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A18212
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The hidden treasure opened in tvvo sermons preached by Zachary Catlin minister of Gods word at Thurstone in Suffolke: upon Matthevv 13. 44.
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Catlin, Zachary.
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1633
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STC 4839; ESTC S102089
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30,901
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have glory now to become the Subject of Jesus Christ submit to the gracious regiment and scepter of his Word and Spirit Rom. 14.8 live to God not to thy selfe by faith and not by sense rule over thy lusts that would rule over thee 2. Cor 5 7. be a little King in thine owne bosome If thou art risen with Christ and ascended with Christ Phil. 3.20 thy heart and conversation is in Heaven and no question but thou shalt at the day of thy Death enter into the Kingdome of Heaven Nay happy soule take this for thy comfort thou hast an Heaven vpon earth The faithfull have eternall life already thou hast taken possession of it already Beleeve not me beleeve the holy Scriptures This is life eternall to know aright thee and him whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ Ioh. 17.2 Ioh 3.36 He that beleeveth in the Sonne hath everlasting life He hath that life begun in his soule that never shall be put out againe and by the lively fruits of faith this life may be knowne as Saint Iohn saith By this we know that we are translated from death to life 1 Ioh. 3.14 because we love the brethren a point of vnspeakable comfort to the child of God if it be well weighed Vse 2 But as for those that are slaves to sinne and Satan drudges to the world Enemies of Christ hope for heaven in vaine rebels against Christ enemies of his gracious government that say with those in the 19. of Luke ver 14 Noturnus hunc regnare We will not have this man to reigne over vs that will have their wills and fight for their lusts alas they have no grace in them have neither ability to doe good duties nor make conscience of doing them Let all such know in vaine they expect at their Death to enter into Heaven Indeed they bow their knee to Christ and call him King but in the meane season they put into his hand a Scepter of Reed and so mocke him and yet they looke when they dye to be caught up into Heaven in a whirlwind with Elias 2. Kin. 2.11 1. Cor. 4.20 But be not deceived God is not mocked The Kingdome of God is not in word but in power saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 4.20 And againe 1. Cor. 6 9. Simile The uncleane and unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdome of God For as the Heathens so placed the two Temples of Vertue and Honour that no man could enter into that of Honour but first he must passe thorough the other of Vertue In like manner the Lord hath so placed these two parts and degrees of the Kingdome of Heaven that no man can possibly enter into that of glory but first he must passe thorough this of grace And this shall suffice for the first circumstance by which this Purchase is set foorth unto us and that is the NAME or title The Kingdome of Heaven The second followes and that is the value The Kingdome of Heaven is like vnto a TREASVRE The second circumstance But what is a Treasure Thesaurus saith Musculus est copia facultatum bonorum ad omnem eventum jam parata The value It is like a Treasure What a Treasure is A Treasure is the abundance of riches laid up in store for all assayes Thesaurus constat de Raris pretiosis durabilibus saith Hugo It consists of things rare not common pretious not vile durable not of small continuance In a word it is a great masse of silver gold jewels pretious stones great for quantity rich and excellent for quality containing much in a little ready for all occasions laid up as we say for a rainy day and therefore is peculiar to Kings and Princes Now Grace is a Treasure saith our Saviour Doct. yea saith Salomon The merchandize of wisedome that is of Grace is better then of Silver and the Gaine thereof then of fine Gold Grace is a Treasure Pro. 3.14 15. She is more pretious then Rubyes and all Desireable things are not to be compared to her Take triall in one or two graces A meeke and a quiet Spirit in the Hidden man of the heart is a better ornament to a woman saith Saint Peter