like a sheep but now we are returned to the shepheard of our soules There is not any thing can reduce a man to God that hath departed from God but the placing his chiefe good in him that soul whose chiefe good is at home will not long stay abroad 4. 4 Unto thy chiefe good thou maist alwaies retire and fetch comfort Unto a mans chiefe good his soul retires and from it he fetcheth chief comfort upon all occasions and so may Saints he that makes choice of the chiefest good can say I am sure of this Comfort The Name of my God is a strong Tower Prov. 18.11 therefore I will runne to it and be safe the Rich man goes to his wealth the righteous man goes to his God A godly man is able to say in those distresse though I have no Riches to comfort me and very few friends to stand by me yet I have a God a Christ a Heaven a new Covenant a new image which I can retreat to and rely upon in all occasions and thus the soule can triumph in his chief good over the chiefest evills as the Spouse it is a voyce of triumph my beloved is the chiefest of ten thousand Cant. 5.10 There is all a mans comfort in that which is his treasure now God being his Treasure there is his comfort and hence it is that these dare compare with any persons in any affliction Psal 44.8 compared with verse 22. in verse 8. In God we make our boast all the day long and verse 22. For thy sake we are killed all the day long What boast of God and killed all the day long for God I here is the comfort of a godly man he can retire unto his chiefe good and whensoever he retreats to it he is filled full of comfort by it 5. 5 This may be a comfort in all thy failings Prov. 20.9 'T is of great Comfort to a godly man in the middest of all his failings yet I have not failed in chusing God for my chiefest good The best men may nay must say Who can make his heart clean and when he looks back upon his way he must say My heart bath runne out inordinately after this thing and that thing and I have neglected my chief good and my treasure but for this I desire to be ashamed all my life but my happinesse is laid up in him and no other I have chosen him for my chief good and though I have failed in many things Psal 18.2 Yet I have not wickedly departed from my God departed he hath and many times departed wittingly and willingly but wickedly I have not departed from God What is it for a man to depart from God willingly 'T is for a man to place his chief good some where else then in God to go out after an other God now in this David can rejoyce in the midd'st of his failings and so maist thou In that he hath not so departed from one God to set up another therefore this and onely this can comfort the Saints in the midd'st of all their failings The departings from God is the greatest trouble that doth befall them but yet here is their great comfort that they have not left him as their Treasure though they may sometimes leave him as their Lord. 6. 6 That which thou layest up for thy chief good herethou shalt enjoy for ever hereafter Comfort which is unspeakable that which thou hast laid up for thy chief good here by Election that thou shalt enjoy in the world to come by fruition therefore Austin saith A mans blessedness is begun in Election here but finished and perfected in fruition hereafter Gen. 15.2 saith the Lord I will be thy exceeding great reward dost thou chuse God for thy chiefest good here if thou dost that which thou chusest in one world thou shalt enjoy in another 7. 7 Thou shalt be blessed with the blessednesse of God He that hath laid up his chiefe good in heaven shall be happy with the same happinesse that God himselfe is happy withall look wherein Gods blessednesse lyes in that shall thy blessednesse lie wherein doth Gods blessednesse lie it lyes in himself his chiefe good lies in himselfe for the Creature to acknowledge God for his chiefe good so farre as the Creature is capable he is blessed with the blessednesse of God himselfe and thou dost enter into the joy of thy Lord. Now I proceed to the latter part of the Text viz. For where the Treasure is there will the heart be also Out of which words I gather this observation viz. That a mans chiefe good is Attractive of the heart Doct. or the Treasure where ever it is carryes the heart with it Where ever a mans Treasure is there will his heart be THere are four things I shall speak to by way of Explication 1. To shew you what is meant by the heart By heart in in Scripture is meant the whole soul 2. That the soul of man the heart goes out of it selfe for its happinesse for its chiefe good or thus the chiefe good of man is without himselfe 3. 'T is a matter of great concernment where a mans heart is placed 4. That the heart doth alwaies follow the Treasure the heart and the Treasure will be together and none can put them asunder 5. We shall give you the grounds of it First What is meant by the heart By the heart is meant 1. The whole soule By the heart in Scripture is meant the whole soul The Hebrews generally place the Government of man in the heart and make the heart the seat of the reasonable soul so that you shall find the Scripture commonly speaking of it First if you look to the whole soule as corrupt as unsanctified so corruption goes through all the faculties of the soule but the heart is said to be the seat thereof ler. 17.9 The heart is deceitfull above all things and desperately nicked and 1 Pet. 3.4 't is called The hidden man of the heart 2. If you looke upon the soule as renewed 't is said With the heartman believes Rom. 10.10 But the heart of man in Scripture is sometimes taken for those things that are scituated and have their habitation especially in the heart As wisdome is attributed to the heart or folly Ephraim is a silly Dove without a heart Hos 7.11 and he that trusts to his own heart is a foole Prov. 28.26 that is hee that leanes to his owne wisdome Again The conscience the heart is put for Conscience Davids heart smote him when he cut off the lap of Sauls garment There 's a conviction of the Conscience that 's called the heart somtimes for the memory which is the treasurie of the soul But there are three things meant by the heart in this place 1. 3. The thoughts and consultations The thoughts Meditations and consultations of the heart where the treasure is there is the heart that is there is the
inexhaustibly 4. It is there communicatively the Fountaine naturally sends forth streames 5. The comfort that is in God is living comfort the water that goes forth is living water Third General Proposition It s a matter of great concernment where our hearts are placad That it is matter of great concernment in Christ's acount and it should be so in ours also where our hearts are placed Let me open this The Lord hath in Scripture given especial directions for the setting of a mans heart Hag. 1.5 Consider your waies in the Hebrew it is Set your heart upon your waies so Deut. 32.46 Set your hearts unto all the words which I testifie among you this day Now that it is a matter of great consequence where the heart is set there are these grounds for it 1. 1 God mainly looks at the heart It s the heart mainely that God looks upon and doth observe he looks not upon what man looks upon man looks upon the outside but God looks upon the inside 2 Chron. 16.9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to shew himselfe strong in the behalse of them whose heart is perfect towards him and therefore because God looks upon the heart it is matter of great consequence where we place our hearts 2. 2 God claimes the heart It s the heart mainly that God laies claime unto and that he calls for My Sonne give me thy heart Prov. 23.26 3. 3 The man is where the heart is It s matter of great consequence because where the heart is there 's the man therfore where the soule is gone the man is gone where the heart goes the man follows 4. 4 God values man according to his heart God values every man according to his heart and the heart according to the Treasure upon which it is set a wicked man is worth nothing because his heart is worth nothing Prov. 10.20 The heart of the wicked is little worth God values men according to their hearts and their hearts according to their treasure or the object upon which his heart is set There are two things that make up the heart 1. The Ornaments of the heart a meek and a quiet spirit 2. The Objects of the heart and those things upon which the heart is set the mans heart is worth as much as the object is that it is set upon and if the object be worth nothing the mans heart is worth nothing 5. 5 As the heart is such is the life Ground because from the heart all the conversation flowes therefore 't is matter of great consequence upon what the heart is set Prov. 4.23 Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life so out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks Mat. 12.34 As the heart is pure or impure so is the whole life on what a mans heart is set that 's his treasure or else it would not bee so dangerous to misplace our hearts 6. 6 Objects transform the heart It s matter of great consequence where and upon what you set your hearts because the objects upon which the heart is set they have a transforming power and they doe mightily frame and fashion the heart according to themselves and therefore as where your Treasure is there will your hearts be also so like to what your Treasure is that will your hearts be like also If a man mind nothing else in the world but Riches they have nothing in their hearts but Riches either how they may get or save them if a mans heart be set on Covetousnesse it transforms him and the man is said to be a Covetous man when a man either gets or saves or covets much for unjust keeping is as great an act of Covetousness as unjust getting Jesus Christ hath left one golden expression what shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul Mat. 16.26 observe the soul is not onely lost here but it is lost hereafter also 'T is impossible to have the heart set wholly on Riches and set on Heaven because the soul is framed according to the object on which the heart is placed therefore take these two things wherein the soul is hereby injured In the light of it and in the holinesse and purity of it 1. In the light of it let a mans heart be set on any heavenly beauty it s changed into a Heavenly complexion let a mans heart be set on any earthly beauty it s changed into an Earthly complexion and so the soul is lost in the sight of it Secondly In the holinesse of it As the soul can see nothing that is sinfully evill or spiritually good when the heart is placed on wrong objects so it can do nothing that is spiritually good nor withstand any thing that is spiritually evill when 't is placed on Earthly objects the holinesse and purity of the soul is is wronged by Earthly objects Therefore Covetousnesse is called the not of all evill how comes it to be so I answer two waies First all evill comes from thence as the root Secondly all is nourished by it as the root there is no principle of evill that will not flow from this evill and there is no evill principle that it will not nourish there is no sin that this will not frame the heart to for it will make a man in love with every sinne it will make a man prove an Apostate from God Demas hath forsaken us having loved this present world 2 Tim. 4.10 It will make a man impudent and shameless in sin as Mat. 26.16 What will you give me and I will betray him faith Judas It will make a man forget the offers of grace Luke 16.14 and slight the word of God And the Pharisees who were covetous heard all these things and derided him It will make a man desire the pleasures of sin that are but for season it will make a man sin and desire to sin you little know what hideous wrong the setting of the heart upon the world brings you and what dolefull wrath it will lay you under The heart doth alwaies follow the treasure In the. Fourth Place for proof that the heart doth alwaies follow the Treasure 1. The heart of man hath its severall motions and out-goings its Processes and its Recesses and all this is according as the Treasure is Eccle. 6.9 The sight of the Eye is betthen the wandrings of the desire 'T is in the Hebrew the walkings of the soul then the soul of man is a walking thing the heart of a man hath its outgoings It 's true of the heart as it is said of the Angells Ezek. 1.13 they go forth with incredible swiftnesse like lightning so doth the heart Eccel 11.9 there you read of the way of the heart the heart is rendred by Montanus as a thing that is ever in motion most men do make choice of their chiefe
