THE VANITY AND MISCHIEF OF Making Earthly Together with the NECESSITY AND BENEFIT OF Making Heavenly TREASURES Our chiefe Treasure Opened in a SERMON at Mary Spittle Before the Right Honorable the Lord Major and Court of Aldermen of the City of London and divers worthy Citizens at their solemn Anniversarie meeting on Tuesday in Easter Week being the 17 Aprill 1655. By John Crodacott Preacher of Gods Word aâ— Saviours Southwark and Sepulchres London 1 Tim. 6.17 18 19. Charge them that are rich in this World that they be not high minded nor trust in uncertain riches but in the living God who giveth us richly all things to enjoy That they do good that they be rich in good works ready to distribute willing to communicate Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come that they may lay hold on eternall life Printed for A. Kemb at Margarets Hill in Southwark 1655. Tuesday April 23th 1655. PACK Major ORdered That Mr. Crodacott be desired from this Court to Print his Sermon at the Spittle on Tuesday in Easter-week last SADLER To the Right HONOURABLE Christopher Pack LORD MAJOR AND The Right Worshipful the Aldermen of the City of London WHen first I received your Summons to this work I might have apologized for my self with Elihu I am young and ye are very old wherefore I was afraid Job 32.6 7 and durst not shew you mine opinion I said dayes should speak and multitude of years should teach wisdome But out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hath the Lord ordained strength c. and his strength is usually perfected in the creatures weaknesse 2 Cor. 12.9 He can make a few barley loaves yield toothsome and wholesome nourishment unto many thousands He can make the words of Naamans faithful servants greater in operation then the words of a great and good Prophet Indeed many in our dayes look upon Preaching and Preachers as Naaman did upon the waters of Jordan with Syrian eyes Preaching is foolishnesse in the worlds estimation and Preachers are bablers Saint Paul that great Apostle was so reputed and censured the despicablenesse of the carthen vessel does too often through Satans subtiltie and innate corruption prejudice hearers against the heavenlinesse of the Treasure I cannot accuse any of you 1 Thess 2.13 surely what the Apostle saith of the Thessalonians I may say of you in a judgement of charity I hope also of verity When ye received the Word of God which ye heard ye received it not as the word of man but as it is in truth the Word of God But where 's the fruit of your so receiving the Word of God The Word of God so received by them wrought effectually in them hath it wrought also effectually in you Haply your faith may be as 't were in travail and readie to bring forth some works of mercie and charity Now if the midwifery of this Sermon in the Review may expedite the birth I have what I levelled at and shall blesse God for your summons though as much unexpected as undeserved to the Pulpit and Presse Believe it Sirs 't were better for you to have the stone in the bladder or kidneys then to have such a stone in your hearts or bowels and such a cramp in your hands as does utterly indispose you for the doing of good with your goods I could name you some eminent Saints Mr. Nicholas Bifield Vide Dr. Goâ—ge his Epistle to the Reader before Mr. Bifields Commentary upon the second Chapter of the first Epistle of St. Peter And Mr. Jeremiah Whitaker who lately died in the Lord and now resteth from his labours c. that for some years lived and at length died labouring under those bodilie distempers but not any that lived and died labouring under this soul-disease He that refused to give a crum of bread on earth was denied a drop of water in hell Unmerciful men shall finde no mercie There 's fulnesse of bread but ô that I could say There 's fulnesse of good works in this famous City The former though a good blessing of God in it self was one of Sodoms O that it were not one of Londons Vices The latter was one of the Macedonians O that it might be one of Londons Vertues to cool your affections unto earthlie treasures and enkindle them unto heavenly and unto works of charity which even to a Proverb is grown cold is the faithful endeavour and aim of this Sermon I know not any man willingly though manie deservedly when he is dead would have those two words for his Epitaph infoeliciter foelix unhappie in being so happie 't were better have these two foeliciter infoelix happie in being unhappie O then let the zeal of your faith sparkle forth in works of charity All men have not the honourable capacitie of being Almoners of the King of Heaven and Earth as you have who can better spare two talents then some can two mites The Lord grant that as he hath been unto you so you may be merciful and bountiful unto others That as you are rich in worldly goods so you may be rich in faith and good works and in Gods set time be personally and fully possessed of the heavenlie Kingdome which he hath prepared for and promised to them that love him So praieth The meanest and unworthiest of the Lords Servants and Yours in the Lords Work John Crodacott The vaniy and mischiefe of making earthly Treasures Together with The necessity and benefit of making heavenly Treasures Our chiefe Treasure Opened in a SERMON at Mary Spittle Before the Right Honourable the Lord Major and Court of Aldermen on Tuesday in Easter Week being the 17. of Aprill 1655. Matthew 6.19 20. 19. Lay not up for your selves treasures upon earth where moth and rust doth corrupt and where theeves break through and steale 20. But lay up for your selves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt and where theeves do not break through and steale I Shall not trouble or detain you with any further preamble then what will make for the argument of the Text. In this Chapter which containeth a part of that excellent Sermon which our blessed Lord and Saviour preached to his Disciples and others in the Mount two things are by him decryed and condemned 1 Hypocrisie Ostentation and an affectation of vain glory from the beginning of the Chapter to the nineteenth Verse 2 Covetousnesse inordinate affections unto and carking cares for the things of this life from the nineteenth verse to the end of the Chapter 1 The former namely all Hypocrisie and affectation of vain glory is decryed and condemned First In giving of Alms from the 1 to the 5 Verse Secondly In Prayer from the 5 to the 16 Verse Thirdly In Fasting from the 16 to the 19 Verse 2 The latter namely Covetousnesse is decryed and condemned by sundry forcible disswasive arguments All which should I distinctly enumerate and explain 't
