God's Winepress

Nehemiah Rogers on Isaiah 5.2:

Doct. God hath his winepress, for the pressing, pruning, and discovering of his vineyard's fruit.

The truth of this I will endeavour to prove by an induction of particulars.

First, The word preached is an excellent winepress for this end. This discovers what is in a man; and therefore it is compared to an axe put to the root of the tree, Mat. iii. 10, because it discovers who are sound and unsound, as the axe doth. For albeit by the eye it is not so soon perceived what trees are good and what naught, for many a one there may be which is straight without, having a goodly top, and fair rind, and yet rotten and hollow within, yet when the axe is brought and laid to the root, and it felled, then what was before unknown is manifestly seen. In the same respect it is compared to a fan in Christ's hand, where he doth purge his floor, ver. 12. Chaff and corn, good and bad, lie together upon a heap a while; but when the gospel comes, it being preached with power and a good conscience, it blows so mightily, as with the gust thereof hypocrites are scattered, and the faithfulness of such as with honest and good hearts embrace it is revealed and made known. After the same manner is the word compared unto fire, Jer. xxiii. 29, which hath a double effect; to waste stubble and dross, and to purify that which is refinable as gold and silver. It inflames some men's hearts with a zealous love to God and his glory, and setteth others on fire to persecute and impugn it. And to a sword with two edges, Heb. iv. 12, which cutteth both ways, and divides between the joints and sinews, and the marrow and the bones. It doth anatomise the hearts of men, and discover the soundness or unsoundness of them. And to light, Eph. v. 13, which maketh all things clear and manifest, which before, lying in the dark, could not be discerned nor discovered. Thus we see the nature of the word, which, like a winepress, will make known what is within, laying open the poison that lurked in the wicked, and the grace and goodness that lay hid in the bosom of the godly.

Secondly, Crosses and afflictions, wherewith God exerciseth his church, are as God's winepress. By these he doth discover what is in his people that profess his name. Thus Moses said he led his people Israel forty years in the wilderness, 'for to humble them, and prove them, to know,' that is to make known, 'what was in their hearts,' Deut. viii. 2. And so God, speaking of the remainder of his people, whom he did not utterly cut off in judgment, saith thus: 'I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried,' Zech. xii. 9. And St Peter, comforting the faithful in their afflictions, speaketh after this manner: 'Dearly beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is amongst you to prove you, as though some strange thing were come unto you,' &c., 1 Pet. iv. 12, 13. And St James, after the same manner, calleth afflictions, trials, and temptations, chap. i. 3, because they serve to try us what is in us, and make it known. And, indeed, afflictions are blabs and tell-tales, one saith well -- they will not conceal the truth, but make it known; they press out of the godly that sap and juice of grace which is within them; yea, the more they are pressed, the more the liquor of grace distilleth from them, the more abundant they are in prayer, confession, humiliation, &c. But from the wicked they can press nothing but noisome, stinking putrefaction; all they send forth in the day of trouble is railing, murmuring, and impatience.