good in their youth and their hearts go after it Ezek. 33.31 Their hearts go after their Covetousness their hearts walk after their Covetousnesse so the Hebrew you will say Covetousnesse is a sin in the heart how then doth the heart go after it either it is spoken of Covetousnesse here as the Predominant lust or else Covetousnesse is put for the Object of Covetousnesse on which it is set hence 't is that in Scripture the soul of man is made up of lustings in a good sence Luke 22.15 with desire have I desired to eat this passover with you and in an evill sence Eph. 4.22 Put off the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitfull lust faith the Church draw us and we wil run after thee Cant. 1.4 how so by discovering the great sweetness excellencies that are in him are soules drawn to him then we shall have a delight in fellowship and Communion with him and the heart is drawn out sutably to a mans Treasure here are four Demonstrative Arguments that I shall give you how it comes to passe that the Treasure is attractive of the heart 1. Every unregenerate man hath some predominant lust Every man in an unregenerate estate hath some Predominant lust and this lust is said to be Predominant because in the object that is enjoyed by that lust there lies his Treasure t is called the stumbling block of a mans iniquity the Fathers use to stile it a mans darling sinne Iob. 20.12 It is sweet in his mouth and he hides it under his tongue Every sin Rules over a man but there are some sins that rule more immediately then any other and these sins are a mans Treasure that sin which he makes all other sins subordinate to in that he placeth his chief good and then that 's the sinne he is least able to resist and what 's the reason of it because the heart will go out after its Treasure Iames 1.14 But every man is tempted when he is drawn aside of his wn lust and enticed sinne drawes a mans heart aside But remember there is no man doth perish that ever did make a profession of Religion but he did meet with this stumbling block of his darling sin and because there was his Treasure his heart would go out after it The opportunity of Temptation is when a man is tryed in his master lust hee cannot hold his heart from his treasure because the treasure hath such a command and rule over the heart that he cannot resist it 2. The heart is impatient of delay in pursuit of its treasure It will appeare the heart goes out to the treasure because in the pursuit of it the heart is impatient of opposition and of procrastination of opposition it can beare no denyall of procrastination it can bear no delay Prov. 17.12 It is better to meet with a Bearobbed of her whelps then a foole in his folly who is Solomons fool there every wicked man that hath no fear of God an unregenerate man that is in his folly and hath no minde to get out of it he is a fool I but when is it most dangerous to meet with him when he is in his folly it is when the lust is got up and is ruling and raigning in the man What 's the reason a man had better meet a Bear robbed of her whelps then a Foole in his folly 'T is because you stand betweene the heart and the treasure and it can beare no opposition As it can bear no denyal so it can bear no delay thus it is when covetousnesse is a mans predominant lust Balaam's lust was too swift for his Ass saith the Prophet They shall come as an Eagle doth hasten to the prey It is spoken of a covetous man of all Birds an Eagle flyes swiftest and never flyes swifter then when she hastens to eat the prey so it is with every one that persecutes his chiefest good whatsoever it be 3. Let a man change his Treasure A manaâ—… heart changes as he changes his treasure and presently his heart changes and returnes from that which before it went out after with the greatest earnestnesse in the world and now it returnes from it with the greatest swiftnesse this is the first and the great change in Conversion a mans changing his chiefe good and when that is done the soule returns to God There two things that make Conversion one is an Aversion the other a Conversion the man turns away from his other treasure and then his heart runnes after God for his treasure Psal 63.8 My soule followes hard after God There are two expressions much alike one is Numb 14.24 My servant Caleb hath followed me fully To fulfill after the Lord that 's the Hebrew another expression is To cleave unto God the one points the sincerity of a mans heart and the other points the constancy of a mans heart the heart that did before follow sinne and vanity now followes after his chiefe good because he hath changed his other good for God Hos 14.8 Ephraim shall say what have I to doe any more with Idols Now where the Treasure is there will the heart be The Fifth Particular The reason why the heart goes after the treasure is to give you the Reasons or grounds why the heart goes out to its treasure I shall give you six great grounds from that that the treasure is to the soul 1. 1 The treasure is the soules food Because the treasure is the food that the soule feeds on then it s no wonder the soule goes out after its treasure and cannot live without it take an unregenerate man he eats the treasures of wickednesse and drinks the wine of violence take a godly man hee feeds upon spiritual food Ioh. 6.27 Labour not or the meat that perisheth but for the meat that endureth to everlasting life That which is the food of the heart the heart makes after and cannot live without it that 's the first ground 2. 2 It s the support of the soule The chiefe good is the support of the soule a man is not able to support himselfe without it Psal 41.12 Thou upholdest my heart the Hebrew is Thou hast underpropt my heart the heart is not able to stand by it selfe but the chief good holds it up then it wants a support and this support is God Iob 8.15 There is a man that leanes upon his house his house is the object of his hope he is born up by it and not able to stand without it A Saints support is onely in Gods strength My flesh and my heart failes but God is the strength of heart and my portion for ever Ps 73.26 Riches are an ungodly mans treasure and he runs to them to support him the name of the Lord is the righteous mans treasure and hee runnes to it to support him Every man hath and must have something to support and defend him and that the heart will
go out after 3. 3 It s the delight of the soule Reason why the Treasure is attractive of the heart because it is the delight of the heart and a man cannot live without delight but he cannot have delight but by retyring to his chiefe good and there he must delight himselfe the chiefe good is the object of the greatest the highest the fullest delight all its joyes come in by its chiefe good without delight the soul cannot live take away all delight and the soul dyes saith Austin therefore it must needs go out after the treasure because the treasure is the delight of the soul 4. 4 It s the beauty of the soul A mans chiefe good is that wherein the beauty of the soule doth lye take the soule off from this and its naked because the chiefe good is the beauty and ornament of the soule Ier. 2.32 Can a Maid forget her Ornaments saith God it is intimated God is the Ornaments and the attire of the soule Take one whose chief good is in cloathing that 's it that beautifies the body and he will not easily forget his attire Can a maid There 's not a naturall impossibilitie of a maids forgetting of her attire and the Bride her ornaments but there 's morall impossibility because they are her chiefe good and the heart goes out after them But take a godly man now God is the beauty and ornament of his soul his glory and chief good and therefore his heart must needs go out after God All the adorning of the soul is from the Treasure and therefore it must needs attract the heart 5. 5 It s the breath of the soul The soul must go to the Treasure because it is the breath of the soul the soule strangles and dies if it do not enjoy it The Soul is alwaies breathing after the chiefest good Psal 42.1 As the Hart pants after the water brooks so my heart pants after thee O God saith David the chief good causeth the breathings of the soul after it 6. Because the chief good is the onely rest of the soul Ps 116.7 Return unto thy rest O my soul the soul is restlesse till it come to the enjoyment of him therefore return unto thy rest The next thing is How the heart is carried out to its treasure how is the heart of man is carried out to his Treasure doth it alwaies go after it here let me lay down these six Conclusions 1. 1 Continually That the heart goes after the Treasure continually the soul of man is alwaies active and never idle and what 's the ground of all its motions its the chief good that 's the ground of it therefore the soul moans continually after its chief good Eccl. 2.23 the wise man speakes there of a Covetous rich man whose chief good is his wealth the heart takes no rest in the night because his heart is continually carried forth after his treasure the abundance of the rich will not suffer them to sleep 2. 2 Infinitely The heart goes after the Treasure infinitely and unsatiably it is never satisfied with any thing else till it be arived to its chief good They that place their Treasure here below they are never satisfied but their hearts are going forth after it without measure as Hab. 2.6 't is said there they load themselves with thick clay A wicked man man have as much as may sink him but hee never hath so much as will satisfie him they are like the horse-leach that cries give give so a godly mans heart is alwaies gasping after God and going out with bounless desires after Heaven 3. 3 The heart possesseth it for his own The heart taketh fast hold of its Treasure and possesseth it for its own There be other things that a man may look on as his own but this chiefly Iob 8.15 he shall take fast hold of his house Take a proud woman her vanity is in her apparell her apparell is her treasure and how fast will shee hold it Take a covetous man that makes Riches his Treasure he takes fast hold of his Treasure and will not let it goe so take a man that makes God and Christ his treasure when temptations and afflictions come that labour to pull a man from his treasure yet he laies fast hold of it and wil not let it go 4. 4 The heart re turnes to its treasure If at any time the heart be shaken yet it returnes to the chief good again So you shall finde an unregenerate man that hath his treasure below the man is shaken with Afflictions Crosses Troubles Sorrowes yet he returnes again to that which he hath taken up for his chief good So let a godly man be shaken by temptations from God yet for all that the soule returnes to God again Hos 2.19 I will return to my first husband c. 5. 5 The change of a mans chiefe good is the first change The change of a mans chief good is a godly mans first change and a godly mans great change and his chiefe change There is a change to destruction they have forsaken me the Fountain of living waters But there is a change to perfection and that is forsaking of broken Cisterns for living waters do not talk of the change of Actions but talk of this the change of the chief good change thy Riches for a God thy pleasures for a Christ 6. 6 In this the liberty and bondage of the heart lies In the chief good the liberty and the bondage of the heart doth lie wherin lies the liberty of the soul 't is in this that the soul is fastned upon God as the chiefe good and looks upon all other things in no other way then as they are in subordination unto him when the soul cleaves to God and God alone and lookes upon all other things as nothing but as in subordination unto him Then and not till then the soul is at liberty the more thou art taken up with thy chief good the freer thou art for his service is perfect freedome on the contrary all men that have their Treasures below this spirituall life they are in bondage continually because their treasures are below themselves There is another thing wee are to open Such as the treasure is such is the heart as the heart and the treasure are inseparable that the heart will bee where the treasure is So such as the treasure is such is the heart as well as where the treasure is there will be the heart and such as the heart is such is the man if it belaid on Earth then men are said to be Earthly if laid up in Heaven men are said to be heavenly Phil. 3.19 Your Conversation is in Heaven though their soules go up and down among many Creatures yet their Conversation is in Heaven for the heart of man doth cheapen here and there before itbuyes yet notwithstanding all is included in things below
to a man whose treasure is in Earth if a mans treasure be in Heaven his mind is in heaven hence it comes to passe that a godly man is said to be a stranger here Psal 39.12 I am a stranger and a Sojourner what 's the reason because hee doth not converse here as in his Country but seekes a Country above he is a stranger here travelling towards his owne Country Bernard saith a godly mans heart is in Heaven because the Lord dwells in Heaven hence it is that grace is called glory not onely because its of the same nature with that grace which a man in glory shal receive the the perfection of nor onely because it is a pledge and an earnest and will end in glory but because the soul immediately enters into glory after his treasure for his treasure immediately being in Heaven his heart is there hence 't is a godly man is more in Heaven then in Earth for his treasure is in Heaven and his heart is there But let us see in particular What iâ— meant by the heart what is here intended by the heart more especially there is meant all the things that are seated in the heart and let 's begin with the first of them 1. 1 The ain and ben of the cart The heart is put for the aime tendency and bent of the heart it is Animi Propositum it 's the propension of the heart Deut. 24.15 Hee is poore and setteth his heart upon it he is a hireling and his heart is set upon his waies hee doth not work for love to his master nor love to his work but the aime and bent of his soul is for the good hee shall receive by his work therefore the Scripture speaks of a double heart Ps 12.2 what makes a heart a a double heart some apply it to instability in opinions that which is called halting between two opinions when the mind is in suspence Luke 12.20 Be not of doubtfull mindes But whether it be in reference to opinions or what ever it is the mind is in doubt and hee is double minded But the intention of the Scripture by a double heart doth mainly aime at the intentions of the heart the heart goes not alwaies one way but sometimes for God sometimes for the Creature sometimes for Heaven sometimes for Earth when men have not a single Eye when they have not single aimes this the Scripture calls a double heart When a man hath an aime at God and the things of God and looks it other things in subordination thereto this the Scripture calls a single eye or a single heart but when men go sometimes very hotly after the things of God and at other times pursue after Riches immoderately this is a double heart Act. 8.1 Thy heart is not right in he sight of God and Hab. 4.12 The word of God is the discerner of the intents of the heart Now then thus where a mans Treasure is there the bent the aime and the tendency of a mans heart is one of the great things you are to look to is the heart for in the heart lyes the greatest deceit but in the heart above all other things the bent and tendency of the heart is that you are to looke at and there are two Reasons for it 1. 1 The aime of his heart is the godly mans comfort in all failings Because this is the great Comfort nay the onely comfort that a godly man hath to flye to in all failings and in all his falls the bent and aime of his heart In any particular failing and infirmity what is it the soul can retreat to truly when a godly man can say this hath been my transgression but this was not my intention this is the onely comfort of the man so it was with Peter it was a desperate fall to deny his Master and wish himselfe accursed that hee knew not the man but Peter could say Lord This was the bent of my soule not to deny thee but to die for thee Sinne comes upon a godly man at unawares sinne comes upon a godly man as judgement comes upon a wicked man by way of surprisall but the bent of his heart was not to sinne therefore this is a comfort to him 'T is an expression of David Though he did offend with his mouth yet I have purposed that my mouth should not offend it was my transgression but not my intention I have plotted that my mouth might not offend In all your failings this is that that must support you yea in every transgression that it was not your intention so to do 2. 2 It is his comfort after his failings Sometimes a godly man can take comfort in this after his fallings many times the Saints commit wickednesse out of consultation Psal 19.3 the Scripture calls them Presumptuous sinnes sinnes that they doe intend before hand 1 King 15.5 'T is said Davids heart was upright in all things all he dayes of his life save onely in the matter of Uriah the Hittite Then Davids heart was not upright in this matter his dissembling and his lying was clearly demonstrated But now what may a godly man retreat to to the generall bent of his heart when hee failes in a particular act 1 Kin. 15.14 Neverthelesse Asa his heart was upright with God all his daies he doth not speak of particular Acts but of the generall bent of his heart though in some particulars he contrived sinne wicked men when they are carryed on in a designe that 's sinfull they will not be beaten from it but the generall bent of their soul is to go on in it Now would you know which way the bent and tendernesse of your heart goes Six rules for discovery of the bent of the heart there are six Rules I shall give you It was the saying of a godly Minister I blesse my God I have stadied my own heart more then Boukes It would be very happy for you to say I have studied my heart more then the would more then trading 1. 2 That which its casryed after under different conditions is the aime of the heart Rule That which the soul is carryed after under different conditions this declares what the aime and bent of the soule is and so you must judge of the tendency of the heart as waters though you turn them out of their proper current and alter their channell yet they all runne into the Sea you will say then the tendency of them is to the Sea If you see the Sun whether the day be cleare or cloudy it makes to the West it concludes there 's the end of its course this is the race it hath to runne the going of the heart is the same in different conditions it doth wonderfully cleave to that which is its chief good is never at rest til it be centered there As for example suppose it be the heart of a naturall man his aime is at his owne exaltation now
