kingdomes coÌ„pared by him to foure severall metals Gold Silver Brasse and Iron in the 44. verse Verse 44. he tels us that in the daies of the fourth Kingdome or Monarchy the God of Heaven shall set up a Kingdome which shall never be destroyed but shall breake and consume all these kingdomes and shall stand for ever and more particularly in the seventh chapter and 13. verse Dan 7.13 hee tels us that the Ancient of dayes shall give to the Sonne of MAN a dominion everlasting and a kingdome that never shall bee destroyed yea the Saints of the most High shal take the kingdome and possesse it for ever and ever verse 18. vers 18. The Kingdom of the Messiah Of this kingdome of the Messiah prophesied of by Daniel I make no question but Iohn the Baptist the Messiahs Harbinger forerunner is to be understood when he cryed saying Repent repent for the Kingdome of Heaven is at hand Mat. 3.2 Matth. 3.2 vide Mat. 26.28 21.9 and of this Kingdome spake our Saviour in this place Againe the Kingdome of heaven is like to a Treasure hid in a field c. And this kingdome is that gracious and spirituall Regiment by which the Lord Jesus God and man What it is as King of the Church ruleth in the hearts of true Beleevers giving them those three priviledges spoken of Rom. 14.17 The Kingdome of God is righteousnesse peace and joy in the Holy Ghost And this Regiment being but one Two degrees of Christs Kingdome 1. Of Grace yet hath two degrees The first is called the kingdome of Grace by which hee communicates himselfe to the soules of the faithfull by his Spirit through the outward Ordinances of the Word and Sacraments in this life present The second degree is called the Kingdome of Glory 2. Of Glory by which hee gives them perfection of holinesse and happinesse by an immediate fellowship with the blessed Trinity for ever in the world to come This government of Christ consisting in these two degrees Three reasons of the Name is called here by the Name and Title of the Kingdome of Heaven for these three Reasons as I conceive Reason 1 First because the King here is not a mere earthly man The King came from Heaven 1 Cor. 15.47 Iohn â— 13 as other Kings are but The Lord from Heaven as Saint Paul saith Who came from heaven and is ascended thither againe and sitteth at the right hand of God in glory Reason 2 Secondly because the government of this kingdome is exercised not so much over the bodies and goods of men The government is spirituall tending to heaven but properly over their soules and consciences and consists not so much in externall things tending to outward peace and tranquility as in inward and spirituall things rending to and ending in an heavenly life this our Saviour himselfe professeth saying My Kingdome is not of this world though it be in this world Iohn 18.36 yet it is not of this world or worldly Reason 3 Thirdly it is called an * Hebrai utuntur gâ—â—â—â—â—ve vice Epithe i regnum caelorum .i. caeleste Every subiect of Christ is a King Revel 1.6 Heavenly Kingdome by way of excellency Because it excells all earthly kingdomes because it excelleth all terrene kingdomes as farre as heaven excelleth earth both in holinesse in happinesse in largenesse and in continuance As namely to instance one particular All the subjects of this kingdome are Kings to raigne here and for ever In earthly Kingdomes the King indeed is rich and glorious and honourable but the subjects may bee meane and poore enough begging their bread from doore to doore but in Christs Kingdome every Saint every beleever is a King Rev. 1.6 He hath made us Kings and Priests unto his Father saith S. Iohn Kings to raigne over sin Satan and the world and Priests to offer unto God the Father spirituall sacrifices upon the Altar of Christs merits And againe verse 9. Vers 9. I Iohn am your brother and companion in Tribulation and in the Kingdome and patience of Iesus Christ Hee is a companion with them and they with him in the Kingdome of Jesus Christ though it bee a kingdome of tribulation and therfore of patieÌ„ce according also to that which Daniel had foretold The Saints of the most High shall take the kingdome and possesse it for ever and ever Dan. 7.18 Dan. 7.18 And thus beloved you see what is meant by the Kingdome of Heaven as also the reasons of the name And here I pray you to note with mee Note Grace and Glory both one Kingdome that the Kingdome of grace and the Kingdome of Glory have both one and the same name are both stiled The Kingdome of Heaven and no marvaile for Reason 1 First they have one and the same King the Lord Jesus Reason 2 Secondly all the subjects in them both are Kings Reason 3 Thirdly they both have the same government and prerogatives for substance though the one part bee yet militant and warring upon earth and the other part bee triumphant with their King in the Court of Heaven for Quid est gratia nisi gloria inchoata quid est glora nisi gratia consummata Lyra. What is grace but glory begun and what is glory but grace consummate and made perfit Hence wee gather this instruction Doct. Heaven must here be purchased or never that whosoeevr will enter into the kingdome of heaven he must doe it in this present life The Kingdome is here to bee purchased and heaven is on earth to bee obtained or else it is lost for ever hee that will raigne in that of glory must first be a subject in this of grace Rich men are charged in this life to lay a good foundation of aeternall life 1. Tim. 1.19 Here is laid the foundatioÌ„ of that building whose top reacheth up to heaven Except yee be regenerate and borne againe ye cannot enter into the Kingdome of God saith our Saviour Ioh. 3.5 implying that regeneration and the newbirth give us entrance and admission thereunto and most plainly Matth. 