have glory now to become the Subject of Jesus Christ submit to the gracious regiment and scepter of his Word and Spirit Rom. 14.8 live to God not to thy selfe by faith and not by sense rule over thy lusts that would rule over thee 2. Cor 5 7. be a little King in thine owne bosome If thou art risen with Christ and ascended with Christ Phil. 3.20 thy heart and conversation is in Heaven and no question but thou shalt at the day of thy Death enter into the Kingdome of Heaven Nay happy soule take this for thy comfort thou hast an Heaven vpon earth The faithfull have eternall life already thou hast taken possession of it already Beleeve not me beleeve the holy Scriptures This is life eternall to know aright thee and him whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ Ioh. 17.2 Ioh 3.36 He that beleeveth in the Sonne hath everlasting life He hath that life begun in his soule that never shall be put out againe and by the lively fruits of faith this life may be knowne as Saint Iohn saith By this we know that we are translated from death to life 1 Ioh. 3.14 because we love the brethren a point of vnspeakable comfort to the child of God if it be well weighed Vse 2 But as for those that are slaves to sinne and Satan drudges to the world Enemies of Christ hope for heaven in vaine rebels against Christ enemies of his gracious government that say with those in the 19. of Luke ver 14 Noturnus hunc regnare We will not have this man to reigne over vs that will have their wills and fight for their lusts alas they have no grace in them have neither ability to doe good duties nor make conscience of doing them Let all such know in vaine they expect at their Death to enter into Heaven Indeed they bow their knee to Christ and call him King but in the meane season they put into his hand a Scepter of Reed and so mocke him and yet they looke when they dye to be caught up into Heaven in a whirlwind with Elias 2. Kin. 2.11 1. Cor. 4.20 But be not deceived God is not mocked The Kingdome of God is not in word but in power saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 4.20 And againe 1. Cor. 6 9. Simile The uncleane and unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdome of God For as the Heathens so placed the two Temples of Vertue and Honour that no man could enter into that of Honour but first he must passe thorough the other of Vertue In like manner the Lord hath so placed these two parts and degrees of the Kingdome of Heaven that no man can possibly enter into that of glory but first he must passe thorough this of grace And this shall suffice for the first circumstance by which this Purchase is set foorth unto us and that is the NAME or title The Kingdome of Heaven The second followes and that is the value The Kingdome of Heaven is like vnto a TREASVRE The second circumstance But what is a Treasure Thesaurus saith Musculus est copia facultatum bonorum ad omnem eventum jam parata The value It is like a Treasure What a Treasure is A Treasure is the abundance of riches laid up in store for all assayes Thesaurus constat de Raris pretiosis durabilibus saith Hugo It consists of things rare not common pretious not vile durable not of small continuance In a word it is a great masse of silver gold jewels pretious stones great for quantity rich and excellent for quality containing much in a little ready for all occasions laid up as we say for a rainy day and therefore is peculiar to Kings and Princes Now Grace is a Treasure saith our Saviour Doct. yea saith Salomon The merchandize of wisedome that is of Grace is better then of Silver and the Gaine thereof then of fine Gold Grace is a Treasure Pro. 3.14 15. She is more pretious then Rubyes and all Desireable things are not to be compared to her Take triall in one or two graces A meeke and a quiet Spirit in the Hidden man of the heart is a better ornament to a woman saith Saint Peter then all outward adorning plaiting of haire wearing of gold or putting on of apparell for it is in the sight of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of great price and value 1. Pet. 3.4 1. Pet. 3.4 when a woman meekely submits her selfe unto her Husband as her head for the ordinance of Gods sake this one grace is worth all the outward ornaments and abiliments in the world See it in another grace The Trial of your Faith that is Bifeild your Faith which is tryed and approved is much more precious then gold that perisheth 1. Pet. 1.7 saith S. Pet. Loe Faith is precious as gold as tried gold yea more yea much more pretious thē tried gold for gold perisheth V. 8. but faith saveth Faith unites the soule to Christ Col. 2.3 Deus est summum bonum fons omnis boni in whom are hid the Treasures of divine wisedome and knowledge Col. 2.3 and by Christ it unites vs to the Father the holy Ghost it makes God the