vs to trash but not to Treasure to hell but not to heauen to the flesh but not to the spirit and so from God to the Diuell And being come now to the place and hauing found the Booke that will rcueale this Heauenly Treasure what must wee doe Search the Scriptures saith our Sauiour Christ to shew that there is some hidden Trasure in it more then is seene outwardly or more then they make shew of and so there is And therefore the Word is preferred before Gold albeit most men had rather haue Gold then the Word but Daâ—id could say that of Gods Word which he could not doe of Gold nor all the world besides and that was this Except thy word had beene my comfort in my Affliction I had perished And Salomon auoucheth that man to bee blessed that findeth wisedome and him happy that getteth Vnderstanding and doubteth not to yeeld this for his reason That the marchandise thereof is better then the Marchandise of Siluer and the gaine thereof is better then Golde It is more precious saith he then Pearles and all things that thou canst desire are not to be compared vnto her Length of dayes is in her right hand and in her left hand riches and glory Her pathes are the pathes of pleasure and all her wayes prosperitie Shee is a Tree of Life to them that lay hold on her and therefore blessed are they that receiue her But to see these are required very heauenly and spirituall eyes euen the eyes of a liuely â—aith for carnall sence cannot comprehend them and worldly wisedome cannot conceiue them yea many laugh at vs because we seeke for life in the death of Christ grace in his curse righteousnesse in his condemnation and comfort in his holy Gospell Verely say they so floweth cold water out of a burning Furnace and so springeth light out of darknesse and hereupon they conclude that none are more foolish then wee which hope for Life at a dead mans hand which aske forgiuenesse at a condemned person which fetch the grace of God out of one that was accursed and flye for refuge to the Crosse as to the onely author of euerlasting Saluation which are all the Treasures that the word of God doth offer vs and therewithall laughing at our simplicitie they think themselues very sharp-witted but alas they want the chiefest thing in true wisedome namely the feeling of Conscience and the â—eare of God-Let vs but enter deeply into our selues and so soone as wee acknowledge our owne wretchednesse the way for vs vnto Christ and for Christ vnto vs will bee by and by paued and made lâ—uell for as to the attaining of humane Sciences is requisite a fine and well furnished wit so to this Heauenly Philosophie is required a subdued minde for what tast can there bee where is lothing As many then as will not willinglie bee deceiued and perish let them learne to begin with this lâ—sson to know that they haue to doe with God to whom they must giue accompt let them set before their eyes that iudgement seat that makes euen the Angels to tremble let them hearken to their owne conscience bearing witnesse against them let them not harden their harts against the pricks of sinne and then they shall find nothing in the death of Christ to bee ashamed of And let not their astonishment bee a stumbling blocke to vs but rather let vs bee carryed from the humane nature of Christ to the glory of his Godhead which may turne all curious questions into admiration And let vs goe from the death of Christ to his glorious resurrection which may wipe away all slaunder of his Crosse Let vs passe from the weakenesse of the flesh to the power of the Spirit which may swallow vp all foolish thoughts And let vs still pray with holy Daâ—id that the Lord would open the eyes of our Vnderstanding that wee may see the wondrous things of his word for not euery one that readeth the booke of God doth come to the Treasure for it is like a Nut with a double shell both which must bee broken before the kernell can bee found or like a Chest with many locks and euery one must be opened before the Treasure can bee met withall To which end the Lord hath appointed Preaching and Preachers and endued them with the tongues of the learned and all to open the hidden Treasures of the Gospell of Christ. To which must bee ioyned a diligent eare a minde to meditate and a sober tongue to confer with thy Pastor and familie and an humble Spirit to bee enformed and reformed by the counsell of God These meanes are called digging and searching laborious exercises indeed to shew what paines and diligence must bee vsed in searching after the heauenly Treasure My Sonne saith Salomon if thou wilt receiue my words and hide my commaundement within thee and cause thine eares to hearken vnto Wisedome and incline thine heart vnto Vnderstanding if thou callest after Knowledge and cryest for Vnderstanding if thou seekest for her as for Siluer and searchest for her as for Treasures then shalt thou vnderstand the feare of the Lord and finde the