would eat up too much of the time alotted for this exercise therefore I wave the enumeration and explanation of them Be pleased to observe with me that our blessed Saviour well knowing that every man desires and endeavours to have some treasure or other propounds a double Rule to be carefully observed by all Christians in their treasuring 1 The first is negative shewing what we should not make choice of for our treasure not worldly wealth not any earthly thing whatsoever in the 19 verse Lay not up for your selves treasures upon earth 2 The second is affirmative shewing what we may and ought to make choice of for our treasure in the 20 verse But lay up for your selves treasures in heaven 1 The former of these rules or precepts call it which you will which you may see is prohibitive or dehortatory is 1 Propounded 2 Pressed 1 Consider it as propounded so there are four terms considerable 1 An Act To lay up 2 The Objâ—â—â— Treasures 3 The Place Upon earth 4 The End For your selves 2 Consider it as pressed by or backed with an argument drawn from the instability and uncertainty of earthly treasures which are obnoxious or subject unto a double danger 1 Of vanity in themselves the moth or rust may and will in time corrupt them 2 Of violence from others though moth and rust do not yet robbery may undoe us Theeves may steal away our earthly treasures 2 The latter of these rules or precepts which you may see is injunctive or hortatory is likewise 1 Propounded 2 Pressed Consider it as propounded and so there are four terms likewise considerable 1 An Act To lay up 2 The Object Treasures 3 The place In heaven 4 The end For your selves 2 Consider it as pressed by or backed with an argument drawn from the stability and certainty of heavenly Treasures 1 They are incorruptible in their own nature neither moth nor rust can corrupt them 2 They are out of the reach of fraud and violence Theeves cannot steal them away from us Lay up for your selves c. In the handling of this Text I shall endeavour to be serviceable to your souls By 1 An explication of the severall terms 2 The confirmation of the Propoâ—â—â—ions deducible or emergent 3 The application of them unto your and mine own soul I begin with the first namely the explication of the severall terms and first 1 Of the Act Lay not up the Greeke word is very significant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 treasure not up it imports two things 1 To gather together 2 To hoard or heap up in store things gathered for tomorrow for hereafter against the time to come which is the literall notation of the word a laying up for tomorrow for hereafter 2 The object and place I shall joyn them together treasures upon earth our Saviour herein aimes not so much at the place as at the kindes of treasures for heavenly treasures may and ought to be laid up by us whilst we are on this side heaven as is evident from the 20 verse Lay up for your selves treasures in heaven 'T is the laying up of earthly treasures that our Saviour condemns But what are those earthly treasures which we may not treasure up as our chief treasure for that 's chiefly intended Answ There aâ—â— three sorts of earthly things as one well observes which humane providence is wont to store or treasure up 1 Garments or Clothes which were wont to be a great treasure in this Nation especially in this City but the itch and vanity of changing fashions hath much impaired this treasure in our dayes 2 Com and Fruits of the earth thus we read 2 Cron. 32.28 that Hezekiah had store-houses which were a kinde of treasuries for the increase of corn and wine and oil 3 Gold and Silver Jewels and the like thus we read 2 Chron. 32.27 that Hezekiah had treasuries for silver and for gold and for precious stones and for all manner of pleasant Jewels Now these three sorts of earthly treasures our Saviour tells us are subject to such great uncertainties as render them unfit and unworthy to be stored or treasured up as our chief treasure for 1 Garments or Clothes are subject to moths Isa 51.8 the moth shall eat them up like a garment which is a proverbial speech and James 5.2 the Apostle tells us they are more then subject to mothes The moth actually eats them your garments are moth-eaten 2 Corn and fruits of the earth are subject to rust not that which Iron is subject unto but that which spoils corn and fruits of the earth which is in some Countreys called smut in other Countreys rust 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 transfertur ad vestes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vero ad cibos Theoph. for which notation of the word as most proper and pertinent in this place some Criticks do contend 3 Gold and silver Jewels and the like are subject to fraud and violence from others thus we read that all Hezekiahs treasures were carried away as a spoil to Babylon which was threatened in the dayes of Hezekiah by the Prophet Isaiah for his pride of heart and vain-glory in shewing all his treasures to the Ambassadours of the King of Babylon 2 Kings 20.13 compared with the the 17th verse and accordingly accomplished in the daies of Jehoiakim 2 King 24.13 He that is the King of Babylon carried out thence all the treasures of the House of the Lord and the treasure of the Kings house c. You see what is meant by treasures upon earth 4 The end which is the fourth term For your selves self is a poor centre yet is it the centre of most mens studies and actions 'T was the Apostle Pauls complaint Phil. 2.21 That all that is the greater part seek their own It s an empty vine that brings forth fruit to it self Hos 10.1 Yet with many such empty vines is the earth cumbred though no man be born for himself nor enriched with terrene riches for himself yet carnal men are all for themselves now they live to themselves and ere long they will also die to themselves This hoarding or treasuring up earthly treasures for our selves without any regard had unto either the incumbent or imminent the present or future necessities of the Common-wealth or the Church or the Poor our blessed Lord here prohibits Lay not up for your selves treasures upon earth Thus you have the explication of the terms of the 19th verse from whence I might raise several Corollaries or Doctrinal Conclusions which naturally arise out of this Scripture but I shall mention but one unto you under which some others deducible shall in my subsequent Discourse be touched upon and hinted at the Observation is this Observ That Christians ought not to treasure up worldly wealth or any earthly thing whatsoever as their chief treasure To prevent mistake I shall premise two things before I fall directly upon the point 1 That all treasuring up of earthly