then all outward adorning plaiting of haire wearing of gold or putting on of apparell for it is in the sight of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of great price and value 1. Pet. 3.4 1. Pet. 3.4 when a woman meekely submits her selfe unto her Husband as her head for the ordinance of Gods sake this one grace is worth all the outward ornaments and abiliments in the world See it in another grace The Trial of your Faith that is Bifeild your Faith which is tryed and approved is much more precious then gold that perisheth 1. Pet. 1.7 saith S. Pet. Loe Faith is precious as gold as tried gold yea more yea much more pretious thē tried gold for gold perisheth V. 8. but faith saveth Faith unites the soule to Christ Col. 2.3 Deus est summum bonum fons omnis boni in whom are hid the Treasures of divine wisedome and knowledge Col. 2.3 and by Christ it unites vs to the Father the holy Ghost it makes God the chief good and fountaine of all good to be our God and portion As for Glory that is a Treasure indeed a Treasure laid up in Heaven Glory is a Treasure also there is perfit Holinesse perfit Happinesse Aderit omne bonum aberit omne malum There is the presence of all good and the absence of all evill Augustin There is no sinne no sorrow no want no annoyance no feare of change there is more then eye hath seene 1. Cor. 2.9 eare hath heard of or mans narrow heart can comprehend In a word it is a Treasure that cannot be valued that cannot be wasted Vse 1 Is it thus Beloved that the Kingdome of Heaven is a Treasure let this set an edge upon that Exhortation of our Saviour Seeke Gods Kingdome first Mat. 6.33 Mat. 6.33 Seeke ye first the Kingdome of God and his righteousnesse Let it move us to set our first and best affections and endeavours on grace and glory We covet riches we covet Treasures Loe the onely true riches Quis nisi mentis inop◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luke 16.11 Mat. 6.19 Pro. 10.2.11.4 and heavenly Treasure Treasure on earth cannot be secured from the Canker from the Theefe saith our Saviour but these are durable The Treasures of wicked men profit nothing neyther doe Riches availe in the day of wrath but Righteousnesse delivereth from Death Once cre ye die one graine of Faith though as small as a graine of mustard-seed will be worth all the perishing gold of India For the end of your Faith is the salvation of your soules saith Saint Peter 1. Pet. 1.8 Take therefore to heart the Exhortation of our Saviour Lay not up for your selves Treasures upon
Earth c. but lay up for your selves Treasures in Heaven c. that is make sure in this life of grace for glory Vse 2 Secondly this lets us see the rich estate of a true beleever a sound Christian a faithfull subject of Christs Kingdome he hath a rich Treasure See the rich estate of Christs Subiect He hath faith more precious then gold he hath Christ the perfect Gaine he hath God the fountaine of all good to be his God bound to him by fatherly love by promise by covenant by oath never to faile him nor forsake him Heb. 3.5 but to provide for him in all his wants to protect him in all dangers and finally to possesse him of a Crowne and Kingdome incorruptible Poore Christians why envy ye the outward prosperity of carnall worldlings who have their portion in this Life Psa 17.14 whose belly God hath filled with his hidden Treasures saith the Psalmist meaning the hidden treasures of the earth which they are stripped of at death like that rich foole Luke 12. Why droope your spirits under outward want and pressures David could say The Lord is my portion I have goodly heritage Psal 16.5 6. Ps 23.1 Ps 16.5 6. And againe The Lord is my shepheard I shall want nothing And Paul could say of himselfe and Timothy We are as poore yet making many rich 2. Cor. 6.10 as having nothing yet possessing all things How can he want any thing which tends to true happinesse that is at the Well head All things are possible to him that beleeveth Mar. 9.23 saith our Saviour Et habet omnia qui habet habentem omnia saith a Father he hath all things at least in some sort that hath him that hath all things Saint Paul sweetly All things are yours 1 Cor. 3.22 23. and you Christs and Christ Gods God and Christ are yours and so all things are yours things present and things to come O beloved comfort your selves and one another with these words Know your happinesse you are Lord Treasurers you have the Kingdome of heaven the true Treasure