of Christ which is the sword of the Spirit to hew and cut thy sinnes and bee content with patience to endure the sifting and fanning of the Gospell for except the dead and superfluous branches be cut off we can neuer bring forth fruit in Christ. Secondly wee must resolue to endure all outward crosses and losses for the euerlasting Truth of Christ for hee that will saise his life saith Christ shall loose it and he that will loose it for my sake and the Gospell shall saue it And if wee suffer with him saith S. Paul wee shall also raigne with him If wee belong to Christ wee must looke for tribulation and anguish and persecution and famine and nakednesse and perill and sword all which will try their force to see if they can seperate vs from the loue of Christ. Yea wee must looke for his sake to bee killed all the day long and to bee counted as sheepe for the slaughter But in all these things saith the holy Apostle wee are more then conquerours through him that loued us And therefore wee faint not but though our oâ—tward man perish yet th' inward man is renued daily For our light affliction which is but for a moment causeth vnto vs a farre more excellent waight of glory While wee looke not on the things which are seene but on the things which are not seene This point will bee scarce welcommed or well liked of nice and daintie professours of the Gospell which must neuer goe to Gods house but when the Sunne shineth the waies are faire and no Winde is stirring to blow vpon them and when they are there they must heare nothing but pleasing things their sinnes must not bee touched much lesse can they endure to haue the cutting knife of Gods law laid to the throat of their sinne And if all the world doth not applaud and commend their zeale and good deeds they soon are discouraged stand stone stil like the winde mill that goeth no longer then the winde bloweth no scoffe or reproach no persecution or trouble can they endure for the Truths sake what Treasure can these lay vp by their daintinesse in heauen The third way to lay vp Treasure in heauen is while thou liuest here vpon earth to grow in the powerfull and liuely knowledge of Christ crucified by a liuely apprehensiue faith to make thy selfe sure of all his benefits in comparison of whom thou oughtst with the blessed Apostle to esteeme all the world but drosse and dung Now to effect this we must consider the merite of Christ the vertue of Christ and the example of Christ and what benefit wee haue by euery one of them as that worthie man of God M. Perkins hath both learnedly heauenly declared the somme whereof I will breefly recall into thy minde Christ is to bee considered as the common Treasurie and store-house of Gods Church for God hath blessed vs with all spirituall blessings in Christ. Eph. 1. 4. And in him are all the Treasures of Knowledge Wisdome hidden Col. 2. 3. And of his fulnesseâ—wee all receiâ—e grace for grace Iohn 1. So that all the blessings of God without exception are conuayed vnto vs from the Father by Christ and so must they bee receiued and no otherwise But concerning the benefits of Christ wee are to learne further two things first what they are Secondly how or in what manner to vse them His benefits are three Merit Vertue and Example The Merit of Christ is the value of his death and passion whereby he hath obtained to vs Reconciliation And this Reconciliation hath two parts first Remission of sinnes Secondly acceptation to eternall life and both for the merit of Christ imputed This benefit must bee knowen not by conceipt nor carnal presumption but by the inward testimonie of gods Spirit To attaine to the infallible assurance of this benefite we must call to minde the promises of the Gospell touching remission of sins and the gift of eternall life to the Faithfull Secondly wee must endeuour by the assurance of Faith to apply them to our owne hearts And thirdly wee must vse often exercises of Inuocation and repentance for by our crying to God for reconciliation commeth the assuraunce thereof And if it so fall out that a man in temptation feele nothing but the furious wrath of God yet euen then against all reason and feeling hee must hold to the merit of Christ and know that God is a most louing father to them that haue a care to serue him euen at that instant when he sheweth himselfe a most fierce and terrible enimie which Iob knew right well when hee said If the Lord should kill mee yet I will trust in him From the benefite of Reconciliation proceede foure benefites First that excellent peace of God which passeth all Vnderstanding Phil. 4. And that hath sixe parts first peace with the Trinitie for being Iustified by Faith we haue peace with God Rom. 5. 1. Secondly Peace with Angles who do ascend and descend vpon the Sonne of man Iohn 1. 51. and all for the good of Gods Church For the Angels doe incampe about those that feare the Lord. Psal. 34. And like Nurses doe beare them in their armes Psal. 90. 12. that they hurt not their foot against a stone All this seruice which the Angels performe vnto the faithfull proceedes of this that the faithfull being in Christ are pertakers of his merit Thirdly peace with the Faithfull for the Wolfe shall dwell with the Lambe and the Leopard shall lye with the Kid and the Calfe and the Lyon and the fat beasts together and a little child shall lead them Esay 11. 