that when he was advanced to high preferment he professed that no Scripture was ever so terrible in his ears as that Luke 6.24 Woe unto you that are rich for you have received your consolation this Scripture sounded in his ears as Jerome said that Scripture did in his surgite mortui venite ad judicium arise ye dead and come to judgement But beloved this treasure which a Christian should make his choise treasure will stand him instead for ever This is the treasure 〈◊〉 the heavens that faileth not Luke 12.33 Where no theef approacheth neither moth corrupteth This treasure will be ever sweet and precious yea then best when time shall be no more this is the true treasure and indeed the onely treasure which maketh all the possessours of it solidly and eternally happy Thus ye have the reasons why Christians ought to make Christ their chief treasure Give me leave now to improve it by way of Use and Application By way of 1 Trial or Examination Vse you have heard what a choice precious treasure Christ is now let your Consciences answer me as in the presence of the Lord have you made choice of Christ for your chief treasure It may be you will say How shall we know whether we have done so yea or not I answer you may know it 1 By your distinct and deep apprehensions of your personal want and of the real worth of this treasure 2 By your high appretiations of this treasure above all earthly treasures soever By the Bias and tendencie of your affections towards this treasure 4 By the laboriousnesse of your endeavours to get this treasure 1 By your distinct and deep apprehensions of your personal want and of the real worth of this treasure By your distinct apprehensions I say 1 Of your personal want of this treasure hath the Lord throughly convinced you that without a title to this treasure you are undone for ever And doth this make you cry out with Rachel in another case Give me children saith she or else I die so doth thy soul unfeignedly and feelingly say Lord give me Christ the true treasure or else I shall die and be damned eternally Oh! how many here before the Lord never yet saw their need and want of this treasure who yet pretend that Christ is their treasure 2 Of the real worth and excellency of this treasure hath the Lord convinced thee that this treasure doth not onely make a man richer but it makes a man better earthly treasures do make a man richer but they seldome or never make a man better nay they many times make a man worse but this treasure the Lord hath let thee see will make thee better it will enlighten thy mind it will purifie thy heart it will purge thy conscience 't will every way beautifie thy precious foul what say your soules to this 2 By your high appretiations of this treasure above all earthly treasures whatsoever clear apprehensions of the surpassing worth transcendent excellency of this treasure will beget high appretiations of it we see it in Paul Phil 3.8 I count all things saith he but dung 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dogs meat that I may win Christ and get home to him 'T was a brave speech of Luther Melch. R. D. in vita Luth. when great gifts were proffered him if he would warp and tune his fiddle to the Popes Base valdè protestatus sum me nolle sic satiari I deeply protested saith he that God should not put me off with such poor things resolved he was not to be satisfied with any thing on this side treasures in heaven Earthly treasures were but gay nothings in his eye compared with this choice treasure It is reported that he should professe that he was never so much as tempted by Satan to this sin of dry drunkennesse covetousnesse Indeed the Pope attempted to win him unto his faction by money but the answer which his Agents returned was Germana haec bestia non curat aurum that the German beast cared not for gold And as he was famous for his contempt of the world so was he likewise for his prizing of Christ and the Gospel Malim praesente Christo esse in inferno quà m absente eo in coelo I had rather saith he be in hell with Christ then in heaven without him what say your consciences to this have ye high appretiations of this treasure above all earthly treasures 3 By the Byas and tendency of your affections towards this treasure high appretiations of this treasure will beget strong affections unto it and after it Cant. 3.6 The Church is compared to pillars of smoak ascending though she be black as smoak in regard of infirmities yet hath she a principle within her that carries her upwards And how the Byas of the affections of Gods people in the Prophet Isaiahs time was set you may read Isa 26.8 9. The desire of our souls is to thy Name and to the remembrance of thee With my soul have I desired thee in the night yea with my spirit within me will I seek thee early Their desires were alwayes breathiâ—g out and flaming up towards this treasure Now can you say in the witnesse of your consciences that your affections the pulses of your souls do thus work and beat towards Christ does your hearts say with David Psal 73.25 Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee 4 By the laboriousnesse of your endeavours to get this treasure look as clear apprehensions will beget high appretiations and high appretiations will beget strong affections so strong affections will beget strong endeavours No sooner were the bowels of the Church throughly affected and deeply moved for her beloved but she bestirred her self to finde him whom her soul loved Cant. 5.5 6 c. Although she meets not with any incouragements but many and great discouragements yet will she not be beaten off from seeking of him every where Thus in that Text even now quoted Isa 26.9 we read not onely that the affections of Gods people were carried towards him but also that their enquiries and endeavours were after him With my soul have I desired thee in the night and what followeth with my spirit within me will I seek thee early Beloved some velleities imperfect wishings wouldings you may have for this treasure and yet live and die treasurelesse Christlesse Now what say your souls to this are you willing to be at any pains at any cost so you may gain this treasure And so much by way of Trial or Examination 2 By way of Exhortation let me exhort you in the fear of the Lord to make Christ your chief treasure If you have this treasure you are not poor for you are heirs of the Kingdome which God hath promised unto them that love him James 2.5 If you have not a title to this treasure you are not rich the Laodiceans were a rich people yet are they