chief good and fountaine of all good to be our God and portion As for Glory that is a Treasure indeed a Treasure laid up in Heaven Glory is a Treasure also there is perfit Holinesse perfit Happinesse Aderit omne bonum aberit omne malum There is the presence of all good and the absence of all evill Augustin There is no sinne no sorrow no want no annoyance no feare of change there is more then eye hath seene 1. Cor. 2.9 eare hath heard of or mans narrow heart can comprehend In a word it is a Treasure that cannot be valued that cannot be wasted Vse 1 Is it thus Beloved that the Kingdome of Heaven is a Treasure let this set an edge upon that Exhortation of our Saviour Seeke Gods Kingdome first Mat. 6.33 Mat. 6.33 Seeke ye first the Kingdome of God and his righteousnesse Let it move us to set our first and best affections and endeavours on grace and glory We covet riches we covet Treasures Loe the onely true riches Quis nisi mentis inop◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luke 16.11 Mat. 6.19 Pro. 10.2.11.4 and heavenly Treasure Treasure on earth cannot be secured from the Canker from the Theefe saith our Saviour but these are durable The Treasures of wicked men profit nothing neyther doe Riches availe in the day of wrath but Righteousnesse delivereth from Death Once cre ye die one graine of Faith though as small as a graine of mustard-seed will be worth all the perishing gold of India For the end of your Faith is the salvation of your soules saith Saint Peter 1. Pet. 1.8 Take therefore to heart the Exhortation of our Saviour Lay not up for your selves Treasures upon
God as the Apostle speaketh 2. Tim. 3.4 not that ever any were so simple as to say thus with their tongues or to kneele downe and worship their bellies for their God but hee that knoweth the heart and raines telleth us that thus it is and the Apostle tels us that in the last dayes thus it should be Loe then unlawfull things wil not be parted withall for the Treasures sake And as for lawfull things I meane the good Blessings of this Life Much lesse will they part with lawfull things Oh where is the man to be found that is content to part with them Where is the man that esteemes basely of them as drosse and doung in respect of Christ and sauing graces that layeth them aside for conscience sake when the publike and private exercises of Religion call for their devotion attendance Where is the man that parteth with them cheerefully to good and commendable uses sowing liberally that hee may reape liberally at the harvest that in preparation of heart hath resolved if persecution come to suffer the losse of all joyfully knowing in himselfe that he hath in heaven a better and an enduring substance where is the man that when losses affliction and death come can bid them all adue and that from his heart that hee may enjoy the Heavenly Treasure I speake not this Beloved as if I thought there were none such to be found some yea many there are I doubt not and I pray God increase the number of them but yet in respect of the multitude they are as rare as Blacke Swans The most part of men every where dote upon the world loving it onely and altogether or at least in the first and chiefest place How many Esaus are there in the world that say Tush what is this Birthright to me give me the pottage so red Gen. 25.32 How many Gadarens that will rather part with their Saviour Mar. 5.17 then with their very Swine Mar. 26.15 How many Iudasses that will sell their Saviour and their Soules for thirty pieces of silver nay for a farthing token Troche ludunt prandium perdunt pueri Children saith Chrysostome Chrys will play with their toppes and play away their dinners and most men childishly for toyes and trifles lose their God and heaven and their owne precious soules Hagar now adayes hath beaten her Mistresse Sarah out of doores Gen. 16.6 I meane the love of the world hath beaten the love of God and of Religion out of our hearts The world the world that 's our Treasure If our Saviours rule be true That where our hearts be there are our Treasures also Matthew 6.21 Mat. 6.21 then it is most plaine that wee have layd up our Treasures upon Earth for our thoughts our words our works our company are all worldly all earthly All the day all the weeke yea and the Sabbath day too is too little for the world Now if any man love the world saith Saint Iohn in expresse tearmes the love of the Father is not in him 1. Ioh. 2.15 1. Joh. 2.15 and as the ground where gold groweth is barren of all other things so an heart set vpon the world Simile is ever barren and devoid of heavenly graces for ye cannot serve God and Mammon saith our Saviour Mat. 6 24. Mat. 6 24. As for our buying of the Field I meane the Truth and Word of God 2 Men will not buy the Word it grieves my soule to think how the Booke of God