day and night So this was Davids constant practice Psal. 119. 97. Oh how I love thy Law it is my meditation continually But what are the speciall things whereof wee must meditate if wee desire to further our growth in grace I answere they are especially these foure First Let us seriously consider the worth and excellency of true saving grace which appeareth in the Text it is like gold tryed in the fire the most pure and most precious jewell that is in the whole world all earthly things in the want of this are but drosse and dung Phil. 3. 8. But for your more full satisfaction as touching the worth of true grace consider the second Chapter of this Treatise being the first Vse of the poynt And surely if men did but once see the beautie and truely understand the worth of true grace they could not choose but bee exceeding desirous of it They would covet after it if they were once perswaded that it is the best and rarest jewell in the world Secondly The necessitie of true grace it is absolutely necessary to the very being of a Christian and not to his well-being onely Oh then let us labour for grace and growth in grace because it it so necessary that a man is no Christian that is without it and it is also so necessary that it is impossible to be saved without it They must have their fruit unto holinesse that will have the end everlasting life Rom. 6. 22. Holinesse must needs goe before if happinesse follow after grace and glorie are inseparable yea they are the same as some Divines observe for grace is glorie inchoate and glorie is grace consummate It is so necessary that it is impossible to see God without it Heb. 12. 14. Follow peace with all men and holinesse without which it is impossible to see God Blessed are the pure in heart for they and they alone shall see God sayth our blessed Saviour see Psal. 24. 4 5. Revel 22. 14 15. c. Thirdly Consider the equitie of it it is very fit and equall that we that doe professe our selves to be Gods children shall labour to become like unto our heavenly Father He is the God of all grace oh let us therefore labour to grow in grace that we may be like him Ephes. 5. 1. Be yee followers of God as deare children and walke in love c. 2 Pet. 1. 17. As he that hath called you is holy so be yee holy in all manner of conversation for it is written be yee holy for I am holy Yea we should labour to be perfect in holinesse 2 Cor. 7. 1. Perfecting holinesse in the feare of God that herein especially wee may resemble our heavenly Father who is the God of all grace and holinesse Be yee perfect as your Father which is in heaven is perfect sayth our Saviour Mat. 5. last So that the more holinesse the more like to God and the better evidence and assurance that we are his children Fourthly Let us meditate and seriously consider of that great measure of grace that hath beene in Gods Saints of old and how farre we come short of them There is Abraham renowmed for his faith yea he was even strong in the faith Rom. 4. 20. Samuel for integritie Moses for meeknesse the meekest man upon the earth Numb 12. 3. Iacob for wrestling with God in prayer Hos. 12. 4. Iob for his patience Iames 5. 11. David for sinceritie A man after Gods own heart in all things save onely in the matter of Vriah and Paul for courage and all the graces of Gods Spirit whatsoever c. Now alas how farre short doe wee come of these Saints of God in all these What a small measure of faith have we in respect of Abraham How farre short are wee of Jacob for a gift in prayer and a spirit of supplication How farre doe wee come behinde Iob for his patience David for sinceritie and Paul for every thing Oh how this would whet us on to labour for more grace when wee see how farre the Saints of God have out-stripped us and gone before us Oh how this would increase our diligent endeavour to grow in grace if wee would forget such as are behinde us and looke earnestly at those that have gone before us it would make us to presse earnestly for the price of the marke of the high calling of God in Christ Iesus Phil. 3. 13 13. These are the chiefe meanes that wee must use that we may be rich in the golden graces of Gods Spirit Thus now for the first sort to whom the Exhortation is directed sc. such as have true grace in some measure alreadie Let such first be thankfull and blesse God for it that hath given them the graces of his Spirit to enrich them secondly let them labour to grow in grace and thrive more and more in this spirituall wealth and riches Secondly For such as have no grace for the present let such be exhorted to labour for it let them see the worth of it is like gold tryed in the fire that it is the onely meanes to make them truely and spiritually rich onely such as are truely godly are truely rich rich indeede rich towards God wicked rich men are wretched that are in the middest of all their wealth and riches Oh therefore you that want true grace labour for it Ioh. 6. 27. Labour not for the meate that perisheth but for durable riches Pro. 3. 16. which that you may attaine unto attend with reverence unto the next poynt which is to buy it of Christ Buy of me c. CHAP. VII Containing the third generall point I Counsell thee to buy of me gold tryed in the fire that thou mayest be rich And so I come to the third and last lesson that we are to learne from hence which is That all those that would have the precious gold of true saving grace must buy it of Christ. Buy of me sayth our Saviour this gold tryed in the fire that thou mayest be rich In handling this point I will run this course First I will speake some thing by way of confirmation that wee may beleeve it Secondly By way of explication and application that wee may understand and make a right use of it First For confirmation observe a double proofe for this purpose first Testimonies secondly Reasons and Arguments to enforce the Doctrine First For Testimonies observe it in these few particulars first Pro. 23. v. 23. Buy the truth and sell it not sayth the Wise man Truth of grace must be bought at any rate but sold at no rate True saving grace is a precious commoditie to bee bought by all those that desire to enjoy it To the like purpose is that we have Isa. 55. 1. Hoe every one that thirsteth come yee to the waters buy wine and milke without money and without price the water and wine and milke of true saving grace must come