fly from us saith one of the Fathers but to follow after us ne passerinas quidem alas not so much as little Sparrows wings Many once as rich as any here have found it impossible to pinion the wings of their riches 4 They are plaguing if unjustly acquired or unduly deteined so Diodate expounds that Text James 5.3 Ye have heaped treasure together for the last dayes That is whereas you thought to lay up treasures for time to come you shall in effect finde that you have laid up Gods Wrath. O! how many in treasuring up wealth do treasure up the wrath and vengeance of God also How dearly earned doth Judas count his thirty pieces now and thus you have the first ground or reason why we should not treasure up earthly treasures as our chief treasure The second is taken from the nature of the sin of treasuring up earthly treasures as our chief treasure it is such a sin as the Apostle would not have to be named amongst Christians without extream detestation Ephes 5.3 Fornication and all uncleannesse or covetousnesse let it not be once named amongst you as becometh Saints This sin is called Idolatry Coloss 3.5 Mortifie your members which are upon the earth fornication uncleannesse and covetousnesse which is Idolatry And the soul that is guilty of this sin is expresly called an Idolater Ephes 5.5 This ye know that no whoremonger nor unclean person nor covetous man who is an Idolater hath any inheritance in the Kingdome of Christ and of God Holy David saith of the Heathen Psal 135.15 The Idols of the Heathen are silver and gold and we may say of many too too many professed Christians silver and gold are their Idols But why is he that makes earthly treasures his chief treasure an Idolater I answer Because 1 They have his heart now that which the heart and affections run out unto as the summum bonum ' its chief good that is unto that soul instead of God 2 They have his trust what Jobs soul abhorred to do that he doth Job 31.24 If I have made gold my hope or have said to the fine gold thou art my confidence implying that he did not make gold his hope not did he say to the fine gold thou art my cofidence Iob trusted in God alone and made not an Idol of his riches by trusting in them But this that soul doth that makes earthly treasures his chief treasure He trusteth in uncertain riches contrary to that charge 1 Tim. 6.17 Charge them that are rich in this world that they trust not in uncertain riches 3 They have his service Now that which one worshippeth and serveth is his God Our blessed Saviour saith peremptorily that no servant can serve two masters Luke 16.13 As God and the Devil and God and the flesh so God and the world are two contrary masters hence our Saviour saith expresly in the same verse Ye cannot serve God Mammon 'T is notable he doth not say ye cannot have God Mammon but ye cannot serve God Mammon he that is Gods Servant cannot be his golds servant also If we be not masters of our earthly treasures we cannot be the true heaven-born Servants of God What Seneca said of affections we say of fire water 't is true of earthly treasures They are good servants but bad masters Now beloved what sin is more odious then Idolatry Can you name a more God-provoking and soul-destroying sin then Idolatry The soul of God abhors it and 't is worthy your observation the sin of Idolatry and this of Covetousnesse under hand which is called Idolatry are both stigmatized with the infamy of whoredome and adultery against God Isa 57.8 Thou hast discovered thy self to another then me thou hast enlarged thy bed and made a covenant with them thou lovedst their bed when thou sawest it So Ezek. 26.25 Thou hast opened thy feet to every one that passed by and multiplied thy whoredomes that is thou hast committed Idolatry with all the false gods of the Heathen round about And that inordinate love of the world is a spiritual adultery you may see Iames 4.4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses know ye not the friendship of the world is enmity with God whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God In a word that soul that layes out that love and zeal and confidence or trust which is due to God upon his earthly treasures is a spiritual Idolater and an Adulterer O! what a God-provoking and soul-destroying sin must this be Thus you have the point confirmed I see I must be very short in the improvement of it by way of Use and Application Let me exhort you in the fear of the Lord not to make worldly wealth or any earthly thing whatsoever your chief treasure O! do not cast your eyes and set your hearts upon that which is not Prov. 23.5 For shame my beloved be not like the dog in the fable catching at the shadow and so lose substance and all Be not like the cock upon the dunghil esteeming the barly corn of earthly treasures before heavenly treasure It may be you 'l say we hope we do not but beloved I am afraid that many of you do Are you willing to come to the touchstone and to be weighed in the ballance of the Sanctuary I shall present you with four characters or discoveries onely of a persons making earthly treasures his chief treasure and so proceed to the 20 verse The first is 1 A low ground-ebbe of affections desires delights thoughts and endeavours after heavenly treasures This argues that something on this side heaven is your chief treasure Do you observe that rule laid down by our Saviour Matth. 6.33 Seek ye first the Kingdome of God and his righteousnesse Good Lord how few of the many here before the Lord do observe that rule This was prophane Esau his sin give him a morsel of meat or a messe of pottage and as for the Birthright take it who will Heb. 12.16 and this was the Gergesenes sin they had rather Satan should reside and play Rex in their own souls then in their swine and therefore upon the losse of their swine they beseech our Saviour to depart out of their Coasts Matth. 8. ult 2 Hard-heartednesse and close-fistednesse towards the needy or necessitous Did not thy earthly treasures lie neerer thy heart then they should thy heart would be more merciful and thy hand more bountiful and open unto a due relief of such as want necessaries when as thou thy self hast both delightfuls and superfluities When our blessed Lord bad that man sell what he had and give to the poor but the man went away sorrowful does it not argue and infer that his earthly treasures had too much interest in his heart and affections 3 Want of contentment which indeed lies not in the things a man enjoyes but in the mind that values them Natura paucis contenta libido nullis Nature
