2. Ioying which is nothing else but the joy of faith in the knowledge and apprehension of what is certainly attainable in the Gospel and precious promises 3. Selling and selling all his selling is 1. His consent to part with what he hath he goeth to that end 2. His actuall parting with what is his as and when God calleth and enableth All That is all that he hath of his own that may be truly called his what ever stands in competition with or opposition to Christ and his Gospel-grace As 1. His sins and sinfull-self the body of sinne and earthly members 2. His common gifts naturall and morall of understanding reason wit usuall competitours with and opposers of grace 3. His own righteousnesse of outward duties civil religious frames of heart 4. His worldly profits pleasures honours preferments friends c. 5. His self-ends in profession dependency or confidence of strength to mortifie a lust 6. All his externall Church-priviledges in point of dependance 7. Life it self Though skin for skin c. yet he consents to the parting with this also and doth it actually when called to lay it down for Christ and the Gospel-truth and grace 4. Buying the field and treasure and pearl this is the last effect of finding whereby he gets firm assurance and clear evidences written and sealed which is more then the first act of beleeving even a giving diligence to make his calling and election sure heaven Christ and grace sure to his person and clear to his spirit and conscience Of such a buying the Scripture speaks Isa 55. 1. Revel 3. 18. alibi Thus then take up the summe of all Christ and the Gospel-grace in the preaching and administration of it is a most rich treasure and pretious pearl hidden in a field of promises and Gospel-dispensations which when any of Gods elect at the time of their effectuall calling minding other things is prevented with by Gods light and love and drawn to beleeve it attainable for himself he doth humbly hopefully and highly esteem of it and in love and holinesse purposeth to make sure of it And from the joy that he hath and conceives to have in a further enjoyment sets upon the work of extreme self-deniall and poverty of spirit consents to part with all his sinnes all his pride of parts and gifts all his self-justifying righteousnesse all his shackles and snares in the creature his self-ends dependencies on his own strength or Church-priviledges le ts goe life and all as called to it and thereby gives diligence to get full assurance and firm evidence of Christ and all heavenly treasure as his own According to and out of which Paraphrase we shall have contract them as I can seven pertinent and usefull Doctrines 1. Christ and Gospel-grace is a precious treasure hidden in Gospel-promises and dispensations 2. Every one of Gods elect as others they wander up and down in their minds and endeavours after imaginary mediums and waies of happinesse 3. In Gods good time his elect are prevented with his light and love and drawn to beleeve the attainablenes of this treasure for themselves 4. There is in every true beleevers heart an humble hopefull loving high esteem of Christ and his grace and a holy purpose to make out for assurance of him and it 5. The Christian who findes Christ rejoyceth in him 6. The joy of a beleever worketh him to utmost self-deniall 7. Extreme poverty of spirit and thorow self-deniall will so possesse a soul of Christ and of the treasure of his Kingdome as he shall have full assurance and firm evidence that Christ is his and he is Christs that heaven is reserved for him and he for heaven Doct. 1. Christ and Gospel grace is a precious hidden Doct. 1 Treasure Which Doctrine brancheth it self out into three Christ a precious hidden treasure Propositions 1. He is a treasure 2. Precious treasure 3. Hidden treasure Branch 1. Christ and his Gospel-grace is a Christians treasure Branch 1. The f Col. 3. 1. Mat 5 21. 19 20. Scriptures quoted in the Explication and margent prove it for 1. That which a Christian must seek and set his heart upon must needs be his treasure this is Christ and his Kingdome 2. That which is brought in earthen vessels Paul and the despised frail Ministers of the Gospel that is our treasure which is Christ and his riches 2 Cor. 4. 7. I adde 3. That which hath abundance and enough to enrich and Copia sacultatum supply all that finde it with all that their hearts doe or can desire is surely our treasure In Christ there is abundance of all good of all the fulnesse of the Godhead which dwelleth in him bodily Col. 2. 9. If he gives life he gives it in abundance Joh. 10. 10. If righteousnes it is given and received too in abundance Rom. 5. 17. If grace and the Spirit he sheds it forth abundantly Tit. 3. 6. And the Gospel hath a fulnesse of blessing in it Rom. 15. 