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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A13561	Three treatises The pearle of the gospell, The pilgrims profession: and A glasse for gentlewomen to dress themselues by. To which is added A short introduction to the worthy receiuing of the Lords supper. By Thomas Taylor, Doctor of Diuinity, and late preacher of Aldermanbury Church in London.	Taylor, Thomas, 1576-1632.; Taylor, Thomas, 1576-1632. Pearle of the gospell. aut; Taylor, Thomas, 1576-1632. Pilgrims profession. aut; Gunter, H.; Taylor, Thomas, 1576-1632. Glasse for gentlewomen to dresse themselves by. aut; Taylor, Thomas, 1576-1632. Short introduction to the worthy receiving of the Lords Supper. aut	1633 (1633)	STC 23856; ESTC S113869	74,858	266

will par● with them In which Parable conside● foure things 1. What is this kingdome 〈◊〉 heauen 2. What is this Pearle and th● goodnesse of it 3. Who is this Merchant ma● 4. What are his actions nam●ly three 1. He seeketh good pearles 2. He findeth a pearle of great price 3. He sold all to buy it For the first By the kingdome of heauen is not meant the blessed estate of the Church triumphant in heaheauen as in MATTH 5. 10. Yours it the kingdome of heauen Nor the Church militant and visible as in MATTH 13. 47. which is like a net cast into the Sea Nor the time of grace vnder Christ exhibited to preach in his owne person MATTH 3. 3. For the kingdome is at hand Nor the estate of grace wherin the elect bee iustified by faith and are lead forward by grace toward the kingdome of heauen as MAT. 13. 51. The kingdome of heauen is like a graine of mustard-seed Nor the kingdome of power by which God in heauen as a King gouerneth al the world and euery particular creature in it But by it is meant the preaching and publishing of the Gospel called here 1. A Kingdome 2. A Kingdome of Heauen A Kingdome for three reasons 1. Because the doctrine of the Gospel bringeth vs to Christ that hee as a King may reigne in vs hence it is called The Gospel of the kingdome MAT. 4. 23. 2. Because it is a powerfull meanes ordained by God to pull vs out of the kingdome of darknesse and translate vs to the kingdome of his deare Sonne Coloss 1. 13. and the Apostle calleth it The power of God to saluation Ro. 1. 16. 3. Because God hath set it apart not onely to erect vp the kingdome of God within vs which standeth in inward righteousnesse peace of conscience the ioy of the holy Ghost ROM 14. 17. but also to lead vs thorow to the participation of that kingdome of glory reserued in heauen for vs. Secondly of heauen 1. Because of Distinction from earthly kingdomes it preacheth Christ a King but withall that his kingdom is not of this world hee ruleth not after a temporall manner but sitteth as King in the spirits of his subiects and ruleth the conscience and holdeth vp this scepter of his kingdome in the hearts of men so as this kingdome is heauenly and spirituall 2. For Exaltation and aduancement lifting it vp aboue all that earthly kingdomes can afford for worth and excellency and so to stirre vp our affections and pull our eyes toward it the very name of it should rauish vs and commend the priuileges of the Gospell vnto vs. 3. For Admonition and caution that the subiects of this kingdome should receiu● th●ir lawes from heauen and cont●mning earth and ●arthly things should aspire meditate frame themselues to heauenly conuersation this very title of the Gospell should bee of power to lift vs aboue the earth Now what is meant by this pearle By the pearle is meant 1. The happy estate of grace here 2. The happy estate of glory hereafter Of which latter see REV. 21. 21. the foundations of the new Ierusalem were garnished with all manner of precious stones Iasper Saphir Chalcedon and the twelue gates were twelue pearles c. But here it signifieth the happy estate of grace in which wee are still seeking and purchasing the pearle and the good things of the Gospell as namely the glad tidings of it the offer of Christ with his merits the gift gift of faith iustification sanctification and these are called a pearle for sundry reasons 1. For the value and worth of them which passe all other treasures in excellencie and estimation As siluer is beyond brasse and gold beyond siluer so pearles are beyond gold and the good things of the Gospell beyond the most precious pea●les so saith SALOMON PROV 3. 