for this purpose 2 Pet. 1. 5. 11. Wherefore giving all diligence adde to your faith vertue and to your vertue knowledge c. adde one grace to another grow in the number of graces and grow in their measure too If these things be in you and abound sayth the Apostle Ver. 9. see the benefit of this Ver. 11. For so an entrance shall be made unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdome of our Lord Jesus Christ here is an entrance into the kingdome of grace which also assureth us of our interest in the kingdome of glorie Rom. 6. 22. Having your fruit unto holinesse and the end everlasting life True holinesse and growth in grace is the plaine and direct way to true happines and everlasting life Fourthly and lastly The more grace and holines we attaine unto here the more glory and happinesse is reserved in heaven for us for though God doe not reward us for our workes yet he will certainly reward us according to our workes so that the more diligence in Gods service the more glory hereafter This seemeth most clearely intimated in that Parable of the Talents Mat. 25. he that gained most had best reward Vnto him that hath shall be given and he shall have abundance Ver. 29. He that is most abundant in the worke of the Lord shall be sure to have abundance of wages Let this also perswade us to grow in grace that our reward in heaven may be the greater They that doe much in Gods service and suffer much in the good cause of God shall have the greater reward in heaven Rejoyce and be exceeding glad sayth our Saviour to his Disciples for great is your reward in heaven Mat. 5. 12. They that take great paines in Gods service shall have an eternall and an exceeding weight of glory for their reward 2 Cor. 4. 7. This encouraged Moses Heb. 11. 26. He esteemed the rebuke of Christ greater riches then the treasures of Aegypt for he had respect to the recompence of reward sayth the Text. Now the meanes that we must use that we may grow in grace are especially these two first The right use of Gods Ordinances and secondly Holy meditations First The right and conscionable use of Gods ordinances The Word and Sacraments and Prayer Loe here the best way and meanes to grow rich in grace and full of spirituall wealth First The Ministery of the Word read and faithfully preached it is the Word of eternall life Ioh. 6. 68. the meanes to quicken a dead soule at first and the chiefe meanes to preserve the same spirituall life and to helpe us to grow and increase in grace Two singular and most pertinent testimonies wee have for this purpose The one 1 Pet. 2. 1. As new borne Babes desire the sincere milke of the Word that you may grow thereby The ministery of the Word is not onely the meanes of our regeneration at first 1 Pet. 1. 23. Iam. 1. 18. but is the meanes also to helpe us grow up unto perfection Desire the sincere milke of the Word that yee may grow thereby sayth the Apostle The other testimony to this purpose is that of the Apostle Paul in his valediction to the Church of Ephesus Acts 20. when he was to depart from them and foresaw that they should see his face no more never enjoy his bodily presence or heare him preach againe see what he especially commendeth to their daily use and constant practise Ver. 32. And now brethren I commend you to God and to the Word of his grace which is able to build you farther and to give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified i. e. give daily attendance to this ply this taske follow this worke close for the Word of his grace will build you up still farther and farther and will never cease working in you untill it bring you to heaven and translate you from grace to glory Secondly The right and religious use of the Sacraments of Baptisme and of the Lords Supper these seales of righteousnesse will exceedingly further our progresse in pietie and growth in grace How can a man that is of a good constitution feed on dainties and wholesome food and not grow strong and well liking by that meanes so how can a man eat the very body of Christ and drinke his very blood in the Sacrament as every worthy receiver doth spiritually but he must needs grow strong in the grace of Christ Iesus For my flesh is meate indeede and my blood is drinke indeede sayth our blessed Saviour Ioh. 6. 35. And hereupon he inferreth Ver. 56. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me and I in him that is such an one hath speciall communion with Christ and interest in all his merits and the benefit of his obedience active and passive which how can he enjoy but he must needs grow in grace Thirdly Prayer is a chiefe Ordinance of God by no meanes to be neglected nay which must be used as a meanes to bring Gods blessing upon the former this is the way and meanes to make the Word and Sacraments effectuall unto us so that in the neglect of this meanes little benefit is to be expected from the diligent use of the former so that he that would grow in grace must be a daily petitioner at the Throne of grace and direct his course to the God of all grace by prayer for the increase of the graces of Gods Spirit in him For as every good and perfect gift cometh from aboue at the first Iam. 1. 17. So the increase of those gifts must needs also proceede from above He onely that beginneth the good worke of grace in his Elect at the first is onely able to perfect that worke which he hath begunne Phil. 1. 6. And therefore as the Apostle was confident concerning them so let us be fervent and importunate in our requests to him for our selves that as he hath begunne the good worke of grace in us so he would encrease it in us daily and bring it unto perfection Thus the Apostles direct their course unto Christ by prayer for the increase of their faith Luk. 17. 5. The Disciples sayd unto the Lord Lord increase our faith Thus Paul for the Philippians Phil. 1. 9. 11. And this I pray that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and in all judgement and that yee might be filled with the fruits of righteousnesse Encrease of grace as well as grace it selfe must needs be the gift of God For of him and through him and from him are all things sayth the Apostle Rom. 11. 36. Secondly The second generall meanes that we must use to grow in grace is holy Meditations This hath furthered the growth of grace in Gods Saints heretofore they have beene abundant and constant in pious and holy meditations Psal. 1. 4. A godly mans delight is in the Law of the Lord and it is his meditation