29. Branch 2. It is not abundance of dirt or drosse but all Branch 2. precious And in that respect Christ and Gospel-grace is as well set out here by a Pearl as by a Treasure a Treasure for quantity a Pearl for quality one Pearl for the single sole compleatnesse of his grace The preciousnesse is evident by two properties in the Text. 1. The value and price not ordinary but great 2. The rarity and peculiar one-nesse but one such in all the world First The value and price great and dear * Pretiosissimi praetij according to the Syriack Trem. we may take the estimate hereof in three weighty considerations 1. Of what price Christ is with the Father of highest esteem with his Father no question his elect servant in whom Gods soul delighteth Isa 42. 1. His beloved Son in whom he is well pleased Mat. 3. ult The Son of his dearest love Col. 1. 13. Amongst many demonstrations these are convincingly set before us in Scripture 1. It pleased not the Father that any or all men and Angels should be the store-house of grace but that in him all fulnesse Col. 1. 19. should dwell 2. The Father hath given all into his hands All dispensations Joh 3. 35. of the Fathers love from election to glorification are through Jesus Christ 3. The Father hath set him at his own right hand of Heb. 1. 13. Majesty and Glory till he hath made all his enemies his footstool 2. Of what price considered in himself his Person 2. Of what price considered in himself his Offices 1. In his Person The Son of God co-essentiall with the Verbum in carne margarita in concha Father and Spirit Emmanuel the Word made flesh What a pearl is here God and man united in one person of the Son of God That mystery which the Angels desire to gaze upon as men gaze upon a jewell or pearl and which they stoop to pry into as men
Gods called but rejected and neglected not comparatè but absolutè 4. Habemus corfitentem reum m Quos non solet vocatorum nomine insâ—gnire Scriptura The. 127. Testardus himself acknowledgeth in part that the Scripture is not wont to stile such by the name of called ones but he is wont every where to stile them so and to term that a calling unto Christ which the Scripture never so exprest not can we finde that it hath any such intention to hint it to us As touching the rare places which he and others think do Scriptures produced for the call by the creatures answered favour this opinion let us take a brief survey of them Psal 19. What read we The heavens declare the glory of God in creation the firmament sheweth his handy work the old workmanship here is nothing spoken or intended of the new workmanship of God of which Ephes 2. 10. Day unto Psal 19. 4. day vers 2. uttereth speech the continuall succession of day and night holds out something of Gods goodnesse and providence nothing of a Gospel-promise if it did then so many daies as there were before Adam fell or was created Christ was preached by those Oratours as well as since the fall and all the time from Abraham to Christ when the Gentiles had not the Covenant by n The. 112. Testardus confession yet they had this call by the creatures For there is no speech nor language no place or people that ever lived as not a day goeth over their heads where and when their the creatures voice is not heard vers 3. But for the voice of the Gospel-mystery if the Apostle may be beleeved Romans 16. 25 26. it was not heard at all all truths concerning Christ were in all ages among the Heathen kept secret and silent And if any please to compare Psal 19. 4. with Rom. 10. 18. he shall finde that the Apostle makes but an allusion to the Psalmist and that his scope is not to prove this generall call among the Gentiles by the creatures but an outward call among the Jews by the word o Ante verbum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 audierunt non subaudio Gentes sed Iudaeos Bez. Have they the Jews not heard Yes the Gospel by the Apostles preaching like the Sunne hath cast his beams over the whole world the Sunne and the firmament doe no more generally hold out something of the knowledge of God in all ages then the Apostles in their age by preaching did familiarly and universally hold out much of the knowledge of Christ and that to the Jews which as St Paul had illustrated and but illustrated v. 18. from the Psalm he presently proves it and when he comes to the proof he first begins with Moses v. 19. and then quotes Esay v. 20. And yet albeit the Apostle did but allude to the Psalm his scope is the same with Davids to illustrate Gods teaching of Christ in the Scripture and it's ministery by his teaching in the great volume of the creatures That mainly wherein creature and Scripture-teaching are alike is the extent of their teaching all people and Nations are lesson'd by both that wherein they doe eminently differ and wherein Scripture-teaching excels the other is the subject matter end and effect of their lessons the visible creatures give out notes and characters of a deity the audible word give knowledge of God reconciled in Christ The p Recreant corpus diei noctis vicissitudines sed verbum animam dicitur instaurare Jun. l. 2. Parral 19. creatures shew how good God is to the bodies of men the Scriptures shew us how gracious he is to the souls of men The creatures Sunne and Moon c. speak the wisdome of the workman the goodnesse of a Creatour the Scripture and it's Interpreters speak the love and wisdome of a Redeemer The creatures in the common course of nature left for mens conviction and q 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ad hoc ut sint inexcusabiles Beza inexcusablenesse who sinne against the light of nature The r Psal 19. 