them and fed them with the bread of heanen so for vs who are trauellers as all our fathers were in the wildernesse of this world the Lord hath likewise giuen vs Angels food the word of God the spirtuall Manna whereby we liue for euer Now as the former rellised most pleasauntly in their mouthes and contained all toothsome and delightsome taste in it which all other his sweete creatures ioyntly or seuerally coulde affoorde vnto vs So this Manna and diet of our soules is instead of al delights and dainties vnto vs and is like a perfume which hath odour for euery one This the spouse sensibly did taste and feel in the presence of her bride-groom Cantie 1 and therfore she desireth to be still vnited vnto him and that he would kisse her with the kisses of his mouth inasmuch as her loue is better then wine and because of his sweete oyntments for which the virgins loued her Of this ioy our Sauior Christ speaketh in his generall proclamation Math. 11 vnder the comfort and refection vnto which it pleaseth him most graciously to inuite vs by our obedience vnto his word saying vnto vs Come vnto me alye that trauail and are heauy laden and I will refresh you Such therefore as make that the argument of their sorrow which should be vnto them an occasion of great ioy who are grieued and disquieted at the preaching of the word who entertaine a preacher with no other congee then Achab did Elias saying vnto him 1. Reg. 21 art thou come my enemy hanging downe their heads like bul-rushes Isaiah 58. when the ovice of the preacher toucheth their sinnes and with the sword of the spirit launcheth them deeply and cutteth them to the heart saving within themselues Iohn 6 Durus est hic sermo This is a hard saying and who is able to abide it Such I say A similitude may well be likened vnto those who suffer shipwracke at the hauens mouth and the key side the only place of harbour and refuge in such danger But we cannot be ignorant how vntoothsome and vnwholsome this spiritual diet is to the stomacks and affections of the greater sort who are grossely minded A similitude And we maruel not much at it For as swine are not delighted with the smell of sweete hearbs but with the stinking sauour of corrupt carrion so swinish soules regard not the fragrant odour of the sweet word of GOD but they drinke puddle as an asse drinkes water and their pleasure is to wallow in the myre of their sinnes The wicked A similitude who are senselesse and without feeling both of God and godlinesse are like green and moist faggot sticks which are so far from taking hold of the fire put vnder them as thorough the sap that distilleth from them they do extinguish and vtterly ouercome it The hearts of the godly are of the nature and condition of the gun-powder which is presently set on fire by the lest touch but of a sparke that is put vnto it So the fire of Gods word is choaked and smothered in vngodly men being not a fit combustible subiect to worke vpon But it soone maketh a light and bright flame in the soules of his saints as beeing a sulphurous and apte matter vpon which it may extend and exercise his force A kettle of water set on the fire A similitude as soon as it conceiueth the heate thereof expresseth as we see the motion of the fire for albeit it be a heauy and waighty body and so by nature should descend yet when it boyleth it layeth aside his nature and bubbleth ariseth and ascendeth vpward in the manner of fire The bodies of the righteous howsoeuer by nature they are of an earthly and heauy substaunce and so do bend downeward and haue a prospect to the world yet the fire of Gods spirit that burneth within them contrary to their course lifteth them vpward and causeth them to mount vp to heauen Wherefore as Iohn wept vntill the booke was opened Apoc. 5 and so soone as it was opened all the Elders sung so let vs adiudge it to be the greatest cause of weeping when the word is taken from vs and the best occasion that can be of ioy when it is restored and giuen to vs againe Therefore be like vnto this learned Lapidary and learne out the valew and price of this pearle and thou shalt soone find ioy in it It is a memorable example that Socrates in his ecclesiasticall hystory setteth downe of a certaine Abbot who dieting himselfe with bread that was of a grosse and course graine Hist Tripâ—â—â— lib. 8 cap. â— answered thus finely such who would know his reason therof of him I take my whole repast vpon this bread that is so sower so vild mean that nothing but God might be of any pleasure and delightsomnesse with me Oh that we were thus deuoted vnto God and stoode so affected towardes heauenly things it could not be otherwise but that they would expresse their ioyful effects in vs. A similitude For euen as those that walke in the Sunne be the occasion of what it wil must needs be parched and coloured with the Sunne so they that shall walke in the sun-shine of Gods word the light of the world I doubt not but that it shall comfort their hearts and warme their soules with the loue thereof and alter their conditions and set a new die and hue vpon them and minister such ioy as they are not able to conceiue CHAP. VII ¶ By the example of this Marchant who did hide his Treasure the necessitie not onely of the hearing of the word but also of the faithfull hiding it in our hearts is manifestly euicted FOrasmuch as this Ieweller wheÌ„ he lighted vpon this Treasure was as carefull in keeping it as hee was ioyfull in hauing it which he euidently shewed in his prouident hiding of it it is argument enough to conclude the necessity not only of the reading and hearing of the word but also of the industrous preseruing it in our harts Without this the immortal seed of gods word A similitude shall neuer take deep root and fructifie in our hearts For euen as the seede that is strowed vpon the furrowes of the earth vnlesse it be ploughed in and buried in the earth that thereby it may take root can neuer spring vp and be fit for the haruest so the word of God vnlesse it may be throughly fixed in our hearts and there abide and remain his ful time it wil neuer yeeld any grain of good works or serue to any profitable pur pose any waie We must not be trewants in the Church of God as Schollers in the schoole or be idle in the church as children in the market who neither buy nor sel but we must heare mark and hide vp that which is taught vs. As the yron steel A similitude so long as it is cold can not be
water shall thirst no more The word of God raiseth vppe the dead regenerateth the liuing healeth the sicke and preserueth the whole delighteth the godly reclaimeth the wicked lightneth the blinde warmeth the cold comforteth the sad and confirmeth the desperate The want of this is the high way that leadeth to the chambers of death and deadly misfortune For from hence onely proceede vaine hope trembling feare consuming care furious lust boiling couetousnes fretting enuy fuming anger the whole black gard rablement retinue of malignant mischiefs of impotent affectioÌ„s the carbuncles boils botches of our soules Infinite are the attributes to expresse his properties which are giuen to the word It is called Light Bread Wine Medcine a Sword a Hammer a fire Seede Light because with his orient brightnesse it illuminateth our mindes informing them and induing them with heauenly wisedome Bread because it sustaineth our hungry soules Psalm 107 and filleth our empty soules with goodnesse strengthning and staying vs in the way of godlines Wine because it cherisheth mannes heart with the gladsome memory of his mercies promises and maketh him mery with the ioy of his countenance Medicine that it healeth our putrifying sore swellings and corruptions A Sword that it diuideth betweene the soule and the marrow Hebr. 4. and heweth asunder all our workes and affections that are sinfull A Hammer because it battreth and mollifieth our hard and stony consciences A Fire because it kindleth the spirite and the loue of God within vs. And Seede because it being sowed in the furrowes of our heartes by the spirit of God our husbandman it is of verie great increase and cast in some an hundred in some threescore in othersome thirty fold Since then the vse heereof is so great and manifold and extendeth it selfe so farre why worketh it not these wholsome effects in our â—â—nfull consciences why is it still as a dead letter vnto vs as bitter to our taste as is the very gall or the water of worme-wood and we can not digest it If Gods word be a light why walke wee not in this light but groape at noone day â—â—t stil in palpable and damnable darkenesse of horrible ignorance If it be Bread why doe we not as the Angel say de to Iohn Take this booke and eate it Reuel 20. but we do still remayne hungry like dogges and goe about the city If it be Wine why do we not powre out take our fil of it and make our hearts cheereful and merry with it If it be Medicine why do we not bind it to our blisters and wounds to drawe out the rancor and corruption of them and to make vs whole Since it is a Sword why do we not with it cut the cordes of vanitie and cart-ropes of iniquitie and hew all the bondes of vngodlinesse asunder If it be a Hammer why doth not the noise of it grate thine care and the power of it breake thy heart