The fining pot [is] for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
Ver. 3. The fining pot is for silver, &c.] God also hath his "fire in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem"; Isa 31:9 his conflatories and his crucibles wherein he will refine his, "as silver is refined, and try them as gold is tried." Zec 13:9 Not as if he knew them not, till he had tried them; for he made them, and therefore cannot but know them; as artificers know the several parts and properties of their works. Sed tentat ut sciat, id est, ut scire nos faciat, saith Augustine. He therefore tries us, that he may make us know what is in us, what dross, what pure metal; and that all may see that we are such as, for a need, can "glorify him in the very fires," Isa 24:15 "that the trial of our faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though tried in the fire, may be found to praise, and honour, and glory." 1Pe 1:7