before the euill dayes come vpon thee and the dayes whereof thou shalt say I haue no pleasure And Esai cryeth out vnto thee saying Seeke the Lord while hee may be found and call vpon him while hee is nigh at hand to shew vs that the Lord will not alwayes bee found much lesse when wee thinke good neyther will the dayes of olde age and sicknesse bee like the dayes of youth and health for then shall wee feele our selues vnfit and vntoward to seek after these things in two regards first in regard of naturall infirmities and bodily paines which will hold thy mind occupied about meanes of ease as Phisicke and such like Secondly in regard of that strong hand which sin through long custome will beare ouer thy soule euen to the hardning of thy heart for custome of sinne breedeth hardnesse of heart and hardnesse of heart begetteth impenitencie as the Apostle sheweth in the second to the Romanes But the speciall time of gathering and laying vp this heauenly Treasure is the holy Sabboth and other times of holy assemblies and generally whensoeuer thou art called forth to heare the Word preached vnto thee or hast any occasion to exercise thy Faith in the workes of Charitie and pietie Then comes the Angell to stirre the Poole step in then if thou wilt doe thy selfe good for afterward will bee too late Whosoeuer carelessely neglecteth the Sabbaoth of the Lord and presumptiously giueth God the slip in the holy Assemblies as many carâ—all Christians doe who mistrusting God with their estate thinke it no sin to spend the Sabbaoth day in their worldly affaires or vaine exercises well may they with Esau get a sup of pottage to stay their hungry mawes withall if God doe not crosse their enterprises and curse their labours as oftentimes hee doth but surely their heauenly Birth-right is forâ—aite by the bargain and but bankroupts they proue in the heauenly Treasure of a Christian They heape vp but it is nothing but wrath against the day of wrath The Sabboth day is especially appointed for gathering of heauenly treasures Remember therefore that thou keepe it holy as the Lord comminandeth pâ—etend not a necessitie of breaking the 〈◊〉 rest where 〈◊〉 is apparant as the manner of some is when 〈◊〉 a faire Sabboth day they must work for feare of Raine but consider thou whose heart is buryed vnder thy loafe and wilt needs bee rich by deceiuing the Lord of his right consider I say hath not the Lord prouided for thee when it hath rained and darest thou not trust him when it is faire did he euer deceiue any that trusted him with their estate while they walked reuerently in his feare and carefully kept his commandements what indignitie then and dishonor is this that thou offrest vnto the most high in that thou darest not trust him with thy body whiles thou seekest for the good of thy Soule And how doest thou thinke to answere this geare when thy conscience shall bee summoned to answere therevnto before that Iudgement Seat which maketh the very Angels and Celestiall Powers to tremble Oh consider of these things betimes and the Lord 〈◊〉 thy drowsie soule And aboue all beware of sorting thy selfe with profane company which will cause thee to loose thy time and dull the edge of the Spirit decay thy graces and make thee to treasure vp sinne against the day of vengeance for one sinne admitted with loue and liking letteth out many graces and maketh hauock of all thy vertues Now the manner how to lay vp this heauenly Treasure commeth next to be remembred and that is done three waies First by relieuing of the Lord Iesus Christ in his members which stand in neede of help Sell that you haâ—e ouerplus saith Christ or that you can spâ—are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and giue to the poore Make you bags which waxe not old Luke 12. 33. to shew that when a man giueth almes to the poore hee doth but take it out of one purse and put it into another out of bags that waxe old and put it into bags that waxe not old and in so doing saith Christ thou shalt finde treasure in heauen in so doing I say but not for so doing as Papists teach If thou wilt be perfect saith Christ to the rich yong man goe and sell that thou hast and giue to the poore and what you doe to them I take it as done vnto my selfe for saith our Sauiour Christ when they my poore members were in prison I was in prison when they were hungry naked and cold c. I was hungry naked and cold and therfore what you did to them you did to mee To the like effect speaketh the Prophet Esai If saith hee thou deale thy bread to the hungry and bring the poore that wandreth into thy house and couer the naked when thou seest him then shall thy light breake forth as the morning and thine health shall grow speedely thy righteousnesse shall goe before thee and the glory of the Lord shal embrace thee These bee sweet encouragements and necessarie because poore people are vnable to recompence the kindnesse of