knowledge of God But if wee bee negligent backward and indifferent or luke-warme then will it fare with vs as with Laodicea wee shall thinke wee are rich and increased with goods and haue neede of nothing when indeed wee are wretched and miserable and poore and blind and naked And alas so it is with too too many and therefore when you come into their houses if the booke of God bee there you shall finde it couered ouer with much rubbill and drosse as Cards and Tables merry Tales with sorry or sorrowfull tailes profane and scurrilous discourses and paultry pamphlets and such like stuffe which domineere ouer the booke of God as the Iewes did ouer Christs in Pilates hall all which should bee swept out of doores or sacrificed in the fire and as for such humorists as do nothing but feede mens humours with idlenesse and ply them with the pleasures of sinne to the losse of their precious time which should bee spent in seeking of the heauenly Treasure say vnto them as Christ did vnto Peter when hee solicited him against the will of God vnto carnall courses Turne thee behind me Sathan thou art an offence vnto mee and sauourest not the things of God The next thing to bee considered is the time of gathering and laying vp this heauenly Treasure for there is a time for all things saith the holy Ghost All in time saith the World hereafter when old age comes or when sicknesse comes or at the houre of death It is not good to bee too forward in Religion or to meddle too soone with matters of God and Godlinesse for a yong man may prooue an old Diuell But heare what God saith thou foolish man Remember thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth
recouery of that right which man hath to all the Creatures the which Adam lost to himselfe all his posteritie 1. Cor. 3. 22. Whether it be the world or life or death or things present or things to come all are yours and you Christs The right way of knowing this benefit is this when God giueth meat drinck c. we must not barely consider them as blessings of God for that very Heathen men can doe which know not Christ but as proceeding from the loue of God in Christ. And so often as wee vse the Creatures this point must come to minde for blessings conceiued a part from Christ are misconceiued Whatsoeuer they are in themselues they are no blessings to vs but in and by Christs Merits for this cause it is not sufficient generally to know Christ to be our Redeemer but wee must learne to see him and acknowledge him in euery particular gift blessing of God If men when they behold their meates and drincks could by faith behold in them the merit of Christs passion there would not bee so much gluttony and drunkennes as there is If the like in their houses and lands their would not bee so much fraud and deceipt inâ—ustice and oppression Also noble birth without new birth is but vanitie The like is to bee saide of phisicke sleepe health libertie recreations and very breathing it self Therefore it is meete that with our earthly recreation wee ioyne spirituall mediâ—ation of the death of Christ then would there not bee so many vnlawfull sports and delights and so much abuse of lawfull Recreations as there is and this wee ought to do for Christ is all in all things Col. 3. 11. The third benefit of Reconciliation is that all crosses and afflictions cease to bee curses and punishments to them that are in Christ and are onely corrections trials because Christs death hath taken away all and euery part of the curse of the law In all crosses Christ is to bee knowne on this manner iudge of them as chastisements or tryals proceeding not from a reuenging Iudge but from the hand of a louing father and therefore they must be taken in and with the merit of Christ as meanes sent of God to keepe vs from being dampned with the wicked world if otherwise wee take them as curses and punishments And hence it followeth that Subiection to the crosse or hand of God in all crosses is a marke of the true church of Christ. The fourth benefit of Reconciliation is that Death is properly no death but a rest or sleep Death therefore is to bee considered not as it is set forth in the Law but as it is altred by the death of Christ and when death commeth wee must looke vpon it through Christs death as through a glasse and thus it will appeare to bee but a passing from this life to euerlasting life The second benefit of Christ is the benefit of his Vertue The Vertue of Christ is the power of his Godhead whereby hee createth new haâ—ts in all that beleeue in him This Veâ—tue is double First the power of his death Secondly the power of his resurrection by the first hee freed himselfe from the punishment and imputation of our sins By the second hee raised himselfe from Death to Life The benefit of Christs diuine power is great to all the faithfull for the same power which freed him from the punishment and imputation of our sins setueth also to mortifie and crucifie the corruptions of our wils mindes and affections And the same which raised him from death to life serueth also to raise those that belong to Christ first from their sinnes in this life secondly from the graue in the day of iudgement The knowledge of this double Vertue must not bee onely in the braine 〈◊〉 experimentall in the heart that is to feele the power of Christs death killing sinne in them that wee might bee able to say with Paul Wee liâ—e not but Christ liueth in vs. This was one of the most excellent things which pauâ— sought for Phâ— 3. 