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A18212
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The hidden treasure opened in tvvo sermons preached by Zachary Catlin minister of Gods word at Thurstone in Suffolke: upon Matthevv 13. 44.
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Catlin, Zachary.
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1633
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STC 4839; ESTC S102089
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30,901
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47
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THE HIDDEN TREASVRE OPENED IN TWO SERMONS Preached by ZACHARY CATLIN Minister of Gods word at Thurstone in SVFFOLKE UPON MATTHEVV 13.44 These things hast thou HIDDEN from the wise and prudent and hast REVEALED them unto babes MATT. 11.25 LONDON Printed by M. Flesher for ROBERT DAVVLMAN at the signe of the Brazen-Serpent in Pauls Churchyard 1633. THE HIDDEN TREASVRE The first SERMON MATTH 13.44 Againe the Kingdome of heaven is like unto a Treasure hid in a field which when a man hath found he hideth it and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that hee hath and buyeth that field THis Parable welbeloved in the Lord is entire within it selfe and hath no dependance on any thing before delivered only this word Againe Againe gives us to consider our blessed Saviours frequent use of Parables as in other of his Sermons Cohoerence so in this very Chapter which I may call a Nest of seven Parables closely couched together Without a Parable spake he not unto them saith the Text verse 34. and the reason is given verse 35. Vers 34. Vers 35. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophet saying I will open my mouth in Parables Hence observe that it was our Saviours usuall custome to preach by Parables that is Observ to borrow similitudes from earthly things in our ordinary callings Parabola est sermo similitudinarius qui aliud dicit aliud significat Aquin. Reason Simil. to the end that he might by these things that are obvious to sense and reason closely instill and insinuate into the mindes of worldly and naturall men things of an heavenly and spirituall nature with the more facility and greater delight even as skilfull Physitians are wont to minister unto their weake patients bitter Pils lapt up in sugar For this reason our Saviour borrowes similitudes from Husbandmen from Merchantmen from Fishermen from Leaven from Mustardseed from Pearles and from Treasures to illustrate unto his hearers matters concerning the Kingdome of God Vse 1 Vse 1. By which course of our Saviour the best Preacher that ever was wee his schollers may see what a workman in his trade a Minister of Christ ought to bee what a cunning Fisher for soules what a wily Proteus to insinuate the meaning of his doctrine into all capacities and the love of it into all affections Gen. 27.4 1 Cor. 9.22 dressing for every Isaac such meat as his soule loveth and with Paul that Master-builder becomming weake to the weake and all things to all men that by all meanes through Gods blessing we may winne some Vse 2 Secondly let this practice of our Saviour teach us all to labour for spirituall eyes and sanctified hearts that in earthly things wee may see things heavenly and in naturall things things spirituall Carnall Nichodemus hearing the doctrine of the newbirth Joh. 3. dreames againe of entring into his Mothers wombe and the carnall Capernaites hearing of eating the flesh of Christ John 6. dreame of tearing it with their teeth But our blessed Saviour in every common thing hee sees or meetes withall can espie something spirituall and heavenly Joh. 4. In the water of Iacobs Well hee can see the water of life in the stones of the Temple hee can read the destruction of Jerusalem Luke 21.6 and the end of the world and in Seed Tares Leaven Pearles and Treasures he can discerne the Kingdome of God as the Text saith The Kingdome of God is like a Treasure In like manner if we had heavenly hearts every thing we see and heare and meet withall would be unto us a Zacheus his Sycamore tree Luke 19.4 Deut. 34.1 from whence we might see our Saviour Moses his Mount Nebo from whence we might behold the Land of Promise And thus much of our Saviours use of Parables in generall In the Parable in particular Text it selfe the scope and aime of is our blessed Saviour is to teach us to prefer grace and glory Scope called here the Kingdome of heaven before all other things whatsoever and for the acquiring and enjoying of them