those that bestow any thing vpon them and as they are vnable so for the most part they are very ingratefull and their vnthankfulnesse doth not a little discourage many who would otherwise bee more beneficiall then they are And in these respects men had rather venture their goods vpon any other thing then vpon the poore For say they quod ingrato feceris perijt It is cast away which is giuen to vnthankfull persons but howsoeuer it bee that many of the poorer sort bee both wretchedly vnthankfull and miserably vnable to repay thee yet if thou giuest them for Christ his sake in whose name commonly they aske it thou shalt finde it againe in heauen But it may bee thou wilt be content to giue part of thy ouerplus to the poore so thou maist reserue the other part to bestow on thy pleasure but beware thou deceiue not thy selfe for all thy ouerplus is for the poore when thy familie is prouided for thy debts paid and all Dueties that thou owest to the Church and Common-wealth thy Prince and Countrie are deâ—â—ayed that which remaineth is for the poore to play for that is to cast lots vpon the Garment of Christ Ne fundis parcendum est sayeth Calâ—sin Euen of a mans ground and Inheritance a Christian man must deuide some to poore Schollers some to scholes of learning some to the Ministry of the Gospel some to maimed souldiers some to poore hospitals in all to Christ he that giueth but a cup of cold water to the poore members of christ hauing no more to giue shall not loose his reward The second way to lay vp Treasure in heauen is by suffring constantly and patiently for Christ when thou art thereunto lawfully called and required and that two wayes First thou must suffer the word
as Religious dowrie and vpon condition that they liue vertuously and liberally amongst their Brethren they wil none for the one they wil deale but not for the other but hee that hath the one must haue the other also and whosoeuer will straine himselfe for the best part shall bee sure to haue his share in the other as hee that married Ruth with her meane portion lost nothing thereby because shee was a vertuous woman and what was wanting in goods shee had it supplyed in goodnesse so he that hath godlinesse can be no looser for Godlinesse is profitable vnto all things saith the Apostle and hath the promises of this life and of the life to come Godlinesse will make thy selfe and thy seed thy ground and thy cattell thy wealth and thy credit to bee blessed It is like the Tree that bearetâ— fruit euery month beareth twelue manner of fruits and the leaues thereof are good to heale the nations withall And as for them that thinke that godlinesse is not fit for all things for all times and for all places but count it a dead world when vnchast daunces ribald songs and other scurrilitie are restrained at feasts and marriages and other merry meetings nor can relish any mirth or ioy that is seasoned with words of grace it seemeth they are better acquainted with the sacrifices of the Indians than with the sacrifices of Christians But let them speake that haue made tryal Haue any done as Malachie willeth them that is brought their Tithes and offrings liberally and freely vnto Gods house for the maintenance of the Lords seruants and seruice and hath not the Lord according to his promise opened the windowes of heauen and powred out a blessing vpon them Haue any suffred hunger and thirst for righteousnes sake which hunger onely is saâ—ra fames holy hunger indeed and not bene filled with good things Hath any faithfull person decayed in his outward man and hath not his inward man beene renued daily Haue any seene Christ in some part of his glory and not beene rauished with a desire to dwell there still Nay more hath any followed him in this râ—generation as he saith himselfe that doth not now and shall atâ— thâ— last day sit on seats to iudge the nations of the world Hath any with the poore Widdow of Saâ—â—ptaâ— shewâ—d kindnesse and beene at cost with the Lords Prophets and not found it againe with increase Haue any for the loue of Christs gospell left all and followed him in time of persecution and not bene prouided for sufficiently Hath any with the woman of Samaria left scoffing at Christs words and hath not her hart beene so enflamed with the Truth that shee hath runne in to call forth her neighbours to take part of her happinesse Haue any with Paul and Silas beene imprisoned for preaching of Christ Iesus and haue they not found that in prison which hath made them to sing Psalmes for ioy Hath any gone to the Lords warres at his owne cost or planted the Lords vineyard and not drinke of the wine Hath any laboured in the Lords husbandry and gone away without his reward Haue any at any time beleeued God and ben deceiued Hath any trusted God with his estate that hath not beene compassed about with the mercies of the Lord Hath any loued the Lord and not bene loued againe Hath