10. I have counted al things but dung that I may know him the vertue of his resurrection The way to know it is to cast off the old man which is corrupt through deceiuâ—able lusts Ephe. 4. 22. The third benefite of Christ is the benefite of his example for Christ is to be knowen not onely as a redeemer but also as a patterne of all good â—ueties to which we ought to conforme our liues Christ is to bee followed of vs in the practise of euery good duety that may concerne vs without exception 〈…〉 Our conformitie with Christ is first in the framing of our inward life secondly in the practise of outward and morrall dueties Conformitie in spirituall life is not by doing that which Christ did vpon the crosse and afterward but a doing of the like by a certaine kinde of imitation and it hath foure parts First a spirituall Oblation for as hee by prayer resigned himselfe vp to bee a sacrifice to the iustice of his father So we in prayer must resigne our selues wholy to the Seruice of God Secondly a spirituall crucifying of our selues for as hee bare his owne Crosse so must wee denie our selues and take vp all crosses that come euery day Againe as hee crucified his flesh so must wee crucifie the body of sinne Gal. 5. 24. They which are Christs haue crucified the flesh with the lusts and affections He with a speare was wounded we with the sword of the spirit must wound sinne to death and labour by experience to feele the very death of it and bury it Thirdly a spirituall Resurrection for as he came out of his graue so wee must come out of our sinnes as out of a most loathsome graue to liue to God This worke cannot bee done at once but by degrees as God shall giue grace Fourthly a spirituall ascention by a continuall eleuation of the heart and minde to Christ sitting at the right hand of God If yee be risen with Christ seeke those things which are aboue Col. 2. Conformitie in morall Dueties is generally to bee holy as he is specially to bee like vnto him in foure Vertues that is in Faith Loue Meeknesse and Humilitie In Faith for as he when he apprehended the wrath of God wholy stayed himselfe vpon the ayde and good pleasure of his father euen to the last so must wee depend wholy on Gods mercy in Christ as with both hands in peace and trouble in life and pang of death And not let goe our hold no though wee feele our selues as it were descend to Hell Secondly in Loue for hee loued his enimies more then himselfe Ephes. 5. 2. Walk in Loue euen as Christ loued vs and hath giuen himselfe for vs c. The like Loue ought wee to shew by doing seruice to all men in the compasse of our callings and by being all vnto all that wee might
before the euill dayes come vpon thee and the dayes whereof thou shalt say I haue no pleasure And Esai cryeth out vnto thee saying Seeke the Lord while hee may be found and call vpon him while hee is nigh at hand to shew vs that the Lord will not alwayes bee found much lesse when wee thinke good neyther will the dayes of olde age and sicknesse bee like the dayes of youth and health for then shall wee feele our selues vnfit and vntoward to seek after these things in two regards first in regard of naturall infirmities and bodily paines which will hold thy mind occupied about meanes of ease as Phisicke and such like Secondly in regard of that strong hand which sin through long custome will beare ouer thy soule euen to the hardning of thy heart for custome of sinne breedeth hardnesse of heart and hardnesse of heart begetteth impenitencie as the Apostle sheweth in the second to the Romanes But the speciall time of gathering and laying vp this heauenly Treasure is the holy Sabboth and other times of holy assemblies and generally whensoeuer thou art called forth to heare the Word preached vnto thee or hast any occasion to exercise thy Faith in the workes of Charitie and pietie Then comes the Angell to stirre the Poole step in then if thou wilt doe thy selfe good for afterward will bee too late Whosoeuer carelessely neglecteth the Sabbaoth of the Lord and presumptiously giueth God the slip in the holy Assemblies as many carâ—all Christians doe who mistrusting God with their estate thinke it no sin to spend the Sabbaoth day in their worldly affaires or vaine exercises well may they with Esau get a sup of pottage to stay their hungry mawes withall if God doe not crosse