Then looke upon him in the fire of adversitie rich Iob bountifull and liberall poore Job patient and thankefull Iob 1. 21. The Lord hath given and the Lord hath taken blessed be the Name of the Lord. True it is he shewed some drosse in the melting but looke upon him when he came out of the fire oh then he was pure gold indeed this he was assured of while he was melting Iob 23. 10. He knoweth the way that I take and when he hath tryed me I shall come out like gold golden Iob indeed when hee came out of the furnace of affliction But now the wicked as they are but drosse Psal. 119. 119. so they shew their drossie nature in every estate if they be rich and wealthy then they are proud and confident and given to oppression ready to deny God and trust in their wealth and if they be poore then they steale and take the Name of the Lord in vaine Pro. 30. 8 9. They are drosse still in every condition the more God melteth them the worse they are Why should they be smitten any more for they do fall away more and more Isa. 1. 5. See an experiment of this in that close-hearted hypocrite Ahaz for all his faire shewes he did shew himselfe but drosse both in prosperity and adversitie the more he prospered the more he sinned if he be victorious he ascribeth the victory to himselfe and his friends and the gods of Damascus must be sacrificed unto and a patterne of a new Altar must be fetched from thence 2 Kings 16. 10. Well if God take him in hand and begin to melt him in the fire of affliction he findeth him drosse still so that hee was forced at last to cast him away and set a marke upon him for notorious drosse altogether that none should ever take him for gold any more 2 Chr. 28. 22. And in the time of his distresse he sinned yet more against the Lord. This is that King Ahaz brand him up score him up set a marke upon him for ever for most notorious dâ—osse indeed because the more hee was afflicted the worse hee was the more hee was melted the more plainely hee appeared still to bee nothing but a plaine lumpe of drosse I pray let us try our selves by this marke if wee can cary our selves aright in every estate it is a signe we are pure gold if not we have cause to suspect our selves to bee but drosse Looke upon the golden Martyrs in all ages see what pure gold they proved themselves especially in the fire of affliction consider these golden Christians Hebr. 10. 34. They suffered with joy the spoyling of their goods knowing that they had in heaven a better and a more enduring substance wee glory in tribulation Here was bright shining gold indeed gold tryed in the fire as it is in our Text. Secondly Right currant gold is that which commeth from the right place from the Kings Minting house and hath his Majesties stampe upon it when they brought the Tribute money to Christ Mat. 22. 20. he enquireth immediately Whose Image or superscription hath it and they tell him Caesar's So look upon the gold of those graces which thou hast and seriously consider whence thou hadst them and how thou camest by them Did they come from the Minte of Gods Ordinance Were they begotten at first and are they still nourished in thee by these meanes Didst thou get them by prayer and attending at the postes of Wisedomes gates then it is a good sâ—gne thy gold is good thy graces are sincere because they are begotten and increased by the Word of Gods grace Acts 20. 32. Thus Paul sendeth them still to the Minte to get more grace and to try their graces And now brethren I commend you to God and to the Word of his grace which is able to build you up farther c. And so for the Throne of grace Hebr. 4. verse 16. Let us goe boldly to the Throne of grace whereby wee may finde mercy and grace to helpe in time of need I pray let us try our graces by this touchstone How did we come by our graces By what meanes were they begotten in thee And how are they nourished if not by these meanes And it may be thou canst give no account how thou camest by them I begin straight to suspect them for you know it is suspicious for a man to have goods and know not how he got them Consider thy faith then Art thou sure it is precious Of the right stampe More precious then gold Then sure it came from the Minte it was given thee from above Philip. 1. 29. To you it is given not onely to believe but also suffer c. If it be right faith it was begotten by the Word of faith Romans 10. 8. For faith commeth by hearing and hearing by the Word of God But he that boasts of his faith and telleth me that he hath beleeved ever since he could remember as if the gold of faith grew there by nature I would no more beleeve he had true faith then I should thinke he said true that should boast that he had a purse full of gold which came out of his purse bottome and grew there by nature I pray let us examine our selves by this mark true gold commeth from the Minte and so doth true grace from the Minte of Gods Ordinances if it grew in thine heart by nature or is begotten and nourished in thy heart by any other meanes thou hast great reason to suspect that such gold is but counterfeit c. Thirdly Gold tryed in the fire if it come from the right Minte is currant money with the Merchants As Abraham's silver was which hee weighed to Hephron the Hittite Genesis 23. 16. Now gold is not currant with the Merchant though it seeme pure for the matter if it want weight and therefore Abraham weighed his silver before the people of Ephron so true grace is good weight give it but the allowance of the imperfection in respect of degrees and it is full weight in respect of parts both in regard of the subject wherein it is and the object of it weigh it in the ballance of the Sanctuary and it will be found weight for hee that hath true grace in every part grace in the head or understanding facultie of the soule and grace in the heart in the will and the affections he is sanctified throughout 1 Thes. 5. 23. in his whole spirit soule and body so that true grace is universall Now an hypocrite whose grace is but counterfeit whose gold is Copper sheweth it selfe defective in one kinde or other If he have a little knowledge swimming in the braine and therefore is able to speake well as if he had grace yet this worketh no reformation in the outward man there it wanteth weight he is prophane still he liveth in the secret practise of some knowne ungodlinesse he hath some Rimmon with Naaman some Delilah with
