Selected quad for the lemma: kingdom_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
kingdom_n	heaven_n	righteousness_n	scribe_n	3,417	5	11.3432	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A61848	Heavenly treasure, or, Mans chiefest good wherein the several workings of the heart about, and in pursuance of its chiefest good are solidly and judiciously discovered / by William Strong.	Strong, William, d. 1654.; Sedgwick, Obadiah, 1600?-1658. Elisha his lamentation upon the sudden translation of Elijah.	1656 (1656)	Wing S6004; ESTC R25154	135,945	535

more pleasure he takes in reading Cicero it s a great argument of a mans profit in spiritual knowledge and growth in grace when a man can take delight in reading and meditating Scriptures on this account because he is alway a digging up new Mines and finding new treasure there yet withal I would add this do not only study the substance of the Scripture true there is a man among you tels you the Scripture is not to be found in the original nor in the translation out of the original I wonder where he will finde the Scripture then he saith only in the Saints I pray consider I am sure it was Chrysostoms minde Do not only study the substance of the word but the phrases for there are mysteries in the very expressions of Scripture Non tantum verba sunt sed Spiritus Sancti verba they are not only words but such words that the Spirit of God made choice of for the holy men of God were inspired by the Holy Ghost not only for the sense but for the words not the shortest sentence in the word of God but is full of mysterie that is the first instruction Secondly though all the Scripture be to be studied yet some portions of Scripture a man should especially lay up in his heart that the Spirit of God sets as it were a star upon such as this Scripture is that we have been treating of But there are six Cases the Scripture speaks of that the Lord puts especial marks upon As First those that the Lord hath added a note of attention and asseveration to Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world Verily verily except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God Verily verily except your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees ye cannot enter into the Kingdom of heaven There be marks on such places Secondly such Scriptures as the Lord hath often repeated such should be diligently studied The just shall live by faith We are justified by faith and not by the works of the Law and riches profit not in the day of wrath three or four times repeated in the Scripture Thirdly besides those Scriptures that God hath made use of in an especial manner to do you or any others good them God requires you especially to take notice of as Austin was converted by Rom. 13. 7. Not in chambring and wantonness but put you on the Lord Jesus Christ Luther by Rom. 1. 17. The righteousness of God was revealed from faith to faith Junius by Joh. 1. 1. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was God Such Scriptures as the Lord hath made use of to do thee or any other good those especially he requires thee to mark Fourthly especially those Scriptures that speak concerning thy condition the Lord requires every man to studie the word proper to his own estate whether he be in prosperity or adversity honour or disgrace c. those Scriptures that speak especially to thy case Nehemiah did so Nehem. 1. 8. I beseech thee remember the word that thou commandest thy servant Moses saying Ye will transgress and I will scatter you abroad among the people But if you return I will bring you to the place that I have chosen to place my name there Fifthly those Scriptures that speak to the present controversie of the Age the truths disputed in the times wherein you live that you may be established in the present truth Lastly those Scriptures that are most comprehensive that carrie with them the most general Rules to guide a mans life such as this in the Text Where your treasure is your hearts will be Blessed is the man that feareth always Be content with the things that you have God is a Spirit and he that worships him must worship him in Spirit and in truth to be carnally minded is death to be spiritually minded is life and peace without holiness no man shall see the Lord. These in an especial manner the Lord requires you should be exercised in that these should dwell richly in you this is the general Vse from the whole words But to come more particularly there are two Uses more that are more proper to this point we have spoken of First is the heart inseparable from the treasure then this shews to every unregenerate man that there is an absolute necessity of conversion and regeneration You have many poor carnal creatures and they complain I cannot keep my thoughts in order my heart runs out sometimes after this and sometimes after that thing I have no command of the aims and studies of the heart and the thoughts and love of my heart alas very true what commands the heart why the treasure commands the heart therefore untill thou change thy treasure thy heart will go after it what is Conversion its the change of a mans Treasure of a mans Chief good till thou change thy chief good it s in vain to complain of the disorders of thy heart therefore every unregenerate man may hence see the absolute necessity of Conversion now the miserie of that man whose treasure is on earth because his heart is there is seen in two things and I speak it to this end that I may stir up every one to examine his estate that if thou finde thy self unregenerate never give rest to thy self until thy treasure be changed First Let thy actions be what they will if thy treasure be below thy heart will be there and therein lies a mans misery a temporary believer may go far in the change of his actions but his heart is the same as long as his treasure is the same Simon Magus his acts changed much he confessed sin professed the faith of Christ but yet notwithstanding his heart is not changed why his treasure was not changed money was his treasure when he was a Sorcerer and is now he is a Christian Acts 8. 21. this is the misery of every unregenerate man let him change his actions while he will there is no change of his heart because his treasure is the same Secondly there is a further misery this is the ground of the greatest bondage to him in the world let the man be convinced by never so evident reason out of the word of God that his state is naught that his ways are evil let him finde by wofull experience terrors upon his own soul that it is so let him resolve never so firmly against it yet the man will never stop t is in bondage unregenerate men take up high resolutions but they are held the heart cannot leave its course so that all their righteousness is but like the morning dew and their purposes are soon broken off and let a man be of never so high resolution and under high conviction this will keep off a mans heart still thou art a miserable man then that hast thy treasure on earth because there thy heart is there is an absolute necessity