14 15. The merchacaise of wisedome is better than the merchandise of siluer the reuenue of it is b●tter than that of gold it is more precious than pearles and all thou canst desire are not comparable to it What a world of wealth both spirituall and heauenly is manifested by the Gospell which exhibiteth Christ in whom are all treasures of grace and glory What a rich store-house is Christ himselfe the least drop of whose bloud was more precious than all the world How preci●us are all his merits and plentifull for redemption What a good thing and precious grace is faith which storeth a man with all the good things of heauen How precious is the doctrin of saluation which must not bee cast to swine as MAT. 7. 6. Well doth our Sauiour therefore call this a pearle of Great price for the most precious pearles in regard of these good things of the Gospell are but dust and clay 2. For the rarenesse Pearles are not so common as pibbles nor in the hands of common and ordinary men but fit for Princes and great personages common men know them not nor the price nor the vse of them euen so the good things of the Gospell are not knowne or obuious to euery one but Hidden mysteries vnknowne to the most part of the world and a wisedome reuealed to Babes And as Pearls are easily contemned of vnskilfull persons who are ignorant of their price and vse so the mysteries of the Gospell offer them to the Gentiles they esteeme them Foolishnesse to the Iewes they are as a Scandall Christ crucified is the very scorne of the world onely a few beleeuers aduanced to bee Kings and Priests to God know the price of this commodity and lay out for it 3. In regard of the hidden vertue and secret excellencie of them The body and quantity of a Pearle is small but the vertue and power of it great so the Gospell seemeth small and contemptible but it is the Power of God to saluation and faith in the Gospell draweth vertue from Christ to open blinde eyes to cure all spirituall diseases to raise from death in sinne to driue away deuils and breake the force of temptation all the Pearles betwixt heauen and earth haue not such power onely faith as small as a graine of mustard-seed draweth vertue from Christ and grace though it be neuer so little if sound it is of power to open blinde eyes and to carry the Saints along vnto their saluation 4. In regard of their excellent qualities as purity and cleerenesse and orient brightnesse so The Law of the Lord is pure PSAL. 19. The doctrine of grace for the brightnesse and perspi●●ity of it is as a resplendent gemme which draweth all eyes to it Secondly in Pearles is Firmnesse and strength so hard and firme are some of them as fire consumeth them not nor much strength can breake them euen so firme and sure are the promises of the Gospell all of them are Yea and Amen fire no● water prosperity nor aduersity can conquer them so

manners fashions and customes of his own countrey a Christian stranger although he be in the world yet he is not of the world hee is of another corporation and therefore though he walke in the flesh yet hee must not warre according to the flesh He carrieth this body of flesh about him as others doe but he must fight against flesh and the lusts of it contrary to the Patrons and defenders of the corruptions that are in the world through lust The world may and must enioy our presence for a time but must at no time gaine our conformity to it Rom. 12. 2. Fashion not your selues according to this world that is the customes and guizes of it because it lyeth in wickednesse and the Christian is cast into another forme of doctrine and conuersation Art thou now sollicited to follow the lusts and fashions of this world thinke with thy selfe that thou art a stranger here and of another countrey thou liuest vnder other lawes thou maist not cast in thy lot with the wicked of the world nor giue voyce or suffrage in their meetings but be as Lot who though he were in Sodom was not of Sodom but was perpetually vexed with the vncleane conuersation of those wicked men Art thou prouoked to sweare to drinke excessiuely to lye for aduantage to breake the Sabbath for gaine to vncleannesse or any other soule lust Now say to thy selfe I am of the kingdome of light but this is a worke of darknesse this is an vnlawfull act in my Countrey and why should I practise it here seeing my Lord and King must needs know it if I commit treason here against my King and Countrey my King hath informers enow and I shall lose my whole estate there and bee banished out of my Countrey for euer Shall I saith Joseph commit this sinne against my God against my