7. Scriptures and their preaching instituted of God to be sufficient and sole means through the Spirit of mens conversion and salvation Touching that place Å¿ Act. 14. 17. Pertinet hic locus ad providentiam Dei ex quâ creat gubernat conservat omnia creata Eras Sar. Act. 14. 17. I can but wonder so learned a man should interpret it of a Gospel-calling which is but a legall-naturall conviction or that which might witnes a God to a naturall conscience for so leads the context The men of Lystra would be offering Sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas as to gods they abhorring such a sacriledge vilifie and annihilate themselves in that case and hold out God as Creatour to them v. 15. and prove it by his Creation and Providence v. 16. which was a testimony that he and he only was and is God God hereby left not himself without witnesse What is this to a calling of grace or the knowledge of a Covenant of grace founded upon Christs death and satisfaction No more is that which he alledgeth Act. 17. 26 27. and interpreteth of the seeking and finding of God a Redeemer Act. 17. 26 27. 't is true that God who is a Redeemer is to be sought in his works but are these works of Creation and Providence out of a Type or a Sacrament instituted means of seeking or finding him as a Redeemer Or did God make of one bloud all Nations to that end they might seek a Redeemer before the fall Or is Christ in the execution of Gods decree of election to be brought into our consideration before the fall Yet the naturall bloud out of which all Nations doe spring was given Adam before the fall and the immortall spirit which Adam had immediately from God and all men in like manner since receive it from him the father or creatour of spirits was before the fall The Apostles scope is to raise up the superstitious Athenians who forgate the Philosophy of their naturall constitutions but so high at first and from vers 23. to 29. to that end declareth to them who is the true God he whom they ignorantly worshipped he that created the world and had given them immortall spirits as he proves out of the Poet Aratus But when he comes to preach an Article or two of the Gospel he hath laid aside his quotation from Poets sure See v. 30. 31. As for that in Rom. 2. 4. which saith Testardus speaks de poenitentia salutari of saving repentance unto which men are called universally by the goodnesse of God in creation and Rom. 2. 4. The. 119 162. providence wherein every man shareth more or lesse Admit it the goodnesse of God doth not lead any man to sinne as some thought and still are ready to think but to a contrary course Doth it follow that Christ is taught in Creation and Providence
knowledge of one Mediatour a saving truth our Saviour will teach him better language This is life eternall to know thee to be the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent 3. It being clear that the Apostle to Timothy meaneth as he expresseth it the only saving truth of the Gospel whereof Paul was a preacher v. 7. in faith and verity And yet this Gospel of Christ not by Paul or others preached to every singular man for the calling by the Word even by l The 124. Testardus confession is but to many it clearly followeth that when he saith God will have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth He is not to be understood m Cùm autem talis agnitio Dei non donetur omnibus sed tantum nonnullis apparet non 〈◊〉 versaliter sed distributivè esse loâ—um hunc intelligendum nempe de illis qui electi sâ—â—t ad vitam aeternam Faius in locum univer saliter sed distributivè not of the singulars of every rank of men but of such ranks and sorts of men where the Gospel cometh out of which God willeth his chosen high and low rich and poor to be saved by the acknowledgement of that one God reconciled by the ransome of that one Mediatour for all them Ob. 5. But saith n The. 1â—1 Testardus further God giveth in that generall light and way of providence to the Heathen that which is common to the call of the Word and Spirit viz. a posse illud praestare an ability to obey their light salvari and to be saved if they will or â—ow could they be left without excuse had they not that power et si maximè voluissent though they were neverso willing