is generally neglected his tenth part for the maintenance of his Ministers defrauded gelt and curtayled and all the labour the most men take for buying Truth is but to sit and give the Minister the hearing no preparation made before and after no meditation no conference no repetition of the things they have heard 3 At least not the Treasure no turning the Sermons into Prayer or into Practise Men place the utmost of their Religion in this they have read the Word they have heard the Sermon but never shew me the Meat but shew me the Man Never tell me thus many Chapters I have read thus many Sermons I have heard But tell mee what art thou what knowledge hast thou gotten what faith what hope what love what patience what temperance what humility what thankfulnesse what obedience what good hast thou gotten by the Word How justly may we take up the complaint of Salomon Pro. 17.16 Pro. 17.16 Why is there a price in the hand of a foole to get wisedome but he wants an heart Men have money time wit strength meanes of all sorts to buy the Field and to gaine the Treasure but the foole wants an heart eyther they get not the Word or get no knowledge out of the Word or turne not their knowledge into gracious practise Scire cupiunt tantum ut sciant They desire to know onely that they may know as if a man should get together Nummum ad numerandum Mony onely to number and tell it over Vas vitreum lingimus sed pultem non attingimus and not to buy necessaries withall and if it be thus with them certainly they may have got the Field the shell the huske and empty Casket but they have not gotten yet one peny-worth of the Treasure And by these meanes it comes to passe that while the Divel and the world have multitudes of Chapmen flocking and thronging about them to buy their Pedling-stuffe and painted Bables Simile The Lord may stand in the high places of the City making Proclamation Hoe come and buy of me Isa 55.1 Isa 55.1 and offering his rich and inualuable Treasures and few or none will come to the price Something they will bid and something they are content to give But hoc aliquid nihil est this something is as good as nothing for when he tels them They must sell all that meane to have the Treasure they goe away sorrowfull Joh. 6. â—0 saying in themselves Durus est hic sermo this is an hard saying and who can beare it this is an hard purchase and who can buy it as if poore soules that heaven and happines should be bought at too deare a rate if they should give their sins and vanities in exchange for it Vse 2 But alas alas Non Priamus tanti totaque Troia fuit All the lusts of Hell are not worth so much Mat. 16.26 and it will be a poore advantage to win the whole world and to lose Gods Kingdome and their owne soules Of ExhortatioÌ„ to withdraw our love from sin the world and set it on better things Let the second use be for Exhortation Let us all beloved in the Lord be persuaded to call off withdraw our love and affections from our sinfull lusts and from this present evill world and to settle and fasten them upon the Treasures of the Word namely upon Christ upon grace and upon glory
said unto them Will you also go away So say I to you Joh. 6.67 some run to Brownisme some to Familisme some to Anabaptisme some to Papisme some to flat Atheisme will you also goe away Let each of you answer in the secret of his heart with Simon Peter verse 68. 68. Master whither or to whom shall we goe Thou hast the Words of eternall life And this of the third circumstance The place or situation of the Treasure I come unto the fourth and last and that is The fourth Circumstance The Difficulty The difficultie of finding and obtaining it It is Thesaurus absconditus a Treasure HIDDEN in the Field The Kingdome of Heaven is like c. Our Saviour doth not liken it to an open Treasure in the Kings Court or Exchequer It is an hidden Treasure Non apertus in aulâ— sed absconditus in agro but to a Treasure hid in a field Nature her selfe hath hidden gold and silver in the inward mines and bowels of the earth farre remote from the eyes of men as foreknowing that they would prove occasions and incentives of pride ambition and covetousnesse contention warre and bloudshed And as Nature so experience teacheth men to hide their Treasures Depraedari desiderat saith Gregory qui Thesaurum in viâ publicâ portat Gregory He desires to be lightned of his Treasure that carries it in open view Isa 39.1.6 Hezekiah shewes his Treasure to the Embassadours of Babel and shortly after they were fetcht away to Babel Is 39.4.6 Treasures you see are to be Hidden In like manner Grace and Glory are hid Treasures Doctr. Grace and Glory are hidden hidden in the Word and hidden in themselves and in the world First Grace and heavenly wisedome lies not fleet in the letter in the upper Rine and barke of Scripture In the