Book I!. C H R I S T A R E F I N E R. 449 CHRIST A REFINER. ·p.,. be is like a Refiner's Fire, &c. He }hall fit as a Refiner and a Purifier of Silver, &c. Mal. iii. 2, 3· THIS Similitude is taken from Refiners, who in Cruciples melt their Metal, and feparate the drolfy Parts from that which is pure : So Chri.ft by a Divine Heat and Warmth refines and purifies the Graces he bellows on Believers, confuming the wicked and vicious Parts, which are e!fewhere called Drofs. This Refining is called the fiery <frial, 1 Cor. iii. 13. &c. upon which Place Chemnitius fays, this fiery Trial is exercifed either by outward Troubles, or by Tempta~ions of Confcience, or by a more clear Manifeflation of Truth by the Word, which leads Men from the Darknefs of Error and Ignorance to the Light, which purges out thofe Dregs that agree not with the pure Graces of the Spirit. • SIMILE. I. A Refiner is one that tries and refines Metals, whether Silver or Gold, &c. II. Gold, or Silver, before a Refiner's Fire refine it, as it is taken out of the Earth, is full of drolfy Matter. III. A Refiner to purge and pu– rify Gold, that fo he may make it very pure, hath his Furnace, and ufes Fire. IV. A Refiner knows before Gold be tried and refined in the Fire, it is not for his Ufe, it is not pliable. - V. A Refiner melts the Gold, and makes it very foft, and there– by makes it fit for his Purpofe. PARALLEL. I. JESUS Chrift tries and refines his People, who are campared to Gold ; and he not only tries them, but alfo their Graces, Lam. iv. 2. II. The Hearts of God's People before Chrifl: the fpiritua! Refiner, refines and purges them, are full of Corruption, Sin, and Filthinefs. Na– turally Men and Women are very foul and drolfy, Job xxv. 4· Matt. xv. 19. Ill. Jefus Chrift, that he may purge anJ pu– rify his People, puts them into a Furnace of Af– fliction. As the Fining-Potfor Silver and the Fur– nace for Gold, fo the L ord tries the Heart, Prov. xvii. 3. I will refine thee, &c. I have chofen thee in the Furnace of Alf/i&lion, Ifa. xlviii. 10. IV. J efus Chrilt finds that unci! the Hearts of his People be purified and refined by him, which he doth feveral ways, they are not yieldin"' and pliable in his Hand, they will not fubmit t~ his Will, nor be fit for his Ufe. V. J efus Chrifl mdts and foftens his People by AffiiCl:ion, and by the Spirit. 'Ihus faith the L ord of Hofls, Behold, I will melt them, a11d try them; for what }hould I do elfe for the Daughter of nry People, Jer. ix. 7· As much as if he l11ou!d fay, What way e!fe can I ufe to bring them to be pliable, that I may fit them for my Purpofe I God, faith Job, maketh my Heart foft, Job xxiii. r6. VI. A Refiner to haften, and the better to accornplilh his Work; makes the Fire more hot, or adds to the H eat thereof. VI. Jefus Chrift, if he fee that a frnall Fire, and eafy AffiiCl:ions will not refine and purify the Soul of a Believer, adds greater AffiiB:ions, puts them inro a very hot Fire, g reat Trials, according to his own Wifdom, and good Pleafure of his Will. If need be, you are in heavinefs, through manifold <femf'lations: <fhat the 'Irial of yr;ur Faith, being much more precious than Gold, &c. 1 Pet. t. 7· 'Ihink it not flrange concerning the fiery 'Irial, which is to tryyoH, as though fomeflrange 'Ihing happe11ed unto you, 1 Pet. iv. 12. VII. A Refiner fepa rates the Drofs from the Gold, and makes it much more fine and pure than it was before, and thereby makes it very valuable. A little refined Gold is much fet by; and prizeq above that which is coarfe and drolfy. · VII. Jefus Chrift by refining his People, fepa– rates their Drofs from them, feparates Pride, Paf1ion, Lukewarmnets, Wor!dly-mindednefs, &c. ·and thereby makes them and their Graces exceed– ing valuable. Tried Faith, tried Patience, tried Love is highly efteemed ; it is far beyond tried Gold. This is the Fruit of all, the taking away ofyour Sin. I will make a Man moreprecious than 5 Y Gold,
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