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} nacked and open And who but he can cast them out being discovered That man of sinne that Antichrist of Rome long since discovered to be as the Father said of Marcian the Heretick Primogenitns Diaboli the eldest sonne of the Devill the Head of the Church malignant upon earth yet to eject to cast him out of the Temple of God where he sitteth as God what a stirre what a combustion hath it made doth it make and is yet like to make through the Christian world Tangit montes fumigabunt He toucheth the hils and they smoake Psa. 104. 32. Those seven Hils of Rome being touched how do they smoake How do they burn as if they would set all the world on fire Never did Aetna or Vesâ—vins those flaming Mountaines so terrible to the neighbouring Territories cast out such thunderings and lightenings such vollies of smoake and flames as those seven hils have done and at this day do to the terrour and amazement of all the Christian world Tantâ— molis â—rit. So great a worke is it like to be to disinthronize that same {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} that great Antagonist of Jesus Christ that Lord Paramount that opposeth against and exalteth himselfe above all that is called God To bring downe that Antichrist and to cast him out of the Temple the Church of God his usurped possession which he hath held so long a time vi armis by force and might to cast out him with all his complices and adherents it is a mighty worke such a worke as who but Jesus Christ can be able to effect And he will doe it and that when the time commeth with great facility and case He shall consuâ—â—s him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him with the brightnesse of his comming that is suddenly easily consume abolish him and together with him all other enemies of his Church whether open or secret A great worke I such a worke as if we had no other argument to prove it yet might we even from hence as a good authour observes upon the Text evince and demonstrate the Divinity of Jesus Christ that he is more then man truly God To purge the Church and to purge it throughly it is Opus plane divinum the worke of God and not of man So much judicious Calvin rightly observes from that fore-named place of the Prophet Isaiah Isa. 1. 25. where the Lord telleth his Church I will turne my hand upon thee and will purely purge away thy drosse c. Purgatio Ecclesiae propriâ—â— Dei opus The purging of the Church is Gods peculiar worke the worke of his owne hand I will turne my hand upon thee c. Certainly had not Christ bin more then man he could never have purged the Temple as he did And were he not truely God he could never purge this floore as it shsll be purged throughly purge it This hee can doe and this hee will doe But when will he doe it there is the third Quere It was a businesse of like nature that the Disciples were so inquisitive with our Saviour about Acts 1. viâ— When he would restore the Kingdom unto Israel If any shall make the like enquiry touching the purging of the Church when Christ will do it Let him rest contented with that satisfaction that the Text giveth him He will doe it {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} perpurgabit He will throughly purge his floore This he will doe The purging of the Church as I told you is a great worke and therefore not the worke of a day to be done at once As it was with the building of the second Temple under the Law so shall it be with the purging of the Church under the Gospell I dare not goe so farre as to make the one a Type of the other but the congruity betwixt them with the allusion of the one to the other I cannot but acknowledge and approve That Temple was not built all at once as Solomons Temple was but by degrees Such shall the repairing and purging of the Church under the Gospell be Graduall not perfected all at once Christ in the dayes of his flesh he purged the Temple more then once three severall times three severall dayes so Chemnitius notes it upon that second chapt. of John First in the beginning of his Ministery afterwards once and againe a little before the end of his life as may be collected by comparing the foure Evangelists And as he
and precise difference betwixt the precious and the vile the Chaffe and the wheate not casting out any of the one not retaining any of the other In which two things as in opening of the clause fore-going I shewed you consisteth the fidelity of a Fanner Faithfull Fanners such as may doe the worke of the Lord not negligently not deceitfully but with all their might all their strength every wayes approving themselves to their Lord and Master in doing his worke according to his owne mind and will Such Fanners beg we from the Owner of this Floore Withall imploring his direction his assistance for them that he would both guide and blesse the Fanne in their hands making their endeavours effectuall for the through purging of this Floore of his 2. Thus seeking it from God seeke we it also from men those into whose hands Jesus Christ either hath or shall put this Fanne of his These I meane to whom he hath committed a lawfull Power and Authority whether supreame viz. under himselfe or subordinate over this Floore this Church of his for the ordering of it Beg we it from them that they would set the Fanne a work using all lawfull warrantable waies and means both for the discovering and casting out of what ever remainders of Chaffe there are to be found in this Floore Thus earnestly pray we for this Reformation Which doing then In the next place Quietly wait for it A good thing so to doe in all straits and difficulties It is good saith the Church that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord This doe we in this case a case wherein the worke happily may meet with