jQuery empty but exclude a certain element

Question

I try to empty() a div but exclude a specific selector.

What I've tried so far:

$('.modal').find('.close').nextAll().empty();
$('.modal').find(':not(.close)').empty();
$('.modal').not('.close').empty();
$('.modal:not(.close)').empty();

HTML:

<div class="modal">
  <a href="#" class="close">Close</a>
  ...I've the need to be removed...
</div>

Answer 1

Could be done like this:

http://fiddle.jshell.net/KLh4E/11/

$(".modal").contents().filter(function(){
    return !$(this).is('.close');
}).remove();