their enterprises and curse their labours as oftentimes hee doth but surely their heauenly Birth-right is forâ—aite by the bargain and but bankroupts they proue in the heauenly Treasure of a Christian They heape vp but it is nothing but wrath against the day of wrath The Sabboth day is especially appointed for gathering of heauenly treasures Remember therefore that thou keepe it holy as the Lord comminandeth pâ—etend not a necessitie of breaking the 〈◊〉 rest where 〈◊〉 is apparant as the manner of some is when 〈◊〉 a faire Sabboth day they must work for feare of Raine but consider thou whose heart is buryed vnder thy loafe and wilt needs bee rich by deceiuing the Lord of his right consider I say hath not the Lord prouided for thee when it hath rained and darest thou not trust him when it is faire did he euer deceiue any that trusted him with their estate while they walked reuerently in his feare and carefully kept his commandements what indignitie then and dishonor is this that thou offrest vnto the most high in that thou darest not trust him with thy body whiles thou seekest for the good of thy Soule And how doest thou thinke to answere this geare when thy conscience shall bee summoned to answere therevnto before that Iudgement Seat which maketh the very Angels and Celestiall Powers to tremble Oh consider of these things betimes and the Lord 〈◊〉 thy drowsie soule And aboue all beware of sorting thy selfe with profane company which will cause thee to loose thy time and dull the edge of the Spirit decay thy graces and make thee to treasure vp sinne against the day of vengeance for one sinne admitted with loue and liking letteth out many graces and maketh hauock of all thy vertues Now the manner how to lay vp this heauenly Treasure commeth next to be remembred and that is done three waies First by relieuing of the Lord Iesus Christ in his members which stand in neede of help Sell that you haâ—e ouerplus saith Christ or that you can spâ—are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and giue to the poore Make you bags which waxe not old Luke 12. 33. to shew that when a man giueth almes to the poore hee doth but take it out of one purse and put it into another out of bags that waxe old and put it into bags that waxe not old and in so doing saith Christ thou shalt finde treasure in heauen in so doing I say but not for so doing as Papists teach If thou wilt be perfect saith Christ to the rich yong man goe and sell that thou hast and giue to the poore and what you doe to them I take it as done vnto my selfe for saith our Sauiour Christ when they my poore members were in prison I was in prison when they were hungry naked and cold c. I was hungry naked and cold and therfore what you did to them you did to mee To the like effect speaketh the Prophet Esai If saith hee thou deale thy bread to the hungry and bring the poore that wandreth into thy house and couer the naked when thou seest him then shall thy light breake forth as the morning and thine health shall grow speedely thy righteousnesse shall goe before thee and the glory of the Lord shal embrace thee These bee sweet encouragements and necessarie because poore people are vnable to recompence the kindnesse of those that bestow any thing vpon them and as they are vnable so for the most part they are very ingratefull and their vnthankfulnesse doth not a little discourage many who would otherwise bee more beneficiall then they are And in these respects men had rather venture their goods vpon any other thing then vpon the poore For say they quod ingrato feceris perijt It is cast away which is giuen to vnthankfull persons but howsoeuer it bee that many of the poorer sort bee both wretchedly vnthankfull and miserably vnable to repay thee yet if thou giuest them for Christ his sake in whose name commonly they aske it thou shalt finde it againe in heauen But it may bee thou wilt be content to giue part of thy ouerplus to the poore so thou maist reserue the other part to bestow on thy pleasure but beware thou deceiue not thy selfe for all thy ouerplus is for the poore when thy familie is prouided for thy debts paid and all Dueties that thou owest to the Church and Common-wealth thy Prince and Countrie are deâ—â—ayed that which remaineth is for the poore to play for that is to cast lots vpon the Garment of Christ Ne fundis parcendum est sayeth Calâ—sin Euen of a mans ground and Inheritance a Christian man must deuide some to poore Schollers some to scholes of learning some to the Ministry of the Gospel some to maimed souldiers some to poore hospitals in all to Christ he that giueth but a cup of cold water to the poore members of christ hauing no more to giue shall not loose his reward The second way to lay vp Treasure in heauen is by suffring constantly and patiently for Christ when thou art thereunto lawfully called and required and that two wayes First thou must suffer the word