any craued day and not beene borne withall repented and not beene forgiuen In a word did euer any imploy his talent to the Lords aduantage and not more to his owne aduantage for haue they not besides the receipt of commendations for their faithfulnesse beene put in possession of their maisters ioy And on the contrary hath any neglected the gifts of God bestowed vpon him and hath it not bene to his owne losse as hee that hid his Talent in the ground Hath any Esau sould his birth-right and not lost the blessing Hath any Iudas sould his Master and betrayed the truth not been the first that repented the bargaine by that time that he and the gallowes or the Diuell or both haue reckoned together Haue any with Demas forsaken gods seruants to follow this present world and not with Hymeneuâ— and Alexander made shipwrack of faith a good conscience Beleeue mee good brethren it will stand vs in hand to looke lesse to our earthly Treasure and more after the heauenly least in the end wee loose both To conclude therefore this point seeing as the Christians heauenly Treasure which is both Christ himselfe and all the riches of his Gospell bee so excellent rare and precious that nothing may bee compared therewith and seeing the treasures of this his kingdome of Grace though they bee inestimable and vnspeakable are but a tast and earnest of those treasures which bee reserued for the Saints in his kingdome of glory And lastly seeing as they which seeke after the heauenly Treasure shall also haue earthly blessings to accompanie the same as farre forth as God shall see good for his children let euery Christian hart bee hereby moued and perswaded to lay vp from henceforth Treasure in heauen rather than on earth sith euery man desireth the best things As the Christians heauenly Treasure is so bee preferred before all things for the Excellencie thereof so also is it here commended vnto vs by our blessed Sauiour for the Perpetuitie and the Securitie of the same For their Perpetuitie hee saith that neither Moth can eate it nor Rust consume it And for their security the safe keeping he tels thee that they are where no Theefe can dig through and steale them meaning that no enimie whether terrestiall or infernall whether man or Diuell can possibly deceiue thee or depriue thee of them Now as touching the Perpetuitie of the Christians heauenly Treasure it is such and of so long continuance that euen in that respect it is to bee preferred beefore all earthly and transitorie Commodities for all earthly commodities and treasures they are eyâ—ther vsed or not vsed if they bee put to any vse or employment they consume and weare if they be put to no vse but lye by then they are corrupted which corruption also abateth not a little both of their substance and glory But as for the Heauenly Treasures of Gods grace and spirit they are neyther consumed nor corrupted There is more vse of them then of any earthly thing whatsoeuer yet are they not neyther can they bee subiect to any consumption Nay they are no whit the worse but much the better for the vsing Tell me is there not a daylie yse of Prayer of Preaching of Faith of Charitie of Repentance of Patience of Hope of Humilitie c. And are they not through continuall vse encreased strengthened and made easie like the fiue tallents which being put forth to aduantage gained fiue more And as Milo that Tullie speakes of by vsing his strength day by day in carrying of a Calfe did so
vs to trash but not to Treasure to hell but not to heauen to the flesh but not to the spirit and so from God to the Diuell And being come now to the place and hauing found the Booke that will rcueale this Heauenly Treasure what must wee doe Search the Scriptures saith our Sauiour Christ to shew that there is some hidden Trasure in it more then is seene outwardly or more then they make shew of and so there is And therefore the Word is preferred before Gold albeit most men had rather haue Gold then the Word but Daâ—id could say that of Gods Word which he could not doe of Gold nor all the world besides and that was this Except thy word had beene my comfort in my Affliction I had perished And Salomon auoucheth that man to bee blessed that findeth wisedome and him happy that getteth Vnderstanding and doubteth not to yeeld this for his reason That the marchandise thereof is better then the Marchandise of Siluer and the gaine thereof is better then Golde It is more precious saith he then Pearles and all things that thou canst desire are not to be compared vnto her Length of dayes is in her right hand and in her left hand riches and glory Her pathes are the pathes of pleasure and all her wayes prosperitie Shee is a Tree of Life to them that lay hold on her and therefore blessed are they that receiue her But to see these are required very heauenly and spirituall eyes euen the eyes of a liuely â—aith for carnall sence cannot comprehend them and