some unexpected difficulties sticking in the birth as now a long time it hath done not comming off either so easily or speedily as it may be we made account of in this case let us wait and quietly wait waiting for the Law of our God as the Prophet Isaiah saith the Iles the Gentiles should doe The Iles shall wait for his law Isa. 4â— i. e. for the Doctrine of Jesus Christ This let us of this Iland doe Christ being now as we hope about that great worke which the Prophet there speaketh of in the words immediately fore-going setting Judgment in the Earth that is as the Geneva note glosseth upon it setting all things in good order in his Church for such is Christs way sometimes to bring Order out of confusion Oâ—let us now wait for his law even for what ever it is that he shall reveale unto us out of his word to be according to his will for the ordering and regulâ—ting of this Church of his This wait we for and quietly wait for it Quietly not Precipitating Quietly not Anticipating the worke 1. Not Precipitating not overhastening of it Overâ—asty births are seldome long lived never perfect Be we conâ—ent as â—â—turall mothers are to tarry the time the appointed 〈◊〉 for this Birth which we hope the Church 〈◊〉 in her woâ—be God◠〈◊〉 I meane who aâ—â—e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 downe a time a season for all other things a time for every purpose under the Sunne times for us to observe So he hath set downe a time a time with himselfe for the effecting of this worke The Apostle writing to his Hebrewes he tels them of a {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} a time of Reformation a period untill which those {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} as he there calleth them those carnall legall ordinances and Constitutions were to continue Surely as that first so all successive Reformations under the Gospell they have all of them their times their periods set downe and appointed by God Be we contented to tarry that time not making haste He that beleeveth will not make haste so make haste as to use any unlawfull or unwarrantable wayes and meanes for the compassing of his desires and hopes So indeed did Jacob make haste thinking to go the next way to get the blessing but he had better have gone further about and have tarried Gods time for it Take heed of Precipitating the worke 2. And in the second place take heed of Anticipating it viz. by taking the Fanne out of the hand of Christ himselfe or out of their hands into which hee hath put it 1. Out of the hand of Christ himselfe This did thâ—se franticke Germane Anabaptists of the last age attempt to do Impatient to tarry Christs leisure for the through purging of his Floore they would set upon the worke to purge not the Church only but the world And how would they doe it Not by the Word but by the Sword therewith attempting for that was their professed designe to cut-off and destroy all the wicked from off the Earth Here if I listed to enter the Listes with mad-men I should not need to goe out of the Text for weapons He hath his Fanne in his hand and hee will throughly purge his Floore The through purging of the Church much more of the world is Christs owne worke and a worke which he will do but when Not here but hereafter In the meane time our Rule is and theirs should have been that direction of the Husbandmans to his servants touching the Wheat and the Tares Let them both grow together untill the harvest least whilest yee pluck up the Tares ye root out also the wheat with them But I forbeare to presse this â—oping that there is none here present or belonging to this place touched with this frenzy 2. Beware of taking the Fanne out of the hand of Jesus Christ or else out of their hands into which he hath put it There is a two-fold Government that Jesus Christ exerciseth upon earth The one inward and invisible viz. in the hearts of men the other outward and visible in his Church Now the former of these he exerciseth immediately by his Spirit the latter mediately by Instruments by men And thus he purgeth his Church here not immediately but mediately even as the Husbandman doth his Floore which he purgeth not by himself but by his servants into whose hands he puts the Fanne delegating and appointing some in every Church to be the ordinary instruments of publick Reformation Who these are I have glaunced at already take it now a little more fully and distinctly They must be publike persons Publike workes call for publike Instruments Publike persons are of two sorts Civill Ecclesiasticall Magistrates Ministers And upon their shoulders in an ordinary way doth this worke lye So it was in the building re-building of the Temple The chiefe undertakers in that worke were Zerubâ—abel and Jeshua Zerubâ—abel the chiefe-Prince with the Elders the chiefe of the people as you have it explained Ezr. 6. 14. Jeshua the chief-Priest with his Brethren the other Priests and Levites and Prophets all joyning hands in the worke The Prophets exciting and encouraging the Elders Ezr. 6. 14. The
