They may, to a superficial observer, appear like solid grain :
but they will not bear a scrutiny. Examine their repentance :
it has no depth in it : they have never known what a broken
and contrite spirit means. Examine their faith : it has nothing
beyond a bare assent to certain truths : they have never fled
to Christ, as the manslayer to a city of refuge : they have
never been cut off from their old stock, and been grafted into
Christ, as scions; and been made to live by him, as branches
of the living vine: such " a life of faith on the Son of God"
is altogether unknown to them. Examine their obedience too:
it goes to externals only; whilst the heart, instead of being
given to him, is set upon the things of time and sense. In a
word, they may " have the form of godliness; but they have
not the power :" they may " have a name to live ; but they are
really dead."]
In this world, however, they lie in one promiscuous mass —
[After that the corn is threshed, it lies on the floor, mixed together in one indiscriminate heap. Thus, in the house of God, persons of every character are assembled : nor is any man such a discerner of spirits, as that he can separate the evil from the good. The two are united in the same works of charity and beneficence ; yea, and compose the members of the same family: they even join frequently in the same religious society; and sit down together, like Judas with the eleven, at the same supper of the Lord. This we are taught by the Lord Jesus Christ to expect, as long as we continue in the world : " the tares and the wheat grow together in the field;" nor is it in the power of man to separate them.]
But the Lord Jesus Christ, in the day of judgment, will discriminate infalhbly between them —
[The husbandman, by the simple process of winnowing the corn, makes the wished-for separation. Thus, at the last day, the Lord Jesus Christ will " purge his floor ;" yea, already is the fan in his hand, prepared for the work : and so perfect will the operation be, that not a single grain of wheat will be found among the chaff'; nor the smallest atom of chaff* be left among the wheat. The least and weakest of God's people are infallibly distinguished by him here ; as it is said, " I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted with a sieve : yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earths" And shall not the same care be taken by the Judge of quick and dead hereafter? On the other hand, "nothing that is unclean, or that defileth, shall enter
» Amos ix. 9.