Master Seeing my Master hath kept nothing from me but sinne I will not doe this thing I will not sinne and commit this high wickednesse Fourthly A fourth duty is that seeing we are strangers here to learne to affect our own countrey and highly to esteeme it Euery man by nature loueth his natiue country best neither thinketh himselfe so well in any forraine land and strangers especially hauing parents kindred and great reuenues in their natiue soyle and being hardly intreated where they so●ourne would be glad to returne home and enioy the sight of those whomu they haue long longed to see Euen so the Christian Pilgrim Neuer did Israel more affect and extol their owne countrey in their banishment from it and captiuity in Babylon than the Christian stranger doth affectedly desire and prefer his heauenly Countrey aboue this strange land the Countrey of his captiuity For he discerneth that this is not his Country first That is a mans Country where he was borne brought vp but whence taketh a Christian his spirituall birth or where is he brought vp but in the Church and kingdome of Christ Earth giueth him a birth and being as he is man but as a Christian he is borne of God Secondly againe that is a man● countrey where his parents his ancestors deare kindred dwell and inhabit Now where dwelleth a Christian mans Father but in heauen Where is his elder brother but there Where are all his brethren and sisters sons and daughters of the same parents but there and therefore heauen is his Country Thirdly further that is a mans Countrey where his principall estate and goods are where his patrimony and inheritance lyeth and where is the chiefe portion the treasure the immortall inheri●āce of the Christian but in heauen And where else is his Countrey Now then a Christian considering on the one hand that he is in a strange Countrey and how hardly he hath bin intreated in it and so likely to be still and on the other hand that he hath a home and a father there that loueth him dearely and that his elder brother Iesus Christ and all his spiritual kindred the Saints of God are there And besides that he hath a rich portion and a large patrimony euen an immortall inheritance in heauen how can he choose but to be reared in his affections yea rauished to be there desiring nothing in the world more than to be dissolued hence to be with Christ which is best of all A Traueller hath his minde and thoughts still vpon home and saith with himselfe Home is homely And the Marriner or Sea-faring man in a storme or rough Sea hath his desires on the Shore and his minde is not where his ●ody is So is it with the Christian Passenger his minde is not where his body is and if he cannot get home in the body as soone as he desireth yet in his spirit he will mind heauen and heauenly things he will get as neere home as he can if hee cannot get into the heart of the city hee will be sure to get into the sub●bs the Church of God If hee cannot get suddenly into that Jerusalem which is aboue he will get into the Ierusalem which is from aboue and where his person cannot bee for the time his conuersation and meditation shal be in heauen for where his treasure is there will his heart be also Vse 2. In that wee are strangers with God we learne diuers things 1. The soueraignty and power of God who is the great owner and ruler of the whole earth Kings themselues who are the highest earthly Lords and commanders are but strangers with God for the earth is the Lords and all that therein is And no man sitteth in his owne but are Tenants at will vndre this great Land-Lord The greatest of men yea of Kings are but as Dauid was soiourners in his sight Leuit 15. 23. The Land is his and we are but strangers and soiourners with him 2. We must hence gather out our owne duty towards God in whose Countrey we soiourne and our duty is manifold 1. To aske leaue of God to passe through his Countrey so did Israel of Edom a wicked Prince and people Numb 20. I pray thee that we may passe thorow thy country c. It is fit to ask leaue where no right is Besides that by daily prayer for Gods leaue and fauourable loue in our way we both ascribe vnto God the honour of soueraignty and bounty as also sweeten his mercies which he giueth vs leaue to enioy all which are sanctified to vs by the word and by prayer 2 Binde thy selfe from trespassing in the way and Countrey through which thou passest So did Israel vnto Edom We will not goe through the fields nor the vinyards neitheir will we drinke of the water of the wels we will goe by the Kings way and neither turn to the right hand nor left til we be past thy borders So must the Christian be carefull he transgresse not the lawes of the Countrey in which he soiournes to sturre vp against himselfe the wrath