separate betweene God and us Your iniquities not your povertie have separated between you and your God onely beware of sinne and then assure thy selfe that povertie can never separate betweene thee and God Thirdly Consider that God is as readie to heare the prayers of a godly poore man as any rich man whatsoever not riches but grace onely is prevalent on this behalfe Ioh. 9. 31. We know sayth the blind man that God heareth not sinners sc. how rich soever they be but if any man be a worshipper of God and a doer of his will him he heareth how poore soever he be for outward things See a direct proofe for this Psal. 10. 14. The poore committeth himselfe to thee for thou art the helper of the friendlesse yea this should encourage others when they consider this Psal. 34. 6. This poore man cryed and the Lord heard him sayth the Text. Not povertie but sinne and iniquitie is that alone that stoppeth up the eare of God against our prayers The Lord of his speciall goodnes prepareth for the poore Psal. 68. 10. yea The Lord heareth the poore sayth the Text Psal. 69. 33. The Lord will fulfill the desire of such as feare him though they be poore he will heare their cry and will helpe them Here is another speciall priviledge wherein Gods poore ones have as much interest as any the richest persons in the world yea the promises of being heard Mat. 7. 7. Isa. 65. 24. doe belong to Gods poore people as much as to the richest or wealthiest persons under heaven Here is the third ground Fourthly and lastly Consider that a godly poore man may goe to heaven at his death as soone as the richest person in the world It is grace onely and not riches that will bring a man to heaven at the last and therefore be of good comfort O thou godly poore man for thou mayest goe to heaven as soone as the richest miser in the world yea and sooner too and with far lesse difficultie How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdome of heaven sayth our blessed Saviour It is marvellous hard and difficult for a rich man to enter into the kingdome of heaven for rich men are apt to trust in riches and depart from the living God 1. Tim. 6. 17. or else they are apt to be proud of their wealth and riches and so deny God This made holy Agur even afraid of riches Pro. 30. 8 9. Give me not povertie nor riches c. Why not riches What hurt could there be of being rich Yes sayes he not riches least I be full and deny thee and say Who is the Lord Like unto proud wealthy Pharoah Exod. 5. 5. Who is the Lord that I should obey his voice to let Israel goe I know not the Lord neither will I let Israel goe loe here the fruit of unsanctified wealth and riches yea rich men are most apt to forget God Deut. 8. But now a godly poore man is free from temptations of this kinde a godly poore man is in no such danger runneth no such hazzard either to be proud or deny God or forget God or the like c. But on the contrary his povertie being sanctified is a speciall meanes to subdue and beate downe these lusts and to mortifie these unruly corruptions povertie in his outward estate through the good hand of God is a meanes to make him poore in spirit and so to dispose and fit him for heaven for blessed are the poore in spirit for theirs is the kingdome of heaven sayth our Saviour Mat. 5. 3. yea God for the most part doth usually passe â—y the rich and wealthy and maketh choice â—f the poore and needy for the heires of â—eaven 1 Cor. 1. 26. for Brethren yee see our calling how that not many wise men after he flesh not many mighty not many noble are â—alled Who then doth the Lord most orâ—inarily and usually call Surely the poore â—nd needy Hath not God chosen the poore â—f the world saith the Apostle Iames 1. 5. â—ich in faith and heires of the kingdome which God hath promised to them that love him â—ere we see that povertie doth not indisâ—ose nor unqualifie a man for heaven but â—t him rather such a man when he dyâ—th goeth hungry to God or fasting that â—he joyes of heaven may relish the better with him or he goeth naked to GOD â—hat the garment of glory and happinesse â—ay be more welcome to him Yea see an experiment of this in that Parable of the â—ich man and Lazarus Luk. 16. It was â—ot Lazarus his povertie nor his sores â—or his despicable condition that could â—eepe him out of heaven see what the Text sayth of him Ver. 22. And it came to â—asse that the beggar died and was caried by â—he Angels into Abrahams bosome Neither â—ould the rich mans wealth eyther helpe â—im to heaven or keepe him out of â—orments of hell The rich man also dyed â—nd was buried and being in hell in torments â—e lift up his eyes c. Oh the vanitie of wealth and riches that can neither helpe a man to heaven nor keepe him out of the torments of hell And let no man be any way discouraged or out of heart in regard of his povertie because it is no barre nor impediment to keepe him out of the kingdome of heaven onely let a man be sure that he is poore in spirit as well as poore in estate and labour to be as rich in faith and as abundant in grace as he is poore and destitute of outward wealth and riches and then let him never doubt but that the kingdome of heaven is as wide open for him as for any the most wealthy person in the world Yea consider farther for thy comfort that the Sonne of God himselfe the Lord Iesus Christ became poore to this very end and purpose that hee might enrich thee with his povertie 2 Cor. 8. 9. For yee know the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ who though he was rich yet for your sakes he became poore that yee through his povertie might become rich Let no man therefore thinke or feare that God will reject or cast him off for his outward povertie if hee be otherwise well stored with spirituall wealth and riches CHAP. VI. Containing the third Vse of the second poynt THirdly Seeing godly persons onely are truely and spiritually rich This serveth to exhort us unto sundry duties and the exhortation is directed unto two sorts of people First Such as have some measure of this spirituall wealth and riches Secondly Such as for the present are utterly destitute of this precious gold here set out in the Text. First This doctrine serveth to exhort such as have true grace and are truely religious unto a two-fold dutie First Vnto thankfulnesse to God for such a favour Hath God given his Sonne to enrich thee and furnished thee with the graces of his Spirit to make thee truely and spiritually