The Certainty of Heavenly AND The Uncertainty of Earthly TREASURES Together with a Discovery where the Treasure and Heart is placed As it was Delivered in severall Sermons By that Eminently Faithfull servant of Christ Mr William Strong late Minister at Westminster They being his last Sermons LONDON Printed by W. Wilson living in Well-yard neere West-Smithfield and are to be sold by Francis Tyton at the Three Daggers neâ—re the Inner Temple 〈…〉 Fleetstreet The certainty of Heavenly and the uncertainty of Earthly Treasures Math. 6.20 21. Lay up for your selves Treasures in Heaven c. For where your Treasure is there will your heart be also IN these words there are two things First a Dehortation in Reference to Treasures below Secondly an Exhortation in References to Treasures above Both these branches have two things attending them The Dehortation from laying up Treasures below lies in two Arguments 1. their uncertainty 2. their decay The Exhortation for laying up Treasure in Heaven lies also in two arguments 1. Their Stability 2. Their continuance The uncertainty of the one and the certainty of the other the decay of the one and the durablenesse of the other should cause us to treasure up the one and disesteem the other Then the second part of the text comes in as a reason to enforce the former For where your Treasure is there will your hearts be also For the opening of this Text I shall lay down two propositions to treat upon 1. That every man hath a Treasure in this life For he doth speak it as an Act performed in this life and not as an Act to be performed in the life to come this life is the sowing time that life is the Reaping time Here the Treasure is in getting there it is in spending therefore every mans Treasure is in this life 2. That wheresoever the Treasure is it is Attractive to draw the heart unto it Or thus Every man laies up his heart where hee laies up his Treasure To begin with the first Doctrine Doct. Every man hath a Treasure in this life namely Doct. 1 That every man hath a Treasure in this life There are for the explaining of this truth two sorts of Treasures First God hath his Treasures Secondly men have their Treasures First Gods Treasure are God hath his Treasures The Treasures of God are of four sorts 1. 1 Of Nature The Treasures of Nature Job 38.22 Hast thou entred into the Treasures of the Snow or hast thou seen the Treasures of the Hail 2. 2 Of Providence The Treasures of Providences Ps 17.14 Whose belly thou fillest with thy hid Treasures 'T is spoken in Reference to ungodly men some there are that have in Common Providence their bellies fill'd with hid Treasure Godly men they have the best of the dainties of Providence but ungodly ones what they have is but to satisfie their belly never fills their Souls their Soules are left empty of grace though their bellies are filled with hid Treasure 3. 3 Of Grace There are Treasures of Grace Col. 2.3 In him are hid all the Treasures of Wisdome and Knowledge 4. 4 Of wrath and vengeance There are Treasures of wrath vengeance in Deut. 32.34 It is sealed up among my Treasures to me belongs vengeance c. These are Gods Treasures the Scripture speaks of Secondly 2 Men have their Treasures men have their Treasures And that which a man makes his chief good that is his Treasure that which he placeth his happinesse in that which the comfort of his life flowes from that is mans Treasure see it so in those two Scriptures Luke 16.25 Ps 17.14 That which in this place is called a Treasure is there called His good things and his portion that is that which a man makes his chiefe good The greatest difference between Godly men and the men of this world is this the one is all for great provisions in the way and nothing for the Journeies end the other is for all at the Journeyes end and but little in the way For the opening of this Doctrine further that every man in this life hath his Treasure and his own Treasure this take in four propositions 1. 1 Every man hath some chiefe good That every man hath some chiefe good which his Soul is set upon and which it centers in wherein he placeth his happinesse which if you could attain perfectly your Soules would be at rest Psal 116.7 Return unto thy rest O my Soul Godly men have their Treasure in Heaven God is their Treasure God is their Portion therefore they can rejoyce and say God is my chiefest good and my utmost end David tells you the tendency of his soul ran after God My soul thirsteth for God the living God all this is to shew that God is Davids chief good untill the Soule can attain to its chiefest good its never at rest But take a poore carnall wretch that never knew any thing above the Creature because the creature is his chief good till hee can obtain it he is restlesse Psal 6. unto 14. verse 1 Sam. 25.29 Ungodly mens soules goe wholly after their treasure and a godly mans soul goes wholly after his God Davids soule 't is said was bound up in the bundle of life with the Lord his God but it followes a wicked mans soul is slung away from God as out of the middle of a sling There are three things in that sling 1. It notes a distance from God as the stone in the sling is at a distance from the man 2. It notes not onely a distance from God but it notes a distance in judgement in wrath he will sling away the wicked from the middest of his people he will separate them from himself in wrath 3. It notes violence slinging is a violent motion 2. 2 Every man chuseth some chiefe good in this life Proposition Every man hath some good in this life in regard of Election not in regard of Fruition some chief good he chooseth in this life for the chief good of the Saints is reserved for them for the life to come the Election is below the Fruition is above the one hath his portion in this life the other in the life to come Some have chosen vanity now that you have chosen here you will enjoy hereafter some of you chuse Riches that which you chuse here will be your portion hereafter that which is your chief good in this life you must content your selves to have in the life to come 3. 3 Every man hath his owne chief good Every man in this life hath his own chief good and that is his Treasure That which is another mans chief good is not thine As every man lives by his own Faith so every man lives upon his own Treasure thy Faith perhaps is thy Treasure and God is thy Treasure an other mans Riches are his Treasure see a godly mans Treasure Isai 33.6 The feare of
be a City Heb. 11.10 whose builder and maker is God this being the place of the Saints therefore they are exhorted to lay up their treasure in it the time will shortly come when the Saints shall be removed from earth to heaven for here they have no abiding City now their happinesse in heaven being to enjoy God to eternity for this cause they are exhorted to lay up a Treasure in heaven Well take it in both these sences in God or in heaven where the eternall enjoyment of God shall be In the second place What is that Treasure that a man should lay up in heaven We shall understand it by the opposite there is a treasure that man layes up on earth as his chief good as Riches Honor High-places Pleasure popular applause c. and where his Treasure is there his heart is So there is a treasure in heaven which is a mans chiefe good it is God that is his reward Christ as Mediator that brings him to God There are three things that demonstrate Nothing but God can be a mans treasure in heaven that none but God can be a mans treasure in heaven 1. 1 Because a man must love it best A Mans treasure is that which he loves best and a man must love nothing more then God nay a mans chiefe good is that which he loves with an infinite love that he doth never say I have enough The Hebrew word for Treasures signifies that which a man sets his heart most on where a mans love goes there a mans zeal goes that 's his treasure that carryes out his love 2. 2 Prize it most That which a man prizeth most which a man sets highest price on that 's a mans Treasure now a man should prize nothing more then God Kingdomes and Nations be not deare to God for the sake of the Saints therefore Kingdomes and Nations should not be deare to the Saints in respect of God they should prize nothing in comparison of him much lesse in competition with him 3. 3 Relieup on it Upon a mans Treasure he relies for supplies that which a man makes his Treasure in Calamities and Distresses he goes to it therefore David saith Psal 13.25 Whom have I in heaven but thee and there 's none upon earth that I desire besides thee my flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever Thus you see every man must be supplyed out of his owne Treasure Thirdy You will say God is in heaven above the habitation of his holinesse and glory How can we be said to lay up God for a Treasure 'T is true God is in heaven he made the heavens and he dwels in heaven but he is not laid up there for thy treasure unlesse thou closest with him by faith and lay him up for thy God and in so doing he will be thy treasure for though he dwels in heaven yet he dwels also in humble and contrite Spirits Now there are six Rules to get the God of heaven to be our God and Treasure 1. 1 Chuse God so thy treasure He that will lay up Treasure in heaven he must chuse God for his treasure in heaven not onely the joyes and delights of heaven the happinesse of heaven but the God of heaven that which thou chusest is thy treasure If a man chuse Honour and Riches and Pleasure that is his treasure what you chuse first you prize most and you shall be sure to have God for your treasure if you chuse him 2. 2 Part with all for him Then part with all other treasures for him No man can have two Treasures no more then he can have two Masters Mat. 19.21 Look to your selves you have not God for your treasure except you part with all other treasures for him 3. 3 Let thy heart be after him The soul is to be carryed out after this treasure incessantly that man that layes up God for his treasure his heart is continually carryed after him and so must yours if you will have God to be your Treasure Psal 73.24 How doth the foul go out after God Psa 119.20 My soul pants for the longings it hath towards thee my soul longeth yea even fainteth for the Lord. Psal 84.2 so saith David If your souls do not go out after God and relish the sweetnesse of God certainly you have no part nor portion in this Treasure 4. 4 Live upon him If you would have God for your treasure live upon him men live upon their treasures so must you upon your God 5. 5 Glory in him Would you have the God of heaven for your treasure then glory in him what a man labours to get for his treasure that he glories in Every man values other men as he values his treasure take a man that makes Riches his treasure let the person be never so honourable he despiseth him because he hath not so great an estate as he so a godly man values every man according as his chiefest good is he is worth no more then he is worth in Gods account therefore he esteems no more of him 6. 6 Add to thy treasure What ever is your Treasure if you lay up your treasure in any thing you must use all means to add unto it and make a daily increase the increase of your treasure coms in by adding to it Isai 33.6 Why doth Hezekiab lay up treasure in God he gets a further interest in God therefore the man is bless'd with his treasure wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times and thought of Salvation and this is because the fear of the Lord is his treasure The fourth particular is to give you some grounds to enforce the Exhortation is there a treasure in Heaven then do not be such Enemies to your soules as not to lay up treasures there There are four Arguments to enforce the Exhortation 1. 1 No treasure below God will be lasting No treasure below God will be lasting Christ speakes therefore to you continually to lay up your treasure in Heaven because there will come a time when all treasures laid up below God will be expunged and gone and then what will you live upon 1. Cor. 7.29.31 the Apostle faith the time is short and the fashion of this world passeth away 't is a Metaphor taken from things folded up a great part of time is unfolded and unwoven it 's almost spent there 's abundance of life run out already and little left behind there is an eternity that will never be spent after all thy time here is spent lay up therefore treasures there 2. 2 Nor hopes of Heaven without this treasure Heaven is the place to which you hope to go now carry your treasures with you and send your treasures before you or else there can be no hopes of entering into Heaven This is the Exhortation of our Saviour when he faith
