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By the fanne in the hand of Christ, the most Expositors under∣stand the power of judgement that God the Father hath commit∣ted to him, For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judge∣ment to the Sonne, Joh. 5. 22. And thus some take it for an argu∣ment against security to all: and others, against Apostasie to those that have been baptized with the holy Ghost: and that as the Bap∣tist in the former words hath told what Christ would doe, at his first comming and appearance, so in these, what hee will doe at his second: but I rather adhere to the interpretation of them that by the Fanne of Christ, understand the Gospel, and his preaching and publication of the same; and that upon these reasons:
First, because unlesse it bee thus taken, wee 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 preach∣ing of Christ, and his power in the Gospel, then upon any other thing that concerned him in the worke of redemption, and this be∣ing in severall respects more regardable then his baptizing with the holy Ghost, it cannot bee imagined that John should omit to beare witnesse of him for such a thing, nay it had been to neglect to beare witnesse of him for the chiefe thing of all.
Secondly, because the Gospel or the word of God is the proper touchstone that tryeth and differenceth betwixt gold and drosse, truth and falsehood, pure and vile: and this is the instrument where∣with hee confoundeth every strong hold that exalteth it selfe against himselfe, Isa. 11. 4. 2 Thess. 2. 8. Revel. 1. 16. and 2 16. And,
Thirdly, because John speaketh of Christ as hee should presently shew himselfe among them, as it is apparent in the verse preceding, and not as hee should shew himselfe at the end of the world.