our Saviour Mat. 13. 44. Let no man thinke it deare because he must sell all that he hath before he can buy it of Christ for alas what doth our Saviour meane by All that he hath but that which he hath of his owne not his wealth nor his wit nor his life save onely in some cases but all that he hath that is all his sinnes all his lusts all his earthly members his corrupt and vicious affections his actuall transgressions these he must needs sell these he may well spare nay these will be his utter ruine if he sell them not See how the Lord expoundeth it himselfe Ezech. 18. 31. Cast away from you all your transgressions and make you a new heart and a new soule Why will ye die O house of Israell We must not stand dodging with Christ but part with our sinnes freely and we shall have a most blessed and happie exchange Sixthly To the making of this bargaine there is another thing necessary and that is That wee must prepare a vessell to put it in When a man hath bought his commoditie and payed the price of it then he looketh for his wallet or basket or something to carie it home in so that all that come to this spirituall market to bargaine with Christ for this jewell of true saving grace they must bring hearts emptie and ready to receive it Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it sayth the Text Psal. 81. 10. Come hither sayth God let me see thy heart open the mouth of thy heart that it may be fit to receive and cary away this precious commoditie See the practise of Gods people for this this was David's practise Psal. 119. 11. I have hid thy Word in my heart that I might not sinne against thee So the Baereans They received the Word with all readinesse of minde Acts 17. 11. This was Lydia's practise God opened the heart of Lydia that shee attended to those things that were spoken by Paul Acts 16. 14. This was a piece of Maryes good housewifery Luk. 2. 51. Shee kept these sayings and pondered them in her heart When we come to Gods Ordinances we must have a speciall care to prepare our hearts to that purpose that we may be able to say with David Psal. 108. 1. O God my heart is prepared or my heart is readie My sonne give me thine heart sayth Salomon Pro. 23. 26. Yea see how expresly the Lord required it of old Deut. 32. 46. Set your hearts unto all the words that I command you this day i. e. here is saving grace offered to thee in this Ordinance let me see thine heart what hast thou else to put it in trust not thy memory alone with it but hide it with David in the middest of thy heart Seventhly There must be a speciall care to keepe it from loosing when we have it If a man goe to market on purpose to buy some precious jewell which costeth him all that he hath he is undone if he loose it by the way Heb. 4. 1. Take heed of loosing the grace of God let it not run out as the word importeth Proove all things and keepe that which is good sayth the Apostle 1 Thes. 5. 21. Blessed are they that heare the Word of God and keepe it It is not the hearing of Gods Word but the keeping of it that is the way to true happinesse If a man buy never so good a peny-worth if he loose it by the way it will never enrich him Therefore after we have bought the commoditie there must be a care to keepe it let us knit up the mouth of our vessell by prayer and meditation that wee loose not our treasure Eighthly and lastly A care to make a right use of it both in regard of our selves and others This last direction divideth it selfe into two branches First He that hath bought true saving grace must labour to make use of it for his owne particular Commodities are bought to be used cloathes to be worne meate to be eaten c. so when we goe to the market of Gods Ordinances to get grace we must have a care to practise what we know Jam. 1. 22. Be yee doers of the Word and not hearers onely deceiving your selves He that contenteth himselfe with bare hearing leaveth his markets undone or at least hath lost his commoditie If yee know these things happie are yee if ye doe them sayth our Saviour Ioh. 13. 17. See the use that David would make of this precious commoditie Psal. 119. 11. I have hid thy Word in mine heart that I might not sinne against thee To make grace an Antidote or preservative against sinne is the right use of it indeed Labour not for the meat that perisheth but for the meat that endureth sayth our Saviour Joh. 6. 27. What should we doe with meat but eate it The best meate in the world will never nourish unlesse it be eaten and therefore sayth the Prophet Come buy and eate and let your soule delight it selfe in fatnesse Eating and digesting is the end of buying food and practise the end of hearing The want of this was the fault of Ezechiel's hearers they came to the market and seemed to buy good provision but they wanted good stomackes to digest it They heare thy words but they will not doe them their stomackes were cloyed before they had gotten a surfet of covetousnesse Ezech. 33. 31. Secondly A care to make a right use of it in regard of others Men do not buy commodities for their owne use onely but also for their families and neighbours the master of a familie buyeth provision not onely for himselfe but for his wife and children and servants yea if he be a kinde man indeede he will invite his neighbours and make them partakers of his good provision Vnto him that hath this care to employ it shall be given and he shall have abundance Mat. 25. 29. But he that layeth it up in a napkin and maketh no use of it neither for himselfe nor the good of others shall have it taken from him at last and himselfe be punished for want of making a right use of it ver 30. But every good man is of a quite contrary disposition observe it in Psal. 37. 30 31. The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdome and his tongue will be talking of judgement Whence cometh this The Law of God is in his heart and none of his steps slide He that hath the law of grace setled in his owne heart will not onely take heed to his owne wayes but will labour also to be an instrument of benefit and good to others See an experiment of this in two famous examples for this purpose 1. That of David Psal. 51. 13. Then shall I teach thy wayes to the wicked and sinners shall be converted unto thee So see what the Lord sayth of Abraham Gen. 18. 19. I know Abraham that he will command his children and servants to