6. Fourthly peace with a mans selfe and that is first when the Conscience washed in the bloud of Christ ceaseth to accuse a man secondly when the will and affections are obedient to the minde enlightened by the Word and Spirit of God and this is that which the Apostle meaneth when hee saith Let the peace of God rule in your hearts Col. 3. 15. Fiftly Peace with our enimies and that two wayes first in seeking Peace with all hurting none but doing good to all secondly in that God restraineth their mallice inclineth their hearts to peace Sixtly Peace with the Creatures Psal. 91. 13. Thou shalt walk vpon the Lyon and the Dragon c. And in that day saith the Lord I will make a coâ—enant for them with the wild Beasts and with the foules of the heauen with that that creepeth vpon the earth c. Hos. 2. 18 If therefore wee see God against vs our owne Conscience against vs the Angels against vs the Faithfull against vs the wicked against vs the Creatures against vs let vs examine this point of Reconciliation and if all bee with vs let vs know that it is the benefit of Christs merit The second benefit of Christs merite is
such like whatsoeuer they say in word if we respect the tenor of their liues are flat enimies of the crosse of Christ and tread his precious bloud vnder their feete So farre Perkins But if thou wilt haue the Treasures of Christ in heauen thus thou must learne to know and feele Christ crucified and the benefits of his Merit Vertue and Example and thus must thou come to the knowledge of God of thy neighbour and of thy selfe in Christ crucified euen whiles thou art here vpon earth which feeling knowledge is a sauing knowledge euen an excellent portion of heauenly Treasure imparted to the true Christian in this life and is a pledge of endlesse and infinite treasure prouided for him in the life to come and so much for the wayes and meanes of laying vp treasute in heauen which are by giuing to the poore Members of Christ by suffering patiently for the truth of Christ and by growing in the sauing knowledge of Christ crucified In laying vp Treasure after this sort we shal prooue good Alcumists An Alcumist they say can turne lead into gold or out of Lead or other mettals extract Golde which many haue practised to their vtter vndoing The Pope is the cunningest Alcumist it is thought that the world hath for hee can of a pound of Lead make an hundred pound of Gold for all his Buls and Pardons are sealed with lead but what fooles are they that turne their Gold into Lead or what calues rather that buy his Buls so deare But lay vp Treasure as hath beene shewed thee before and thou shalt turne earth into heauen corruption into incorruption Gold into godlinesse which is great gaine labour into rest sorrow into ioy pouertie into riches and thy cottage into a kingdome euen the kingdome of heauen Now followeth the reasons of Christs Commandement For where your Treasure is there will your heart bee also A Reason of great force as if hee should say for this cause chiefly you ought to lay vp your treasure in heauen that God may haue your heart which cannot bee vnlesse you lay vp your Treasure in heauen for our hearts will bee where wholy their Treasure is Here wee are taught that no man can loue the Lord with his heart that seeketh and placeth his happinesse in earthly things but onely those whose ioy and felicitie is in heauen and the heauenly graces of the Lord Iesus Christ. Worldlings make no doubt but that they may and doe serue God and loue God with their heart yea and haue as good â— hart to God as any whatsoeuer though they follow the world heare not sermons although they keepe not the Sabboth so precisely as others do which will not worke or play then though they neuer meddle with the Scriptures but bee vtterly ignorant of the wayes and will of God But Christ here sheweth that they are al deceiued by a general principle that neuer faileth Wher the treasure is there will be the hart and wher the hart is there is the Treasure of the hart wherupon it followeth that they doe wholy renounce heauen that do seeke for happinesse here below and if they set their harts vpon heauenly things it cannot be that they should esteeme of them no better or frequent them no oftner then they doe The Philosophers haue most exactly so much as the Star-light of nature would giue them leaue disputed of the happines or chiefe wel-fare of man And no meruaile for who doth not desire to bee happy and to win that hold are all mens Sences and Wits mustred and marshalled because it is the onely true treasure For where the Treasure is there will the hart be but most men doe mistake the matter while they seeke for happinesse in the flesh which is not to be found but in the spirit while they confesse that it is in God yet runne after the Diuell for it When some seeke for it in Honour Ambition is made generall of the field and doth commaund the minde while others seeke it in worldly profite Couetousnesse doth inuade the soule taking vp euery roome for worldly desires and