A similitude but thine eares like Smiths dogges vsed to such noyse giue no heed vnto it and thy heart more hard and stubborn than the adamant yeeld not a whit at all the blowes therewith If it be Fire why doth it not take holde of sin consume our wickednes like stubble and melt all the vngodly of the earth like drosse and inflame and lighten al our heart with Gods loue If it be Seede why commeth it not vppâ—â— and take deepe roote in vs but we are stil as waste ground which hath not beene sowed at all The raine is alone which descendeth vpon the corne and vpon the thornes A similitude but the effect is not one for it falles vpon the corne to ripen it for the barne but vpon the thorn to fit it for the fire The gracious deaw of the blessed worde of God hath beene great among vs it behooueth vs to see to his effect whether this moisture doth bring vppe thornes within vs oringendreth good seede Goe to then now tell me what is it that thou wantest and tel me whether this be not a treasure and a store-house to furnish euery want Doost thou hunt after honour 2. Cor. 4. and praise of men by this shal euery man haue praise of God Doth thy heart couet after riches and â—ong life beholde Prover 3 the length of dayes is at his right hand Riches and plenteousnesse is in his house Dauid resteth wholly contenâ—ed with this The Lord is my portion Moses before him preferreth Christs rebuke before â—he coffers and riches of Aegypt Hebr. 11 All the riches that are in the world make not an end of â—his ioyful haruest for it is not shut vp vnder the promises of this life 1. Tim. 4. but it stretcheth to the promises of the life that is to come The Spirite speaketh euidently Psalme 34 They which seeke the Lord shall want nothing that is good Answerable wherunto is this Aphorisme of our Sauiour Matthew 6 First seeke the kingdome of God and this shall be the Porter that shall bring in all your liuing all other things shall be put into your mouthes If ignorance doth trouble thee here thou maist haue knowledge if heauinesse comfort if doubt counsaile if feare hope if dispaire encoragement if temptation protection The latter Dauid with these small smooth stones Mathew 41 smote the hairy scalpe of our ghostly Goliah and put him to confusion And the former Dauid with his shield and buckler did beare off brauely the buffets that sinne gaue him Psalme 119 I did hide saieth he thy Lawe within my heart that I might not sinne against thee There is no age or sexe or condition of persons that hath not a great benefite and treasure of the word It is a rule for the yong man to square his life and for the old man to order his death 2. King 4 It is vnto the poore instead of the meale that tooke away the bitternes and death of that hearb which was in the pot it giueth them comfort in the midst of al theiâ— sorrowes It sheweth the rich man how to vse his riches it teacheth the Senatour wisedome So that euen as Ioseph had no vse of Astronomie because he had the gift of prophesie so he needeth not any other riches that hath this imcomparable riches of Gods spirit Since therfore we so diligently read books of humane learning from wheÌ„ce we obserue nothing but either common-wealth discipline or gouernement of health or precepts oeconomicall or points of husbandrie or inuentions of trades or allurements vnto pleasures how much more ought our whole studie be set vpon Gods law by which God himselfe speaketh face to face vnto vs by which the mind is exceedingly comforted disquiet thoughts dispelled the whole man enabled beyond all imagination to euery good worke Be thou of what mould and constitution that may be here is argument and reading for thy turne Art thou of a graue and seuere disposition and doth
holy Apostle Oh the deepenesse of the counsailes and wisedome of God! Rom. 11. how vnsearchable are thy wayes and thy paths past finding out One Plato is woorth a thousand vulgar men the Scriptures surpasse all the writings in the world Loe thou that arte so highly conceited of thy selfe and thinkest thou canst see farre beyond the Moone imagining that a Preacher can speake nothing vnto thee but that thou knewest before or that he is not able to stirre thy affections 2. Sam. 11. 2. Sam. 12. I wish that Dauid might bee a president vnto thee to reforme thy iudgement who being mightily inspired with the Spirit yet for al his wisedome dwelt stil in the damnable ignorance of his sinne without remorce of conscience vntill the liuely voice of Nathan the Preacher pierced his heart opened the eyes of his vnderstanding and taught him knowledge Nabuchadnezzar hadde a vision of a tree Dan. 4. which was a figure of his fortune but all his wisards in court and country coulde not lay it open but he tormented himself with the hidden mysterie of it vntill Daniel did vnfolde it Paul was a choice man Actes 22. of very rare parts and induments of mind traded vp in learning at Gamaliels feet Actes 9. a doctor of the law mightily read and checked by his aduersaries openly for ouermuch studying of himselfe yet for al â—â—s priuiledge of his wisedome and learning â—â—e was sottish and senslesse vntill hee entred â—â—to Christ his schoole his learning was but a â—ead letter vnto him vntil the spirit quickned â—im and he was sent to Ananias who informed him what to do If the Spirit openeth not the doore of thy â—ppes thou speakest like a Parrot A similitude thou canst â—ot tell what as Caiphas who prophecied and â—reached of Christ but didde not know so much Trust mee there is no estate of life more miserable than to remaine in ignorance of the word and no estate happier than to haue the knowledge of it What say I of this Pearle â—hat it easeth panting hearts dizzie heads and theereth vitall spirits this word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is all in all vnto vs. If Saul be madde thorow melancholy 1. Sam. 16. if Dauid play these songs and ditties vppon the harpe his frensie leaueth him and his minde is againe quieted This charmed the very diuell and made him swell he did burst when he did set vpon our Sauiour putting him to shame Matth. 4. and to his heeles sodainly This curbled and so ratled the ruffians that were sent from the Scribes and hie Priests Iohn 7. to attach and arrest Christ as they had no power ouer him It exhorteth it threatneth it inciteth it reclaymeth it instructeth it conuinceth it singeth it mourneth it praieth it detesteth it commendeth it disalloweth it recounteth things past foretelleth things to come it singeth of mercy and discourseth of iudgement It bendeth euery way like to soft waxe to bend our stubborne consciences Paul in this especially commendeth his Timothie 2. Tim. 3. that he hadde spent his time in the study of the Scriptures from his tender age wherby he was able to shew himself a workman to cut the word aright to doe the worke of an Euangelist to be prompt and furnished to euery good worke Thrice happy was the state and gouernement of Israel Exod. 28. which by Vrim and Thummim asked counsaile of the Lord wee are nowe in blessed case who haue the light and lanterne of Gods word set vpon an hill set out in our pulpits as in a candlesticke by which wee haue Gods counsaile and direction for our doings so as hauing this Iewel and Pearle vpon our breasts voyde of all feare and trembling at the heart freed from al wauering and vnstable wayes and finaly reuiued in our vitall spirits wee take vp the songs and sayings of Gods saints As with diuine Dauid who merrily maketh this melody on his harpe and humble bandore Psal 27. The Lorde is my life and my saluation whome then shall I feare The Lorde is the strength of my life of whome then shall I be afraide What if hostes of men beset me Psalme 23. yet shal I not feare and though there rise vp war against me yet shall I put my trust in thee And with Daniels consortes shew our heroicall and inuincible stomackes with faithfull heartes saying Beholde the God whome we worship Dan. 3. he shall deliuer vs out of the fiery furnace And wyth peerelesse Paul commune the case and challenge all aduersary power into the field and expostulate thus with them Rom. 8. Who shal seperate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lorde And wyth hym when wee haue seene all that they can doe be of this courage and resolution with our selues that nothing shal be able to sunder and diuorse vs from the fauor of the Lord. But all this while heere is but one Pearle spoken of to which the word of the kingdom â—s compared And not without good cause For there is but one at one time ingendred in â—he fish and it seemeth that the name that is giuen vnto the Pearle which is called Vnio expresseth this his nature which signifieth One. In this it hath a fitte allusion vnto Christ who is our sole and alone mediator and hath no other either Angel or Saint to share and partake wyth hym 1. Tim. 2. There is but one Mediator betweene God and man the man Christ Iesus Neither is there saluation in any other else Actes 4. For there is no name vnder heauen whereby we must be saued Iohn 6. but the name of Iesus For whither elso shall we goe Lorde thou hast the wordes of eternall life As all the light and brightnes of the starres proceede from one Sunne A similitude so all our righteousnes proceedeth entirely from one Sonne of righteousnes Iesus Christ only As Pharao sayd to Ioseph which name in the Egyptian language is a Sauior I am Pharao Genesis 41. and without thee shal no man stirre his hand or his foote in all the land of Egypt So may it be sayde of Christ that wythout him wee are able to do nothing of our selues Math. 28. For all power is giuen by his father vnto him both in heauen and earth One sunne alone chaceth away the foggy darkenes of the night A similitude there are infinite other starres but all of them shining and glistering together and putting to their power are not able to dispell it I graunt that they are to vs as lampes and burning torches and minister great light but yet the blacknes of darknesse doth remayne and is not expelled by them The only sonne of God hath done away our night and hath turned the darkenesse of our grosse ignoraunce into the day-light of his glorious gospel shining into our hearts God hath also giuen vs many helpes besides