Three Treatises THE PEARLE OF the GOSPELL THE PILGRIMS PROFESSION AND A Glasse for Gentlewomen to dresse themselues by To which is added A short Introduction to the worthy receiuing of the Lords Supper By Thomas Taylor Doctor in Diuinity and late Preacher of Aldermanbury Church in London LONDON Printed by I. B. for Iohn Bartlet at the gilt Cup in Cheap-side 1633. THE PEARLE of the Gospell OR Jewell Euangelicall 1 Diligently sought 2 Ioyfully found 3 Dearely bought by the wise Merchant Infolded in Christs Parable AND Unfolded by the Application of Thomas Taylor Doctor in Diuinity and late Preacher of Aldermanbury Church in London LONDON Printed by I. B. for Iohn Bartlet at the signe of the gilt Cup in Cheap-side 1633. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL Mistris Elizabeth Backus Wife to Master Samuel Backus Esquire and Justice of Peace And to her three vertuous and religious daughters Mris Mary Standen wife to Mr. Standen Esquire and Iustice of the Peace Mris Flower Backus wife of Mr. Iohn Backus Esquire and Mris Elizabeth Bellingham wife to Mr. Richard Bellingham Esquire Grace and Peace from the Fountaine Right Worshipfull PEarles are small in quantitie but great in their quality and smaller often in the weight than in their worth such an one is this which I haue presented vnto you as a token of my due respect and vnfained loue to your selfe and the Church in your familie Pearles from earth fit not common persons but this from heauen belongeth to al who meane to partake in the common saluation As this Pearle is yours in the common right of Saints so this offer of it is yours by a second and more peculiar right as who first helped it out of the darke into this light Your earnest and often desires of some of the written notes of this Treatise drew from me a promise the thought of the paiment whereof was my first thought of this publication And now this Pearle being yours weare it as your chiefe ornament the price of which ra●seth your owne price and recko●ing in the eyes of God and good men aboue the Carbuncles and Rubies Other ornaments seuered from this are but beautifull vanities The largest reuenues the richest estates the most ample treasures the costliest cabinets filled with pearles and precious stones sets the person wanting this pearle in no higher reckoning than common flints or other contemptible stones with him to whom the Nations are but as the drop of a bucket or as the dust of a ballance So of all naturall endowments we may compare them as Salomon doth beantie to a ring of Gold which outwardly commendeth the wearer But the iewell of this ring is this pearle of the Gospell or the life of the Gospell in the life of the Gospoller Let this Iewell be lost once or missing the ring may be gilded and glistering without but the touchstone and triall will finde that it was neuer gold And because I know that you haue no greater ioy than to see your children walke in the truth I am assured you will gladly afford them an equall share with you in this so precious a commodity and therefore haue I taken them into this dedication Blessed are you that haue your quiuer full of such louely arrowes Of the vertuous woman is said Her children praise her Were this a verbal praise of the mouth children might seeme testes e sinu and the spreaders of the partiall praises of their mother but this is an astuall and solid commendation and vnsuspected when the shining vertues of the feare of God sobrietie and modest conuersation of children proclaime the grace pietie and care of the mothers education Among that rich store of earthly comforts with which God hath beset you you haue none co●parablie gracefull to this if you except your sweet societie with your graue and religious husband And now to you three daughters worthy of such a Mother When I call to remembrance the vnfained faith which dwelt yet dwelleth in your Grand-mother whose reuerend old age is crowned with an ancient and honorable profession and practice of holy Religion aboue any I know in these parts and in your deare mother and am assured it dwelleth in you also I could not but put you in remembrance to stirre vp the gift of God that is in you And exhort you as you haue happily begun to hold on in the way of