Ans 1. The light they had called them to obey that light so farre as it would reach and was intended viz. to restrain them from sinning against it and to own and worship the true Deity 2. This light not obeyed but sinned against leaves them culpable and liable to condemnation far from justification by works If a Master shall leave a candles end for his servants to do so much work by as the light will reach to and they mean while play by that little light or put it out are they not to be blamed 3. All that light shining in common benefits without the Word sheweth no Christ as Mediatour but the true Deity It is no light to be saved by and did that light give a posse allud prastare a power to doe that one thing it gives no power to doe another here is a confounding of a posse praestare and a posse salvari a power to doe more then natural men do which is granted and a power to be saved which is denied 4. That same et si maximè voluissent although they were never so desirous is but a flourish supposing that which is not to be found left in nature not so much as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 velle in a regular way nor given by grace to men destitute of the word of grace or who have but the common call of the Word as Testardus elswhere o The. 50 125. acknowledgeth which supposition yet he might for argument sake better fancy then possitively assert that posse salvari to be given which is not given Ob. 6 It is further p The 12â— argued for the general call by the creatures and common providence that the benefits thereof proceed a Dei bene placito from the good pleasure of God as well as the call by the Word and Spirit and so may intend the same thing Ans 1. God freely giveth back to Adam's of-spring many forfeited outward favours but not to testifie and preach thereby his most free favour in Christ to every son of Adam Every free act of Gods goodnesse is not presently The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ nor is it to be interpreted as flowing from that most free favour or love of God in Christ It is an excellent and sound note of judicious Calvin upon Rom. 2. 4. Non Rom. 2 4. â—no Temper modo accipienda est â—a Dei benignitas That same goodnes of God is not to be conceived alwaies after one and the same way and he clears it thus q Servâ—â— enim suos duâ— inâ—ul genter tractat Dominus ac terrenis benedictionihus prosequitur â—uam bene volentiam ejusmodi symbolis declarat ac simul â—ssuâ— faciâ— ad quaerendam in se uno boâ—orum omnium Transgressores legis dâ—m eaâ—eâ— excipit indulgentia sua bâ—â—igâ—itate vult quidem emoâ—â—â—e ipsoâ—um contâ—â— iciam non 〈◊〉 se 〈◊〉 propitium 〈◊〉 esse 〈◊〉 Calvin in Rom. 2. 4. While the Lord indulgently useth his own servants and followeth them with earthly blessings he declareth his good will towards them by pledges of that nature and with all doth train them up to seek the sum or collection and confluence of all good things in him alone But while he entertaineth the transgressours of the law with the same indulgence he would indeed mollifie their stubbornnes by that his goodnes and yet doth not for the present testifie that be is propitious or reconciled in Christ to them Thus farre Calvin 2. When God by his Word and Spirit calleth any of his own which he ever doth in time and after much patience and goodnesse of his mis-spent on their part he makes use of the consideration of such his goodnesse to induce and move and lets them know all passages of providence were out of love to them Gods long-suffering to them is salvation and God is not willing that any of them Beloved 2 Pet. 3. 8 9. should perish but that all of them who as Beza Videatur Beza in 2 Pet. 3. 9. hath observed in two old copies are v. 8. stiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 brethren should come to repentance and when such and such only for no other have the gift are come to repentance they know how to prize and esteem of the patience and goodnesse of God as finding Gods beneplacitum or good pleasure in Christ revealed within the compasse of such a time but till that time if you will beleeve the Preacher Eccles 9. 1. by all that is before them in the bare events of providence no man knoweth either love or hatred Obj 7. In this lastly the call by the creatures and good providence of God agreeth r Testard The. 1â—3 saith our Antagonist with the call by the Word and Spirit that the grace given in it destroieth not nature c. Ans 1. No marvell when as it is but nature or the common gifts and improvements of nature 2. If that be Grace which doth not destroy nature or the naturall faculty the devils have grace for their naturall faculties are not destroyed by sinne or by Gods patience 3. The punishments of the damned doe not shall not destroy their naturall faculty it will be an aggravation