heapes of Doctours Preachers and Schoolemaisters but all in vaine vnlesse this catholike and vniuersall doctour sitte in the chaire and seate of our heartes and reade a lecture vnto vs. For A similitude as the harpe or musicall instrument mooueth not the eares but the cunning hand that striketh it so the tongue of the Preacher auaileth nothing the heart of the hearer without the spirit that guideth it This treasure is not so hidden from vs as the enemy would perswade vs who prate I know not of what Cimmerian darkenes and obscurity vnsearchable euery where obuious and occurrent in the Scriptures The wilie tempter herein resembleth him A similitude who minding to strike fire with his yron steele out of a flinty stone looketh round about what ende of the same might be the fittest for it There is no fitter end for him to strike out the sparks and fire of the grace of God out of our stony consciences than the worde of God is which hee often striketh at especially by his often suggestion vnto vs of the obscuritie of the word But doate ye not beloued vppon such a vaine deceiuable dreame the idle thought and inuention of mans brayne Psalme 19 The commandement of the Lord is pure and giueth light vnto the eyes The testimonie of the Lord is sure and giueth wisedome vnto the simple Socrates a Pagan and heathenish man attributeth to the light of nature thus much as what questions he shal moue plainly in good order albeit his Scholler shal be dul and grose headed he wil vndertake shall aptly and naturally be assoyled by him And shal the Philosopher in humane matters accomplish this much and shall not Gods spirit the Spirit of al trueth the light of our blindenes our al sufficient Schoolemaister the ioy of our hearts the breath of our nostrils be aequiualent and comparable vnto him So long as wee heare any mention to bee made of Gods hidden oracles let vs haue before our eyes A similitude the trade of nauigation such as now it is by vse and long aduenture The pilote by a habite and continued experience knoweth what seasons are fittest to bring out his ships into the road is acquaynted with the course disposition of the winds the paths the windings the narrowest cuts of the vast Ocean sea as wel as with the streets and houses of his towne he auoydeth the sands rockes and gulfes as well as we the pittes and dikes that are before vs. So study we the Scriptures and be we traded brought vp in the course and knowledge of them and by Gods especiall grace abiding in our heartes there is nothing so hidden needfull to saluation but shal be found out of vs and it shal be most ready and familiar vnto vs. The Scriptures are the harder A similitude and more hidden from vs because of our slacknes in inquiring after them Such as trauel for pearles of great price which are hidden in the sea must not lay downe lazily at the bancke side or drawe circles or triangles with his finger or a sticke vppon the vppermost sand Such as digge for siluer and gold in the heart of the earth A similitude must not digge lightly vpon the face of the earth but he must pierce the very veines and bowels of the ground There is nothing so hard which is not with labour and paines made easie to vs. The difficultie of the scriptures which falleth much into our reading is hurtfull vnto none but to such as are peruerse for it is expedient for the godly euery way It stirreth them vp to study the better to attayne vnto it It kindleth in them a desire to vnderstand It addeth spirite and life vnto the praiers which the Saints make to God for the comprehending of it Moreouer this maketh them not to disdayne to aske counsaile of the learned and so thereby their pride is notably repressed mutuall loue and charitie singularly preserued Chrysostome A similitude by a fine similitude sheweth how diligence ouercommeth the difficulty of Scriptures The minde saith he thoughts of mans heart are very hidden yet such as are commonly consorted with him by his actioÌ„â— gesture and outward behauiour doe coniecture what they are Let vs loue the worde and daily conuerse with it I assure thee mude meditation is the key that openeth the lock of this exchequer and treasurie where the riches of God lie lette therefore such as will please themselues in their wicked ignorance A similitude there is no man not altered or distempered in his wittes that is not perswaded that it wel pleaseth euery Prince that euery of his subiects should be acquaynted wyth his Lawes which otherwise bee they neuer so perfectly penned if for want of knowledge of them they be not duely executed are but in vayne published See we not how the Lord hath set the Sun in the firmament of heauen A similitude as it were on a high throne that because it is the fountayne of light to lighten all the creatures of th earth euery creature might beholde it Now then if it be hidden from our sight the fault is in our fumish and euil affected eies that cannot behold it For A similitude as their eies which are alwayes fixed vppon the soote and smoake of the chimney we see how they are watrish redound with humours and are bleared and dimmed so as â—he sight of them much fayleth them and of â—he other side how they who beholde the greene meddowes and view the open and cleere ayre and the cristall pure water-flouds â—nuironing the sweete pastures distinguished with all varietie of redolent flowers wherewith the earth is mantled they are pure and quicke-sighted so sottish and earthly minds alwaies drooping hanging ouer the grosse and fumish exhalations of the earth for what is else our siluer and our gold but the brackish and brynish sweate and vapour of it I maruel not if the sight of their minde fayleth them spiritual vnderstanding departeth from them and they be starke blinde at noone day with the Sodomites with their eyes open with Balaam Genesis 19. and wil not suffer the sunne of righteousnes and the cleere light of the Gospel to shine in their hearts The sunne giueth light to the whole world alike A similitude and is denyed vnto none but let hym remayne as he well deserueth in vncomfortable darkenes who shutteth his windowes to keepe out the light of it or wilfully runneth downe into the holes of the earth that hee might not beholde it So let his bloud light vpon his owne pate and let him remayne in the blackenesse of darkenesse for euer that when the true light that lightneth euery one that commeth into the world shineth among vs by the light of the word we shut the casements of the eyes of our mindes and enkennell our selues in our earthly affections that it might be hidden from vs. In the Winter season A
security the downfall of Sodome and her sister Gomorha Exech 38 and their neighbour Townes about who for all their dead sleep escaped not destruction and their damnation sleeped not Eccle. 33 The whip and burthen belongeth to the Asse correction and worke vnto the seruant send him to labour that he goe not idle for idlanesse bringeth much euil yea it is indeed the roote of all euill and the spawne of al sin I passed by the field of the slouthfull saith Salomon and by the vinyard of the man destitute of vnderstanding and lo it was all growne ouer with thornes and nettles had couered the face therof Prou. 24 Furthermore this king in the wisedome of his spirite made a singular vse of this his meditation in this matter to himselfe He beheld and consideredit wel receiued instruction by it that a little sleepe brought in a great deale of pouerty and a little slumber a great deale of necessitie Corruptions and vices spring vp in the bodies and soules of the wicked as thornes and briars in the fields of the slouth-full The running streame giueth pure and wholsome fishes A similitude but the standing poole ingendreth frogs and diuerse noysome creatures The land that is layd and is vnoccupyed A similitude what else produceth it but lasciuious weeds waxing waste and wilde like to a wildernesse If thou wouldst haue thy soule empty of alvnclean thoughts replenish fulfil it with all godly motions and so no wickednes shall be able to enter in For as the glasse violl that â—s already full of water A similitude is not capable of any other thing beside so the vessell of thy soule being fraught with the best desires it hath no lodging for euill disposed purposes