is content with a little and grace is content with lesse but lust is insatiable content with nothing 't is certain earthly treasures in themselves yield no sound contentment and satisfaction to the owner Haman was a man that sucked at the fair and full breasts of the world he was one of the worlds darlings as they usually say and yet was he not content therewith Ester 5.13 All this availeth me nothing so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the Kings gate There is ever something or other that gives an unsavory verdure unto the worlds sweetest morsels and make their sweets but bitter-sweets but godlinesse with contentment is great gain 1 Tim. 6.6 Now can you truly say you are content with what you have and you can heartily blesse God for it 4 Over-grieving the losse of any creature-comfort the lesse interest the things of this world have in a mans heart and affections the lesse grief will there be at that mans parting with any thing in the world But when there 's a-great deal of grief at parting this argues such a creature-comfort lay too neer the heart whilst enjoyed Hosea 7.14 They houled upon their beds for corn and wine The Lord help you to judge righteous judgment of the state and genius disposition or temper of your own souls whether you be or be not such as do make earthly treasures your chief treasure I have done with the 19 and proceed to the 20 vers But lay up for your selves treasures in heaven This Rule or Precept call it what you will you see is affirmative shewing what treasure we ought to treasure up for our selves as our chief treasure videlicet treasures in heaven This Rule is 1 Propounded 2 Pressed Consider it as propounded and so there are four terms considerable as you heard before 1 An Act Lay up or Treasure up 2 The Object Treasures 3 The Place In heaven 4 The End For your selves Some variety there is amongst Interpreters about the interpretation of the object what this treasure is which Christians may and ought to treasure up for themselves I shall not detain you with a prolix examination and confutation of the Exposition of the Church of Rome who make the overplus of Christs merits and of the merits of Saints and Martyrs to be the true treasure of the Church which is say they in the Popes custody This delusion hath kept the Popes treasury full of earthly treasures and his Kitchin warm Nor must I detain you with a prolix confutation of the Jesuit Maldonat his inference from our Saviours command namely that the creature hath freedome of will and power to treasure up for himself treasures in heaven And why But because Christ commandeth us so to do Nemo praeter Haereticos tam est insanus ut Deum nobis praecipere dicat quae facere non possumus None but Hereticks saith he will be so mad as to say that God commandeth us to do what we are not able to do But beloved commands argue not power and free-will in man to do what is commanded they infer duty but not ability that it is our duty to do so and so but not that we are able of our selves to do so and so nor doth 〈◊〉 impotency or disability to perform take away Gods authority to command May not a Creditor justly require a just debt from a Bankrupt In short we are able and too too apt of our selves to treasure up unto our selves wrath against the day of wrath but not to treasure up for our selves treasures in heaven Yet because we are instruments by his grace in the use of means to treasure up this treasure therefore are we commanded to treasure up for our selves treasures in heaven as if the work were wholly ours though God himself be the principal efficient cause we but the instruments Well but you will say what is meant here by treasures in heaven Answ 1 Some by treasures in this place do understand almes comparing this Text with that 1 Tim. 6.17 18 19. Charge them that are rich in this world that they do good that they be rich in good works ready to distribute willing to communicate laying up in store fâ—â—â—hemselves a good foundation against the time to come that they may lay hold on eternal life 2 Others by treasures here understand Jesus Christ 3 And others life eternal purchased for us by Jesus Christ Learned and holy Mr. Perkins now happy in heaven by treasures in heaven in this place understandeth Jesus Christ who is the true treasure in whom all treasures are hid Coll. 2.3 in whom that is in Christ are hid all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge This treasure is a Christians true riches so called Coll. 1.27 to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles which is Christ in you which what Answ Which riches is Christ in you the hope of glory Christ is the onely ttue treasure the onely true riches of every true Christian Now according to this interpretation of the words the Observation which I will handle shall be this Observ Christians ought to make Christ their chief treasure If you ask me the reasons or grounds of the point why Christians should make Christ their chief treasure I answer 1 In general 2 More particularly 1 In general because Christ is the chiefly desirable treasure Haggai 2.7 he is stiled the desire of all Nations I will shake all Nations and the desire of all Nations shall come Some dispute there is what is meant by the desire of all Nations Some would have us understand by the deâ—â—â—â— of all Nations Vt venient desiderati omnium gentium Jun. the people whom God should cull and call out of every Nation as his desired ones Others would have us understand by the desire of all Nations the desirable things the choice treasure of the Nations which were to be tendred unto Christ at his comming in the flesh Thus we read of an oblation of gold and frankincense and myrrhe which was made by the wise men unto Christ Matth. 2.11 When they had opened their treasures they presented unto him gifts gold frankinsence myrrhe thus we read Acts 4.34 35. that the Primitive Converts sold their possessions and brought the prices of the things that were sold and laid them down at the Apostles feet But others indeed the most understand this Text of the Messias the Lord Jesus Christ desideratus omnium gentium so Hierome the person that is desired of all Nations and who was that but Jesus Christ this interpretation is favoured by the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews who quoteth this Text of the Prophet as you may see Heb. 12.26 well then Christ is the desire of all Nations 'T is notable the word is abstract not concrete he is stiled not the person desired but the desire which implies two things That he is 1 Totus desiderabilis altogether desirable