thoughts there is the meditations and consultations of the heart in these all the thoughts and contrivances of the soule are now where a man's treasure is there are these 2 Kings 5.26 Did not my heart go along with thee How did the Prophets heart goe with him his thoughts went with him So Iob 17.11 the thoughts of the heart are there called the heart in the Hebrew it is the possessions of the heart for as what ever you do possesse in the body the body can see a glory and cast a sweetnesse in all things here below so the soul can tast a a sweetnesse and see a glory in all things above 2. 4. Love affections By heart is meant a mans love and affection his desires and longings for in these the soule goes out towards its object Gen. 34.8 As it is said of Shechem his house clave to Dinah Now where your treasure is ther 's your love there your desires are the longings of your Soules are after it 3. 5. Ioy and delight By the heart is meant a man's delight the joy of his heart that whereby the great Comfort of his life comes in Psal 62.16 If riches increase set not your heart on him that is do not place the comfort of your lives in them let not your hearts be swallowed up by them Now where a man's treasure is there his thoughts are there his love is there the joy and delight of his soul is The Second Proposition is this Mans chief is without himself that the soul of man goes out of it self for happinesse for its treasure is without it self It 's Gods honour his Prerogative onely to have his blessednesse to be himself hee is unto himselfe the chief good he hath nothing without himself to augment his happiness Gods blessednesse is in himself The Lord Jesus Christ as Mediator in all his obedience added nothing to the blessednesse of God My goodnesse extends not to thee Psal 16.2 But this is Gods Prerogative onely to have his happinesse in himself as for creatures that are capable of a chiefe good their happinesse is not in themselves but in their treasure which is good and therefore their heart is to go out after their treasure And here take notice of two great depths in Divinity 1. 1 Depth Man hath not the chiefest good in himself his happinesse comes not from himself and hence it is that in reference to all things hee is a dependant Creature And therefore the soul is continually restlesse because it seeks to joyne it selfe to its chiefest good which is without it self you have a saying Prov. 14.14 a good man shall be satisfied from himself It is not from himself as separated from God but from himself is united to God wherein his blessednesse lies not selfe in opposition to God but self in-subordination to God and so a man is satisfied from himself that is hee goes not out of himselfe when hee goes into God because he is made one with God 2. 2 Depth Depth in Divinity is this that it is the nature and constitution of the reasonable soul to make out to a chiefe good without it selfe this is the nature of it in its Creation it doth not onely seek its own preservation but it seeks its owne perfection This is that which is the working of every Greature much more of the reasonable Greature because it hath not a Fountain at home it must go abroad to draw and because it hath not food at home it must go out to gather Therefore Austin doth observe very wel that man is a midle Creature wel there is some thing above him and some thing below him That soul that hath its chief good below it selfe is a miserable soul That soul that hath its chief good above it self The good of the soul is above it self is a happy soul here is the happinesse of the Saints that their happinesse is above themselves saith Christ Iohn 6.27 Labour not for the meate which perisheth but for the meate which endureth unto everlasting life which the Son of man shall give unto you the soul goes out to eat and to drink Now the soule that feeds upon something below it self is miserable but that soul that feeds on somthing above it self is blessed Isa 44.20 the Prophet speaks of some that feed upon ashes a deceived heart hath turned them aside that they cannot say is there not a lie in my right hand And thus doth every man feed whose chief food is below himself he feeds on Ashes not on spirituall food he feeds of the Earth as hee lives in the Earth Psal 62.10 If Riches encrease set not your heart upon them hee sets his heart on Riches and therefore his heart cannot be set on God and his heart is set so upon riches as to suck something from them for his preservation and for his perfection so a godly mans heart is set upon God doth suck out of the sweetnesse of God for his preservation and for his perfection Isai 66.11 They shall suck and be satisfied with the breasts of his Consolation Now give me leave to shew you the misery of them that set their happinesse in things below themselves here 's their misery in three things The misery of those that set their happiness in things below themselves 1. You draw where there is no water the Creature is but vanity all things below are so you suck where there is no milk all these things are empty that you think to find a fulnesse in 2. The more your souls go out to these things for their Treasure the more the Appetite is increased but the lesse 't is satisfied for I told you that all the Creatures the more a man hath to doe with them the more his appetite is to them 3. Consider what is there to be had in these Creature-comforts when your souls goe forth after them what do you leave for them You have forsaken me the fountain of living waters and have hewen to your selves Cisterns broken Cisterns that will hold no water Jer. 2.13 Observe foure Particulars from hence 1. All the good you have in a Creature Creature comforts compared to a Cistern is but a Cistern they have no good in themselves no more then is put into them 2. A Cistern is but of a small compasse it will hold but a little a man can see an end of its perfection but of a Fountain thou canst see no end thereof 3. It s water that will die and perish therefore opposed to living water it will be a withering comfort 4. They will all leak out of the bottom therefore they are said to be broken Cisterns But what is the water of the Fountaine what is the comfort that is in God There five things in it 1. The comforts of God compared to a fountain The water in the Fountaine is originally in it selfe 2. It s there continually 3. Its is there
because he shall never be separated from the thing beloved his love shall continue for ever in heaven and he shall never be separated from it Then examine your selves that which you feare to be separated from is that which the love of your heart runs out unto 8. 8 Love is victorious Love is victorious Cant. 8.4 'T is strong as death there 's a kind of dominion in love looke over the love that men bear to the things of this life let them have but Riches and if Christ and the glory of heaven be tendered to them as the young man had in the Gospel and bid them sell all they will go away sorrowful why so the love of the world overcomes them On the other side offer a godly man all the comforts of this life whatsoever his heart could wish yet notwithstanding he doth not imbrace it why so his love to God out-bids them and overcomes them Love it is like Lime in that respect many waters cannot quench love Cant. 8.7 Nay the more you pouâ—e upon lime the hotter it burns It s not onely faith that overcomes the world but love overcomes the world for love is a victorious Grace as well as Faith If you be offered great things in this world greater things in another world doth overcome them therefore examine where your love is for where your love is ther 's your heart where your heart is there 's your Treasure where your Treasure is there 's your Heaven where your Heaven is there 's your God and where your God is there 's your happinesse There are onely three short uses I shall make and so shut up the point Use 1. 1. Use Shall be in generall in two things 1. To discover the fulnesse that is in every scripture sentence From hence see the fulnesse of Scripture every short sentence of it how full of matter is it the smallest things in Scripture there are great things depending on them therefore a Father cryes out in admiration of the fulnesse of the Scripture It s observed by Chrysostome he saith It s the greatest Blasphemy that can be to think that in the Booke of God there should be found one idle word hee that will judge you for idle words will not write one idle word There 's one place which Chrysostome himself insists upon its 1 Tim. 5.23 Drink no longer water but use a little wine for thy stomacks ake and he hath eight mighty truths out of that ordinary portion of Scripture 1. Godly men out of love to duty neglect the body 2. Godly men are very moderate in the use of the creatures left they should be brought under the power of them 3. Consider in his weakness hee did not cease from his charge he had infirmities and often infirmities but he did not neglect the affaires of the Gospel 4. Take a little wine That godly men may too far neglect their bodies even to offend therin 5. Every creature of God is good in it self yea those creatures of God that are most abused 6. Godly men may be subject to many bodily infirmities and that often 7. In the decay of nature the Creatures are to be used for its repair but according to the proportion of natures infirmities 8. There 's a moderation appointed in receiving the creature even when men take them for necessities sake for he that prescribes him the wine prescribes him the measure upon this accompt the Scripture becomes exceeding sweet to a man and 't is a great Argument of growth of grace in him and of profiting in spirituall knowledge when a man can take delight and sweetnesse in the word not onely in the substance but in every circumstance of it Do not study the substance of the word onely but the phrase of it they are not only words but such words as God himselfe hath chosen out phrased it to our minds and to our understandings 2. There are some sentences of scripture that we should especially treasure up Consider though all the Scripture be to be studied yet there are some sentences above all that a man should lay up in his heart such as these we are speaking on Where a mans Treasure is there will his heart be There are fix parts of Scripture that the Lord puts speciall marks upon which scriptures are sutable to especiall occasions and therefore wee should take especial notice of them 1. 1 Such as the Lord hath added anote of attention unto Those scriptures which the Lord hath added a note of attention and asseveration to those especially we should studie Io. 1.29 Behold the Lambe of God that takes away the sinnes of the world Where the Lord doth put special marks upon them there we should exercise a speciall study about them Isa 40.5 Behold the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it c. 2. 2 Such as are of ten repeated Such scriptures as the Lord hath often repeated such scriptures should bee diligently studied As Riches profit not in the day of wrath Pro. 11.4 Mark 8.36 And what shal it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul And if Riches increase set not your hearts upon them Psa 62.10 3. 3 Such as have bin most effectuall for your conversion Those scriptures that God hath made use of in a speciall manner to doe you or any other good these should bee mightily studied God requiers you should take notice of them in a speciall manner so did the Ancients Rom. 13.1 And Luther made use of Rom. 1.17 and Junius of Iob. 1.1 Those by which the Lord hath spoken Conviction and Consolation these he requires you should especially observe and diligently study 4. 4 Such are sutable to your condition Those scriptures that speak especially concerning thy condition the Lord requires a man should study that word that is sutable to his estate whether thou art in poverty or riches in health or sickness 5. 5 Such as speak to the controversies of the times Those Scriptures that speak to the present controversie of the Age that you live in that you may be established in the present truth and keep from falling into the present errors the Lord requires you to be much in the study of these Scriptures 6. 6 Such as are most comprehensive Those scriptures that are very comprehensive that carry in them the guidance of a mans life as in the Text Lay up for your selves treasures in heaven c. and that Heb. 13.5 Be convent with such things as you have for he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Heb. 12.14 And without holinesse no man shall see the Lord. Such comprehensive directions as these the Lord requires our hearts should be exercised in the study of them Use 2. Use 2. To difcover the necessity regeneration Is most proper in this point Is the heart inseparable from the