to denie our selves and all our carnall lusts yea gladly to renounce the whole world that nothing might intangle us from the fruition of so great a good To accomplish this his aime he sets an high price and estimate upon them and greatly extols and sets forth the excellency of Gods Kingdome by comparing it in the next verse to a precious Pearle Verse 45. and here in this verse to a Desirable Treasure for the obtaining where of hee would have us to sell and part with all that wee have A needfull exhortation as in those so in these our dayes wherein alas carnall men do not duely prize the spirituall blessings and graces of God being bewitched with the baites of Satan and inticements of this present world And thus you have the generall scope and drift of this notable parable of the Treasure In the words themselves we have two things to be considered The two parts of the Text. First the Thing it selfe that is to bee purchased and secondly what is to be done about the obtaining of it First the Purchase it selfe about which wee are to bee employed is set forth unto us in the Text by foure severall circumstances Foure circumstances 1. The Name 2. The Value 3. The Place or Situation 4. The Difficultie of finding and obtaining it The Name is The Kingdome of Heaven The Value is It is like a Treasure The Place or Situation It is like a treasure in a Field The Difficulty of finding and obtaining it It is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Treasure HIDDEN in a field Againe the Kingdome of Heavē is like unto a Treasure hid in a field In the second place for the procuring and obtaining of this Purchase What to bee done Five things five things are to bee done First the Treasure must bee Found Secondly wee must Rejoyce in our finding Thirdly wee must HIDE our Treasure againe Fourthly wee must Withdraw our selves for consideration Fiftly and lastly we must SEL ALL that we have and BVY the Field for the Treasures sake according to the example of this Man propounded by our Saviour in my Text of whom it is said When hee hath found the Treasure he hideth it and for joy thereof he goeth and selleth all that he hath and buyeth the field Of these in order The first Generall part The Purchase it selfe 1. Circumstāce The NAME Kingdome of Heaven as God shall assist and the time permit and first of the Purchase it selfe about which we are to be employed which as you have heard is set forth unto us by foure circumstances and first of all by the NAME The Kingdome of Heaven what that is seeing Interpreters give little satisfaction under correction of better judgement I will lay downe mine own opinion Dan 2.32 The Prophet Daniel in his secōd Chapter tels us of foure earthly
have glory now to become the Subject of Jesus Christ submit to the gracious regiment and scepter of his Word and Spirit Rom. 14.8 live to God not to thy selfe by faith and not by sense rule over thy lusts that would rule over thee 2. Cor 5 7. be a little King in thine owne bosome If thou art risen with Christ and ascended with Christ Phil. 3.20 thy heart and conversation is in Heaven and no question but thou shalt at the day of thy Death enter into the Kingdome of Heaven Nay happy soule take this for thy comfort thou hast an Heaven vpon earth The faithfull have eternall life already thou hast taken possession of it already Beleeve not me beleeve the holy Scriptures This is life eternall to know aright thee and him whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ Ioh. 17.2 Ioh 3.36 He that beleeveth in the Sonne hath everlasting life He hath that life begun in his soule that never shall be put out againe and by the lively fruits of faith this life may be knowne as Saint Iohn saith By this we know that we are translated from death to life 1 Ioh. 3.14 because we love the brethren a point of vnspeakable comfort to the child of God if it be well weighed Vse 2 But as for those that are slaves to sinne and Satan drudges to the world Enemies of Christ hope for heaven in vaine rebels against Christ enemies of his gracious government that say with those in the 19. of Luke ver 14 Noturnus hunc regnare We will not have this man to reigne over vs that will have their wills and fight for their lusts alas they have no grace in them have neither ability to doe good duties nor make conscience of doing them Let all such know in vaine they expect at their Death to enter into Heaven Indeed they bow their knee to Christ and call him King but in the meane season they put into his hand a Scepter of Reed and so mocke him and yet they looke