4. They are consumed in trials, as dross consumeth in the fining and trying of metals. Solid metal endureth, but the dross is con- sumed ; which holdeth true of wicked men in two respects : — (1.) Their seeming goodness is lost, and the difference is seen between them and those that are sincere. Sound and searching judgments discover hypocrites, as the lightness of a building is seen in a storm : Mat. vii. 27, ' When the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, the house fell, and great was the fall of it.' So God, in the metaphor of the text, is often said to melt and try his people, Jer. ix. 7, to discover the dross from pure gold. Hirelings Avill soon prove changelings, when God trietli them to purpose. (2.) Their imaginary felicity vanished into smoke, they perish, the meanest as well as the greatest. Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross ; they are consumed in the fire of God's wrath, and de- stroyed : Ezek. xxii. 20, ' As they gather silver, and brass, and iron, and lead, and tin, into the midst of the furnace, to blow the fire upon it, to melt it; so will I gather you in mine anger and in my fury, and I will leave you there, and melt you.' But of this by and by.
Use. Let us sec what we are, real members of Christ's mystical body, yea or no. The wicked of the earth are as dross, and the godly are the finest sort of metals. To move you to consider what you are : —
1. Ordinarly the visible church is so mixed, that the generality thereof is unsound : Zech. xiii. 8, ' Two parts thereof shall be cut off and die ; and I will bring the third part through the fire, and refine them as silver is refined, and try them as gold is tried.' There is but one part in three sound, and it were well the proportion were sound every where ; and therefore we liad need to consider who sliall be saved and found faithful : Luke xiii. 23, 24, ' And one said unto him,
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Lord, pxe there few that shall be saved ? and lie said unto them. Strive to enter in at the strait gate ; for many shall seek to enter, and shall not be able.' We bad need be the more earnest, because the most miscarry.
2. The trials will be searching; we must pass through the fire, and then what will become of the dross ? Rev. iii. 10, ' An hour of temp- tation shall come upon all the Avorld, to tiy them that dwell upon earth.' And, alas ! are we able to brook the fiery trial ? 1 Peter iv. 10. Few professors will be able to abide it, when we are to part with the sweetest of our earthly comforts, yea, and it may be life itself, which maketh us capable to enjoy them. It is no strange thing that it should happen to us, 1 Peter iv. 12 ; it is as useful as violent fitorms at sea or tempestuous weather in winter ; when God is upon reckoning with his people, such things may be expected.
3. The best of us will be found but dross if Grod would deal with us in extremity ; so much of corruption cleaveth to us, and so many hidden lusts do we cherish and indulge, that would soon become a root of apostasy, if God did not hold a hand of grace over us. But God will not be extreme : Isa. xlviii. 10, 'Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver ; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction ; ' that is, not so thoroughly. Silver is not refined till all the dross be consumed and wrought out of it ; and when should we see good day if God should so refine us ?
4. They are not reckoned to dross, but metal, that walk answerable to their profession and obligations to God, as becometh his peculiar people to do ; they are not satisfied with common mercies. A man may have the world at will, and yet be a castaway ; they must have something peculiar and distinguishing: Ps. cxix. 132, 'Look upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do to them that love thy name ; ' things that can never be given in anger. They do not rest in common grace: Heb. vi. 9, 'But we hope better things of you, and things that do accompany salvation ; ' those good moods in hypocrites and temporaries. Nor content themselves with a common conversation : 1 Cor. iii. 3, ' Are ye not carnal, and walk as men ? ' 1 Peter iv. 4, ' Wherein they think it strange that you run not with them into the same excess of riot ; ' Mat. v. 46, ' If you love them that love you, what reward have ye ? do not even the publicans the same ? ' You should do something rare and singular, not in an ordinary loose rate.
Thirdly, That it is God's business in heaven to put away the wicked as dross, to sever them from the purer metal.