2 Totum desiderabile all that can be desired 1 The Lord Jesus Christ is altogether desirable his person is desireable his offices are desireable his service is desireable his yoke easie Matth. 11.30 easie in regard of to name no other regards the yoke of sin and Satan Vita vitiosa gravior a vicious life is more laborious and burthensome then a vertuous A man cannot serve a better Master then Christ nor a worse then Sin or Satan this is the first he is altogether desirable 2 The Lord Jesus Christ he is totum desiderabile all that can be desired which is not predicable of any or all the treasures of this world Prov 3.15 All the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto this treasure when Paul had reckoned up all his priviledges and prerogatives and laid them in one scale and this treasure in the other this treasure over-weighed his all besides as you may read Phil. 3.8 I count all things but losse for the excellencie of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the losse of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ. What is it that you account deservedly attractive of your love 1 Is it beauty Alas what are the brightest beauties of nature compared unto that beauty which is in Jesus Christ Surely they are but a dim shadow of his beauty Psal 45.2 He is fairer then the children of men when the Church had limmed out his beauty and amiablenesse from top to toe she is forced to break off with a general Elogy Cant. 5.16 He is altogether lovely all the beauty of God the Father is put forth in Christ who is the resplendency of the Fathers glory The light of the Sun in the air what is it but the accidental reflexion of the Suns beames And what is Jesus Christ this precious treasure but the substantial reflexion of the Fathers light beauty and glory Oh! how are the eyes of Angels taken up with beholding the beauty the amiablenesse and lovelinesse of this treasure 2 Is it gain or profit which you account deservedly attractive of your love why the merchandise of this treasure is better then the merchandise of silver and the gain thereof then fine gold it is more precious then rubies Prov. 3.14 15. A man may gain much of the world and yet lose his soul yea a man may lose his soul in gaining the world Matth. 16.26 Thus Demas when once he imbraced the world then farewel Paul and farewel soul too 2 Tim. 4.10 Demas hath forsaken me having loved this present world But he that gaineth this treasure cannot possibly lose his soul the very name of this treasure soundeth salvation Matth. 1.21 Thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins In a word that soul that gets a propriety to an interest in this treasure gains more then a Naboths Vineyard and that without an Ahabs Curse a better reward then Naamans without a Gehezies leprosie If ever you will prove your selves wise merchants besure to make choice of this treasure for your chief treasure 3 Is it honour which you account deservedly attractive of your love Alas worldly honour and dignity how airie and slippery is it Haman we read was in a little time both highly favoured at Court and exalted also on the Gallowes And Nebuchadnezzar we finde glorying in his Babel as it were to day and cast out of his Kingdome to morrow deservedly may worldly honour be chronicled for a lye Psal 62.9 Men os high degree are a lie but now all that have title to this treasure are Kings and Priests unto God Revel 1.6 Indeed on earth they are but warring Kings but in heaven they shall be triumphing Kings crowned Kings Revel 4.4 heirs they are of the everlasting Kingdome of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ a Kingdome which cannot be moved Thus you see in general that Iesus Christ is the chiefly desirable treasure 2 More particularly be pleased to consider with me that Iesus Christ is 1 A soul-beautifying treasure 2 A soul satisfying treasure 3 A durable everlasting treasure 1 This treasure is a soul-beautifying treasure the soul of man by nature is of all other things in the world one of the vilest most polluted and loathsome thing in the sight of God but this treasure doth singularly beautifie the soul that hath it Cant. 4.7 Thou art all fair my Love saith Christ to his Church there is no spot in thee to this purpose is that Cant. 6.10 Who is she that looketh forth as the morning fair as the Moon clear as the Sun The Church of Christ by vertue of her title unto and possession of this treasure is clear as the Sun in regard of justification and fair as the Moon in regard of sanctjfication Look as when Jacob wore Esaus garment he was as Esau to his father Isaac and in that relation obteined the blessing so when a poor sinner is cloathed with the white robe of the righteousnesse of this true treasure God the Father looks upon him as if he had fulfilled all righteousnesse 2 This Treasure is a soul-satisfying treasure he that hath an interest in this treasure may lay this conclusion firmly in his own spirit That the same God that hath given unto him this treasure cannot but with him give him all things also Take it in two particulars 1 That soul that hath this treasure hath in the same Charter all things thus the Apostle argues the Churches title to all things from this very ground 1 Cor. 3.21 22 23. All things saith he are yours whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come all are yours though not in possession yet in free heritage And why all yours because Christ is yours ye are Christs and Christs is Gods Habet omnia qui habet habentem omnia saith Austine He hath all things that hath the God of all things 2 That soul that hath this treasure hath all that he hath by a Covenant-right and not by simple donation onely he hath all by the free-holding of grace his bread not by common providence onely but by Covenant Isa 33.16 Bread shall be given him his waters shall be sure his sleep not by common providence onely but by promise Prov. 3.24 When thou liest down thou shalt not be afraid yea thou shalt lie down and thy sleep shall be sweet What shall I say the very gleanings of this treasure are more filling and satisfying then all the vintage and harvest of earthly treasures Thus you see he is a soul-sasisfying treasure 3 This treasure is a durable a lasting an everlasting treasure Earthly treasures perish in the use yea beloved if you have not a title to this treasure you will have your portion in this world which is dreadful to consider although God should now fill your bellies with hid treasures It is storied of Gregory