grace and see that your workes be more at last than at first God hath aduanced you into the fellowship of religious and compleat Gentlemen your husbands to faire estates and portions in this world but especially to a sure expectation hereafter by meanes of your inseparable coniunction to your Head and Husband Iesus Christ. You must now aduance him who hath thus aduanced you and love him for himselfe who hath loued you in his Sonne and hold euery new sense of mercy a new spurre and prouocation vnto dutie In the way and pace in which you goe I must acknowledge I passe and slip an opportunitie by passing oner in silence so many commendable parts in you all which make you worthy to be praised among women fearing God But my praises can lift you no higher than your owne vertues doe whose diligent paines in gaining knowledge of holy things conscionable practice of sound religion charitable refreshing of the poore members of Christ and whose humble sober wise modest and louely carriage especially in these loose dayes are as so many tongues and mouthes and pens without mine to publish your due praises and knowing that you will be better pleased that I turne my praises into praiers for your progresse and prosperitie in the good way I shall endeuour to supplie that want this way heartily commending you to the power of his grace who onely can further inrich you with the Pearle of the Gospell who also giue you with the new yeare new supplies of all holy graces till the new man bee compleat in Iesus Christ in whom I rest Your Worships to be vsed for your furtherance in the faith THO. TAYLOR THE PEARLE OF the GOSPEL MATTH 13. 45. The Kingdome of heauen is like vnto a Merchant man that seeketh good pearles Who hauing found a pearle of great price went and sold all that he had and bought it OVr Lord Iesus comming from the bosome of the Father to reueale the mystery hid from the beginning of the world spent the whole time of his ministerie in discouering to the Church the excellency the vtility and the necessity of that blessed and sauing truth the daughter of eternity without which the whole world had lien in perpetual death and darknesse This parable among many and aboue many manifests that how base soeuer and vile the things of God seeme to naturall men yet there is such worth vertue price and beauty in them as the godly man who onely can discerne them will exchange all hee hath with them yea and part with all the world before hee

want of the thing sought for Common men if they finde health wealth friends pleasures and the like outward things are well contented corne wine and oyle to cheere their hearts But these wise Merchants seeing grace no other thing contenteth them but grace one glimpse of Gods countenance through Iesus Christ is sweet aboue all And as he that seeketh a Iewell doth looke still after it a thousand things come in his way and eye but he passeth slightly ouer them and seeth them not nor seeketh he them euen so doth the Christian Merchant and as the ciuill Merchant attaining Pearles doth rest ioyful in them as in such commodities as will helpe his happinesse in the world So the godly Merchant finding this one Pearle of the Gospell which is the grace of life goeth away reioycing and resteth well appaid for all his labours and sufferings He was before he light vpon this Pearle the most vnhappy man in the world but now he cannot hide his ioy but as the poore widow which called in her neighbors to reioice with her because she had found the lost groat Luk. 15. 9. so can he neither wholly hide nor yet expresse halfe the ioy he conceiueth in his new commodity and purchase But many seeke and that with tears that faile of grace as Esau and many shal striue to enter saith Christ and shall not be able and Ro. 9. 31 32. Israel sought righteousnesse but obtained it not Ans. Many seeke but amisse and therefore faile so Israel sought but not by faith Now the true condition of seeking as the wise Merchant and as the Word directeth standeth in fiue things 1. With an earnest and true loue desire and estimation of the thing sought this wilmake a man seeke diligently and as a thirsty person not coldly carelesly remisly slightly or negligently for such seeking shall neuer find for why did the Church seek Christ so laboriously till she found him but because it was he whom her soule loued ●an 3. 3. The watchmen that went about the City found me to whom I said Haue yee seene him whom my soule loueth And why did Mary seeke Christ hauing lost him three dayes Because shee loued him and reioyced in his person and presence which made her heart so heauy in his absence Luk. 2. 