treasure Then this shews to every unregenerate man that there is an absolute necessity of Regeneration Many a carnall man will complain and fay I cannot bow my thoughts God-ward what commands my thoughts Thy treasure commands them If thy treasure be in God the meditation of thy heart will be towards God What is Conversion 'T is a change of a mans chief good Thy treasure and thy heart will be changed together change thy treasure and thy heart will change The misery of that man whose treasure is on earth The misery of that man whose heart is on earth is unspeakable because then his treasure is on earth Consider these things 1. Let thy Actions be what they will if thy treasure be below thy heart will be below A temporary man may and will goe forth in temporary actions more then a spirituall man can do But in a Temporary man there 's no change of heart Act 8.21 Simon Magus he washed his hands but kept his heart in the same blacknesse of covetousness that it was before Till thou change thy treasure thy heart will never change The misery of an ungodly man is in this he may change his love when he will but his heart is not changed unlesse his treasure be changed 2. This is the ground of the greatest bondage to an ungodly man in the world because his treasure is below therefore his heart cannot be above for where his Treasure is there will the heart be This is that which keeps all unregenerate men in bondage there is therfore an absolute necessity for the change of a mans treasure or otherwise thou canst not be assured that thy heart is changed Use 3. Use 3. Learn then the blessed condition of a godly man To discover the blessed condition of a godly man whose treasure is in heaven he is every where blessed his body is on earth but his heart is in heaven There 's a twofold blessing upon this account First Let this man at any time go astray for a godly man is apt to wander this will reduce and bring him home againe the heart will be to the Treasure A godly man can never fall from God why because the heart and the treasure are inseparable As the misery of an ungodly man is let him professe what he will yet his treasure will bring him back so a godly man let him wander whither he will yet his treasure will reduce him Secondly He is a happy man that hath his treasure alwaies in Heaven he is a happy man because he is a heavenly man his heart is in heaven There are four Reasons why he that hath his Treasure alwaies in Heaven is a happie man 1. 1 Here by he is evidenced to be an heavenly man Because hereby he is evidenced to be a heavenly man 1 Cor. 15.48 As is the earthly such are they that are earthly and as is the heavenly such are they also that are heavenly Because thy heart is in heaven therefore thou art a heavenly man As that wisdome that is conversant about earth is said to be earthly so that wisdome that is conversant about heaven is said to be heavenly An earthly mind is a plague an heavenly mind is a glory 2. 2 His heart doth not change with his condition He that hath his treasure in heaven is a blessed man in this that his heart is not subject to those impressions of changes that other means are It a mans condition doth change yet if his heart doth not change it s no great matter as Tertullian observes though he was under great afflictions on earth yet his heart was out of danger because it was in heaven therefore Rev. 13.6 Saints are said to dwell in heaven the heart changes not for any evil because it s bound up in an unchangeable good 3. 3 His conversation will be in heaven He is a happy man who hath his Treasure alwaies in Heaven because where his treasure is there will his heart and conversation bee Phil. 3.20 Our conversation is in Heaven from whence also wee looke for our Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ. Saith the wise man Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life Prov. 4.23 The way of his life comes out of his heart Now this man taking up of his heart with God must have his life taken up with God also he is taken up with God as his Father with Christ as his husband with the Saints and blessed Spirits as his companions 4. 4 His soul shall shortly be there A mans heart being in heaven his soule shall shortly be there too And this also is an argument that bodies shall be there shortly for though body and soule be parted by death yet it will not be long before they are united again and what a comfortable thing is this then for a man to lay up his Treasure in Heaven seeing it is such an argument that he himselfe shall be taken up into Heaven FINIS
the Lord is his Treasure this is peculiarly spoken of Hezekiah and in him of the Church of God Now what is here meant by the fear of God Calvin notes two things 1. Reverential fear and awe of the Majestie of God from a right apprehension of his Righteousnesse and Holinesse so Prov. 17. The feare of the Lord is the beginning of wisdome 2. By Fear is meant an aweful worship of God Worship the Lord with fear and rejoyce with trembling Psa 2.11 Thus you see what was Hezekiah's Treasure It was the feare of the Lord a holy feare of God and a constant worship of him is a Christians Treasure But how comes it to passe that every man hath his own Treasure 1. From the different lights that men have Men have different lights some can see good in that which an other man can see none 2 Cor. 4.18 We look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen c. 2 Cor. 4.4 There are some in whom the God of this world hath blinded their eyes and some the eyes of whose understanding are enlightned Ephe. 1.17.18 Men have different good things because they have different lights the things of this life are base in the eyes of some though glorious to others 2. 2 Men have different savours Men have different treasures to themselves because they have different Savours Rom. 8.5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh but they that are after the spirit the things of the spirit the meaning is they savour the things of the flesh Tell a naturall man of a promise it hath no more savour to him then a stock or a stone tell a Rich man of a promise who makes Riches his treasure this hath no savour in it he can taste sweetnesse in dainty meats and in gorgeous apparell and in the pleasures of sin that are but for a season but let a Saint come and look upon the word of God thy word is sweeter to me then the honey or the honey combe Psal 19.10 people runne after vanity because they savour no better things 3. 3 Men make different choice From their choice would you know why Israel was Gods peculiar treasure it was because God chose them himselfe Psal 144.4 Some men make choice of God as their chiefest good let him enjoy God he is contented saith David Whom have I in heaven but thee there 's none on earth whom I desire in comparison of thee But if you let me live without God 't is nothing he accounts all things nothing in comparison of God because that 's the mans chief good Take an other He saith I can live without God all my life time and I can be content never to heare of God the Reason is because they chuse an other good for their chiefe good besides God himselfe this chief good is called a mans Treasure you see now every man hath his chiefe good in this life and his own chiefe good in this life 4. A mans chiefe good is his treasure Particular That a mans chiefe good is his Treasure and that upon a three-fold Accompt 1. 1 Because of the preciousnesse From the Preciousnesse of it No man owns or esteems his Treasure unlesse it be his own chiefe good and that which he esteems as precious A mans Treasures are precious therefore when the Lord speaks of precious things he calls them a Treasure Mat. 13.44.2 Cor. 4.7 The Gospel is caled a Treasure because it carries precious things with it Take a man whose chiefe good is God take God from him and he is undone But an other man who makes wealth his treasure he saith take away this and I shall have no comfort one takes God for his treasure and the other wealth for his 2. 'T is called Treasure Plentifulnesse not onely for the preciousnesse of it but for the plentifulnesse of it for 't is not a little that will make a Treasure but abundance Col. 2.3 In whom are hid all the Treasures of wisdome and knowledge What ever is a mans chiefe good he desires it with an infinite appetite for he is never satisfied Take a man that makes pleasure his chiefe treasure he is like a Horse-leach that cryes give give let him have to day yet he is hungry to morrow Take a man whose chiefe good is laid up in God though he have all the world can afford him yet he sayes give me more comfort from God more Communion with God and more likenesse to God hee is still unsatisfied because it 's his chief good 3. 3 Valuation of it 'T is called a Treasure because it 's that by which a man values himselfe look how much a man hath in his Treasure so much he conceives he is worth there is a Rate which the man puts upon it it adds as it were to the value of himself Now as men value themselves according to their wealth honor c. so God values every man according to his heart Prov. 10.20 The heart of the wicked is little worth the man is worth nothing if his heart be worth nothing For these grounds 't is called a Treasure for the preciousnesse for the plentifullness for the value and esteem a man puts upon it Use 1. Vse 1. For the examination Of Examination where is your treasure Take this rule where thy love is ther 's thy heart where thy heart is ther 's thy Treasure where thy Treasure is ther 's thy Heaven where thy heaven is ther 's thy God and where thy God is ther 's thy happines There are six things I would have you to consider That is your Treasure as to this use of Examination that you may know where your Treasure lies 1. 1 Which you labour most for Consider what it is that you dig for that you labour for that you are willing to spend your money for this is the first try all of your Treasure If you dig for wisdome as for pretious stones If thou seekâ—st her as Silver and searchest for her as for hid treasures Pro. 2.4 and saith our Saviour Job 6.27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life What 's the great thing you work for in this life What is it you lay out your money for that you labour for dost thou lay out thy Knowledge for God thy estate for God or dost thou spend thy money for that which is not bread and labour for that which satisfieth not Isaiah 55.2 When a man shall return to his own heart and say I have laboured for Wealth all my daies and wearied my self for vanity and now I come to die I find that I have not laboured at all for God I have not chosen God for my treasure Oh this mans condition is very sad how many are there that can lavish out their wealth upon their lusts But let
a poor member of Christ come every penny that 's given to them is as much as a drop of blood that which you lay out your money for and digg for most that 's your Treasure 2. 2 Which is the comfort of your lives Examine what it is by which the comforts of your lives come in what it is you live upon whether you labour for the meat which perisheth or for that which endureth to everlasting life John 6.27 Whether your comforts come in by eating the bread of wickednesse and drinking the wine of violence Prov. 4.17 Or by feeding upon Jesus Christ by faith Hee that feeds onely upon the Creature feeds upon Ashes a deceived heart hath turned him aside Isa 44.20 That man that makes not God his treasure makes the Devil his Treasure Therefore consider by what doth the Comfort of your lives come in some may say I live a comfortable life because I have a great deal of wealth and a plentifull Table but the other saith I live a comfortable life because I have had Communion with God and some tast of Heavenly Treasures that from whence the Comfort of your lives comes in that 's your Treasure 3. 3 Which you are to keep What is that which is your greatest care to keep above all things else that 's your Treasure Treasures are commonly hidden that men may keep them safe take a man that makes Riches his treasure what doth he feare most theft but take a godly man that makes God his Treasure what doth he fear most sinne because God is his Treasure 4. 4 Which you retreat unto What doth your soules retreat unto for comfort in any trouble in any disgrace in any distresse whither doe you retire whither doth a rich man retire when hee is in danger to his Riches whither doth a godly man retire when he is in danger to his God Prov. 18.10 11. the name of the Lord is a strong Tower the Righteous runneth into it and are safe Pro. 10.15 The Rich mans wealth is his strong City and as an high wall in his owne conceit one retires to his Riches and the other to his God 5. 5 Which you value men for How doe you judge of other men for you value men more or lesse according to that you count your owne treasure A godly man that makes Grace his treasure Ask him this question who is the best man whether the rich man or the godly man whether hee that hath much of grace or he that hath much of Gold whether he that hath much of the Creature or hee that hath most of Christ Hee answers the godly man is the better man because he seekes that which is pretious unto me because he seeks his treasure above saith David Psal 16.3 To the excellent of the Earth in whom is all my delight Hee accounts them excellent because they have much of that which he counts his treasure and he values all other men according to that they have of that which hee accounts his treasure 6. 6 Which you prize time for What are the times that you do mostly prize A man usually prizeth those times most that bring him in most of his treasure most of his wealth and profit Amos 8.12 say they When will the Sabbath be gone there was no day so tiresome unto them as a Sabbath day they longed for the week daies because they brought them in much plenty much of their treasure But now with a gracious heart it is otherwise as the one saith when will the Sabbath be gone so the other saith When will the Sabbath come Isa 38.13 they called it a delight because it brings in most of their treasure So it is with a gratious heart Those times wherin he hath trading with Heaven wherein he hath Communion with Christ wherein he hath the powrings forth of the Spirit wherein he hath the Exercise of Grace wherein hee is made serviceable to God these are the times that he accounts pretious There are five Rules of tryall more which every one should take as looking-Glasses wherein you you may see where your treasure and chief good is laid up A mans treasure is that which is the greatest Question to be resolved that can be 1. 1 Which is first in his aim A mans treasure and chief good is that which is first in his eye and aime in the whole bent and course of his life that which hath the priority in all his intentions that is his chief good Intention is the bent and aime of the will in Reference to some good propounded to it by the understanding that which is first in Intention is last in Execution if it be a good obtained but if it be a good to be obtained then that which is first in Intention is last in fruition Mat. 6.33 Seek first the Kingdom of God c. There is not onely a seeking of the Kingdom of Heaven but there must be a seeking of it first for God stands much on Priorities in Scripture and if it be not set in its due order God himself is displeased with it and that which is done is as if it had not been done at all Take a naturall man whose chiefe good is wealth it is first in his Eye it hath a prehemenency in all his Actions and Intentions he seekes an Estate first to be great in the world rather then to be good in the World the chiefe good is that which draws out the first born of the Soul 2 Cor. 4.18 We look not at or we seek not the things that are seen but at the things that are not seen c. Hee speaks not onely in his own name but in behalf of all the Saints for they have all one chiefe good and utmost end Phil. 3.14 thus it was with Paul I presse to the mark for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus I presse to the mark the mark is that hee proposeth that he shoots at as an Archer at his mark you may see by this what 's your treasure what is the first and main thing in your Intentions for ther 's no Saint in the World but if God should say ask what thou wilt and I will give it thee he would say first I desire interest in they selfe and Inheritance with the Saints that which is first in Intention is last in fruition what the main of your souls is set upon that is your chiefe good 2. 2 Why he desires for it self A man shall know where his treasure and chiefe good lies by this that 's a mans chief good which hee desires for it self desires are all things else in subordination thereto Christ gives you this rule in Mark 3.7 Hee that loves Father and Mother more then me is not worthy of me A man is bound to love Father and Mother but not more then me when doth a man love any thing more then Christ when it comes in competition