said to be poor Revel 3.17 thou art wretched and miserable and poor and blinde and naked though they were rich in worldly treasures yet were they poor God-ward and Heaven-ward because they wanted this heavenly treasure Jesus Christ Oh! therefore let me beseech you to improve your all this way namely to get this treasure you will say what must we do Answ 1 You must read and hear the Word of God which is compared unto a treasure Matth. 13.44 the Word of God openeth unto us the inestimable value of this heavenly treasure 'T is the means that God hath ordained to bring us unto Christ the true treasure in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge Take heed that you undervalue not the truths of Christ because brought unto you in an earthen vessel Remember what the Apostle saith 2 Cor. 4.7 we have this treasure in earthen vessels O! let not the vilenesse the weaknesse or meannesse of the vessel prejudice you against the preciousnesse and choicenesse of the treasure that is in it 2 You must believe the Word which you read and hear you must mix it with faith or your reading and hearing will not profit you Heb. 4.2 Audientes corporis sensu non audiunt cordis assensu Aug. The Word preached did not profit them not being mixed with faith in them that heard it 3 You must treasure up divine truths in your memory which although it be one of the britlest parts yet is it one of the richest cabinets and treasuries in the soul of man and therefore too good to keep lumber and rubbish in 'T is a treasury for the richest and most precious Jewels to this use did Mary put her memory Luke 2.19 Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart O! that Christians would put theirs unto the like use 4 You must believe in Jesus Christ with all your heart you must receive this treasure upon his own terms 5 You must frequent the Lords Table where this treasure is freely offered by God the Father unto every believing communicant 6 You must pray in faith and with an holy fervency for this treasure But these means have been I presume frequently inculcated upon you and therefore I wave any further discourse of them Two things I must commend unto you from the Lord as ever you would have Jesus Christ to be your chief treasure namely 1 That you would forsake all your sins 2 That you would forego some part of your earthly treasures 1 That you would forsake all your sins Thus did that wise merchant in the Gospel when he had found the true treasure the precious pearl he went and sold all that he had and bought it now what had he or we to sell nothing that is properly our own but our sins all things that we have are Gods already unlesse it be our sins and are your sins worth the keeping do you think you cannot live comfortably and die blessedly without such or such a lust why should you think so what think you of the Angels and glorified souls in heaven they live without sin and are they not blessed yea are they not therefore blessed because without sin Consider with me I beseech you 1 Sins unreasonablenesse 2 Sins undesireablenesse in it self 1 The unreasonablenesse of Sin there 's all the reason in the world that we should serve God but no reason that we should sin against God Sin is folly and darknesse and it tends unto and ends in utter darknesse when we perswade you to part with sin we perswade you to part with that which if not parted with will incur and binde that direful and dreadful sentence upon your souls and bodies unto all eternity Matth. 7.23 Depart from me ye that work iniquity We petswade you to part with that which will be the bane the poison the ruine of your precious souls 2 The undesireablenesse of sin in its self alas you see the bait but you see not the hook that is under it the venomous poisonous sting of sin is but honied over you feel the pleasures of sin but believe not the pains after and for sin because you feel them not were not the horrour of sin disguised your souls would cry out in sober sadnesse Oh I have no pleasure in such an heart-iniquity or way of wickednesse now I see the fruit of sin is shame the wages of sin is eternal death separation of soul and body from God for ever Therefore let me again beseech you as you would have Christ for your treasure forsake your sins 1 Universally fell all that you have for this treasure be willing to part with all your sins deal not by your sins as Ananias did by his goods who retained a part to or for himself but you know how heavy the hand of God was upon him for his dissembling O! beloved be not indulgent to any lust think it not enough to loath some one sin although you love and live in another if you will keep sin in part you shall lose this precious this glorious treasure and so your souls in whole and forsake your sins 2 Perpetually think it not enough to lay aside your sins for a time as you do your cloaths at night when you go to bed and in the morning put them on again As the Israelites lusted after the flesh-pots of Egypt But shake off I beseech you all your sins as Paul did the viper never to resume them again take heed of returning with the dog to his vomit and the sow to her wallowing in the mire This is the first thing I would commend unto you forsake all your sins And be willing 2 To forego some part of your earthly treasures for Christ yea the whole if Christ call for it but I shall bespeak a part onely at this time lay not up earthly treasures for your selves but lay them out in doing good to the poor members of Iesus Christ this Injunction our blessed Saviour laid upon that rich man that came unto him and moved a very needful question Matth. 19.16 Good Master what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life to which Christ returns this answer verse 21. Go and sell that thou hast and give to the poor and thou shalt have treasure in heaven How happy should you and I be if I could perswade you that are rich men to be rich in good works You that abound in earthly treasures to make the bowels of the needy your treasury manus pauperum gazaphylacium Christi saith one of the Ancients the poor mans hand is Christs treasury O that it might be yours I hope you will not say we have little enough for our selves and families should you say we have too little for our lusts I should rather believe you indeed lust is unsatiable but you cannot truly say you have little enough for your selves how many are there that have scarce covering for their nakednesse when as you many of you