grace because wee maâ— be assured of our vocation election 2. Reason 2. Of our justification Certitudo spei 3. Reason Because we may be assured of our Adoption 4. Reason Because we may be assured of our Redemption We may be assured of our Redemption 5. Reason That when wee die wee shall goe to heaven 6. Reason That Gods goodnesse and mercy shall follow us all our dayes 4. Motive The comfort that will redound to the soule when the worke is once throughly performed The Nature and Markes of true grace 1. Marke True grace will make a mans face to shine in every condition 2. Marke True grace gotten by Gods Ordinances 3. Marke True grace is full weight and will make a man universall in his obedience 4. Marke True grace will abide the fiery tryall will make a man hold out in time of persecution Quest. Answ. Causa non poena facit Martyrâ—â—â— S. August 3. Vse Of consolation to such as have true grace 1. Signe He that hath true grace will use it to Gods glory the good of others 2. Signe Hee that hath true grace is still desirous of more 3. Signe Hee that hath true grace 〈◊〉 the Word â—f grace 〈…〉 begotten eâ—creased Doctrine 1. All that have true grace are most truly and spiritually rich 1. Reason Because it doth entitle a man to Christ all hâ—s riches 2. Reason Hee that hath true grace hath the God of heaven for his portion 3. Reason Hath a true right and title to heaven 4. Reason Hee that hath a comfortable right and title to the things of this life * Theophyl in loc Gal. 4. 15. Vse Instruction Hence see how much the world is deceived in judging of the estate of Gods people Vse 2. Comfort Gods people in respect of the disgrace that is cast upon them 1. Ground Truely rich in Gods esteeme 2. Ground God regardeth no maâ— simply for his outward wealth and riches 3. Ground God is ready to heare the prayers of godly poore men as soone as those that are râ—ch 4. Ground A godly poore 〈◊〉 may goe to heaven as soone as the rich Vse 3. Exhortation to the first sort Such as have true grace must labour to be thankfull for it 2. Dutie To grow in grace 1. Motive To perswade us to labour to grow in grace 1. Because God commandeth it 2. Motive Because the Lord expecteth it 3. Motive Because the Lord commends it 4. Motive Because the Lord is much honoured by it 5. Motive Because the Lord will most freely and fully reward it 1. Benefits of growing in grace 1. It will assure us of our election 2. Benefit The better able to doe good to others 3 Benefit Assurance of interest in the kingdome of glorie 4. Benefit Non propter sed secundum opera The more grace here the more glorie in heaven Meanes of growth in grace 1. Meanes 1. The word preached the maanes to grow in grace 2. The Sacraments 3. Prayer 2. Meanes Meditations 1. Meditation Of the worth of true grace 2. Meditation The necessitie of it 3. Motive 3. The equitie of it 4. Motive To consider the admirable growth of grace that hath beene in the Saints of old 2. Sort. Such as have no grace must labour for it 3. Poynt 3. Doct. All that would have true grace must buy it of Christ. 1. Confirmation 1. Testimonies Reasons The excellency of the Chapman of whom wee must buy it who is 1. Reason 1. A Chapman of a most sweet disposition â— Reason Exceeding faithfull and one in whom is no guile 3. Reason Rich and wealthy and therefore hath great choice 4. Reason Because he hath no respect of persons but regards the poore more then the rich 5. Reason Free and kinde affoording good wares exceeding cheape Vse 1. Instruction To teach us how to bargain with Christ. All that would bargaine with Christ must be 1 Direction sensible of theiâ— want of true grace and poore in spirit 2. Direction See the worth of true grace 3. Direction An earnest desire or an hunger and thirst after it 4. Direction Diligence in frequenting the place of sale Davids love to Gods house and Ordinances 5. Direction Pay the full price 6 Direction Prepare a fit vessell to put it in 7. Direction A care to keepe it from loosing 8. Direction 2. Branches Make use of it for our selves Branch 2. Dispose of it for the good of others Vse 2. 1. Sort. Such as doe despite the place of sale or come not to the market 2. Sort. Such as mispend their i me there Sleeping at market dangerous 3. Sort. Some aske the price onely but bâ—d nothing 4. Sort. Some bid fairely but not the full price 5. Sort. Some promise the full price but doe after revoke it 6. Sort. Some want hearts to receive it 7. Sort. Loose their commoditie 8. Sort. Some are robbed of their commoditie as they returne home 9. Sort. Some are quarrelling Chapmen that fall out with the partie that felleth it 10. 〈…〉 Vse 3. For comfort to such as carnestly desire true saving grace It is Christ that felleth it who is so rare a Chapman as you have heard 4. Vse Exhortation and Direction to get grace for our selves And for others 1 Direction generall Bring them to the market 2. Direction In speciall prepare them before hand 3. Direction Bring them with thee left they trifle away their tâ—â—e 4 Direction See that they ply their businesse and minde their markets 5. Direction Examine them when they come home what markets they have made 6. DirectioÌ„ Praâ—er unto God for his blessing upon the bargaine Division and parts of the Psalme The Coherence Doctrine 1. That time spent in Gods service is the best spent 1. Proofe By the practise of Gods people Davids piety Psalm 22. 2. Daniel Mary Magdaleâ— Pauls diligence Lastly our blessed Saviour Reason In respect of God â— Wayes 〈…〉 spent with God To Gods pleasure For hâ—s glory 1 Cor. 15. â—ast Eccles. 2. Reason In respect of our selves Most for our credit For our pleasure Mâ—ch sweetâ—nesse in Gods service Most profitable And safe for body Safety in Gods service example of it And Soule Most full of comfort in life and death c. In regard of others hereby wee may doe good to others Threefold proofe of it 1. The Testimony of God himselfe 2. The Testimony of the Church and State 3. Experience Vse 1. For Instruction The worst spent time 1. In respeâ—t of God 1. Without God 2. To his dishonour 3. Not to his pleasure but to his griefe 2. In regard of our selves 1. No profit but losse 2. No pleasure nor credit nor comfort Nor safety 2. Instruct. For Humiliation that wee have spent so little time in Gods service and so much in the service of sin and Sathan Not onely before our conversion 2. Consider But also even since our calling Seneca Epist 1. Nihil agendo aliud agendo male agendo Simile Vse 2. For Reprehension