with him but not in subordination to him God is to be beloved for himself and Christ is to be received for himself and therefore 't is said Luke 14.26 He that hates not Father and Mother c. cannot be my Disciple how hates them a man is bound to love them all The Command is not absolute that he should hate them absolutely but comparatively to hate them is to soe an excellency in Christ above them Christ is to be beloved for himself and God for himself That Rule of Austin is true we are to love friends in God and Enemies for God But how shall I know that I love God for himself for a man may love Christ and God from a principle of self-love I shall give you two tryalls First then a man loves God for himselfe when hee is willing to part with all things for him that man that is willing to part with all things for God must needs love God above all things But how shall I know that I am willing to part with all for Gods sake there are two seasons when men are tryed in this life at the time of Conversion and the time of dissolution First At the time of Conversion Philipi 3.8 Paul counts all things but drosse and and dung that he may win Christ so 〈◊〉 14.33 he that forsakes not all cannot be my Disciple The second is the time of Dissolution without this I cannot attain to my chiefest good will the Lord have an Isaac the soul will give him an Isaac he will sacrifice his parts with all that ever he hath and give them up to God 1 Cor. 6.23 you are not your own you are bought with a price saith the Apostle A gracious soule hath experience of this at the time of dissolution when hee sets all things here below aside for God when his friends his Estate his glory and his portion take their leaves of him A godly man when he comes to die he can look on all these dying things rejoycingly he can say I have no need of them Phil. 1.23 Lord I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ which is far better Phil 1.23 as a Martyr said when hee came to die my friends are dear my Children are dear my Wife is dear but my Christ is dearer 2. The second triall that a man loves God for himselfe when a man doth abstract God and Christ the good that is in them and the good that comes by them and the soule is carried to them for the good that is in them There are two seasons when all the good that comes by Religion and godliness seemes to be abstracted from it at the time of Affliction and at the time of desertion First At the time of affliction Is there any outward benefit comes by Religion in the time of persecution and affliction Secondly All the time of desertion that deprives a man of all comfort now when a man shall be able to fay as Job though be kill me yet I will trust in him I will love him for the excellency that hee hath in him though I receive none of that excellency from him For the good that comes by him many love him but for the good that is in him a gratious soule loves him Take a man that makes riches his Treasure hee will part with a good Conscience the best friends he hath nay though hee act to the griefe of his friends and to the reproach of his Enemies yet if the man doe but obtaine that which he desires he matters not this is a clear argument that a man loves it for it selfe An ambitious man will break all bonds Naturall Civill and Religious yea let him be accounted an ambitious self-seeking man yea let credit and Conscience lie at the stake yet hee will despise Counsell tread upon friends trample upon Lawes and all that hee may be great in the world 3. 3 Unto which he refers all things That which is a mans Treasure or his chiefe good he referrs all things unto it and seekes all things from it for a mans chief good and utmost end is that which works in all the rest I shall give you two rules for this First he that seeks all things in subordination to his chiefest good hee seeks nothing that shall fall crosse unto it this is the signe of a godly man what ever is crosse to his chief good hee counts life not dear for the removall of it I count not my life dear unto me saith Paul so I may finish my course with joy Acts 20.24 Bodily ease carnall delight worldly contentments are not dear unto thee if God be thy chief good if thy Estate honour thy relations yea thy life it selfe come in competition between thy God and thee thou wilt say as the Martyr sarwell Wife farwell Children farwell Estate yea farwell life and give me my Christ 'T is with many men as it was with Demas Demas hath forsaken us and embraced the present world he professes godlinesse no more So it is with men they neglect known duties for temporall advantages take heed that nothing crosse thee in thy treasure but let all things be subordinated unto it Then secondly as it must not crosse it so it must serve it every thing must be subordinate to his chiefest good thus it was with Jehu 2 Kings 2.9 The Kingdom was in his eye that was his chiefe good Now Jehu's reformation of Religion tended onely to this end to set Jehu in his Kingdome yet hee did the worke that God intended hee executed Gods judgements upon the house of Ahab hee thought to have had his ends upon God and God had his ends upon him But take a godly man whose chiefe good is God and godlinesse hee loves an Estate not for it selfe but that hee might honour God with it gifts what doth he value them for for the Edification of the body of Christs wisdome saith Solomon is good with an inheritance Ecles 7.11 that is when grace teacheth a man to make use of it 4. 4 After which his soul goes out Tryall by which you may find out your treasure A mans soul goes out towards it with continuall and earnest breathings and endlesse gaspings so you shall find it is with naturall men who have their treasure in this life and and whose bellies are fed with the providences of God onely and who make a God of their belly their hearts are only carried out with breathings after this treasure But on the other side David saith my soul is lifted up to God Psal 27.4 to lift up the soule in scripture is to desire a thing earnestly Take a man whose treasure is in Heaven whose chief good is God the continuall gaspings of his soul are after God Ps 25.1 he desires God earnestly 2 Cor 5.1 in this wee groane earnestly c. hee is under continuall groanings and gaspings after God though it is true the soule finds an impossibility of
enjoying God perfectly in this life yet you shall finde this true love to him of the right kind is so carried after God that it is never satisfied or at rest without more of the enjoyment of him Examine therefore your soules what do they most breath and pant after continually and that 's your treasure 5. 5 Wherein his soule receives satisfaction That 's a mans treasure wherein a mans Soul receives satisfaction and without which hee is never satisfied Ps 49.18 the worldling blesseih his soul while he lives that 's his treasure Naturall men are satisfied in nothing else but in the things of this world that their soules pant and breath after Take an Ambitious man let every mans purse be opened it will not satisfie him he cannot sit in a low place because a high place is his chief good so Haman let him have never such honours hee is not satisfied except he be made most honorable because his soul goes out after high places hee must be had in esteem of the men of the World But take a man that hath godliness for his chief good and this he is satisfied in and nothing else in Psal 36.8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatnesse of thy house and thou shalt make them drink of the River of thy pleasures Now give a godly man wealth it will not satisfie him give him honor it will not satisfie him Prov. 14.10 a good man shall be satisfied from himself By these rules you may easily see where your chief good is laid Vse 2. Use 2. For conviction Of Conviction to set forth the misery of them that mislay their treasure that be deceived in their chiefest good Take heed of laying up your treasures in this life every man in this life hath some treasure or some great good this will set forth the misery and wretched condition of all them that misplace their treasure misplace their chiefe good There are many sorts of men whose treasure is laid up here below their portion is in this life they are mistaken in their chief good this plainly shewes they are in a miserable condition and yet this is the condition of most of the world and under which the greatest part of it will perish That I may heighten this Conviction Six considerations I shall give you six considerations 1. 1 The scripture speaks of a true treasure Consider the Scripture speaks of a true treasure Luke 16.11 If ye have not been faithfull in the unrighteous Mammon who will commit to your trust the true riches here 's the opposition he sets the one against the other There is a true treasure and there is a false treasure and they that inherit not substances inherit shadowes Pro. 23.5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not they are said not to be and that upon a twofold account 1. Because there 's no reality in them Secondly because there 's no stability in them that is in reference to that which you fancy to be in them Covetousnesse is Idolatry for it is an Idoll the Apostle saith so of Riches 't is not so in substance as it is in appearance there never was a godly man in the world whose eyes God had opened but he saw that it was onely his thought his apprehension of riches that made them seem great Then they have no stability in them they perish in the very enjoyment of them he is a miserable man that doth not Inherit such spirituall abiding substance as God is and hath his treasure in God and the things of God 2. 2 There 's a false treasure There 's a false treasure as well as a true herein lies a great delusion of sin and Sathan to deceive a man in his chief good Heb. 3.12 13. Take heed left there be in any of you an evill heart of unbeliefe in departing from the living God and left any of you be hardned through the deceitfullnsse of sin Sathan will labour to deceive you in every thing but he labours mostly to deceive you in your chiefest good in drawing you from God for as the Spirit of God is in direction so the Spirit of Sathan is in delusion As the spirit of God directs a man in this life to carry out affections more to God and to make his chief good so on the contrary the Devill doth all to this end that he may deceive a man of his chiefest good and take off the chiefest good and take off the affections of his heart from God When Sathan fixeth a mans heart on any particular good it is to take him off from that that is an Universall good Sathan is said to be a murderer from the beginning how so on this account because hee deceives persons of their chiefest good wherein the life of their soules doth lie 3. 3 Mans nature abhors to be deceived Consider the nature of man doth exceedingly abhor to be deceived the Holy Ghost doth charge us that we should not overreach our brother the nature of man is much inclined to deceive one another 1 Tim. 2.14 and therefore the nature of man doth exceedingly abhorr to be deceived it self 2 Cor. 11.3 Now there was never such deceit as in the chiefest good to give a man brasse for gold and stones for bread To take the Creature for the Creator to set up the Devill in the place of God This deceit is of being cheated in our chief good There are many other that are lesser deceits he doth deceive in particular Acts as when a man hath been convinced of sin pray'd against it and the Devill hath varnished it over again and led him to the Commission of it but the grand deceit of all is in his chiefest good 4. 4 The Devil labors above all to deceive you in this Consider this is the deceit that above all he takes care to hide from you he will keep you under that all the daies of your life You have many deceits of Satan laid in a mans way that may be discovered to him and these a man may recover out of as 2 Tim. 2.26 That they may recover themselves out of the snare of the Devill He may see that in that particular Act he was deceived that which he thought was good he finds it was not so but he was deceived through the wiles of Satan a man may see the devices of Satan in reference to his darling sinne 2 Pet. 2.18 But the Devils great designe on all unregenerated men is to keep them in an unregenerate state more then in unregenerate Acts Therefore the great work in conversion is to cause the soul to mind its chiefe good never was there any converted to God and Christ but he saw that he erred in his chiefest good and that he had departed from his God how is a man departed from God He is departed from God in two things 1. As his chiefest good 2. As his utmost end How must