noysome lusts which doe eat out the heart with cares and drowne men in perdition others seeking for it in carnall pleasure and sensualitie cry one to another come let vs eate and drinck and bee merry for to morrow wee shall dye and in the meane time the brute beast in that regard is more happy then such Epicures for that more freely without any shame or feare hee enioyeth the pleasure of carnall sensualitie then they doe But if we were once soundly perswaded of our happines in heauen it would bee an easie matter to tread the World vnder foote and to haue our mindes mounted vp to heauen If the loue of God bee our Treasure and through the spectacles of a liuely faith wee can read our names regestred in the booke of life and descry our happinesse to be hidden in Christ if the spirit of Adoption doth certifie our spirits that God is our Father and wee are his children and with the same certificate shall deliuer vs a discharge against sinne death and hell then will our harts feede vpon heauenly meditations and our soules hunger and thirst after righteousnesse wee will then account all but dung that wee might winne the Lord Iesus Christ. And then as the Hart brayeth for the riuers of water so will our soules long for the presence of the Lord And then the Word of God will bee the ioy of our harts and wee will desire to bee dissolued and to bee with Christ for where the Treasure is there will the hart bee also And vntill then wee shall sauour nothing but earthly vanities Therefore when S. Paul would draw the faithfull to the studie of a heauenly life he doth propound Christ vnto them in whom onely all true felicitie is to bee sought If yee bee risen with Christ saith hee set your minds on things aboue and not on things which are below as if hee should haue said it is an absurd and base thing for christians to haue their mindes grubling on the earth whose Treasure is hid in heauen and that is his reason for yee are dead saith hee and your life is hid with Christ in God Hence we may further learne in what a miserable case they are whose harts are set vpon earthly things which are subiect to Mothes and Theeues Rust and other such manifold mischiefes A cousening match it is of the diuels owne making hee is subtill and sheweth men the world and the glory of it the Court and the brauery of it Honour and the fame of it iniquitie and the profit of it sinne and the pleasure of it as it were his daughters with their dowrie On the other side wee are simple and beleeue him presently our hart is a match for them and happy hee thincks himselfe that can get one of them and to breake it off is a hard matter Their
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
reason is because hee hath now goods inough for many yeers but as he was thus dreaming of many yeeres goods and rest a voice comes and awakes him and tels him plainly that he doth vtterly mistake the matter Thou foole saith hee this night shall they fetch away thy Soule and then whose goods shall those be that thou hast gathered So is it saith Christ with him that gathereth riches to himselfe and is not rich in God This vanitie is well set out by the holy Ghost when Salomon saith there is an euill sicknesse namely â—iches reserued to the hurt of their owners and these riches perish by euill trauaile And this is also an euill sicknesse saith the man of experience that in all points as hee came so shall hee goe and what profit hath hee that he hath trauailed for the winde I haue also seene a man saith he to whom God hath giuen riches and treasures and honour and he wanteth nothing for his soule of all that he desireth but God giueth not power to eate thereof this is vanitie and vexation of spiâ—it As this vanitie is a vexation to the spirit of man so is it no lesse grieuous to the spirit of God for that contrary to the minde of our heauenly father we bestow our loue so fondly vpon that which cannot help vs. The commandement saith wee must honour our parents now amongst other things tending to the honour of our earthly parents this is not the least for a child to require the consent of his parents in bestowing of himselfe in marriage and to marrie against their mindes especially when there is reason to the contrary cannot bee but a great dishonour offred to our parents But what earthly parents haue so great interest in their children as God hath in vs what childe oweth such dutie to his earthly parents as wee owe to God If I be your father saith the Lord where is my honour as if hee had said if you depend vpon me for your prouision and looke for my blessing how is it that you set your harts vpon my creatures not vpon mee knowing that my minde is so much against such foolish bestowing of your selues as though I could not or would not fill your harts with as much ioy and gladnesse as my creatures can doe and more too Therefore saith Paul to Timothy Charge them that are rich in this world that they bee not high minded and that they trust not in vncertaine riches but in the liuing God How dangerous worldliness is to the Soule THere is no truer Nobilitie then to be a citizen of the heauenly Ierusalem sonne and heire to the most high all which is defaced and