the righteous speaketh wisedome his tongue will be talking of judgement the Law of his God is in his heart none of his steps slide Such a man followeth that golden rule of the Apostle Col. 4. 6. Let your speech be alwayes gracious seasoned with salt such as may minister grace to the hearers when thou art converted strengthen thy brethren saith our Saviour Luk. 22. 32. Loe the concomitant and inseparable consequent of true conversion See this disposition in divers That man that hath true grace himselfe earnestly desires and endeavoureth that others may be truely good as well as himselfe See it in one that had very little time to live after his conversion and that is the Thiefe on the Crosse Luk. 23. 40. He vindicateth our Saviours innocency confesseth his own and his fellowes just punishment earnestly laboureth the conversion of his companion that as they had lived wickedly so his earnest desire was that they might both die penitently Fearest thou not God sayth he rebuking his fellow seeing thou art in the same condemnation i. e. Oh feare God repent and turne truely to him c. So that as he prayed for himselfe unto our Saviour so he sought earnestly the converâ—ion and spirituall good of his partner I might likewise instance in David Psal. 51. 13. Then shall I teach thy wayes unto the wicked and sinners shall be converted unto thee No good man is content to goe to Heaven alone but earnestly desireth company The woman of Samaria telleth her neighbours of our Saviour when shee was throughly wrought upon and converted her selfe I might give you sundry instances to this purpose but I will content my selfe with one onely and that is the Apostle Paul see what a speciall care and respect he had for the good of others observe that speech of his Rom. 10. 1. Brethren my hearts desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved This made him so abundant in labours especially in travelling to preach the Gospell because hee earnestly desired and endeavoured the conversion of others Yea such was his earnest desire this way that he seemed to preferre the salvation of his Country-men the Iewes before his own eternall happinesse and salvation An admirable place to this purpose is that which we have Rom. 9. 3. For I could wish my selfe separate and accursed from Christ for my brethren my kinsmen according to the flesh yea he sought earnestly the conversion and salvation both of Jewes and Gentiles even every man if he could possible Colos. 1. 28. Teaching and admonishing in all wisedome that I might present every man perfect in Christ Iesus Yea consider the speech of his to Agrippa Acts 26. 27 28 29. Almost thou perswadest mee to become a Christian saith the King See what an admirable answer hee returneth speaking out of the abundance of gracious love and the heavenly affection that was in his heart I would to God that not onely thou but all that heare me this day were both almost and altogether such as I am except these bonds O golden Paul Oh gracious soule that is desirous that other even all others were truely religious as well as himselfe I pray let us all try our selves by this note Where is our care and earnest desire for the good of others especially our families and those that are committed to our charge Yea what cause have they to consider this that are so farre from endevouring the conversion of others that they doe labour to quench those beginnings of true grace which they see in any Yea and are enemies to Gods people only for their piety and hate them because they follow the thing that is good Well to say no more in this case the truth is this argueth that these men are not onely empty and voyde of all true grace but even full of the spirit of Sathan and Antichrist it is even unto such a fearefull token of perdition as the Apostle speaketh Phil. 1. 28. Secondly hee that hath true grace indeed is not content with that measure of grace which he hath for the present but earnestly coveteth after more for though he be no niggard of it yet he is withall a good husband with it and laboureth daily to encrease it yea hee is the more liberall in this case and is the more ready and willing to impart what graces hee hath for the good of others because hee knoweth that it is one speciall way and meanes to augment and increase his store For as a great deale layd up in a napkin will quickly come to just nothing so a little well improved will quickly bee increased as our Saviour saith fitly in this very case Matth. 25. 31. For unto him that hath shall bee given and hee shall have abundance None so desirous to grow and increase in grace as they that have good store of grace already he that hath thirtie is very desirous of sixtie and hee that hath attained to sixtie is not well contented untill he have an hundred fold Oh that we would try our selves by this note Wouldest thou be sure that the grace which thou hast is not counterfeit but sound and good Where is then thy desire to grow and increase in it Doest thou daily labour to grow in grace 2 Peter 3. 18. Doest thou covet earnestly the best things Art thou still desirous of more c. Certainely this is a very comfortable signe that thy graces are sincere See an experiment of this in Paul After he had once gotten some of this heavenly gold of true grace hee was never satisfied with the measure which he had but was still desirous of more alwayes ayming at perfection observe it Phil. 3. 13. This one thing I doe forgetting those things which are behinde and reaching forth to those things that are before verse 14. I presse towards the marke or the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus Let such try themselves by this Signe that thinke that they have holinesse and Religion enough and that it is not good to bee too forward none of these are afraid of having too much gold which is farre more dangerous for a man cannot have too much true saving grace though hee may have more wealth then he can well tell how to use He therefore that thinketh that he hath grace enough already and is afraid of having too much it is a shrewd signe that he hath no true grace at all Let us therefore strive to manifest the truth of our graces by our earnest desâ—re and carefull endeavour to get more Thirdly and lastly for conclusion of this point He that hath true grace hath respect to the Word of Gods grace by which it is begotten and encreased 1 Pet. 2. 1. As new borne babes desire the sincere milke of the Word that yee may grow thereby How doe wee stand affected to Gods Ordinances What account doe we make of prayer publike and private What reckoning of the Sacraments those