Devills were subject to them Now he doth not forbid their joy but hee doth augment their joy Rejoyce rather that your names are written in the book of life so when he faith Matth. 20.18 Feare not him that can kill the body he forbids you not altogether to fear but see if your feare be plac'd on the right object that is himselfe more then them so when men are apt to glory in some excellency they have obtained saith the Holy Ghost Jer. 9.23 Let not the wife man glory in his wisdom neither let the mighty man glory in his might let not the rich man glory in his riches but let him that glorieth glory in this that he understandeth and knoweth me that I am the Lord. Set a right object for your glorying in so here hee doth not forbid you to labour for riches but to be rich towards God he doth not forbid you to bee adorned but let it bee with beauties of holinesse 2. It 's observed that there are diverse waies of treasuring 3. Sort of treasure there are three forts of treasures that are laid up three severall waies 1. 1 Treasures on Earth There are treasures on Earth some place their hapinesse on the things below our Saviour faith lock not to the things that are seen but have an eye to the things that are not seen It was well observed by one that that whieh a man loves and aimes at as his end that 's his treasure A man that hath no end beyond this life hath no treasure beyond this life let me be rich let me be honourable and brave in this world that 's all he looks at He looks not up to the treasure above this man placeth his affections on the Earth and makes that his portion 2. There are Treasures in Hell 3. Treasures in Hell some lay up their treasures in Hell Rom. 2.5 they treasure up to themselves wrath against the day of wrath There are two treasures one of sin and the other of wrath and the one sits for the other as the man adds to the one so God adds to the other for you must know as sinne ripens so doth judgement as sin encreaseth so doth wrath Ezek. 7.10 The Rod hath blossomed as Pride hath budded It 's spoken of Gods bringing of wrath upon Nebuchadnezzar now mind the gradation the Rod first blossoms then it buds judgement first ripens and then ruins you read in scripture of an Ephah of wickednesse that is that which notes the full measure of wickednesse and you read of a Talent which is judgement proportioned to the sin As you fill up the treasures of your sins so God fills up the treasures of his wrath you think you onely carry on your own treasure but God is carrying on his treasury of wrath also The 3. 2 Treasures in Heaven Sort are those that lay up treasure in Heaven that place their happinesse in the chief good in nothing but Heaven that have aimes beyond this life the things present are but for their way not for the end of their Journey Every man is as his chiefe good and as his utmost end is if thy end be Earthly thou art a man of the Earth if Heavenly thou art a man of Heaven It is said Psal 17.14 Men of the world that have their portion in this life They are called men of this world because their end and aime is not beyond this world But the Saints and Citizens of Heaven are so called because their end and aime is beyond this life and their chief good lies there 3. You are to observe the manner and nature of this command lay up treasures in Heaven his meaning is not that they should lay up nothing on Earth To lay up on Earth is a duty as to provide things necessary for the body but in especiall manner bee sure to lay up in Heaven have your hearts in Heaven though your bodies be on the Earth we ought to lay up something in summer against the time of Winter Parents ought to lay up for their Children Lay not up treasure on Earth that is to say as it is contrary to a treasure in Heaven but so as it may be helpfull to thy treasure in Heaven Again lay not up treasure on earth so as if there were an absolute necessity of it or as if a man could not live without it â—â—ke 12.15 a mans life consisteth not in the abundance of the things that he possesseth Lastly lay not up treasure on Earth so as to neglect Heaven let not this be a means to take off your hearts from higher things if so your treasure will be your curse and God gives you a great estate in great Judgement Let us now come to set home this Exhortation seeing some lay up treasures in Earth some lay up treasures in Heaven do you be exhorted to lay up your treasures in Heaven Four things I will speak to in proscuting of it 1. What is meant by Heaven 2. What are the treasures of Heaven 3. What is it to lay up treasures in Heaven 4. Some arguments to enforce the Exhortation First what is meant by Heaven What is meant by Heaven There is a twofold Exposition of it and we may make an improvement of both of them 1. 1 God himself By Heaven some expound it of God himselfe as if hee should say lay up your treasures in God with God so that they take Heaven for God that is the God of Heaven the pleasures of Heaven Now this will help you to understand other Scriptures Mat. 21.25 The Baptism of John was it from Heaven that is from the God of Heaven Heaven is there put for God so Luke 15.18 Father I have sinned against Heaven that is against the God of Heaven the God that dwells in Heaven there 's your happinesse alone let your chief good be laid up in him let him who hath promised to be our portion and exceeding great reward be our treasure in Heaven yet you are to consider that the Scripture speakes of other treasures in Heaven Luke 12.33 Provide your selves a treasure in Heaven that faileth not that is of good works but they are onely as they aim at God God is himself the great reward and the rich treasure of Heaven this is the excellency of every gratious performance of duty 't is a treasure of heaven because it is recorded in heaven by God himselfe lay up therefore your treasures with God that he may be your eternall reward The 2. 2 The third Heaven Exposition of this place is this They take Heaven for the third Heaven the highest Heaven the habitation of Gods majestie and glory the place where the Saints shall be with God where the Angels have Communion with God Ier. 23.23 He is said to fill heaven and earth 't is called the place where his honour dwels there you have two things 1. The Vision of him 2. The Fruition of him so 't is said to
pride being his predominant principle and master sin this mans pride or prosperity vents it self in Exaltation Admiration and seeking glory from men he sets himselfe in the face and glory of the times despising of others exalting himself bring this man under trouble of conscience and then pride vents it self in humility and debases into poverty As faith is an humbling grace so despaire is the highest fruit of pride here 's the heart now shewing the same aime in different conditions and all this doth clearly argue where the bent of the heart is there 's the aime of a mans heart If a mans heart goe out to covetousnesse the love of money when he is in a low condition if he did but observe his soule his heart went after his covetousnesse let him be brought into a wealthy condition he is scussling after the world still Judas his heart went after his money when he was an Apostle though in a different condition take a man in what condition you will you hall find the aime and bent of his heart is still the same On the contrary take a godly man who makes God his treasure who hath another treasure and another aime put him into what condition you will still you shall find his aime is the same the bent of his soule is still towards God Psal 44.17 All this is come upon us yet have wee not forsaken thee nenher have we dealt falsely in thy Covenant He looks beyond them all for his aime is at his treasure Looke upon Job upon the dunghill the aime of his heart was the same fearing God and eschewing evill Now consider what you were when you were a private man and what you are now you are advanced to places of dignity and see by it where the aime of your heart is 2. 2 That 's the bent of the heart which it greedily catcheth at upon all occasions In all places in all companies if opportunity be affected consider what it is that the heart doth most greedily catch at upon all occasions and in all places If the aime of the soule be lust he went after her speedily as a soole to the correction of the Stocks Prov. 7.22 Suppose it be gain a mans heart aimes at It goes after it presently Josh 7.21 When I saw a goodly Babylonish Garment and two hundred shekles of silver and a wedge of Gold I coveted them and tooke them c. So let there be at any time a godly motion offered to a godly man his heart catcheth at the motion By this you may see what your souls are by the first motion you close with as according to the aime and bent of the heart so all temptations are suited what 's that then which your heart closeth withall with the greatest readinesse according to that is the bent of your heart 3. 3 According to the bent of the heart so â—t franâ—â— object tâ— i◠〈◊〉 According to the bent of heart so the heart gathers unto it selfe whether there bee occasions given or no Gen. 6.5 Every imagination of the heart is onely evill and that continually Imagination of the heart it should be read Every Creature of the heart the heart frames to it selfe something whether there be occasions or no according to the bent of it 1 Joh. 2.16 The lusts of the slosh lust there is put for the object of lust as faith is put for the object of faith and hope for the object of hope there is nothing thaâ— lust 〈…〉 not make some 〈…〉 ther of 2 Pet. 2.14 〈…〉 eyes full of adultery that cannot cease from sinne though they have no occasion at all Psalm 41.6 David Complaines If he come to see me his heart gathers wickednesse to it selfe On the contrary take a godly man look on the aime of his heart here 's no occasion given at all yet he hath something the heart gathers up to it self therefore David cryes out in the middest of a crooked and perverse Generation Teach me O Lord to number my dayes that I may apply my heart unto wisdome Ps 90.1 as one gathers wickednesse the other gathers holinesse for the heart of man hath a selfe-sufficiency in it Jam. 1.15 when lust hath conceived it bring-eth forth sin lust is said to bee the Father and the Mother able to beget and able to bring forth therefore looke which way the aime goes there the heart goes there it centers according to the generall bent of the heart it gathers something to it selfe whether there be occasion given it or no. 4. 4 According to the bent so it will break through allopposition That 's the bent of the heart that breaks through all opposition to accomplish its designe the bent of the heart is such a thing that look what ever the thing be its set upon though never so costly it will spare no cost to obtaine it you that delight your selves in vanity of Apparell you will spare no cost to obtaine it Gen. 34.6 Shechem's heart clave to Dinah and what doth this bring forth Aske never so much dowry and it shall be given Thus in Isaiah they spare no cost to lavish away Gold for their Idoll Gods because the bent of their hearts was set upon it you that stick at all costs in Religion and at none in Rebellion you may easily see which way the bent of your hearts goes If the bent of a mans heart be revenge it will stick at no cost Haman will get the King abundance of Treasure for the destruction of the Jewes If the bent of the heart be for Ambition Absalom will not stick to murder his Father if it hinder his rising If it bee halting and dissembling in Religion Jehu will not stick at it to get a Kingdome if it bee the making Merchandize of the souls of men and the establishing of Artichrist in the Chaire of Christ if it be the change of Times and Laws if to change the fundamentall Laws of a Nation if the bent of the heart beset upon it no opposition will hinder So its true in reference to spiritual things if the bent of a mans heart be set on God no Creature opposition shall divert it That 's an excellent expression Psal 84.6 Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well They will digge Wells in the desart intimating that no opposition can hinder them that are fully bent to come to Christ The losse of a right hand the losse of a right eye the soule doth not stick at he will cut off the one and pull out the other and what 's the reason its all to attaine that which the bent of his soule is after 5. 5 The heart is restlesse untill it obtain that after which it aime Where the bent and aim of the heart is there it is continually restlesse untill it attain that which it tends to the aime of the heart is Pondus animi the weight of the soul my heart pants after the living
God so for worldly things to Mat. 6.32 After these things do the Gentiles seeke and they are never quiet till they find them if it be after Knowledge the soul is still in a pursuite after it and the man never gives over but is restlesse because the bent of his heart goes out after it If it be after riches they rise up early go to bed late they eat the bread of carefullnesse Ps 127.2 If it be a desire of rule and Dominon the soule is restlesse and never quiet till it gets some superiority in the world 6. 6 The heart makes al other things subservient unto that after which it aims That which is the aime a mans heart hee doth make use of all other things to attain it makes all other things subservient to it If the bent of his heart be set on honoring God hee cares for riches no farther then that hee may honour God with his substance Pro. 3. 9. and ordinances no further then in them hee may enjoy Communion with God nay he looks on the Lord Jesus Christ no farther then he is brought to God by him wil the name of Religion and the gifts of the Holy Ghost do it Simon Magus will buy them with money rather then hee will be without them wil the countenance of godly men do it then they shall be courted by all parties Iehu when hee meet wit hs Ionadab salutes him 2 King 10.15 and faith Is thy heart right as my heart is with thy heart there 's a doubt dost thou love me truly as I love thee no man professeth more sincerity then he whose trade is Hipocrisie hee had destroyed the house of Ahab but it was to set up his owne house the one was in order to the other he was a man for Religion and reformation while Religion would serve his purpose and he courts Ionadab to joyne with him who was a godly man that he might the better colour his design how many are are there that are Executioners of oppressors and yet succeed them in oppression A man may be an Executioner of an Idolater and yet succeed him in his Idolatry 2. 2 The heart is put for the contrivance of the heart The heart is put for the wisdome the studies the plots the contrivances of the heart now where the heart is there are all these Pro. 8.5 O yee simple understand wisdom and yee fooles be yee of an understanding heart and in Hosea 7.11 Ephraim is said to be a silly dove without a heart Now a man whose plots and designes are in Earth never riseth above the Earth the mansplots Earthly therefore the mans wisdome is Earthly James 3.15 16. This wisdom descendeth not from above but is Earthly Sensuall devilish if a mans treasure be in Heaven his wisdom is heavenly Iam. 3.17 But the wisdome that is from above is pure peaceable gentle c. so Luke 16.8 The Children of this world are said to be in their Generation wiser then the Children of light There are two sorts of men and two sorts of wisdoms ther 's the Children of this world and they have the wisdom of this world and there 's the Children of light and they have the wisdome of another world the one is the wisdome that reacheth not beyond this life the other reacheth to the life that is to come Both these are wise in two things in doing their own businesse and in accomplishing their own end now the wisdom of both these is seen in three things in getting in keeping in encreasing and using their treasure all the wisdome and designes and plots of a man are exercised about one or all of these thre ethings 1. 1 Every mans wisdome is exercised in getting his treasure Every mans wisdom is exercised in getting his treasure Amnon his lust was his treasure and do but see the devises he found for the obtaining of it 2 Sam 13. so Jeroboam his aime was to be the head of the ten tribes see his wisdome in obtaining of it 1 Kings 12.26 According to mans Treasure so his wisdome and designes have been laid for the obtaining of it Now a godly man all the Religion that he hath attained to it is to make him wise to Salvation A godly man hath but one design in the world and that is that he may enjoy God in Christ where his Treasure is laid up therefore Bernard well observes a wise mans heart is with the Lord that is all his plots and contrivances are how he may bring about those designs as may give him Communion with God 2. 