have cloathing for your comlinesse and statelinesse how many are there that have scarce food for their hunger when as you have plenty and variety of delicious dishes for your delight and daintinesse many of you cannot say you are not rich men except you be of the judgement of Marcus Crassus whom Plutarch speaks of who accounted no man rich except he could at his own charges maintain an Army Profane Esau could say I have enough my brother I hope you will not prove your selves to be worse then Esau if you be resolved to make it your businesse to satisfie your lusts then I must tell you that you go about an endlesse businesse but I know to whom I speak I hope not to men rich in worldly goods onely but to some that are rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdome which God hath promised to them that love him To you I speak and yet not unto you onely but unto all here before the Lord who have enough to supply your wants and over be merciful be bountiful be open-hearted and open-handed improve your earthly treasures as helps to further you in the attainment of the true heavenly treasure This counsel I crave leave to back with six quickening considerations 1 What hath God and Christ accounted too dear for Consid 1 you the Father accounted not his own son too dear for us the Lord Jesus accounted not his life too dear for us Indeed our Saviour himself was sold at a vile base price namely for 30 pieces of silver Matth. 26.15 They covenanted with him for 30 pieces of silver which price the Prophet Zachariah calleth a goodly price Zach. 11.13 but 't is in scorn disdain the price at which he was prized sold was sordid but were we bought with such a price O! no the Apostle Paul tells us that we are bought with a price 1 Cor. 6.20 And the Apostle Peter telleth us with what price namely not with silver and gold or such corruptible things but with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot 1 Pet. 1.18 19. the price of our souls was so high as that the whole Creation was not able to pay it we were base and vile in our selves yet would not our redeemer buy us with a vile a base price nay not with vast treasures of the gold of Ophir or the precious Onyx but with his own precious blood Now shall we count any thing too dear for Christ and his poor members who counted not his own heart blood too dear for us Consid 2 2 What are the things I presse you to lay out for pious uses but such as you had from God woe be unto you if your earthly treasures came not out of Gods hand I will presume they did either they were bequeathed unto you by your parents or friends or you have acquired them by your own industry but who is it that hath made you rich but the Lord and why hath he given you earthly treasures surely not that you might hoard them up for your selves but that you might distribute and communicate them unto others you are but Stewards not owners or proprietaries in reference to God of your earthly treasures These aswell as gifts of minde as Understanding Wisdome and Policy which God hath endowed any of you with these I say are talents which the Lord expects you should not lay up in a napkin but trade with and lay out for his service 3 What do I presse you to part with but what the Consid 3 Lord can return you back again the Rivers empty themselves again in the Sea and the Sea fills all their channels again and cannot the Lord the bottomlesse Ocean return back whatsoever you lay out upon him and for him Notable to this purpose is that portion of Scripture Prov. 11.24 There is that scattereth and yet encreaseth and there is that with-holdeth more then is meet but it tendeth to poverty this is a Paradox a mystery to the world there be some that get by giving and there be others that lose by keeping and not giving so Isaiâ—h 32.8 the liberal man deviseth liberal things yea will a worldling say so may he part with all he hath nay saith the Spirit of God by liberal things shall he stand Well beloved this argument which the Apostle Paul 2 Cor. 9.8 useth to induce men to lay out their earthly treasures for the good of others I leave with you God saith he is able to make all grace abound towards you that ye alwayes having all sufficiency in all things may abound to every good work 4 What are men content to lay out for their lusts Consid 4 how prodigal was that prodigal son of whom it is said Luke 15.13 that he wasted his substance with riotous living yea he spent all vers 14. and as prodigal are many in our dayes when the Devil or their lusts call for pounds when pride or a dainty tooth or a drunken appetite or the fire of a filthy lust calls how profuse and prodigal are many men Now shall hell overbid heaven Shall wicked men empty their bags and pockets to fill their souls with wickednesse and shall not we emptie ours for treasure in heaven so much we finde promised Matth. 19.21 Sell that that thou hast and give to the poor and thou shalt have treasure in heaven Shall men lay out more for their filthy soul-damning lusts then we do for the soul-saving treasure Consid 5 5 What do I presse you to lay out for pious uses but that which you must leave can you carry your earthly treasures with you alas no death is so strict a door-keeper as that 't will look that as you brought nothing into the world so you shall carrie nothing out 1 Tim. 6.7 Nay if your earthlie treasures have been unjustlie gotten or undulie with-held death will strain out all the sweet and leave only the sowre and guilt upon your souls I say if unduly with-held believe it you may lose and damn your precious souls by pinching and saving aswell as by extorting from others the wicked which we read of Matth. 25.41 42 c. are sentenced unto everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels not for robbing but for with-holding bread from the hungrie not for fleecing or uncloathing but for not cloathing the backs of the poor members of Jesus Christ Now whether it be not Christian prudence to lay up in store for your selves a good foundation against the time to come that you may lay hold on eternal life by doing good by being rich in good works ready to distribute and willing to communicate Judge ye In short the world passeth away and not the world onely but the lusts thereof also 1 John 2.17 when you come to leave the world your earthlie treasures will not relish with you but your souls will say I have no pleasure in them Consid 6 6 If God be honoured and the poor members