when they dye to be caught up into Heaven in a whirlwind with Elias 2. Kin. 2.11 1. Cor. 4.20 But be not deceived God is not mocked The Kingdome of God is not in word but in power saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 4.20 And againe 1. Cor. 6 9. Simile The uncleane and unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdome of God For as the Heathens so placed the two Temples of Vertue and Honour that no man could enter into that of Honour but first he must passe thorough the other of Vertue In like manner the Lord hath so placed these two parts and degrees of the Kingdome of Heaven that no man can possibly enter into that of glory but first he must passe thorough this of grace And this shall suffice for the first circumstance by which this Purchase is set foorth unto us and that is the NAME or title The Kingdome of Heaven The second followes and that is the value The Kingdome of Heaven is like vnto a TREASVRE The second circumstance But what is a Treasure Thesaurus saith Musculus est copia facultatum bonorum ad omnem eventum jam parata The value It is like a Treasure What a Treasure is A Treasure is the abundance of riches laid up in store for all assayes Thesaurus constat de Raris pretiosis durabilibus saith Hugo It consists of things rare not common pretious not vile durable not of small continuance In a word it is a great masse of silver gold jewels pretious stones great for quantity rich and excellent for quality containing much in a little ready for all occasions laid up as we say for a rainy day and therefore is peculiar to Kings and Princes Now Grace is a Treasure saith our Saviour Doct. yea saith Salomon The merchandize of wisedome that is of Grace is better then of Silver and the Gaine thereof then of fine Gold Grace is a Treasure Pro. 3.14 15. She is more pretious then Rubyes and all Desireable things are not to be compared to her Take triall in one or two graces A meeke and a quiet Spirit in the Hidden man of the heart is a better ornament to a woman saith Saint Peter then all outward adorning plaiting of haire wearing of gold or putting on of apparell for it is in the sight of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of great price and value 1. Pet. 3.4 1. Pet. 3.4 when a woman meekely submits her selfe unto her Husband as her head for the ordinance of Gods sake this one grace is worth all the outward ornaments and abiliments in the world See it in another grace The Trial of your Faith that is Bifeild your Faith which is tryed and approved is much more precious then gold that perisheth 1. Pet. 1.7 saith S. Pet. Loe Faith is precious as gold as tried gold yea more yea much more pretious thē tried gold for gold perisheth V. 8. but faith saveth Faith unites the soule to Christ Col. 2.3 Deus est summum bonum fons omnis boni in whom are hid the Treasures of divine wisedome and knowledge Col. 2.3 and by Christ it unites vs to the Father the holy Ghost it makes God the chief good and fountaine of all good to be our God and portion As for Glory that is a Treasure indeed a Treasure laid up in Heaven Glory is a Treasure also there is perfit Holinesse perfit Happinesse Aderit omne bonum aberit omne malum There is the presence of all good and the absence of all evill Augustin There is no sinne no sorrow no want no annoyance no feare of change there is more then eye hath seene 1. Cor. 2.9 eare hath heard of or mans narrow heart can comprehend In a word it is a Treasure that cannot be valued that cannot be wasted Vse 1 Is it thus Beloved that the Kingdome of Heaven is a Treasure let this set an edge upon that Exhortation of our Saviour Seeke Gods Kingdome first Mat. 6.33 Mat. 6.33 Seeke ye first the Kingdome of God and his righteousnesse Let it move us to set our first and best affections and endeavours on grace and glory We covet riches we covet Treasures Loe the onely true riches Quis nisi mentis inop◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luke 16.11 Mat. 6.19 Pro. 10.2.11.4 and heavenly Treasure Treasure on earth cannot be secured from the Canker from the Theefe saith our Saviour but these are durable The Treasures of wicked men profit nothing neyther doe Riches availe in the day of wrath but Righteousnesse delivereth from Death Once cre ye die one graine of Faith though as small as a graine of mustard-seed will be worth all the perishing gold of India For the end of your Faith is the salvation of your soules saith Saint Peter 1. Pet. 1.8 Take therefore to heart the Exhortation of our Saviour Lay not up for your selves Treasures upon