Nature teacheth thee with thy two hands to worke as it doth the bird with her two wings to flie Behold how painfully the worldly man seeketh after wealth learne of him to seek for the true wealth indeed and expresse thou his diligence and thou shalt attaine vnto it Be not slow and slack in Gods seruice Gen. 4 as Cain in his sacrifice but be as forward in duties of religion Gen. 22 as Abraham was in his owne sonnes oblation of whome the Scripture saith that he arose early in the morning to sacrifice vnto God Thou canst not without labour with thy stope and bucket draw water out of a well A similitude much lesse without labour thou shalt draw this liuely water from the well-spring of saluation There are many main motiues and inducements to this duty As the respect of our natural infirme condition being in it selfe such as without this treasure of the word of God which ministreth present help to all our necessities we are not able in this present life tesustaine our selues much lesse to prouide for our better estate in the life that is to come The promises of God are pithy and plausible perswasions herevnto by which he assureth vs his assistance and direction in al our proceedings if so be laboriously we shall inquire and seeke after him Moreouer the presidents and examples of the faithful are as good orators as we need to haue to pleade this assertion Nicodemus a Pharisee euery inch of him of a very cursed sect sought late for this treasure and came to Christ by night to disturb him in his sleepe sculking in the dark and like vnto the night-Owle not daring to behold the Sun at noon day politickely temporizing and playing with both hands yet was he not repulsed but he found this treasure which was hiddeÌ„ from his knowledge Ioh 3. albeit he was dubbed such a doctor among them when Christ discoursed with him of the prime point of rudiment of regeneration Mary Magdalen the harlot the publicane in the temple the thiefe vpon the crosse inquired after him whom their soules loued and their labour was not lost buthey enioyed their desires Math. 6 It is but Aske and haue seeke and find knocke and it shall be opened vnto you Wherefore seeke for knowledge as for treasure and for heauenly wisedome as for the wedge of gold of Ophyr the Corall the babish Iob. 28 and the Onyx stone is not equall vnto this Sell not thy righteousnesse for siluer Amos 8 preferring the merchants of Babylon before the cittizens of Hierusalem Be not like the Gadarenes Luke 8 who for loue of their swine were willing enough to leaue Christ and willed him to depart out of their coastes CHAP. VI. Of the gladnesse of this Euangelicall Merchant vpon the finding of this treasure and Pearle of great price vnder which the ioy which the Saints of God do feele by the power of his word typically is shadowed THe word of God is not in nature vnlike vnto a Fishermans hooke A similitude for it taketh vs as soone as it is taken of vs. But heerein it differeth that it catcheth vs not to kill vs but to saue vs aliue it hurteth and woundeth not but rather comforteth and healeth all our wounds It is like vnto fire A similitude neuer ceasing vntill it conuerteth all the fewell cast into it into fire This fire of the Spirite melteth all our hearts and resteth not if it may take holde of them vntill it turneth our seare and dry affections into the hote burning coales of zealous dispositions A glad man was this as soone as hee hadde with long digging in the ground found out the golden mine his heart reioyced and his tongue was glad 〈…〉 his heart and flesh reioyced in the liuing God hee went away rauished and fulfilled with all ioy It seemeth therefore that he hadde a great ghesse of the price of this pearle of the value worth and worthinesse of this treasure For there is none who taketh pleasure in any vnknowne thing for the sensible experience that we haue of a thing is that which breedeth in vs our loue vnto a thing And truely deare christian I will lay my soule vpon it that if thou shalt but taste how sweete the Lorde is and come vnto Gods worde in godly sincerity wythout politike partiality thou wilt bee so satisfied with the fulnesse of that ioy as nothing else in comparison of this shall be able to delight thee A similitude For this is like the pretious perfume of the apothecary that taketh away an euill sauour and leaueth a good behind it Prou. 10 Thou shalt be like the buyer of whome Solomon speaketh who whiles hee is in buying disgraceth the thing saying It is naught it can not be woorth the money but when hee hath bought it hee boasteth of his penyworths and wonderfully extolleth it and sayth it is farre better than his money A similitude As apples that are decocted with hony and sugar looseth their olde taste and sauour onely of the hony or the sugar so our soules dedicated and deuoted to heauenly things they are nothing conditioned as they were before but they
ioyned and vnited to another and as a sword that is right cannot be put into a scabberd that is crooked so the cold affections cannot be so neere conioyned as they ought to duties of deuotion and crooked consciences are not fit cases to hide and keep in them the sharp and two edged blade of Gods spirite If there were a lettice into which we might but peepe into the hidden heart of man we should soone perceiue how few of those many to whom this treasure of Gods grace is offered and who come vnto the word come in this good spirit to this good godly end to benefit themselues by it to hide it with this good Merchant in the secret closet of his heart Some come like Somners and hollow hearted Math. 22 Herodians to trippe and intangle the preacher in his words and if he can catch any thing that by his misconstruing it may but seeme offensiue to the present state he writes it in his tables and he runneth as Doeg the Edomite to Saul 2. Sam. 21. and maketh a great tale of it such a one is a diuell called in the Scriptures the accuser of our brethren A similitude Such hide the word indeed but only for a time and that part which maketh for them and they resemble brood hennes who pecke vp barley carnells with their beake but they keep them not but let them fal again to their yong chickens of their feather Othersome heare to please their itching eares and obserue only figures and colours of Rhetorike cōceited inuention histrionical discoursing a fine phrase or two that they carry with them Hoses 1◠Such are fedde as Ephraim with the wind with round periods square wordes without any substance or shew of any matter A similitude Plutarch compareth such vnto those who carry nose-gayes about them only for the smell and outward shew of them and not for any vertue that is hidden in them Others are new-fangled Actes 17. A similitude like vnto Athenians and doe listen after newes and if the Preacher be a like man to discourse of nouelties he is a lure vnto them Some come to scoffe others for their fancie A similitude others for a fashion for they do no good no more than yoong children whome wee leade with vs to church and carry home with vs for either their thoughtes are dispersed to and fro so as they are like the starlings and doues that flie about the Church or else they fall asleepe and are for a time like a dead corps without any motion They thinke as Samuel 1. Sim. ◠that it is not God that speaketh vnto them and therefore deuoutly they returne vnto their sleepe Thus our greatest sorte of hearers if we diuide them aright either haue no pitchers or else they leaue their pitchers behinde them or else if they bring them they are crackt and broken pitchers that will hold no water in them But the good sort of hearers as bees out of floures gather hony out of the flowers of the word A similitude and as skilfull A potecaries make many good confections for diuerse kinds of sick nesses of such simples as they gather so these out of the field and garden of Eden and such simples as that yeeldeth make such electuaries and phisicke for the soule as shal be restoratiue and shall cure the soule The godly heare the Preacher as the patient the physitian A similitude who aduiseth and remembreth his precepts giuen vnto him If we knew what rubs doe lie in our way to keepe vs from the heedefull hearing of the worde and the hiding and laying it vp as wee should what thornes what tares what tetters do spring vp to choake and stifle the towardly growth of the good seede of the worde in vnsetled heartes more then the necessitie of this point would be confirmed and apparant vnto vs. A similitude It is as impossible to winne all vnto the word as it is for the wood-reeue and wisest husbandman to alter the condition of euery wilde tree or for the Huntes-man to tame and keepe vnder euery wilde beast The brackish water of the sea though it be not good for drinker A similitude yet it serueth well for sundry other vses it is good for fishes that do liue in them and to transporte bring in our wares and necessities The worde of God is vnsauourie vnto many but to the godly man who liueth by it as the fish by that element findeth very wonderful reliefe by it The word of God that is preached in our eares is by the diuell taken out of our hearts Iudg 6. who destroyeth this good seede as the Madianites destroyed the corne groundes of Israel