pry into a curious piece of workmanship 2. In his offices as he is 1. A Prophet teaching the whole will of God the Messiah teaching all things Joh. 4. 25. In whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge 2. A Priest 1. Making full and perfect satisfaction by his obedience and sufferings his life and the compleat obedience to all his Fathers commands how precious of more value then all the lives of the Saints His death and every drop of his bloud shed for satisfaction and atonement how precious One drop of more merit then all the blood of Martyrs 2. Making perpetuall intercession in the heavens an able Advocate and a righteous one able to prevail with a just as a mercifull God by his righteous pleadings mercifull and faithfull in all cases committed to his plea And a most free Advocate doth all for nothing in the behalf of every one who comes to God by him in formâ pâ—â—peris 3. A King declared so to be by his glorious resurrection ascension and exaltation at Gods right hand And by his gathering and governing his Saints and the Churches of the Saints inwardly by his Spirit and outwardly by his Word and Gospel-order and Discipline unknown worth is here of great price is he in every of these respects as might be amplified and cleared at large 3. Of what price and great value is Christ to us in that Principium culmenque omnium rerum pretij margaritae teneÌ„t Plin. lib. 9 c. 35 Gospel-grace which he communicates first and last such as it makes every choice grace flowing from him to be a pearl enriching a Christian with enough 1. To live and spend upon for the present 2. To lay up for the future 1. For the present How precious that which is given to live upon 1. The Spirit of grace and praier and purity and liberty 2. Faith the precious faith of Gods elect the g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Pet. 1. 7. triall of it more precious then gold much more in it's self most precious 3. Union with Christ there is a pearl indeed Pearls me called unionâ—s say some because but one or two are found together and why not because they unite the heart in love and high esteem of such as finde them to themselves I am sure this is an uniting pearl the pearl of union with Christ which brings in h 1 Joh. 1. 3. fellowship with the Father and his Spirit and his Saints and i Ephes 4. 16. whole Churches of them 4. Justification in which there are four things of great price 1. The Righteousnesse of Christ imputed 2. The non-imputation or plenary remission of all sin in the guilt and punishment 3. The acceptation of our persons as righteous 4. The title to eternal life thereby 5. Reconciliation a precious fruit of our Justification and pardon whereby of enemies to God we are accepted as his friends and are in termes of peace with him 6. Redemption a precious benefit whereby of bondslaves to sinne and Satan we are accepted as Gods-Covenant servants and Christs free-men the more precious being purchased by such a price as the precious bloud of Christ 7. Adoption a precious free-enlarged act of Gods love whereby of children of wrath we are accepted as his own sonnes and daughters Behold what manner of love is this 1 Ioh. 3. 1. Declare it who can when the Apostle is at a stand about it 8. Sanctification in the parts 1. The quickning of a new divine nature and in particular the habit of love k Lyra makes charity the choice pearl among and with other vertues 2. The mortifying of an old corrupt nature how precious therestoring of Gods image and the destroying of the devils likenesse And in the first generall acts and fruits Repentance and a broken heart a precious jewell and pearl All these as they are Christs-grace and Gospel-grace may have the denomination to farre as they have the precious nature of Pearls which as Pliny l Nat. Hist l. 9. c. 35. writes are begotten of the dew of heaven which at a certain time of the year the shell-fish draws in and as they are specious to sight so for use are very medicinall to heal the palpitation or beating of the heart to comfort the vitall spirits and drive away the dizzinesse of the head of farre choicer use is Christ and this grace which floweth from his divine distilling influences but I follow not the metaphor as some doe who reading in Pliny and other Authours of what m MargaritaruÌ„ omnis dos saith Pliny consistit in candore magnitudine orbe laevere pondere See Cor. à lapide in loc Dos and due proportion of whitenesse greatnesse â—oâ—idnesse smoothnesse and weight a pearl consisteth lay out the resemblance unto Christs being conceived of the Virgins substance by the over-shadowing dew of the Spirit coming forth most-white by his innocency little by his humility bright by his wisdome most round by his compleat perfection weighty in conscience smooth in mildenesse full of the price of blessednesse it is enough and agreeable enough to the scope of our Lords own Parables that we take notice of the great value and worth of Christ and his grace moving every one that truly understands it to make out in a purchase for the possession of it 2. For the future the full growth of grace comfortable evidences of it and of Gods love the root of it Perseverance and victory over sinne world Satan Antichrist and death a joyfull glorious resurrection and redemption of the body boldnesse at Christs coming with eternall life in the beatificall vision of God for ever and ever Here is as much as ever I heard of or knew any Christian desired and how great is the price hereof no man can tell mee Secondly The rarity and peculiar one-nesse of this Pearl all is summed up in one Iesus Christ In him you are compleat Col. 2. 