worldly wisedome cannot conceiue them yea many laugh at vs because we seeke for life in the death of Christ grace in his curse righteousnesse in his condemnation and comfort in his holy Gospell Verely say they so floweth cold water out of a burning Furnace and so springeth light out of darknesse and hereupon they conclude that none are more foolish then wee which hope for Life at a dead mans hand which aske forgiuenesse at a condemned person which fetch the grace of God out of one that was accursed and flye for refuge to the Crosse as to the onely author of euerlasting Saluation which are all the Treasures that the word of God doth offer vs and therewithall laughing at our simplicitie they think themselues very sharp-witted but alas they want the chiefest thing in true wisedome namely the feeling of Conscience and the â—eare of God-Let vs but enter deeply into our selues and so soone as wee acknowledge our owne wretchednesse the way for vs vnto Christ and for Christ vnto vs will bee by and by paued and made lâ—uell for as to the attaining of humane Sciences is requisite a fine and well furnished wit so to this Heauenly Philosophie is required a subdued minde for what tast can there bee where is lothing As many then as will not willinglie bee deceiued and perish let them learne to begin with this lâ—sson to know that they haue to doe with God to whom they must giue accompt let them set before their eyes that iudgement seat that makes euen the Angels to tremble let them hearken to their owne conscience bearing witnesse against them let them not harden their harts against the pricks of sinne and then they shall find nothing in the death of Christ to bee ashamed of And let not their astonishment bee a stumbling blocke to vs but rather let vs bee carryed from the humane nature of Christ to the glory of his Godhead which may turne all curious questions into admiration And let vs goe from the death of Christ to his glorious resurrection which may wipe away all slaunder of his Crosse Let vs passe from the weakenesse of the flesh to the power of the Spirit which may swallow vp all foolish thoughts And let vs still pray with holy Daâ—id that the Lord would open the eyes of our Vnderstanding that wee may see the wondrous things of his word for not euery one that readeth the booke of God doth come to the Treasure for it is like a Nut with a double shell both which must bee broken before the kernell can bee found or like a Chest with many locks and euery one must be opened before the Treasure can bee met withall To which end the Lord hath appointed Preaching and Preachers and endued them with the tongues of the learned and all to open the hidden Treasures of the Gospell of Christ. To which must bee ioyned a diligent eare a minde to meditate and a sober tongue to confer with thy Pastor and familie and an humble Spirit to bee enformed and reformed by the counsell of God These meanes are called digging and searching laborious exercises indeed to shew what paines and diligence must bee vsed in searching after the heauenly Treasure My Sonne saith Salomon if thou wilt receiue my words and hide my commaundement within thee and cause thine eares to hearken vnto Wisedome and incline thine heart vnto Vnderstanding if thou callest after Knowledge and cryest for Vnderstanding if thou seekest for her as for Siluer and searchest for her as for Treasures then shalt thou vnderstand the feare of the Lord and finde the knowledge of God But if wee bee negligent backward and indifferent or luke-warme then will it fare with vs as with Laodicea wee shall thinke wee are rich and increased with goods and haue neede of nothing when indeed wee are wretched and miserable and poore and blind and naked And alas so it is with too too many and therefore when you come into their houses if the booke of God bee there you shall finde it couered ouer with much rubbill and drosse as Cards and Tables merry Tales with sorry or sorrowfull tailes profane and scurrilous discourses and paultry pamphlets and such like stuffe which domineere ouer the booke of God as the Iewes did ouer Christs in Pilates hall all which should bee swept out of doores or sacrificed in the fire and as for such humorists as do nothing but feede mens humours with idlenesse and ply them with the pleasures of sinne to the losse of their precious time which should bee spent in seeking of the heauenly Treasure say vnto them as Christ did vnto Peter when hee solicited him against the will of God vnto carnall courses Turne thee behind me Sathan thou art an offence vnto mee and sauourest not the things of God The next thing to bee considered is the time of gathering and laying vp this heauenly Treasure for there is a time for all things saith the holy Ghost All in time saith the World hereafter when old age comes or when sicknesse comes or at the houre of death It is not good to bee too forward in Religion or to meddle too soone with matters of God and Godlinesse for a yong man may prooue an old Diuell But heare what God saith thou foolish man Remember thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth
of Christ which is the sword of the Spirit to hew and cut thy sinnes and bee content with patience to endure the sifting and fanning of the Gospell for except the dead and superfluous branches be cut off we can neuer bring forth fruit in Christ. Secondly wee must resolue to endure all outward crosses and losses for the euerlasting Truth of Christ for hee that will saise his life saith Christ shall loose it and he that will loose it for my sake and the Gospell shall saue it And if wee suffer with him saith S. Paul wee shall also raigne with him If wee belong to Christ wee must looke for tribulation and anguish and persecution and famine and nakednesse and perill and sword all which will try their force to see if they can seperate vs from the loue of Christ. Yea wee must looke for his sake to bee killed all the day long and to bee counted as sheepe for the slaughter But in all these things saith the holy Apostle wee are more then conquerours through him that loued us And therefore wee faint not but though our oâ—tward man perish yet th' inward man is renued daily For our light affliction which is but for a moment causeth vnto vs a farre more excellent waight of glory While wee looke not on the things which are seene but on the things which are not seene This point will bee scarce welcommed or well liked of nice and daintie professours of the Gospell which must neuer goe to Gods house but when the Sunne shineth the waies are faire and no Winde is stirring to blow vpon them and when they are there they must heare nothing but pleasing things their sinnes must not bee touched much lesse can they endure to haue the cutting knife of Gods law laid to the throat of their sinne And if all the world doth not applaud and commend their zeale and good deeds they soon are discouraged stand stone stil like the winde mill that goeth no longer then the winde bloweth no scoffe or reproach no persecution or trouble can they endure for the Truths sake what Treasure can these lay vp by their daintinesse in heauen The third way to lay vp Treasure in heauen is while thou liuest here vpon earth to grow in the powerfull and liuely knowledge of Christ crucified by a liuely apprehensiue faith to make thy selfe sure of all his benefits in comparison of whom thou oughtst with the blessed Apostle to esteeme all the world but drosse and dung Now to effect this we must consider the merite of Christ the vertue of Christ and the example of Christ and what benefit wee haue by euery one of them as that worthie man of God M. Perkins hath both learnedly heauenly declared the somme whereof I will breefly recall into thy minde Christ is to bee considered as the common Treasurie and store-house of Gods Church for God hath blessed vs with all spirituall blessings in Christ. Eph. 1. 4. And in him are all the Treasures of Knowledge Wisdome hidden Col. 2. 3. And of his fulnesseâ—wee all receiâ—e grace for grace Iohn 1. So that all the blessings of God without exception are conuayed vnto vs from the Father by Christ and so must they bee receiued and no otherwise But concerning the benefits of Christ wee are to learne further two things first what they are Secondly how or in what manner to vse them His benefits are three Merit Vertue and Example The Merit of Christ is the value of his death and passion whereby he hath obtained to vs Reconciliation And this Reconciliation hath two parts first Remission of sinnes Secondly acceptation to eternall life and both for the merit of Christ imputed This benefit must bee knowen not by conceipt nor carnal presumption but by the inward testimonie of gods Spirit To attaine to the infallible assurance of this benefite we must call to minde the promises of the Gospell touching remission of sins and the gift of eternall life to the Faithfull Secondly wee must endeuour by the assurance of Faith to apply them to our owne hearts And thirdly wee must vse often exercises of Inuocation and repentance for by our crying to God for reconciliation commeth the assuraunce thereof And if it so fall out that a man in temptation feele nothing but the furious wrath of God yet euen then against all reason and feeling hee must hold to the merit of Christ and know that God is a most louing father to them that haue a care to serue him euen at that instant when he sheweth himselfe a most fierce and terrible enimie which Iob knew right well when hee said If the Lord should kill mee yet I will trust in him From the benefite of Reconciliation proceede foure benefites First that excellent peace of God which passeth all Vnderstanding Phil. 4. And that hath sixe parts first peace with the Trinitie for being Iustified by Faith we haue peace with God Rom. 5. 