Mens hearts are like vnto the high way A similitude vpon which all the seede that is scattered is lost we see how a fruit tree that groweth by the way can not preserue her fruits till they be ripe for euery passenger hath a fling at them But such as are farre remooued from the eie and grow solitarily by themselues such do reserue their fruites to due season Wherefore depart from the high way of this world and haue no doings with it but hide such fruit as this tree of Life yeeldeth thee secretly from such as would robbe thee of it and thou shalt keepe iustice and righteous dealing faith and good conscience the fruits of a good christian vnto the very end There is also hard ground A similitude into which this immortall seede cannot enter hard and stony consciences which admit not wholsome doctrine and they are like such who hauing corrupt and putrified members their senses are so senslesse and benummed as the Surgeons Sawe or other yron instrument is not felt of them Psal 22 Therefore before wee can doe our selues good our heartes as Dauids must be like melting waxe or else it receiueth not the impression of the word But the thorne that pricketh and choaketh this good seede that it cannot abide and bee hiddē in our harts is the wealth of this world which wee will haue wee are so set vpon it though we pierce our selues through with innumerable sorrowes Like desperate lewde boies hat wil venture to go through a quick A similitude set of thornes briars and brambles to rob an orchard plot Moses seeth a burning bush Exod. 3 which consumeth not in burning so worldlings are in the midst of burning thornes and yet are not consumed wherefore vnlesse wee remooue these blockes that lay in our way and subdue these enemies and sinfull affections and haue our harts like to good ground capable of this seede and of vertue to retayne it all our preaching and your hearing is in vaine and this poeticall inuention fitteth vs. Quid facis Oenone quid arenae semina mandas Non profecturis littora bobus aras Take not in hand to sowe such land as is but sandy flore It quites not cost
it 's labour loft to plow vp Ocean shore The good ground are they Luke 8 by the testimony of Christ who with honest and good heartes heare the worde and keepe it make their hearts the bagge to carry this treasure The good mans hart is the arke of the couenant Hebr. 9. wherein not onely the tables of the olde Lawe but the Gospel of the new is hidden and locked vp It is a fooles heart that is like a broken pitcher that holdeth no water or like a spend-thriftes purse that holdeth no money of a giddy and changeable disposition as leaues of trees shaking euery way with eucry puffe of winde turning round about as the doore vpon the hinges and as a tennis ball that is tossed to and fro and not suffred to rest vpon the ground In the olde Canons such beasts as did not ruminate and chew the cudde as swine Leuitic 1◠Deuter. 14. and such like were defined to be vncleane by the Law of Moses as no doubt those soules are who do not ponder and lay vp in their hearts such precepts and commaundements as the Lord giueth them Therefore that you may not heare the word in vaine the best counsaile that may be giuen you is this to record and write in the tables of your hearts such lessons as you doe learne You must follow the Angels counsaile to Ezechiel Ezechiel 3 saying vnto him Sonne of man eate this rowle that I giue thee cause thy belly to eate and fill thy bowelles with this rowle The like charge did the Angell giue to Iohn that hee should eate and digest the booke Reuel 10. It is the fashion and guise of many to reade much but to eate little to deuoure a great deale but to digest and concoct nothing They returne from the sermon to their dinner and remember nothing no longer than their bodies are in the church as Siues that holde no water no longer than they are holden within the riuer These men labour of a daungerous disease A similitude that is next to deaths doore for theyr case is like vnto that sicke mans estate whose stomacke is so weake as it is not able to retayne and keepe such meate as is put into it but immediately dooth cast it vppe His life is in his nourishment which if hee cannot keepe how is it possible that he should keepe his life I therefore feare much their eternal death who loathe and leaue the diet of the soule which onely preserueth the life of the soule And the prophet Dauid seemeth to conclude so much and to make it an infallible and irrefragable consequence Psalme 107 Their soules faith hee abhorreth all kinde of meate And what followeth heerevppon They are next vnto deaths doore Is there possible any good to be had in the onely hearing and reading of the word without any further heede thereunto Can the henne hatch chickins of those egs A similitude which after shee hath a little sette vppon in the neast she immediately vtterly forsaketh them It is against all beleefe no more can wee bring foorth any good by the hearing of the word which as soone forgotten as it is heard of vs. There is nothing more forcible and effectuall then fire A similitude powerfull to consume but it must haue a time to take holde of his combustible subiect before it can shew his strēgth vpon it For if thou runnest swiftly through it be the fire neuer so quicke thou canst not be scorched or once singed with it A stay must be made that it may apprehend and claspe the fewell or else it is impossible that it should consume it Gods word is the fire of the spirite Luke 24. which inflameth all our heartes and maketh them to burne like a torch which burneth vppe al our sinnes like stubble But if we slubber it vp carelesly and haste away from it and make no stay at it that it may kindle the coales of zeale within them it shall neuer kindle or warme our colde consciences or giue them any comfort Wherefore be perswaded to followe this course which reason aduiseth thee and the practise and examples of the better sort at all times haue animated and incited thee vnto Christes Disciples were led by this rule Luke ◠whenas their thoughts did runne vppon his speech and brought them back again to ask the meaning of it The Virgin Mary is a woman twice or thrice noted for this Luke 12. that she pondered with herselfe the words of the Angell and what kind of salutation is should be and that she lodged such sayings as the heard secretly in hir heart The men of Berea are registred in the chronicles of the spirite for this Act. 17 that they caried home with them the Sermon of Saint Paul that they might trie and examin by the scriptures whether things were so or no. So Dauid vsed this for thus he speaketh of himselfe saying Psalme 119 I haue hidden thy commandement within my heart that I should not sinne against thee There is this marke of difference between Iacob and his sonnes when Ioseph discouered his dreame vnto them his brethren vouchsafed not to giue hi audience but the text saith Gen. 37 that Iacob noted the saying As spicery yeeldeth thee more forcible smell A similitude the more it is brayed and stamped in the morter so the word of God is of better sauour to vs the more it is beaten and bruised in our hearts Wherfore this our Marchant-Ieweller is wise who hideth his treasure assoone as he findeth it And he doth but that which is of common practise The Captain or Lieftenant A similitude to whom the generall Gouernour in the field shal commit a tower or a strong cittie to be kept not only fortifieth it with garrison and munition but foreseeth it to be so diked and fenced round about as it may be sure against intended inuasion If we shall be thus prouident for the safegard of this treasure which the enemy so subtily endeuoureth to haue from vs and keep that thus carefully which our generall commander the Lord of Hostes hath committed to our trust and of which he wil one day take a streight account of vs we shall like loyall subiects discharge our duties wel and shal be very highly rewarded of him for it Let the example of Ezechias be a fair warning to vs 2. Reg. 20 and let vs binde it as a signe vpon our hands who for opening that treasure vnto the ambassadors of Babylon which should haue bin priuatly kept to himselfe and hidden from them gaue occasion to the enemie afterward to rob his posteritie of it As those that do lay seige to any great place A similitude do stop such passages by which they may conceiue their enemie may be succoured so the diuell an old beaten souldiour to this craft intercepteth al the keyes and ports by which he knoweth the Lord conuayeth vnto vs