9. If he be the Sonne of God he is the only jewell of the Crown of heaven if he be a King head and husband of the Church he is but one c. Act. 4. 12. 15. 11. if we take in every grace of the Gospel to be a Pearl and if we take in the Gospel too with Gospel-grace and every promise of the Gospel with the knowledge thereof n The knowledge of Christ is the pearl which â—â—â—re exceeds all other sciences Annot. upon the Bible Branch 3. 1 How hid yet all these are bound up in one Volume of Jesus Christ which when a Christian hath well read thorow and studied he desires to know and enjoy nothing else 1 Cor. â— 2. Phil. 3. 8. Branch 3. Christ and Gospel-grace is a hidden treasure where two things are worth our enquiry how and where this Treasure is hid In it self and it's worth it is hid thus 1. As not known to naturall men at all by any capacity or principle they have to discern Christ or the things of
stake and stood as a gazing stock for half the day during which time many came and perswaded him to recant the truth and if he regarded not life and countrey goods nor possessions yet he should somewhat respect his wife that he loved so well and his young children but nothing could stirre his setled minde he knew he was not to know nor own a wife in Christs cause nor children smiling or crying all is one when the creature is laid in one scale and Christ in the other which thinke you must weigh down the judgement and sway the affections of a Christian He can with Mr Rogers his self-deniall k M. Fox vol. 3. 131. passe by his wife and eleven children one whereof was sucking on the mothers brest and be more unmoveable then the stake to which he was fastned till consumed to ashes 5. All self-sufficiency and strength for service or sufferings When once God hath enlightned a soul where his strength lieth not in himself but in Christ and as habits are infused so acts of grace must be had from him alone and that strength enough there is in Christ away then with conceits of self-strength for duty or against since When he is weak he is strong as Paul l 2 Cor. 12. 10 11. and a very nothing he is in and of himself I laboured yet not I m 1 Cor. 15. 10 I live yet not I n Gal. 2. 20. but Christ this is his language and this is the account he hath of himself even as it was prophecied of one and another of all the seed of Israel who should shame themselves and glory in the Lord Surely in the Lord is all righteousnesse and strength o Isa 15. 24. and in him I have what I have and am what I am in point of strength as righteousnesse 6. All externall Church-priviledges as Pauls being circumcised the eighth day an Hebrew of the Hebrews p Phil. 3. 7. and in his zeal for the Jewish-Nationall-Church persecuting the Christian he was and might have been more advantaged but what was gain in that as other cases and might have been gain to him he counted losse for Christ. So if descent from religious parents and birth-priviledge as the seed of beleevers hath been rested on when Christ is discovered all confidence in this and any other Church-priviledge is rejected and put away And if a man hath upon such relations thought himself to be some-body he comes now in his ownesteem to be a no-body a nothing 7. All self-ends and aims in profession of Christ and the Gospel in duties and undertakings these are denied and laid aside yea abhorred when they offer to step into Gods place and would put by his glory and the publike good and are ever made underlings to what is for God and the publike A beleever now seeks himself no further nor any other way then God allows it that is as one sweetly expresseth it q M. Reynolds Serm. of self-denial seeking our selves out of our selves in Christ and in the prosecution of his not our own glorious designs Paul was excellent at this 1 Thess 2. 4 5 6. 1 Cor. 9. 22 23. chap. 10. ult And such a self-denying spirit he found and discovered to the Philippians to be in Timothy his naturall true born Sonne in mortification as in the faith For I have no man like-minded who will naturally care for your state r Phil. 2. 20. While every man was seeking himself and his own things to compasse his own ends Timothy is caring for the publike and seeking the things of Iesus Christ and his Masters honour and advancement And the Apostle to the Corinthians Å¿ 2 Cor. 5. 