1. Secondly Peace with Angles who do ascend and descend vpon the Sonne of man Iohn 1. 51. and all for the good of Gods Church For the Angels doe incampe about those that feare the Lord. Psal. 34. And like Nurses doe beare them in their armes Psal. 90. 12. that they hurt not their foot against a stone All this seruice which the Angels performe vnto the faithfull proceedes of this that the faithfull being in Christ are pertakers of his merit Thirdly peace with the Faithfull for the Wolfe shall dwell with the Lambe and the Leopard shall lye with the Kid and the Calfe and the Lyon and the fat beasts together and a little child shall lead them Esay 11. 6. Fourthly peace with a mans selfe and that is first when the Conscience washed in the bloud of Christ ceaseth to accuse a man secondly when the will and affections are obedient to the minde enlightened by the Word and Spirit of God and this is that which the Apostle meaneth when hee saith Let the peace of God rule in your hearts Col. 3. 15. Fiftly Peace with our enimies and that two wayes first in seeking Peace with all hurting none but doing good to all secondly in that God restraineth their mallice inclineth their hearts to peace Sixtly Peace with the Creatures Psal. 91. 13. Thou shalt walk vpon the Lyon and the Dragon c. And in that day saith the Lord I will make a coâ—enant for them with the wild Beasts and with the foules of the heauen with that that creepeth vpon the earth c. Hos. 2. 18 If therefore wee see God against vs our owne Conscience against vs the Angels against vs the Faithfull against vs the wicked against vs the Creatures against vs let vs examine this point of Reconciliation and if all bee with vs let vs know that it is the benefit of Christs merit The second benefit of Christs merite is
such like whatsoeuer they say in word if we respect the tenor of their liues are flat enimies of the crosse of Christ and tread his precious bloud vnder their feete So farre Perkins But if thou wilt haue the Treasures of Christ in heauen thus thou must learne to know and feele Christ crucified and the benefits of his Merit Vertue and Example and thus must thou come to the knowledge of God of thy neighbour and of thy selfe in Christ crucified euen whiles thou art here vpon earth which feeling knowledge is a sauing knowledge euen an excellent portion of heauenly Treasure imparted to the true Christian in this life and is a pledge of endlesse and infinite treasure prouided for him in the life to come and so much for the wayes and meanes of laying vp treasute in heauen which are by giuing to the poore Members of Christ by suffering patiently for the truth of Christ and by growing in the sauing knowledge of Christ crucified In laying vp Treasure after this sort we shal prooue good Alcumists An Alcumist they say can turne lead into gold or out of Lead or other mettals extract Golde which many haue practised to their vtter vndoing The Pope is the cunningest Alcumist it is thought that the world hath for hee can of a pound of Lead make an hundred pound of Gold for all his Buls and Pardons are sealed with lead but what fooles are they that turne their Gold into Lead or what calues rather that buy his Buls so deare But lay vp Treasure as hath beene shewed thee before and thou shalt turne earth into heauen corruption into incorruption Gold into godlinesse which is great gaine labour into rest sorrow into ioy pouertie into riches and thy cottage into a kingdome euen the kingdome of heauen Now followeth the reasons of Christs Commandement For where your Treasure is there will your heart bee also A Reason of great force as if hee should say for this cause chiefly you ought to lay vp your treasure in heauen that God may haue your heart which cannot bee vnlesse you lay vp your Treasure in heauen for our hearts will bee where wholy their Treasure is Here wee are taught that no man can loue the Lord with his heart that seeketh and placeth his happinesse in earthly things but onely those whose ioy and felicitie is in heauen and the heauenly graces of the Lord Iesus Christ. Worldlings make no doubt but that they may and doe serue God and loue God with their heart yea and haue as good â— hart to God as any whatsoeuer though they follow the world heare not sermons although they keepe not the Sabboth so precisely as others do which will not worke or play then though they neuer meddle with the Scriptures but bee vtterly ignorant of the wayes and will of God But Christ here sheweth that they are al deceiued by a general principle that neuer faileth Wher the treasure is there will be the hart and wher the hart is there is the Treasure of the hart wherupon it followeth that they doe wholy renounce heauen that do seeke for happinesse here below and if they set their harts vpon heauenly things it cannot be that they should esteeme of them no better or frequent them no oftner then they doe The