the comfort of his spirit especialy the word the conuoy and viatiâ—um and releef of the whole man and therefore we cannot be too carefull of it We see how euery Princes exchequer is strictly kept A similitude they must passe through many walls doores and locks that intend to rifle it Let vs therefore keep our heauenly treasure which farre surmounteth this as fast locked up that it may be rescued from the hand of the robber As Ladies fasten their pearles to golden A similitude chaines or twisted ribbands that they might not be lost so let vs fasten this pearle to our heart that it may not be lost This wee shall doe if wee shall continue as wee beginne in the spirite If as we heare we mark and lay vp that which we haue heard if we resort vnto sermons not for carnall respects but for the glorie of God to receiue comfort from them if our treasure shal be where the hart is as the heart is where the treasure is Be not therfore slacke and remisse in this duty for if it be not continued and wel kept it will be gone from thee Such as keep it not when they haue it A similitude are compared by saint Iames to a man that beholdeth his face in a glasse Iam. 1 The man looketh not so well on the glasse as the woman doth for the man carelesly seeing a spot and blemish in his face letteth it alone but the woman curiously prieth into it and with a linnen cloth wipeth away euery little moath and whatsoeuer she espieth amisse in her Is this point of wisedome to learne of a woman it is no disgrace vnto vs to be as nice to reforme by the glasse of Gods word euery spot and wrinckle of the soul as women are by an outward glasse to do away the staines and vncleannes of the flesh It is labor lost to plant a vineyard A similitude if before it should yeeld his sweet and pleasant grape the hedge be broken vp and the way be laid open for the wild board out of the wood Psal â—0 and the beare out of the forrest to deuoure and root it vp It is in vaine to plough the ground and to sow thy field and to neglect thy haruest to fight manfully at the first brunt and before the victory like a seely coward to take thee thy to heels to lay a good fouÌ„datioÌ„ and not to go forward with the rest of the building so to saile prosperously in the wide Ocean and to perish at the key side to go to schoole for a time with children and a little while after to giue it ouer quite Blessed are they that heare the word and keep it Luke 11 and hide it in their heart saith Christ for that is the vse A similitude the end of it If we heare it to any other vain end we do like idle boies who being sent into the streete by their parents for to buy a thing do loiter by the way and gaze vppon euery vaine and idle toy that they see before their eyes CHAP. VIII That this heauenly Treasure is to be preferred and esteemed of vs aboue all earthly riches COmparisons betweene heauenly and earthly riches are both odious and dangerous There is as great difference and ods between them as between light and darknes righteousnes and vnrighteousnes God and Belial 1. Cor. 6 He that seeth a Phisitian to make good account of such hearbs and simples A similitude which him selfe in simplicity hath euer trampled vnderfoote argueth himselfe by this man â—â—ection of former indiscretion We haue hitherto bin too erroneously led with an obiect opinion of dueties of religion The lustes of the flesh haue bin more set by then the lawes of the spirit this present euill world more then Gods most blessed word and momentany vanity more then endles felicity The base brat of the bond-woman too presumptuously lordeth the son of the free-woman a deadly debate and dispute there is about Moses his body between the Angell and the diuell not that each of them might haue part but which of them should haue al. And thus whilst the strife is endles between them we are put to our dumps and doubts within our selues with the damsell that hath many sutors comming to her and knoweth not whom to chuse This Gospel like a Gold-smith is in the right and his imitation is our best direction His cunning serueth him to make chiefest choyce of that which we chiefly do debase and for the gaine of godlynes which we esteeme of least to barter away as beggarly trash all worldly kind of wealth which we set by so much This man for the gain of his golden mine and for the purchase of this matchles pearle giueth ouer all whether it was bequeathed vnto him by legacy or coffered vp since by foreseeing industry whatsoeuer it was it was morgaged and sold for the purchase of piety And surely herein his choice is very good and cannot be reproued A similitude For better reason ruleth him and wisedome that goeth beyond the reach of mans wisedome is his warrant in this action Is it not good reason when offer is made to him of the wedge of gold at the same rate which the foyl and rayes are set at which this mettall casteth and the true pearle indeede standeth him in no more then that would do which is counterfeit of glasse that he shuld more esteeme of the one then the other the treasures of Gods kingdome are offred vnto him at the same charge that he bought his worldly wealth true pearle is as cheap as the dung of the earth vnto him I maruell not therefore that be accounted other things as lost to win and weare this inestimable iewell The rudest poorest peasant A similitude that feedeth most grossely masting himself with akornes a swinish foode if he may haue wheat as cheap a pure and kind repast the naturall strength and staffe of mans life he would be glad of such an exchange would cope the other for it Worldly riches are but hoggish huskes rather filling vs then fatting vs rather aggrauating then recreating the stomack if Manna which is heauenly and angelicall food may be giuen vs for this I hold him miserably madde that shall make refusall of it If God doth put vpon vs the persons of Agamemnon and will make vs kings for euer haue we reason still to beare the image of Thersites and to liue as seruile slaues and caitiues for euer See we not how Cleargy men do resigne and giue vp their meane and smaller liuings A similitude whenas benefits of more worth and sufficiency are giuen them if the benefits which the spirit yeeldeth are of more valew then such which the world is able to affoord vs why work not we so wisely as to make our choice of them What esteemed Saul the losse of his asses 1. Sa. 9. 10. when he found
thee but thou must be so vnited and knit vnto him as the soule to the bodie the beames to the Sunne the braunches and armes to the body of the tree The glasse that is obscured and dimmed with dust A similitude presenteth not aright our counterfeit vnto vs If the soule be ouer-layde with the dust of this worlde the image of God after which we were created which is our right face is not to be seene in vs. Such horses as are put to grinde in the mil A similitude haue their eies blinded that they might fitly execute that office we must blind our worldly eies that we may the readier dispatch such dueties which the Lord shall lay vpon vs. In a gentlemans great horse A similitude it is the best grace and quality that commendeth him that he is ruled by the bridle and keepeth his circles lists and roundes that the rider wil putte him to there is nothing that graceth vs more than to liue in the compas and streight course of Gods commandements to suffer gods word to be a bridle to our lusts and a bitte to keepe vs from the race of our sinnes Herod was first dead Math. 2 before that Christ woulde returne out of Egypt into the land of Iudea we must first die to the world and sin before Christ Iesus wil enter into our soules There was a certayne Musitian who of such schollers who were initiated and taught by others before required double the summ of mony which he tooke of others who were informed but by himselfe alone and his reason was because he considered that double the labour must be taken with them first in rooting out their former balld fashions after which they had bin taught and then in planting and fixing in their mindes his owne ordinary compendious course quite contrary to the other by which they might exactly and perfectly be taught So if we will be trained vp in the schoole of Christ and will professe our selues his scholers Christ must needes take double paines with vs Hee must first make vs to forget our olde lessons which our former badde Schoolemaisters the worlde the flesh and the diuell had before taught vs and then to take out new which his holie spirite shall put into our hearts which tacheth vs all wisedome Augustus taking vppon him to beautifie his Empire and to leaue Rome made of marble which he found made of brick acquainted one Apollonius Thyanaeus with his purpose and asked his direction for his better proceeding the Philosopher thus answered him that if hee would happily atchieue that which hee professed he must set before his eyes the course that memorable Musician did take with his sonne whom he would not instruct himselfe but sent vnto an vnlearned Musician to be taught who gaue him this caueat and memento onely to carry away with him and he should speede wel enough to marke wel the fingring lessons of his maister and doe cleane contrary for they were exceeding naught So to beautifie and adorne our soules and to be perfect schollers in Gods worde it is meete for vs to be taught of the world to marke but the worlds fashions and to doe the contrary and wee shall make a good profession forasmuch as the word with this present euill world can neuer be lincked and combined together The condition of mans minde is like his estate A similitude whose middle part of his body is taken with a palsie by reason whereof his ioynts being dissolued that part is so benummed as it is made insensible but the other part that is not strooken with it but is sound and healthfull is nimble and pliable vnto any outward action It fareth thus with the soule and mind of man for when it should apply it self to holy exercises