preposterous and inordinate zeale in snatching the Fanne or Whip out of the hand of Christ which in some sense they may be said to doe who take it out of the hands of his Servants his Officers those to whom in an ordinary way he hath commited the authority and charge of purging his Floore his Temple Reforming his Church Here is the fifth Direction A sixth and last is yet behind Earnestly praying quietly waiting for this Reformation then if ever God give us to see it humbly submit to it I though it should not be every way according to our own minds agreeable to the modell which we have moulded and framed to our selves So did the Churches to the Determinations and decisions of that first Councell or Synod the Councell at Jerusalem Notwithstanding that the Councell had imposed some burdens upon them so they call them burdens not to their Consciences for such they were not but in respect of some restraint put upon their liberty by them as viz. The absteyning from meats offered to Idols from blood c. things in themselves of an indifferent nature and so lawfull for them to doe yet the Councell apprehending and conceiving them necessary necessary not simply and absolutely but respectively pro tempore for that time not in themselves in their own nature but extrinsically and accidentally necessary viz. for the preserving and maintaining of Peace and Vnitie in the Church as Calvin well explaines it it enjoynes them and the Councell enjoyning the Churches submit and that both humbly and joyfully Surely even such a submission ought Christians to yeald to the determinations of lawfull Authority in things not contrariant but agreeable to the Rules of the word either to the particular and expresse rules and directions therein conteyned or else to those generall Rules of Decencie Order Edification the three maine points of the Churches compasse according to which she is to steare her course in the ordering of all such Church affaires as are not expresly and distinctly stated and regulated in the word of which nature no question some will be found In all these God and his Church expects a humble submission from the hands of all private Christians The Law was expresse under the Law In matters of controversie which could not easily be decided the people were to repaire to the Priest and the Judge and to their Order they were to stand So you have it expressely Deut. 17. If there arise a matter too hard for thee in Judgement c. Thou shalt come to the Priests the Levites and to the Judge the Judge for the time being who was to raâ—ifie the sentence of the Priest and enquire and they shall show thee the sentence of Judgement This the Priest and the Judge were to doe Ex Offiâ—io And marke what followes Thou shalt doe according to the sentence which they shall shew thee and thou shalt observe to doe according to all that they informe thee viz. according to the sentence of the Law as you have it vers. 11. that is the Law of God which was to be their Rule Now surely however that Law being Judiciall was as touching the obligation of it Temporarie yet the equity and Moralitie of it is perpetuall In cases controversall about the Religion Worship and Service of God the people ought to make their addresses to the Priest and the Judge Ministers and Magistrates desiring and expecting their decisions their determinations and to that sentence of theirs being as I said consonant and agreeable to the Word viz. to the particular or generall Rules of it they ought quietly and humbly to submit So the Apostle presseth it in that knowne place Heb 13. Obey them thâ—â— have the Rule over you {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Ductoriâ—us Prâ—â— sitis your Leaders your Rulers be they Civill or Ecclesiasticall though he speake there chiefely of the latter And submit your selves {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Obey and Submit viz. in Believing and practising what they teach and require agreeable to the Word of God which still must be their Rule and ours Time taketh me off I must strike sayle Put we now these directions together and reduce them to practise Would we have the Floore of Jesus Christ amongst us purged and throughly-purged the Church of God blessed with a happy Reformation of what is amisse amongst us Be we thankefull for what we have Mourne over what we want Begin the worke of Reformation at home at our own Hearts Lives Families which having done then earnestly pray for quietly waitâ— for such a Reformation as may be after Gods own Heart and Mind which he shall please to tender unto us thankefully receive it humbly submit to it So doing doubt we not but God will doe his own worke in his owne time To this end it is that God the great Husbandman hath put the Fanne into the hand of this his righteous Servant the Lord Christ that he should purge his Floore And this he will doe and that faithfully throughly He will throughly purge his Floore Our hopes are that he is now about to doe it and that he will speedily doe it Whether so or no we are assured he will doe it Whether this Floore this particular Church in this Kingdome or no we have no assurance though some comfortable hopes but his Floore his Church his Church visible upon Earth he will purge washing off those spots and freckles from the face of it which doe now any wayes deforme it beautifying and adorning it with all requisite ornaments and habiliments which may make it lovely in his eyes and the eyes of his Saints so dressing and preparing it as a Bride adorned for her Husband This the Lord Jesus the Head of the Church in his own time will doe And for this let all of us waite and pray REV. 22. 20. Even so come Lord Jesus come quickly FINIS Christ floore vvhat Generally this inferiour vvorld vvhich is A floore being the pavement of Gods house Christs floore vvhere he exerciseth divers pieces of his husbandry up on his corne Iohn 10. verse last Threshing Isaiah 25. 10. Isaiah 21. 10. Amos 1. 3. Fanning Ieâ— 15. 7. Winnowing Tribulations here not to bee vvondred at Heb 4. 9 10. 1 Pet 4. 12. The floore shall be purged Rev. 21. 1. Christs floore more specially is his Church visible Aquin. ad locum The visible Church what 1 Pet. 1. 1. 1 Pet. 5. 2. The visible Church a Floore For mixture of Corne and Chaffe Rev. 21. v. last 2 Tim. 2. 10. 1 Tim. 3 15. Gal 6. 10. ver. 16. ver. 17. So it is de Facto not de Jure ver. 19. 1 King 7. 49 50. Mat 13. 47. ver. 30. Mat. 22. 10. 2 Pet. 2. 13. Iude 12. Reason God will have it so For the Tryall 1 Cor. 11. 19. For the benefit of his people Satanwill have it so Mat. 13. 25. The