abolished if the hart lie buried in earthly things There is no sounder ioy then the ioy of the holy ghost which is a fruit of Faith is grounded on the loue of God but this cannot bee relished or tasted by him whose hart doth cleaue to this miserable bondage of worldly cares There are no such goods as the sanctifying graces of the holy ghost which onely make a man truely happy as to cleaue vnto God by faith to loue the Lord from the hart to worship him in spirit and truth and to bee wholly vnited vnto him But far is hee from these things whose hart is set vpon earthly goods At the Sermon his minde runneth after his couetousnesse and with his mouth hee maketh iests both of the doctrine and Doctor because hee liketh neither the one nor the other like the Pharises which mocked Christ when hee spake against couetousnesse because themselues were couetous When the Sermon is done they forget al because their harts wer choked with the thorny cares of the world if they fall to reporting of the Sermon it is with additions and detractions mistakings and falsify cations most strange to heare as if the Preacher had ben mad or drunke or in some dreame when he spake Thus the word of life and grace which is a sweet sauour of life vnto life eternall to the regenerate and spirituall minde yeeldeth a most fearefull sauour of death vnto death euerlasting to the carnall worldly minded man Seeing therefore to bestow the hart affection vpon earthly things is proued to be a match so base and vnbeseeming the dignitie of a Christian so wretched and miserable so vaine and deceiptfull so dishonourable to God and preiudiciall to our owne saluation let vs labour by earnest prayer and holy meditation to haue our mindes purged from this euill sicknesse of worldly loue and neuer giue the Lord any rest vntill by zealous prayer wee haue obtained of his diuine Maiestie the wings of a liuely Faith whereby our heauie harts and dull spirits may bee mounted vp aloft to seeke for our Treasure in heauen and then indeed shall wee bee heauenly minded for where the Treasure is there will the hart bee also How to iudge by the heart whether â— mans Treasure be in heauen or no. THere be certaine signes in the hart whereby a man may iudge of his estate to come as there be in the skie to know what weather shall happen when the skie is red in the Euening men say faire weather when it is red lowring in the morning it is a signe of foule weather when a cloud riseth out of the West they say a shower is comming when the South-winde bloweth a signe of heat By obseruing how Ionathan shot his arrows Dauid knew how Saul stood affected towards him by the holding out of the golden Scepter Hester knew shee was in the Kings fauour by the budding of the Trees wee know that Summer is come by the sound of the Vessell the emptinesse or fulnes thereof is perceiued by the beating of the pulses the distemperature of the body is discerned And by the affections of the heart which are the pulses of the soule the hearts Treasure is discouered and where it lyeth for God that hath giuen men signes to know the state of the body the alteration of weather and the mindes of other men hath also giuen certaine notes and signes to discerne the state of the Soule by Yea Christ doth condemne them for Hypocrites which will not iudge of themselues as well as of other things Hipocrites saith hee Yee can discerne the face of the Earth and of the Skie but why discerne yee not this time yea and why iudge yee not of your selues what is right But how may that be will some say or how may a man know by the affections of the heart where the hearts treasure is Then mark the way of wisdome and learne to bee wise when the Lord Iesus heard one answeare discreetely he said vnto him Thou art not farre from the kingdome of God to shew that discreet answeres in matters of religion are signes of grace When Zacheus did with heart obey Christ and with reuerence receiue Christ and in charitie releiue Christ in
conscience of his wrongs done was ready to restore where hee had wrongfully receiued the Lord Iesus said vnto him This day Saluation is come into thy house to shew that true conuersion is a certaine signe of Life and Saluation By this I know saith Dauid that thou louest mee O Lord because my enimies doe not triumph ouer mee to shew that euen enimies are for signes tokens of gods fauour By this shall all men know that yee are my Disciples saith our sauiour Christ â—f yee loue one another to shew that christian loue is for a signe of gods loue but not a cause thereof as Papists teach And by the heart a man may know whether his part be in the booke of life and whether his soule shall bee bound vp in the bundell of the righteous or no For where the treasure is there will thâ— heart bee also that is there will be the ioy and delight of the heart the loue and deâ—ire of the heart the care and longing of the heart for the heart in this place is put for the affections of the heart or soule If then thou wouldest know whether thy Treasure bee in heauen or hell see where thy heart doth most â—aunt and whereabout it is most employed If Christ be the man the matter whom thy soule loueth if his Gospell bee the