it is snatched away with a worldly palsie which maketh vs senslesse in these kinds of duties but a remainder of it that is not touched is very full of life rauished and transported with the loue of earthly things The pleasures of this world are the diuells baits that he layeth for our soules and this is the poyson which the whore of Babylon tempereth and seasoneth in sauory meate and in her cup of gold As the Moon neuer suffreth an eclips A similitude but when it is at the ful so is thy soul neuer darkned and eclipsed but when it is glutted and fulfilled with the world Moreouer A similitude as the Moone in hir fulnesse is most distant and remooued from the Sune so our saturity and fulnesse of this world as it was with Sodome we forget God that made vs and the strong God of our saluation and are furthest off from the son of righteousnes Christ Iesus our Lord and the light of our saluation Augustine by an elegant and dainty similitude shaddoweth and setteth foorth the nature of the world an extream and irreconcileable enemy vnto God A similitude He likeneth the loue of the world vnto bird-lime which so fast hangeth and cleaueth to the soule as it holdeth it below and suffereth it not to climb to higher motions that it might be saued These are his words Amor rerum terrenarum viscus est spiritualium pennarum August The loue of earthly thinges is the bird-lime to our spirituall wings Now how we are fettered and entangled with this lime he sheweth vs saying Si concupiuisti haesisti If thou couet thou art catched of it It is impossible but that the world shuld be euery way like it selfe and follow his own nature It is incident to the flesh to fight against the spirit and it is the trick of the world to be at ods with God riches and righteousnes wil hardly be combined A vessell cannot but retaine the sauour of that liquor that is in it A similitude If into a glasse that is full of vinegar thou shalt drop a little honny the sweeter substance being nothing in quantity to the contrary sower subiect it vanisheth away and is consumed of it In our bodies are vessells full of sower affections the little sweet honny of the word of God thorough the redundance of the other is easily ouercome as often as it shall be distilled therevnto He that will loue God A similitude and will not loath the world but thinkes he may haue gold and godlinesse together and chace away sinne and not chace away his sinfull worldly couetousnes is like him that desirous to driue away a dog doth cast a bone or crust of bread vnto him The god of this world is at enmity with God they are two contrary imperious maisters that will not bee serued together He that loueth the world 1. Iohn 2 the loue of the father is not in him Is it possible to performe true allegiance to thy prince A similitude and be in league and pay with his greatest enemy Gal. 5 If we liue in the flesh we shall die But if we shall kill the
with vs but we should take that course which this Ieweller by his practise here prescribeth vs who resigneth vp all that he had in the world that he might buy this treasure of Gods word Let vs doe the like Augustine Nos ipsos pro illa margarita demus non quia tanti vateamus sed quia plus dare non possumus Let vs giue our selues for this pearle of great price not because we are worth somuch but because we haue no more to giue Minus dat vt plus accipiat hoc fac tu Da modica accipe magna da temporalia accipe aeterna da terram accipe coelum This Ieweller hath a wonderfull bargaine in giuing vp his state and interest to this world for liuery and seisin of this better purchace of the world that is to come For as Augustine saith he giueth the lesse to receiue the more doe thou the like Giue meane things and receiue greater for them giue temporall things and receiue eternall giue earth and receiue heauen giue golde and receiue God As thou forsakest father and mother to cleaue to thy wife so forsake father and mother wife and al be it neuer so neere and deere vnto thee to cleaue to God To sell all that we haue is to renounce the lusts of the flesh and of the minde and so to shake off the world which inticeth vs to wickednes as Ioseph shaked his cloake from him Genesis 39. and left it with his mistris egging him to vncleannesse But this is that that breaketh off the bargaine and keepeth vs from this purchase we endure well enough to heare of the pleasure and profit of this purchase but we like not the couenants we are loath to be touched in our worldly state or to alter the condition of our life the doctrine of repentance and the Gospel of Christ teaching vs to deny all vngodlinesse and worldly vanity and to liue soberly iustly and vprightly in this world is grieuous vnto vs Tit. 2. and we cannot abide it The children of Israel hearing of the fruitfulnes of the promised land of Canaan Num. 14 buckled themselues in al the haste vnto the battell and marched towards it eger of the present possession of it but hearing the place was inhabited with Giants they hung downe their heads and their hearts failed them and altred quite from the men they were before their fancies were set vpon Aegypt again So many hearing by Gods spies that came from heauen of the ioy and happines laid vp in store for vs in the life that is to come especially of saint Paul who was rapt vp to heauen and was full of reuelations 2. Cor. 12 and discoursing of the vnspeakable riches of his kingdome rauisheth the hearers with these delightfull tidings that the eie hath not seene the eare hath not heard 1. Cor. 2 neyther can the heart of man conctiue the things that God hath prepared for them that loue him men I say heartned with such consolation they take stomacke to themselues and are zealous and hot in spirit after it to winne and enioy it But withall vnderstanding that the way is narrow Math. 7 and the doore streight that leadeth into it and that there wil be some difficultie in our passage our hearts grow heauy and our iourney is dashed and our whole minde is set vppon retiring vnto Aegypt and to embrace this present world He that hath earnest occasion of speech with another man A similitude coueteth to find that man alone and free from other busines when as God would speake to vs he would find vs in this case he would haue vs loue men sequestred and put apart from the world Therefore when hee was to commune with Abraham Gen. 12 he willed him to be priuate to resigne his natiue soyle Vr of the Caldeans and to inioy his blessed presence to forget his owne kinred and his fathers house And because that cares are the daughters of riches which as thornes do choake the good seed of the worde in worldly minded men the Lord enacted in the state of Israel that cleargy men Deut. 18 seperated and put a part to the ministrie should not haue worldly hereditaments and possessions as other of the tribes that their minds whilest they were in their holy ministration might not be distracted and miscaried with them As also it was a constitution among them Leuit. 〈◊〉 that he that was bunched and crooked in the backe shuld not serue minister in the temple For this defect and impediment of body is a hindraunce to their eies that they cannot lift them vp to heauen as they shuld So such as are distorted and crooked in mind and haue their affections always stooping looking on the world are no fit persons to serue before the Lord and to enter into his courtes Mortifie we therfore all our worldly lusts and slay we them down right with the sword of the spirit Let vs not imprison in the bowels of our soules such sinnes as we like best and keep them aliue as Saul did Agag 1. Sam. 15 whom God commaunded should be put to death but let vs hew them in peeces as Samuel did Agag in Gilgal before the Lord and beate them as small as the dust of the earth If we pitty our sins as Ely did his sons 1. Sam. 2 when we ought to punish them God will punish them and wil bring a great iudgement against vs for them Oh heauy and most grieuous is that commination of the Lord against Achab 1. King 20. for demissing Benhadad Because saith God thou hast let goe out of thy handes a man whome I appointed to die thy life shall goe for his life The like sentence is gone out against all that saue aliue that sinne they should destroy they shal die for it If ye liue saith Saint Paul after the flesh ye shall die Rom. 8 but if ye shall mortifie the flesh by the spirit ye shall liue Thus Paul maketh two men of one the one the outward and the other the inward man both which are vnited in one yet are they so sundry as they cannot agree in one but the generation of the one must be the others corruption the life of the one must be the death of the other and therefore to saue and keepe aliue the one we must needes mortifie and put to death the other What a good match we shall make in coping away the pleasure of the world for the ioyes of heauen at that generall county day wherein the bookes and scrolles of consciences shall be laid open plainly will appeare at what time all those things that we haue here gathered together will do vs no good where no manner of excuse may serue our turne where there wil be no place of any refuge for vs. Here there haue bin found some places of small succor in the time of danger Gen. 3 Genes 18 Gen. 19 1.