Philosophers haue most exactly so much as the Star-light of nature would giue them leaue disputed of the happines or chiefe wel-fare of man And no meruaile for who doth not desire to bee happy and to win that hold are all mens Sences and Wits mustred and marshalled because it is the onely true treasure For where the Treasure is there will the hart be but most men doe mistake the matter while they seeke for happinesse in the flesh which is not to be found but in the spirit while they confesse that it is in God yet runne after the Diuell for it When some seeke for it in Honour Ambition is made generall of the field and doth commaund the minde while others seeke it in worldly profite Couetousnesse doth inuade the soule taking vp euery roome for worldly desires and noysome lusts which doe eat out the heart with cares and drowne men in perdition others seeking for it in carnall pleasure and sensualitie cry one to another come let vs eate and drinck and bee merry for to morrow wee shall dye and in the meane time the brute beast in that regard is more happy then such Epicures for that more freely without any shame or feare hee enioyeth the pleasure of carnall sensualitie then they doe But if we were once soundly perswaded of our happines in heauen it would bee an easie matter to tread the World vnder foote and to haue our mindes mounted vp to heauen If the loue of God bee our Treasure and through the spectacles of a liuely faith wee can read our names regestred in the booke of life and descry our happinesse to be hidden in Christ if the spirit of Adoption doth certifie our spirits that God is our Father and wee are his children and with the same certificate shall deliuer vs a discharge against sinne death and hell then will our harts feede vpon heauenly meditations and our soules hunger and thirst after righteousnesse wee will then account all but dung that wee might winne the Lord Iesus Christ. And then as the Hart brayeth for the riuers of water so will our soules long for the presence of the Lord And then the Word of God will bee the ioy of our harts and wee will desire to bee dissolued and to bee with Christ for where the Treasure is there will the hart bee also And vntill then wee shall sauour nothing but earthly vanities Therefore when S. Paul would draw the faithfull to the studie of a heauenly life he doth propound Christ vnto them in whom onely all true felicitie is to bee sought If yee bee risen with Christ saith hee set your minds on things aboue and not on things which are below as if hee should haue said it is an absurd and base thing for christians to haue their mindes grubling on the earth whose Treasure is hid in heauen and that is his reason for yee are dead saith hee and your life is hid with Christ in God Hence we may further learne in what a miserable case they are whose harts are set vpon earthly things which are subiect to Mothes and Theeues Rust and other such manifold mischiefes A cousening match it is of the diuels owne making hee is subtill and sheweth men the world and the glory of it the Court and the brauery of it Honour and the fame of it iniquitie and the profit of it sinne and the pleasure of it as it were his daughters with their dowrie On the other side wee are simple and beleeue him presently our hart is a match for them and happy hee thincks himselfe that can get one of them and to breake it off is a hard matter Their
conscience of his wrongs done was ready to restore where hee had wrongfully receiued the Lord Iesus said vnto him This day Saluation is come into thy house to shew that true conuersion is a certaine signe of Life and Saluation By this I know saith Dauid that thou louest mee O Lord because my enimies doe not triumph ouer mee to shew that euen enimies are for signes tokens of gods fauour By this shall all men know that yee are my Disciples saith our sauiour Christ â—f yee loue one another to shew that christian loue is for a signe of gods loue but not a cause thereof as Papists teach And by the heart a man may know whether his part be in the booke of life and whether his soule shall bee bound vp in the bundell of the righteous or no For where the treasure is there will thâ— heart bee also that is there will be the ioy and delight of the heart the loue and deâ—ire of the heart the care and longing of the heart for the heart in this place is put for the affections of the heart or soule If then thou wouldest know whether thy Treasure bee in heauen or hell see where thy heart doth most â—aunt and whereabout it is most employed If Christ be the man the matter whom thy soule loueth if his Gospell bee the ioy of thy soule his commandements thy harts delight if for loue of his name and zeale to his glory thou fearest more to offend him then all the world besides and art for his sake content to endure with patience all the Tribulations crosses that the hands of wicked men can loade vpon