ioy of thy soule his commandements thy harts delight if for loue of his name and zeale to his glory thou fearest more to offend him then all the world besides and art for his sake content to endure with patience all the Tribulations crosses that the hands of wicked men can loade vpon thy backe if thou canst finde thy heart resolued to drink of his cup and to bee baptised with his Baptisme if thou bee bent to stand more zealously for his glory then for thy own life and if thy heart bee refreshed when thou thinkest on his death and art hartely desirous of his comming to Iudgement then happy and blessed art thou the king of kings hath put forth his golden Scepter vnto thee thou art in his fauour the fruitfull Tree of Grace hath budded in thy hart the Summer time of thy refreshing is approching and the Lord delighteth in the fruit of thy faith thy treasure is in heauen thy prouision is gone before thou shalt follow after yea more if thy heart doth mourne and grieue for thy owne vntowardnesse and the sinnes of other men thou art marked by Gods owne Secretary his sauing Angell hath set thee apart that the destoyers â— may not meddle with thee if they meete thee in their way And as Christ said to Nathaniel Dost thou beleue because I said I saw thee vnder the figge Tree thou shalt see greater things then these Soe do you beleeue because I say by the hart you shal know whether your treasure be in heauen you shall see greater things then yet you doe for now wee see but in part and we know but in part but hereafter wee shall know as wee are knowne in the meane time take these things as the first fruites of the spirit which are but thâ— least part of the haruest or as an earnest penny in assurance of millions not to bee numbred for certainly where the hart is there is the treasure but how great a treasure no eye hath seene nor eare hath heard nor tongue can expresse nor hart can conceiuâ— On the other side if thy hart hath no ioy in the gospell of Christ nor delight in the commandements of God if thou haue no zeale for the glory of God no desire to pray nor longing for the coming of Christ then feare for where thy treasure is there will thy heart be also If thou hast more felicitie in worldly vanities then in heauenly vertues if vaine company bee more welcome vnto thee then such as feare the Lord if thy study be onely how to liue heere thy cares and communications be altogether â—arthly and prophane then suspect thy estate not to bee good and know that thy hollow sound bewrayeth an emptie vessell thy figge tree hath nothing but leaues all thy Termes are but vacations and as for treasure in heauen thou hast none for they that are occupiers there haue their harts wholly employed there and as they looke for great aboundance when they come thether so they finde an earnest thereof in their harts heere alâ— is holy and heauenly comfortable and happie for righteousnesse and truth hath looked downe from heauen vpon them and mercy and peace haue embraced each other in their soules and heauen holding their treasure doth also hale and draw their harts thither likewise Now then let vs see how our harts stand affected for there is a sure witnesse and pledge eyther of Hell or of Heauen But how shall wee know whether our hearts be in heauen and Gods holy spirit be in our hearts Surely a needfull question for euery one wil say as the yong man in the Gospel all these things I haue obserued from my youth and that he loueth God aboue all yea hee would be sorry else but the Prophet Ieremie saith that the heart is deceiptfull wicked aboue all things who can know it and therefore to be suspected examined as Dauid aduised Examine your hearts vpon your beds euen secretly before God and free from all lets and encombrances Wouldest thou then know thy heart examine all her attendants and vnder officers wherabout they are chiefly employed as thy Tongue thy Eares thy Eyes thy hands and feet for out of the abundance of the hart the mouth speaketh that is the tongue will shew how the hart is affected my hart is enditing of a good matter saith the Psalmist and presently followeth my tongue is the pen of a ready writer Againe in another place My hart was hot within me and I spake with my tongue A good man saith our Sauiour Christ out of the good treasure of his hart bringeth forth good things If there be abundance of loue to God the tongue will still bee speaking in commendation of his praises and setting forth his greatnes his goodnes his iustice his holines his wisdome and mercy c. as the Church in the Canticles Oh let him kisse me with the kisses of his mouth for thy loue is better then wine that is better then all pleasant and profitable things If there bee abundance of ioy and delight in the commandements of God thy lips will declare the Iudgements of his mouth If there be abundance of feare to offend against God or the Godly thou wilt set a watch before thy mouth and thy feet shall carry thee speedely from euill company If there be abundance of zeale in thy hart then will thy tongue be enflamed with a holy fire for the truth If thy hart doth abound with desire and longing for the presence of the Lord then thou wilt still be wishing