14 25. professeth there is a principle for it in all true Christians Christs death for us that were as dead as others will teach us to die to self and self-ends that we may live to him which died to us All a beleevers ends when he comes rightly to know Christ are that he may be to the praise of the glory of free grace 8. Life and all c. That is not esteemed or thought dear t Act. 10. 24. even that a Christian is prepared with some free consent to lay down for Christ and Gospel-treasure I am ready said that eminent patern of self-deniall not to be bound only but also to die at Ierusalem for the name of the Lord Iesus How many thousands and millions I may say of the Martyrs of Iesus have not only consented but actually parted with their lives for the treasure of the Kingdom of heaven Christ and eternall life Besides all that suffered in the Apostles times and in the nine first persecutions in the 10th persecution v Martyr-book vol. 1. p. 10â— there were certain thousands burnt together in one Church a hundred in one day seventeen thousand in one moneth three hundred at another time in Alexandria And p. 104. six thousand six hundred sixty six at another time a hundred and twenty at another three hundred sixty at another time when as the tormentours were wearied and the persecutours tired out And Christians with more greedy desire pressed and sought for martyrdome then others did for Bishopricks And what a cloud of such Witnesses have been in the firmament of the Church since Antichrist acted his Tragedies the Histories of the German French Spanish Italian and English Martyrs doe sufficiently evidence that all such merchants have not loved but sold away their lives unto the death Reason generall Reason In generall is that in the Text and Observation for joy thereof the joy of finding the treasure and of the Treasure found and the joy of the Pearl of great price once truly found this brings the man and merchant to consent to the selling of all and this brings his consent into act For joy he parts with his sins one and another one as another in an absolute-hatred of them never to have to doe with them again For joy of the treasure he parts with his parts and gifts so as they shall be new molded and cast and have a new stamp out of the mint and treasury of Christs holinesse For joy of the riches of Christs righteousnesse he lets goe his own and for joy of greater profits sweeter pleasures higher honours and better friends which come in by the Gospel-pearl he fits loose from all worldly advantages and creature-engagements and for joy of inward spirituall priviledges he lets go confidence in outward For joy of Christ the root of all spirituall life strength and activenesse he renounceth his own supposed sufficiencies For joy of the glory of free-grace he hates his own ends and for joy of an eternall life which is begun in the right knowledge of God in Christ he gives up this temporall life Observe it in Paul if upon rejoycing in Iesus Christ he doth not renounce confidence in the flesh a Phil 3. 3. and in the Ephesians when the
recompence all their diligence with full assurance of hope unto the end Heb. 6. 11. The Heathen could say That the gods sold all for sweat and we can say most truly of our God That when a Christian sweats in self-denial mortification sufferings c. he shall have from him as sure as he is just and faithfull what he sweats for 3. God is able to put a soul into possession and that everlastingly of what it laies out pains and diligence for Ioh. 10. 28 29 30. Christs and his Fathers power is united for the assurance of life to his sheep and for their preservation unto life Use 1 Aword of confutation Hence we inferre the certainty of salvation by Christ and Gospel-grace against all that doubting Doctours or doubting hearts can say to the contrary for it is as sure as any thing here can be made sure and more sure then any earthly purchase there being more in the substance of this parabolicall merchandize then in the shadow yet every expression in the shadowy resemblance speaks assurance a treasure found a treasure hidden a treasure joyed in and a treasure bought a pearl found and bought That the treasure was found hidden by God and is hidden by God and is hidden again by the finder and joyed in all this makes towards assurance but when that field for the treasures sake and the treasure with the field and the pearl and all is bought and all sold that all might be bought here is assurance upon assurance Then is Christ surely a mans own the propriety known enjoyed and used Are not you sure of that which you have bought and purchased and have deeds and evidences to shew for it after the true title is tried and proved and the false claim disproved The true beleever you see is a great purchaser he hath deeds and evidences in the promises to shew and he hath the witnesse in himself Our Gospel 1 Joh. 5. 