Word but deepe and low in the marrow and bowels of it Latet Christus saith Hugo Hugo in cortice literae vt Moses in fiscella scirpeâ Christ lyes hid in the ryne of the letter as Moses in the Arke of Bulrushes Exod. 2.3 Exod. 2.3 and Great is the mystery of godlinesse saith Saint Paul 1. Tim. 3.16 1. Tim. 3.16 As for Glory it is indeed described in the Word yet alas very darkely and obscurely in types and shadowes as of Crownes of Kingdomes and of Treasures So that secondly both Grace Glory are Hidden froÌ„ the men of the world To wordly men Mat. 11.25 1. Cor. 2.14 as our Saviour saith And S. Paul tels us That the Naturall maÌ„ perceives not the things of God he savours them not they are foolishnesse unto him The Crosse of Christ is a scandall Faith is a fancy Mortification is onely a bridling of nature Sanctification is but Hypocrisie and an outward shew yea Heaven it selfe is but a Dreame or â—able like the Poets Elysian fields Platoes Common-wealth or Moores Vtopia at least they thinke as slightly of it as of some farre countrey that little concerneth them they cannot with the eye of sense or carnall reason see the spirituall beauty of it and therefore are so farre from desiring with Saint Paul to be dissolved Phil. 1.23 that they say in their hearts with profane Esau Tush what is this birthright to me and with that Cardinal that would not give his part in Paris for his part in Paradise Thirdly Grace is an hidden and secret worke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Grace is a secret worke Rom. 7 22. 1. Pet. 3.4 In the Inner man as Saint Paul saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the hidden man of the heart as Saint Peter phraseth it It makes no glorious show or splendour in the world it alters not the visage or person of a man it sets no Crowne on his head it puts no gold ring on his finger or gorgeous attire on his backe The Kingdome of God comes not Luk. 17.20.21 saith our Saviour 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with observation or as Agrippa and Bernice came with Fesâ—â—s to keepe the Assizes Act. 25.24 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with great pompe and glory No no 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith our Saviour it is within you it is seated in your mind Luk. 17.21 will and affections Grace makes an ignorant man wise to salvation a couetous man liberall a proud man humble a drunkard sober and temperate aâ— unbeleever faithfull a worldling heavenly minded in a word it makes the Kings daughter all glorious within it is a secret worke Psal 45.13 Yea further it is oftentimes so hidden in the children of God under many outward infirmities Grace overwhelmed in Gods children under Crosses 1 Joh. 3.1 Esa 53.3 Psa 73.15 of poverty infamy and crosses that as Saint Iohn saith The world knowes them not can see in them no forme beauty or comelinesse that they should desire them but as the Psalmist saith they condemne the Generation of the righteous and no marvell for they are Gods hidden ones And yet further And under corruptions and sins it is oft so hidden in them under many sinnefull corruptions as ignorance unbeliefe pride hypocrisie anger yea and sometimes grosse and open sins as in the case of David and Peter that not onely carnall men cannot see their grace and goodnesse but even themselves doe question whether they have any true grace in them or no and though they have it yet they want the feeling and comfort of it for a time crying out with David Ps 77.8 Joh. 2.4 The Lord hath cast me off for ever and with Ionas I am cast out of his sight and no marvell for I am but an Hypocrite I have no truth of grace in me And as for Glory as the excellency thereof appeareth not to the carnall eye of sense or reason it being within the vaile Heb. 6.19 Heb. 6.19 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so through the weakenesse of our faith even we that beleeve doe see the beauty of it but dimly as he in the Gospel saw men walking like trees and a farre off as Moses saw Canaan from the top of Pisgah Deut 34. Onely now and then in the vigour of our Faith we may with Moses Heb. 11.27 Act. 7.56 see him that is invisible and with Stephen see Heaven opened and Christ Iesus ready to receive us and yet so as when we shall come thither we shall be forced to say as the Queene of Saba 1. Kin. 10.7 The one halfe of this Glory was not told me in mine owne Country And thus we see the truth of the point Vse 1 Let it be of use unto us beloved to teach us not to wonder or be offended Musculus Be not offended that few regard it that the Kingdome of Heaven á tam paucis ambitur is so little sought after or regarded and so much neglected and despised in the world T is a Treasure indeed but HIDDEN and unknowne and because unknowne therefore undesired Ignoti