painted and varnished yet not fully finished they admire the passing perfection of it deeming that nothing can be added further to it but the Painter himselfe seeth well enough hauing a further worke conceiued to himselfe then others can desire how far it is distant from the hue and brauerie which he mindeth to giue vnto it before he hath done with it So thinke we as we will of the beautie of Gods house of the inestimable treasures and pleasures of his kingdome dispearse them and extend them as farre as we may by all imagination we are bleare eyde with Leah and we see with the blind man not yet fully cured Mark 8. men walking like trees things nothing answerable to that they are indeede Before the chiefe workeman hath put his last hand to his image and counterfeit it will shew it selfe wide and distant from our iudgement Some thinke that Coelum which is called heauen commeth of Coelo which is to engraue and so it may well for we see how it is carued graued and adorned round about with glistering and orient starres But I subscribe to them who thinke that Coelum is taken à coelo which is to couer hide and conceale because the treasure laide vp for vs in heauen is couered concealed 2. Cor. 12. and hidden from our knowlege For whenas Paul was snatched vp to the third heauen he vttered more with silence then he could with speech for he plainely saith he heard such wordes which cannot be spoken which are not possible for a man to vtter for indeed mans tongue in such kinds of cases stammereth and cleaueth to the roofe of his mouth so disable it is to vnfold diuine misteries So that our chiefest commendation of them is our silence of them Isai 24. And this vse did the Prophet make of them to himselfe who being ful of secret Reuelations kept them in a dutifull silence to himselfe saying My secretes are to my selfe God his wondrous workes so exceede all number measure and proportion as it is more commendable to conceale them with a godly admiration then to prie into them with a curious inquisition A similitude Set a round bowle or globe in any place which is of that quantitie that may fill the place and will that vast substance thinke you be dragged out of the narrow and strait passages of the doore of that place there is no reason so to thinke the spirituall ioyes of heauen are of that huge capacitie and substance Cui magno nihil est magnum â—eneca there being nothing great in comparisoÌ„ of this great as they cannot enter into the doores of our soules or be drawne through the portall and passage of our lippes The Queen of the South comming from farre to heare Salomons wisedome â— King 10 it perplexed and astonished her and tooke her spirit from her how much more shal the wisedom of the word farre greater then Salomons put vs to filence and amaze vs sodenly Christ informing Nicodemus but in the rudiments of religion Iohn 3 and beginning with him at the first element of our redemption pointing as it were with his finger at the fountaine and head thereof which is the loue of God to mankind he handleth it so as thereby we are not able to see the nature of it for saying thus of it so God loued the worlde that he gaue his onely begotten Sonne this first word so putteth vs to a non plus For how did he loue it he loued it but so as cannot be expressed And he cannot speake otherwise because hee knoweth Gods loue to be vnspeakable The blessed Apostle entreating of the passion Heb. 12 not being able in particulars to extend it thus generally comprehendeth it Consider him who hath suffered such shame for you But Paul what was this shame why rippest thou not vp his stripes and his blowes his mockes and his mowes the crowne the nailes the speare the crosse because howsoeuer they were liuely and sensible yet were not sufficiently explicable and intelligible We will you likewise to consider of the word as of a Treasure and a Pearle of great price If further we would know the vttermost of his worth the spirit answereth here that it is hidden from vs it is more then any is able to declare The treasure of inward heauenly inspiration the pleasure of diuine celestiall consolation the crowne of glorie laide vp as a reward of our bitter persecution and finally God our father his most gracious compassion by the tongue of men or Angels cannot be spoken of they are hidden mysteries that are too deep for vs. This Treasure is hidden because it hath neede of spirituall Reuelation It is not so hidden but that whatsoeuer is needful to saluation is opened vnto vs. God dealeth not as Poets and Philosophers with the truth who with the darke clowdes of their fabulous inuentions haue so eclipsed and obscured the cleere light therof as the minds of the readers are confounded with them and can giue no iudgement of it Gods spirit hath not so mocked dallied with vs as to set actuaries and penne-men a worke to engrosse such books which being so perplexed can minister no instruction comfort vnto vs in this kind of vaine may Apollo please himselfe â— Pet. 1 God his worde is a light that shineth vnto vs out of a darke place This booke howsoeuer it is sealed vp by the Lion that is of the tribe of Iudah is broken open to vs. Howsoeuer heretofore Exod. 19 vpon the publication and giuing of the law the Lord ouershadowed all Mount Horeb with a clowde and with a thick clowd obscured the temple that was made by Salomon and couered the Arke of the couenant with a vaile 1. Reg. 10 Christ the image and brightnesse of his Father hath dispelled this darknesse chased away this cloud taken away the vaile So that as Elias when he went vp to heauen 2. Reg. 2 left his mantle to Elizeus behind him whereby he diuided the deep waters of Iordan so Christ going vp on high Ephes 4 left his wisedom and gifts among men whereby they might diuide the deepe misteries of the spirit contained in the scriptures If Pharao be nothing skilfull in his dream let him send for Ioseph who is able to interprete it If Nabuchad-nazzar his vision doth perplex him Gen. 41 if he calleth Dauiel he wil presently vnfold it Dan. 2. 4 Ananias will informe and acquaint Saul what he ought to do Actes 9. The Aethiopian Queenes Chamberlaine vnderstandeth what he readeth by the helpe of Phillip So Acts 8. if we find the Scriptures to be hidden let vs send for preachers who may lay them open for vs. But aboue all 1. Cor. 3. let vs pray for the assistance of the spirit of God knowing that it is neither Apollo in watring or Paul in planting that doth vs any good but God that giueth increase wee may haue