is a strong tower the righteous runneth to it and is safe and thither he retreats and is safe Haman was in danger and under disgrace what doth the man bear up his heart with he goes home and told of his wealth and the multitude of his children here was the treasure of the man to these his heart retired upon this occasion and with these he comforted himself And so it is let a man be in disgrace I have such an estate and am descended from such Parentage with these poor souls bear up themselves but now another man though none follow Christ but the poor of the world contemptible men what does he comfort himself with just as Tertullian answered those that reviled the Christians they came of no honorable parentage At genus proavos habent in Coelis saith he In heaven they have a Country a Kingdom in heaven though they be but poor here and so Job God had taken away all his estate and his children now whither doth he retire Job 19. 28. The root of the matter is in me I have a treasure of grace in my soul for all that what is a mans treasure that he retreats unto upon all occasions Fifthly look how you judge of other men for you value men more or less as they have of that which you account your treasure a godly man that makes Grace his treasure when the question is who is the best man the rich man or the godly man truly saith he the godly man is far the better man to me though poor and contemptible in the world Psal 16. 3. They are the excellent ones in whom is all my delight here is a godly poor man and there is a great Lord but the godly man is the best man of the two to me because he hath more of that which I account my treasure t is so in other things men that make wealth their treasure their chief good let the man be never so wise and godly if he be not rich he despiseth him why because he hath not that which he accounts his treasure Another man that makes learning his treasure he saith a godly man though never so godly without learning is a poor simple wel-meaning man and that is all he values all men according to that which he accounts his treasure examine what value you put upon men Dost thou prize a godly man above all the world dost thou say a Godly poor man is better to me then an ungodly King t is a sign that grace is thy treasure for thou valuest all other men according to that which is thy treasure The Waldenses were reproached and despised with this The poor men of Lions but God hath chosen the poor of this world rich in faith be they never so poor by this you shall easily judge where your treasure is how do you value other men for you value them by that which you value your selves Lastly What be those times that you set most price upon that you write with red letters in the Kalender of your days those times that bring a man in most treasure those times the man values most as look to them Amos 8. they made wealth their treasure the Sabbath comes it was a wearisom time to them they took no pleasure in the world in it When will the Sabbath be gone that we may sell corn as t is now with vain ones in the world when will the Sabbath be gone and the Sermon be done we cannot take our pleasures as at other times that day seems ten to them Look on the other side Isa 58. 13. there is one that cals the Sabbath his delight why should the Sabbath be a delight to him because he looks upon it as the best day in the week and most honorable because it brings in great treasure You never knew a rich man think the time long so long as he is receiving of money so t is with a gracious man so long as he hath in-comes from God these are Exchequer-days to that soul those times are most precious to such men which bring in that which they account their treasure now examine your selves by these Rules and deal faithfully with your selvs and you will finde where your treasure is for where your treasure is there your hearts will be and where your heart is there is your happiness and rules where your happiness is there is your good and there your reward will be There are five rules of trial which I have prepared for this present time which I desire every one would take as a looking glass to see his face by thereby to judge of his own estate that you may know where your chief good is laid up where your treasure lieth It is the greatest inquiry in the world there is not a greater question to be askt in the world then this Where is your chief good where is your God and therefore we had need stick a little the longer in it The first rule to judge it by A mans treasure or his chief good is that which is first in his eye and aim in all things in the whole bent and course of his life that which hath the priority in all his intentions that is his chief good his treasure Aquinas observs Intentio est voluntatis propensio ad bonum quoddam agendum aut fruendum Intention is the bent and aim of the will in reference unto some good propounded unto it by the understanding if it be a good to be affected that rule takes place that which is first in intention is last in execution if it be a good to be obtained then this rule takes place That which was first in intention is last in fruition so that look now what is the great aim of a mans soul that the bent of his heart is carried out after the first thing that is in his eye that is his chief good his treasure In the Scripture you find that God stands very much upon priority Mat. 6. 33. Seek first the kingdom of God Seek it first why is it not enough that the Kingdom of God be sought suppose it be in the second place no it is not sought then it is despised it is undervalued if men do not seek it first So likewise the Lord commended his love to us in this he loved us first 1 Joh. 4. 19. So likewise in Matth. 22. 38. This is the first and great Commandment God stands wonderfully upon precedency so that that which should be first if it be not sought for in Gods order the Lord looks upon it as neglected and not sought for for the Lord in this above all things else may be truly said to be the God of Order Take a natural man his chief good is first in his eie it hath the preheminency and precedency in all his actings and intentions It s the voice of all covetous men in the world Seek Godliness seek Religion I but quaerenda pecunia primum seek an estate