seales of righteousnesse In what esteeme have we the Word faithfully read and preached which is called The Word of Gods grace Acts 20. 32. And now brethren I commend you to God and to the Word of his grace which is able to build you up farther c. He that is carelesse and disregardfull of this can have little assurance of the worke of true grace being wrought in his heart They are scarce new borne that love not the meanes and instruments of their new birth or regeneration Looke upon all those golden persons recorded in Scripture and you shall finde what a singular affection they have ever borne to the Word read and preached Iob esteemed it more then his necessary foode Iob 23. 12. Ieremiah saith It was to him the very joy and rejoycing of his heart Ier. 15. 16. and David's affection in this case was admirable and extraordinary Oh how I love thy law It is my meditation continually Psalme 119. 97. It was dearer to him then thousands of gold and silver sweeter then honey and the honey combe c. So that hee that despiseth God's holy Ordinances and the meanes which God hath appointed for the begetting and increasing of true grace in the hearts of his people out of doubt he hath not the spirit of David in him hee is rather empty and destitute of the golden graces of Gods Spirit then filled with the fruits of righteousnesse Let us therefore try our selves impartially and faithfully by these signes that wee have heard that we may be assured the gold of grace which we have or seeme to have is true gold and not counterfeit and such as will deceive us You that finde your selves stored with this precious commodity blesse God for it and bee thankefull for true saving grace is like Gold tryed in the fire pure and precious And thus much shall serve for the first point CHAP. V. Containing tâ—e second generall point ANd so I come to the second point which is to be observed in these words sc. this That the gold of true saving grace is the onely way and meanes to make us truly and spiritually rich Buy of me gold that thou mayest be rich saith our Saviour Loe here the chiefe way and meanes to become truly and spiritually rich this is durable riches and righteousnesse saith the Wise man Proverbs 3. 15. Yea true grace is the meanes to make a man rich towards God it is the speech of our Saviour Luke 12. 21. So is he that gathereth riches for himselfe and is not rich towards God where we see that it is possible for a man to be plentifully furnished with worldly riches and yet bee a poore man in the Lords account 2. That true saving grace is a Iewell of such excellent and precious worth that it is able to make a man rich towards God truly and spiritually rich indeed And there is also great reason for it For 1. Because true saving grace doth entitle a man to the Lord Iesus Christ with all his inestimable wealth and riches 1 Cor. 3. 21 22. where speaking to such as were religious and had true grace he saith All is yours whether it bee Paul or Apollos or Cephas c. All is yours and yee are Christ's and Christ is God's Yea the very unsearchable riches of Christ doe belong to such as have true saving grace Ephes. 3. 8. Oh the unsearchable riches of Christ ô the infinite fulnesse of grace that is in Christ In him dwelleth the fulnesse of the God-head bodily yea there is all fulnesse in Christ for ever in him it dwelleth Colos. 1. 19. Now all this belongeth directly to such as feare God and are truly religious Of his fulnesse wee have all received and grace for grace Iohn 1. 14. Yea the Lord Iesus Christ became poore on purpose to make us truly rich 2 Cor. 8. 9. Yee know the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ who though he was rich yet for your sakes hee became poore that wee through his poverty might become rich saith the Apostle He that hath speciall interest in Christ with all his riches must needs be most truly and spiritually rich but he that hath true saving grace hath this speciall interest in the unsearchable riches of Christ and therefore such an one must needs be most truly and spiritually rich 2. He that hath true saving grace hath the God of heaven for his portion Now how can he be poore that hath such a portion This is the very case of every man that hath true saving grace sc. that hee hath the God of heaven for his portion Lament 3. 24. The Lord is my portion saith my soule therefore will I hope in him So Psalme 16. 5. The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup where we see that such as have true grace have the Lord himselfe for their portion yea they may be assured that he is so Psal. 142. 5. I cryed unto the Lord and said thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living He that is assured in his soule that he hath the God of heaven and earth for his portion is most truely and spiritually rich even towards God But he that hath true saving grace may be assured that hee hath the God of heaven and earth for this portion and such a man is most truly and spiritually rich Thirdly this precious gold of true saving grace doth entitle a man to heaven for his inheritance Hee that hath true grace may be sure when he dyeth he shall goe to heaven 2 Cor. 5. 1. We know that when this earthly house of this tabernacle shall bee dissolved we have a building of God not made with hands eternall in the heavens Hence is that speech of the Apostle 1 Pet. 1. 3 4. Blessed be God and the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ c. which hath begotten us againe to an inheritance immortall and undefiled that fadeth not away c. To the same purpose is that speech of our Saviour Matth. 25. 34. Come yee blessed children of my Father inherit the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world This is the very case of every man that truly feareth God and hath true saving grace they are the members of Christ the children of God and inheritors of the kingdome of heaven observe it Psalm 24. 3 4. Who shall ascend into the Hill of the Lord and who shall dwell in his holy place who shall bee a member of the Church militant on earth and also a member of the Church Triumphant in heaven He that hath cleane hands and a pure heart c. See here the description of that man that hath interest in heaven for his inheritance So also Revel 22. 14. Blessed are they that doe his Commandements for they shall enter in through the gates into the City sc. of the New Jerusalem c. Yea how poore or despicable soever their condition and outward estate may