2 In keeping his treasure All the plots and designs in the world are how hee may keep his Treasure Thus it is with men here below Ier. 51 1. The Prophet speaking of men that gathered many riches saith the Lord by him I will send unto Babylon fanners that shall fan her and shall empty her land because men use their wisdome to keepe their treasure the Lord saith hee will send fanners that shall take away those honours and riches which they use such meanes to keep with them Iob 20.15 there 's a man that hath swallowed down riches yet in the fullnesse of his sufficiency he shall be in straights ver 2â— they thought that when they had swallowed down riches they should never vomit them up again but vor 15. Hee shall vomit them up again And ver 23. when he is about to fill his belly God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him shal rain is upon him while he is eating the wisdom of the men of the world is not onely how they may get their Treasure but how they may secure their treasure So a godly man God in Christ is his Treasure he knowes it is sin onely that separates between him and his God and so his desire is not to sin that he may not be separated from his treasure A godly man hath but one necessity that lies upon him and all his aime tends thereunto and that is that hee doth not sinne and thereby lose his treasure 3. 3 In en creasing and improving his treasure Where his Treasure is there is his plottings and contrivings how to improve and increase it a treasure is not filled up all at once but by degrees therefore this is the great study and plot of men how they may improve and increase their treasure Hab 2.5 There 's one desires domination which was his treasure he looks on himselfe as a man born to Rule but looks 〈◊〉 all other men as born to be Ruled what doth this put him on to increase his treasure how doth he do it the Text saith He is a proud man he keeps not at home but enlargeth his desires as Hell and is as death and cannot be satissied he â—â—thers all Nations to himselfe and Dan. 11.24.25 O how earnest are men in fore-casting devices in contriving and plotting how to increase and improve their treasure If a
mans treasure be in heaven in the enjoyment of God and Christ what ever his esteem is in the world it doth not trouble him so he can but go on to the obtaining of more of his treasure Now where your treasure is there is your heart that is there is your wisdome your plottings and contrivings for the getting keeping and improvement of it 3. 3 The heart is put for the thoughts and meditation of the heart The heart is used for the thoughts and meditations of the heart Psal 139.23 Trye me O Lord and know my thoughts there 's nothing carryes the heart with it more then the thoughts thoughts are the first born of the soule the immediate issuings forth of the heart The way to tast water and not be deceived is to cast it at the Spring and Wine if you would not bee deceived by the Vintner you must tast it at the Wine-presse so if you would judge aright of your hearts you must look to your thoughts Solomon speaks of one that invites to dinners Now saith he Eat not the bread of him that hath an evill eye neither desire thou his dainty meats for as he thinketh in his heart so is he eat and drinke saith he to thee but his heart is not with thee Prov. 23.6 7. what way your hearts goe Three Rules for discovery where your thoughts hearts are that way your thoughts go There are three Rules that will much discover which way your thoughts goe and by these you will know where your hearts are and by that where your treasure is 1. 1 Whither doe your thoughts retyre when you ar alone When you are alone sequestred from company out of worldly imployment whither then do your thoughts usually retyre for the man iâ— as he is alone such as thâ— thought is such is the man Take a godly man would you know where his thoughts are when he is in his Closet in his bed when I awake saith David I am still with thee early in morning will I direct my prayer to thee and will look up Psal 5.3 2. 2 What are these thoughts in which you finde the greatest sweetness Rule by which your thoughts may be discovered and you may judge where your hearts are is this what are those thoughts that you use to find the greatest sweetnesse and delight in Psa 12â— 17 How precious are thy 〈…〉 unto me O God! 〈◊〉 great is the summe of them To one man the thought of his lefts are sweet and he acts over his wickednesse in a contemplative way with delight and the thoughts of God are bitter unto him and trouble him there 's no sweetnesse in thinking upon God to a wicked man and there 's nothing but sweetnesse in the thoughts of God to a godly man 3. 3 What thoughts are of longest continuance with you Rule What thoughts are they that are of longest continuance with you that your soules doe most abide upon the thoughts that abide in your soules most discover where your hearts are Jer. 4.19 How long shall vaine thoughts abide in you Psal 10.4 God is not in all his thoughts nay God is not in his thoughts at at all what do your thoughts stay on Take a naturall man and cast in some thoughts of his treasure his thoughts will abide there but cast in any thought of heaven and those dye presently as a fish out of its element Then examine your thoughts when you are alone what thoughts come into your mind and abide up on your spirits for your treasure is as the meditation of your thoughts and hearts are 4. 4 The heart is put for the love and affections of the heart The heart is put for the love and affections of the heart Iudg. 5.9 My heart is towards the Governours of Israel that offered themselves willingly among the people It s Deborah's speech The people of God love all that are imployed for God and the more men are imployed for God the more their hearts are drawn out after them The heart of man is said to be where it loves rather then where it lives now the heart is here taken properly for the loves of the heart so where the heart is there 's the Treasure Now how should a man know where his love is set 'T is a thing of marvellous great consequence to consider where a man sets his love It s a thing of great concernment where a man sets his love and upon what his love is fixed And this is the maine of this Text and there are 4 grounds why 't is a thing of so great Concernment where a man sets the loves of his heart 1. 1 Because a mans love is his greatest gift Because a mans love is his greatest gift there is nothing else a gift indeed without love but love is a gift of it selfe though there be nothing else It 's so if you consider the love of God though the Lord have not given you any thing if he doth but set his love upon you it s a greater gift then Heaven or Earth could be so likewise the Lord Jesus Christ if he had not given us interest in his victories in his sonship in his priviledges so hee had given us but his love it was a greater gift then heaven or earth saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 13.1 If I had all things and had not Charity it profiteth nothing Hypocrits many times give God great gifts but they reserve their love so God gives many of them great gifts but he reserves his love for the saints so that love is the greatest gift that a man hath from God and 't is the great est gift a man can give to God 2. 2 He that gives his love gives himself Because he that gives his love he gives himself he gives all things else whatsoever hee hath That 's pure and free love indeed that gives all things to the person beloved the Lord sets his love upon his people from all eternity and when hee purposeth to give all things hee gave himself love first gives it self and then all things else Revel 21.7 he that overcommeth shall inherit all things how so I will be his God and be shâ—ll be my Son So t is with men he that gives his love gives all things and hee that withholds his love withholds all things for a mans love Commands all that he hath Therefore 't is a mighty thing to consider where a man sets his love 3. 3 A mans love maks the 〈◊〉 loved his own A mans love is that which makes the thing beloved his own A learned man saith God is our owne above all things we call ours Estate is ours and friends are ours but God is more ours then they because he loves us more then they 'T is by the love of God that we come to be his by our love to God that he comes to be ours It s our love that makes the thing beloved ours
thou canst call nothing thine but what thou lovest 4. 4 It s a mans love that sets the price upon all things It 's a mans love that sets the price upon all things Great things are of small value where love is wanting and small things are of great value where love is present it s so with God and so with the Saints If God give to ungodly men the greatest heaps of Gold in the world how do the Saints value this 't is but a bone cast to the doggs why so because there is no love in it so likewise let a godly man give but to God a small thing there is love in it and indeed that love raiseth the price the poor widow cast in but two mites Luke 21.12 it was with more love and affection then others therefore more in acceptance What should a man set his love upon that by this means he may know where his heart is All love is lovely wheresoever it is and to be beloved even naturall love God loves all his Creatures and all pure love should be set upon him Mark 10.21 He that loves Father and Mother more then me is not worthy of me Whether may we not love that which is good Yes and nothing else As all truths are to be known and be believed so all good things are to bee embraced and loved Mark 10.37 He that hates not Father and Mother c. cannot be my Disciple To love Father and Mother is a duty but you see what it is that must have the chiefe place of your love 10. 12.35 He that loves his life more then me and my truth and my wayes this man is not worthy of me 1 Joh. 2.15 He that loves the world the love of the Father is not in him Is it not lawfull to love the world and the things of the world Yes but not more then me To love the Creature more then God is that which makes it lust To love the Creature in subordination to God is that which makes it love Then what is that which you love most would a man know where his love is there is treasure is And because this is the main thing in the Text Rules 〈◊〉 know where â—â—ur love â—â—d treasures are I shall give you eight things to know where your hearts are and where your treasure is 1. 1 What is it you do especially desire union with What is that you doe especially desire union with for love is an affection that carries an affectionate tendency to union and this will appeare if you observe the love of God Union with God is first in Gods intention because it is last in his execution the people of God in glory are brought into two things 1. Into an immediate vision of him 2. Into the closest union with him There is a two-fold union 1. Is generall of all the Creatures to God that 's the union of Dependance In him me live and move and have our being Act. 17.28 They cannot live separate from God because he is the life of them 2. There 's a speciall union peculiar to the Saints which is the indwelling of God in them and their indwelling in God such an union none but the Saints have by the enjoyment of God in their soules God loves the Saints and his love carries a tendency to union Jesus Christ loved his people and he seekes alwayes to become one with them There is a natural union which is by constitution there is an union of likeness fruition a union of similitude there is an union of enjoyment 1 Cor. 6.17 They that are joyned to the Lord are one spirit the Greeke signifies they are glewed to the Lord If a man love God he is glewed to God where a mans love is there the soule goes after the thing beloved to be united If a man love God then the heart followes hard after God and all that it may be made one with him to this end you have two Metaphors remarkable in scripture one is in Gen. 10.9 There Nimrod is called a mighty hunter before the Lord It is an expression to set forth the pursuite of the soule after a thing A godly man is a mighty hunter after God his soul pursues after God continually I read a story of one that was going in hast one asked him whither he was going he said he was going to hunt after God The other Metaphor is the merchandize trading for Christ and grace in the things of eternity and he that trades for Christ and grace is called a Merchant-man Mat. 13.45 in a Pet. 2.3 A worldly man is called a Merchant hee doth wholly trade for things below Now observe what 's your trade if thy trade be for Jesus Christ and the things of eternity then there 's thy love What is that you pursue after and desire union with according to your pursuit so is your loves and acording to your loves so is your treasure 2. 2 Love moves the swifter the nearer it comes to the thing beloved The neerer love comes to the thing beloved the swifter it moves towards it the nearer a mans love comes to possesse the thing hee loves the swifter he moves after it Psal 62.10 If Riches encrease set not your hearts upon them wicked covetous men the richer they are the more their heart is set on riches the more miserable and griping and scraping they are to get their treasure why so because the nearer that love comes to the thing beloved the swifter it moves after it Bernard saith God puts his love into betrothed persons what 's the reason of that because there must be a time between the betrothing and the marriage that the desire may be kindled so much the more The nearer a man comes to the enjoyment of anything he loves the more vehemently his heart is carryed after it Now if it be so examine by this Rule the more you have of God and of Christ the more do your hearts runne after them the more you have communion with Christ the more your hearts act towards him with the greatest impatiency 3. 3 Wheâ— love is is bouâ—tiful Love is bountifull and where ever thy bounty is there is thy love for where a man shews most bounty there certainly is most love Acts of the greatest bounty are demonstrations of the highest love for love opens the heart and that opens the hand God loves you and because he can give you no greater gift hee gives you himselfe he loves us therefore he gives his Son to us Men may think sometimes Ministers speak for private respects alas 't is to prove the sincerity of your love the more Tell me therefore where your bounty is laid out if your bounty be laid out about feasting your bellies or cloathing your backs there your love is Is thy bounty towards God As he that loves his belly thinks nothing to much for it so he that loves his God thinks nothing too