thy backe if thou canst finde thy heart resolued to drink of his cup and to bee baptised with his Baptisme if thou bee bent to stand more zealously for his glory then for thy own life and if thy heart bee refreshed when thou thinkest on his death and art hartely desirous of his comming to Iudgement then happy and blessed art thou the king of kings hath put forth his golden Scepter vnto thee thou art in his fauour the fruitfull Tree of Grace hath budded in thy hart the Summer time of thy refreshing is approching and the Lord delighteth in the fruit of thy faith thy treasure is in heauen thy prouision is gone before thou shalt follow after yea more if thy heart doth mourne and grieue for thy owne vntowardnesse and the sinnes of other men thou art marked by Gods owne Secretary his sauing Angell hath set thee apart that the destoyers â— may not meddle with thee if they meete thee in their way And as Christ said to Nathaniel Dost thou beleue because I said I saw thee vnder the figge Tree thou shalt see greater things then these Soe do you beleeue because I say by the hart you shal know whether your treasure be in heauen you shall see greater things then yet you doe for now wee see but in part and we know but in part but hereafter wee shall know as wee are knowne in the meane time take these things as the first fruites of the spirit which are but thâ— least part of the haruest or as an earnest penny in assurance of millions not to bee numbred for certainly where the hart is there is the treasure but how great a treasure no eye hath seene nor eare hath heard nor tongue can expresse nor hart can conceiuâ— On the other side if thy hart hath no ioy in the gospell of Christ nor delight in the commandements of God if thou haue no zeale for the glory of God no desire to pray nor longing for the coming of Christ then feare for where thy treasure is there will thy heart be also If thou hast more felicitie in worldly vanities then in heauenly vertues if vaine company bee more welcome vnto thee then such as feare the Lord if thy study be onely how to liue heere thy cares and communications be altogether â—arthly and prophane then suspect thy estate not to bee good and know that thy hollow sound bewrayeth an emptie vessell thy figge tree hath nothing but leaues all thy Termes are but vacations and as for treasure in heauen thou hast none for they that are occupiers there haue their harts wholly employed there and as they looke for great aboundance when they come thether so they finde an earnest thereof in their harts heere alâ— is holy and heauenly comfortable and happie for righteousnesse and truth hath looked downe from heauen vpon them and mercy and peace haue embraced each other in their soules and heauen holding their treasure doth also hale and draw their harts thither likewise Now then let vs see how our harts stand affected for there is a sure witnesse and pledge eyther of Hell or of Heauen But how shall wee know whether our hearts be in heauen and Gods holy spirit be in our hearts Surely a needfull question for euery one wil say as the yong man in the Gospel all these things I haue obserued from my youth and that he loueth God aboue all yea hee would be sorry else but the Prophet Ieremie saith that the heart is deceiptfull wicked aboue all things who can know it and therefore to be suspected examined as Dauid aduised Examine your hearts vpon your beds euen secretly before God and free from all lets and encombrances Wouldest thou then know thy heart examine all her attendants and vnder officers wherabout they are chiefly employed as thy Tongue thy Eares thy Eyes thy hands and feet for out of the abundance of the hart the mouth speaketh that is the tongue will shew how the hart is affected my hart is enditing of a good matter saith the Psalmist and presently followeth my tongue is the pen of a ready writer Againe in another place My hart was hot within me and I spake with my tongue A good man saith our Sauiour Christ out of the good treasure of his hart bringeth forth good things If there be abundance of loue to God the tongue will still bee speaking in commendation of his praises and setting forth his greatnes his goodnes his iustice his holines his wisdome and mercy c. as the Church in the Canticles Oh let him kisse me with the kisses of his mouth for thy loue is better then wine that is better then all pleasant and profitable things If there bee abundance of ioy and delight in the commandements of God thy lips will declare the Iudgements of his mouth If there be abundance of feare to offend against God or the Godly thou wilt set a watch before thy mouth and thy feet shall carry thee speedely from euill company If there be abundance of zeale in thy hart then will thy tongue be enflamed with a holy fire for the truth If thy hart doth abound with desire and longing for the presence of the Lord then thou wilt still be wishing