The third circumstance The Place But to come to the third circumstance of the place or situation Quae regio in terris In what place is this Treasure to be found our Saviour tels vs In a Field In a Field And that Field is no other but the Word of God which is compared to a greene pasture Psal 23.2 but in this place to a Field and that for three Reasons Ager est Euangelium saith Calvia Praedicatio verbâ— saith Musc Scriptura Ierom. Hugo Reason 1 First Propter laborem for the labour In gardens and orchards is pleasure and recreation in houses and chambers is eating and drinking and amorous delights but Ager ab agendo in the field is labour and toyle Ibi foditur ibi aratur ibi sudatur there men dig and plow and harrow and sweat and toyle Ager est Scriptura saith Hugo quia agendo laborando acquiritur scientia For the labor the word is compared to a field because by labour and industry we attaine to heavenly knowledge Reason 2 Secondly Propter sterilitatem for the barrennesse of it in the conceit of carnall men For as Treasures saith Iunius are not found in rich pastures and From the barrennes and plainnes fruitfull medowes but in sterile and barren grounds so heavenly wisedome is not found in the wittie devices of Poets or subtill and profound Speculations of Philosophers but in the plaine and simple word of God Reason 3 Thirdly Propter amplitudinem for the largenesse I have seene an end of all perfection saith David For the largenesse Ps 119.96 but thy Law is exceeding broad I have seene the bounds of Townes of Kingdomes and of Countryes yea the Sea and Land hath bounds and borders but thy Word is exceeding broad For it teacheth the whole Will of God and the whole duty of Man the beginning of All things in the Creation and the end of All in the dissolution of the world the right knowledge both of God and of our selves of the mercy of God reaching as high as the highest heavens of his justice reaching downe to the nethermost Hell In a word 2 Tim. 3 17.1◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is able to make the man of God perfit and absolute and to make us all wise unto salvation Aâ—oro plenitudinem Scripturae saith Tertullian I admire the largenesse and fulnesse of the Scripture Let twenty able Divines preach on this one verse yet twenty more may come after them and twenty more after them and still find a living veine of exquisite matter A large field indeed wherein long-lived Methuselah may walke all his life and yet not find out the dimensions of this field O the depth of the wisedome and knowledge of God! Rom. 11.33 how unsearchable are his judgements and his wayes past finding out Doctr. Note we then that in the Field of the Word the Treasure of Gods Kingdome is to be found By his Word the Lord is wont to worke Grace in vs and so to prepare us unto Glory For this cause is the Word in Scriptures called The Word of Grace Act. 20.32 The Word of eternall Life Ioh. 6.68 Act. 20.32 Jo. 60.68 and that we may see the correspondency of Scripture with Scripture The word of the Kingdome Mat. 13.19 in 19. verse of this chapter because in it the Kingdome is to be found Is 53.1 1. Cor. 1.18 In a word It is the Arme of God Is 53.1 and the power of God to salvation 1. Cor 1 18. Vse O then Beloved that all we that desire to finde this Treasure would delight to walk in this Field Other bookes and other words have their use but as David said of Golias sword so say I of the Word of God 1. Sam. 21.9 There is none to that for it hath pleased God by the foolishnesse of preaching to save them that beleeve 1. Cor. 1.21 As for them that despise the Word of God read and preached and delight to walke elsewhere as in wanton play-bookes poeticall fables philosophicall discourses well compiled Historyes politicke Lawes or Statutes eyther they seeke not grace and glory or at least they seeke them where they are not like to finde them and like the Sadducees They erre not knowing the Scriptures Mat. 22.29 But beloved remember ye that saying of David that the man is blessed that hath not walked in the way of sinners Ps 1.1 2. but his delight is in the Law of the Lord and therein doth he meditate day and night I say to you as Booz to Ruth Ruth 2.8 Goe not to gleane in an other field neyther goe from hence but abide ye here Walke in this field more or lesse every day especially on the Sabbath day and meditate herein day and night When many revolted and went backe from Christ he turning to his Disciples