10. saith the Apostle to the Thessalonians came not unto you in word only but in power and in the holy Ghost and in â— Thess 1. 5. much assurance And when the tempter came to tempt them though cap. 3. 10. there was something lacking in their faith in regard of degrees yet sensible they were and sure of what they had as of what they lacked and wanted The same Apostle to the Romans speaks of a double witnesse Rom. 8. 15. Gods Spirit witnessing with the Spirit or renewed conscience of a beleever Yea the Apostle Iohn makes report of â— Joh. 5. 7 8. three Witnesses in heaven and of three upon earth in the heart The Spirit equall with the Father and Son in heaven and above bloud and water on earth ratifying the acts and reflections of faith about our justification shining upon his own work of sanctification and ever teaching the soul in and after self-denying diligence to be assured never to doubt of what they have found as theirs Object 1 But some doubting Doctour will say There can be no assurance without extraordinary revelation Familists and Libertines say the like with the Papists in effect who are all for an immediate Testimony of the Spirit without evidence of grace within them or a life-testimony without them or without Scripture-evidence and verdict upon them Answ 1 1. Assurance is first found where it is founded without us in Gospel-grace Gods free-love giving Christ c. 2. Faith finding assurance in it's object more then in it's own acts and reflections by closing with a sure word of promise an unchangable Covenant becomes sure in it's acts and reflexions through the Spirit 3. More firm and full assurance comes daily in by this Christian selling and buying As the experience of thousands speak it By self-denial and diligent use of the ordinances and meanes of salvation they have ordinarily obtained sure hold possession and use of Christ have known they have had him and shall be saved eternally by him But with the tenets of Rome the Doctrine of doubting agreeth well enough viz. That a man is not justified by imputation of Christs righteousnesse but by inherent holinesse That a man must make some temporal satisfaction to Gods justice here and the rest in Purgatory That his general faith resolved into the testimony of the Church virtuall the Popes brest is enough to salvation That by the power of free-will and nature he may and must concur with Gods grace in conversion c. The Roman faith of these and such like tenets will never assure a man that he is in the state of grace or shall be in the state of glory Nor will Arminian grounds bring home assurance viz. That Christ died for all as for one That God hath not absolutely elected any That all things put into the balance which may be considered in Christs death yet none may be saved That all operations put which may be put in as ingredients to conversion yet grace may be resisted and if gotten yet lost it may be at last and put away But from the true Gospel-faith preached and the true Gospel-treasure in Christ discovered infallible and absolute promises Christs righteousnesse imputed to justification Faith and holinesse wrought irresistably by the Spirit who is given to discover and seal up grace given and glory promised and who carrieth on the beleever in the means and ordinances keepeth him to them and makes them effectuall for the obtaining of what he seeks after Assurance and evidence unquestionable may be is and shall be had and enjoyed for ever Object 2 But saith the doubting heart mans heart is deceitfull above all things and I cannot finde such and such evidences as you speak of by all the diligence and self-denying pains that I have yet laid out for the Gospel-pearl and Treasure Answ 1. I am very jealous whether thou hast denied that deceitfull heart from bearing any witnesse at all about thy estate If the heart be deceitfull as it is in the best so farre as unregenerate good reason it should not be heard speak at all 't is a false witnesse and will give in false evidence I agree with thee the old deceitfull heart and every piece of it must be sold away denied 2. The heart so farre as beleeving a faithfull promise Conscience as justified by Christs bloud and sanctified by the Spirit is not deceitfull The Spirit is truth and too holy to deceive 1 Joh. 5. 6 and too wise to be deceived in this great point of a Christians assurance when he certifieth Gods love and love-tokens to the soul 3. It is and will be more sure then any earthly purchase if that may be wrangled away this cannot if an heir may be cheated of his inheritance in his minority the childe of God cannot He who selleth all sels all his deceitfull heart away and all false evidences and dictates to consult with the Word and Spirit of truth to hearken to Gods bargain to read his writings to view and hold out