§. And with fire.
From Isa. 4. 4. The Lord shall wash the filthiness of the Daughter of Zion, and purge the blood of Jerusalem out of the middest thereof, by the spirit of Judgment, and by the spirit of burning. It is easily to be resolved what John meaneth here by fire, seeing our Saviour himself hath applied the other part of his speech to the coming down of the Ho∣ly Ghost on Pentecost day, when we know he appeared in the visible shape of Tongues of fire, Act. 2. Now Christs baptizing in this manner with fire, was, 1. That the gi∣ving of the Holy Ghost might fully answer the giving of the Law, both for time and manner, for both were given at Pentecost, and both in fire. 2. To express the various operations of the Holy Ghost, which are fitly resembled and represented by the effects of fire: As 1. To inlighten with knowledge; 2. To inflame with zeal; 3. To burn up corruption; 4. To purifie the nature; 5. To turn the man to its own qualification of sanctity, as fire maketh all things that it seiseth like it self. 3. To strike terror in the hearts of men, lest they should despise the Gospel, and to win reverence to the Holy Ghost, for fear of the fire. 4. Hereby was clearly and fully shewed, the life and signi∣ficancy of the sacrifices under the Law, upon whom there came a fire from Heaven: in∣timating that they are lively sacrifices, and accepted, who are inflamed by the Holy Ghost from above.
And thus the two elements that have and shall destroy the world, water and fire, hath God been pleased to use for the benefit and salvation of his chosen.
Vers. 17. Whose fan is in his hand.
By the fan in the hand of Christ, the most Expositors understand the power of judge∣ment that God the Father hath committed to him, For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgement to the Son, Joh. 5. 22. And thus some take it for an argument against security to all: and others, against Apostasie to those that have been baptized with the Holy Ghost: and that as the Baptist in the former words hath told what Christ would do, at his first coming and appearance, so in these, what he will do at his second: but I rather adhere to the interpretation of them that by the Fan of Christ, under∣stand the Gospel, and his preaching and publication of the same; and that upon these reasons:
First, Because unless it be thus taken, we have not here any testimony at all given by the Baptist to the people, concerning that part of the Office of Christ. Now that being a matter of so great importance, as that the Prophets do more insist upon the preaching of Christ, and his power in the Gospel, then upon any other thing that concerned him in the work of Redemption, and this being in several respects more regardable then his baptizing with the Holy Ghost, it cannot be imagined that John should omit to bear witness of him for such a thing, nay it had been to neglect to bear witness of him for the chief thing of all.
Secondly, Because the Gospel or the Word of God is the proper touchstone that trieth and differenceth betwixt gold and dross, truth and falshood, pure and vile: and this is the instrument wherewith he confoundeth every strong hold that exalteth it self against himself, Isa. 11. 4. 2 Thes. 2. 8. Revel. 1. 16. & 2. 16. And,
Thirdly, Because John speaketh of Christ as he should presently shew himself among them, as it is apparent in the verse preceding, and not as he should shew himself at the end of the world.