most commonly the poor receiv the gospel most commonly godly men are the poorest men why in the house of the righteous is much treasure truly the riches they have are precious because they are the fruit of the promise and come in by vertue of the second Covenant and by this means they have a propriety in them that other men have not but Mr. Cartwright translates the word and it will fitly bear it In the righteous mans house there is much strength as if he had said all the care of men is to keep what they have and therefore provide to have it under locks bolts and use all ways and means to preserve it but take a godly man that hath an interest in God and is truly righteous and can say The estate that I have I have justly gotten This is a better way to preserve it then all other means in the world therefore would you preserve treasure on earth labour to get an interest in treasures in heaven And to this end make you friends of the unrighteous Mammon that you may have a greater interest in God the true treasure And for a conclusion remember this you that have not God for your treasure here you shall never have him if you have no interest in God for your treasure in this life for after this life a mans chief good doth never change What was thy treasure shall ever be so thou hast a treasure but if it be below God it shall be thy tormentor A mans eternal estate is cast here and being so that which was a mans chief good must continue so to him and therefore fear before God if thou hast not thy treasure laid up in God in this life he will never be thy treasure and reward and yet in the life to come God will be all in all and that God thou hast then no interest in for as a man sows here so shall he reap hereafter I know not what to preach to you that ought more to affect you And so much for this Exhortation Lay up treasure in Heaven There is one Use remaining of this Doctrine and t is of Consolation to all the Saints of God You have seen the misery of those that erre in their chief good Give me leave now for the comfort and support of the hearts of Gods people to shew them their happiness in this that whatever they are in this world yet in regard of their chief good they have not miscarried Oh blessed soul that hast not mis-placed thy treasure that dost not err in that which is thy chief good I confess a godly man is every way a blessed man he is blessed in regard of the pardon of his sin Blessed is the man whose transgression is forgiven and whose sin is covered Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not sin Psal 32. 1. He is blessed in regard of the disposition of his soul Blessed are the pure in heart blessed are the meek blessed are those that hunger and thirst after righteousness He is blessed in all the ordinances Blessed are they that dwell in thy house Matth. 5. 8. Psalm 84. 4. He is blessed in his obedience blessed are they that are undefiled in the way and walk in the Law of the Lord Psal 119. 1. Nay he is blessed in his expectations Isa 30. 8. Blessed are they that wait for him He is blessed even in affliction Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest and teachest out of thy Law Psal 94. 12. A godly man is therefore every way blessed But wherein lies the top of his blessedness the height of it lies in this he is blessed in his chief good there is the top of all his blessedness unto which all these things are but inferior and subordinate Consider I beseech you look to the Angels of glory in heaven the elect Angels they are blessed in their inward qualifications and indowments their wisdom their holiness their power their zeal they are blessed likewise in regard of their office and imployment they are principalities and powers imployed by Christ in ordering things below ministring spirits the spirit of the living Creatures is in the wheels they are blessed in their activity in those offices they go and come like lightning it s the prophets expression Ezek 1. 19. but wherein lies the top of their blessedness truly in this they have pitcht aright upon their chief good they have not erred in their treasure Nay the Lord Jesus Christ himself as Mediator he was every way blessed he is the heir of all things he is one appointed to glory and a glory suitable to the service that he did perform which neither man nor angel was able to do but wherein lies the top of the blessedness of the Mediator Psal 16. 4. The Lord is my portion saith my soul It s the Mediators speech his blessedness lay in his chief good the same thing is true of the glorified Saints in heaven the souls of just men are made perfect Reckon up what you will of the glory of the soul or the glory of the body that remains after the resurrection when they shall shine as the Sun in the kingdom of the father yet this is the top of all they have pitcht upon the right chief good On the contrary what is the miserie of the Devil and those damned spirits in hell Pray consider what I say to you t is very true there is nothing wanting to make them miserable if you look upon their sinfulness you must consider in Hell peccatum etiam habet rationem poenae and sin there is a punishment why if you consider likewise the bottomless pit the burning Lake in which they are shut up held in chains under darkness all this I say makes them miserable add to all these the worm of conscience that is ever gnawing for so t is in all those damned spirits why all this you will say must needs make them very miserable but what is the top of their miserie wherein doth that lie It lies in this I have erred in my chief good t is Chrysostoms expression concerning it put ten thousand hells together here is the worst there is none like this that I have forsaken God and God hath forsaken me I have hated God and now the Lord hates me put ten thousand hels together there is most in this here indeed doth lie the top of their miserie as this was the height of their folly But what needs so long dilating upon this you will say Why Truly because as I would speak comfort to Gods people so I would have them consider rightly of the comforts proposed for there are many grounds of comfort to the Saints and they may make use of them all and they are to do it in their season according to their order yet notwithstanding that which is the great comfort should be in the first place even in respect of taking comfort that which is the great ground of comfort that the soul