42. Behold thy father and I haue sought thee with heauy hearts The Merchant because he loueth and esteemeth of siluer doth seeke it carefully and earnestly Pro. 2. 4. and the heauenly Merchant shall finde grace vndoubtedly if he seeke it as the other doth siluer Loue is laborious hee that loueth Christ and his grace will neuer cease to seeke him nor faile to finde him See the promise in Jer. 29. 12 13 Then shall you cry vnto mee and you shall goe and pray vnto mee and I will heare you and you shal seeke me and finde mee because you shall seeke mee with all your heart Who soeuer then euer meaneth to finde God and his saving grace must vnfainedly and hartily seeke after him 2. It must be sought in the likely place and meanes of finding the ordinary place where this Pearl is to be found is the assēblies of the Saints there God holdeth forth his scepter and maketh offer of the grace of life Where was the Church to finde Christ with his graces at noone in her thirst but in the steps of the shepherds And these assemblies are the suburbs of heauen called therefore the Kingdome of grace and he that refuseth the good offers of grace in the word sacraments prayer hearing reading conferring and the like shall neuer find it No wise Merchant will slacke any good opportunity of aduancing his estate now the likely meanes in wise seeking are diligently to be vsed as 1 To search the euidence of the Pearle and this euidence is contained in the Scriptures John 5. Search the Scriptures for they witnessee of me Secondly the grant of it is from heauen by prayer Let vs therefore goe boldly to the Throne of grace that we may find mercy and grace to helpe in time of need HEB. 4. 16. Thirdly the couenant is by the application of these meanes singed and deliuered yea and witnessed by the blessed Spirit of God by a blessed change in the beleeuing heart by mortification and subduing the corruption of nature by heauenly motions heauenly mindednesse and gracious conuersation standing not in a shell a forme or shew but in the kernill power and substance of sound godlinesse Thirdly it must be sought first and principally yea onely sought and that for it selfe it must bee sought first in time As Psa. 63. 3. Early in the morning will I seeke thee The Isralites must seeke Manna the first thing they doe in the morning Esau seeketh but too late the foolish Virgins doe knock but the doore is shut 2. It must be sought in the first place Mat. 6. 33. ●eeke ye first the kingdome of heauen the righteousnesse thereof Seek neither other things before it as worldlings nor other things with it as prophane Epicures who would grasp heauen and earth together nor yet seeke it for other things as Hypocrites who professe the Gospell for fauour credit profit or some other in respect of that base things But seek it alone for it selfe and in sincerity for only such seeking findeth it Neuer will Christ be sought for loaues nor can the same eye looke to heauen and earth together Fourthly it must be sought humbly that is first out of thy selfe a man that wanteth water wil goe to the fountaine the waters of grace must flow from the fountaine and wel-head Christ Iesus seek it therfore in him and from him The eye of faith spyeth it in him and the hand of faith doth take it vp from him Secondly it must bee sought with godly sorrow repentance for sin Isa. 1. 16. Wash you make you cleane take away the euill of your works from before mine eies cease to doe euill Thirdly with reformation of heart and life Ps. 14. 4. The workers of iniquity are vnfit and vnworthy seekers of grace Fifthly it must be songht constantly Mary and Joseph neuer gaue ouer seeking Christ vntill they found him nor the Church till she found him neither must we giue ouer seeking hauing sound grace for it is not in this seeking as in other things where hauing found we rest contented and seeke no more but here hauing found the thing we sought we must seeke still for a Christian is euer wanting of grace if not in whole yet in part if not in substance yet in some degree and measure of it and therefore this worke as the husband mans is neuer at an end This must needs condemne many of vs of extreame folly and sinne how few of vs haue sought after grace as after siluer for siluer we will take great paines rise early goe to bed late and eat the bread of carefulnesse but when doe we so for grace