18.3 4. Hee that is converted and humbleth himselfe as a little childe Mat. 18.3.4 the same is the greatest in the Kingdome of heaven hee that would bee perfitly holy there Heb. 12.14 must be initially holy here he that would be perfitly happy there must begin to be blessed and happy here Rev. 20.6 In a word we must in our life time enter into the Suburbs of the New Ierusalem the City of the great King and that by the low and narrow gate of repentance and conversion if ever we looke at our death to be admitted into the City it selfe through the beautifull gate of glory Vse 1 If this be so beloved in the Lord be exhorted who ever thou art that desirest to enter into the Kingdome of Heaven Get grace if thou wilt
notable saying of the Lord himselfe Act. 16. Isa 65.1 Isa 65.1 I was found of them that sought me not And it is truely affirmed by Hilary Hilary Thesaurum in venisse gratuitum est It is the free grace of God preventing us that any man should find the Treasure for flesh and blood reveales it not c. Mat. 16.17 Matt. 16.17 Vse But yet beloved finding implyes our duty of seeking Yet we must seeke Gods Kingdome and righteousnes Mat. 6.33 Pro. 2.4 It is the expresse precept of our Saviour elsewhere Seek ye first of all the Kingdome of God and his righteousnesse Mat. 6.23 the counsell of Salomon Pro. 2.4 Seeke her that is wisedome or grace as silver search for her as for Hid Treasures Labour we therefore for illumination for conversion for repentance and for faith and take we this for our comfort Motive The Lord will reveale this Treasure unto us he will enlighten our minds and sanctifie our hearts he will let us see our sinnes and withall his mercy in the pardon of them and the way how to get the dominion over them For if he be found of them that seeke him not how much more will hee be found of us if wee seeke him in vprightnesse of heart For so saith our Saviour expresly Matt. 7.7 Seeke and ye shall finde and againe Every one that seeketh findeth Be exhorted therefore in the words of the Prophet To seeke the Lord while he may be found and to call upon him while he is neere Isa 55.6 seeke the Lord in his Temple and the heavenly Treasure in the field of his Word Duty 2 Secondly he rejoyces in his Finding for that is next in order of time and nature He reioyces though not of the words as they lie in the Text. Finding even of an Earthly Treasure bringeth no question great joy especially in this golden age of the world But to finde the pardon of our sins So must we to be assured of the love of God in Christ and that we shall overcome Satan and all our corruptions and finally attaine eternall life this must needs bring Joy unspeakable and glorious as Saint Peter calls it 1. Pet. 1.8 Zacheus found this Treasure and he Rejoyced The Iaylour found this Treasure and he Rejoyced Luk. 19.6 Act. 16.34 Act. 8.39 The Eunuch found this Treasure and he went on his way Rejoycing Act. 8 39. And David professeth of himselfe Psa 119.162 I rejoyced in thy Word as one that findeth great spoyles Indeed all beleevers have not this joy alike Caution Some have it more at their first conversion and lesse after some lesse at first and more after and never any have it at all times alike but with some remission of degree and intermission of feeling But this is a certaine truth that it is to be found more or lesse in all those that finde this Treasure Vse Abandon we therefore my brethren all false joyes of sinne Let this be our chiefest Joy Jer. 9.23 the object onely of griefe and sorrow and all petty joyes of worldly pleasures profits and honours in companion of this Let not the wise man saith the Lord glory in his wisedome nor the strong man in his might nor the rich man in his riches that is to say comparatively but let him that glorieth glory in this Luk. 10.20 that he knoweth me to be the Lord. Rejoyce not in this saith our Saviour that the spirits or divels be subdued unto you but rather that your Names are written in Heaven that you are enrolled as Subjects into this Kingdome And in this rejoyce and spare not the true ground of sound comfort is in the grace and favour of God manifested to us in our true conversion I wonder they that want it can be so merry and that those that have it can be so sad Rev. 3.17 If we have found our selves heretofore most miserable poore and naked out of Gods favour in the cords of sinne in the jawes of Satan every moment in the danger of hell fire and now by the mercy of God finde our selves delivered from these miseries and enstated in a Kingdome and a Treasure how can we possibly be sad Let us with David checke our selves for our lumpish pensivenes Why art thou thus cast downe O my soule Psal 43.5 and why art thou thus disquieted within me and make conscience of the Apostles earnest charge Rejoyce in the Lo d evermore Phil. 4.4 and againe I say Rejoyce for the fruit of the Spirit is joy and peace and the Kingdome of God is Righteousnesse and Peace Rom. 14.17 and Ioy in the Holy Ghost In a word spirituall joy is a certaine consequent and assured note of one that hath found the Treasure The 3. Duty He hides it Lyra. Thirdly having found it and rejoyced in it he hideth it againe Lyra observeth that a Treasure hid in any mans ground is ordered by the civill law for the common peace of men to be equally divided betweene the finder of the Treasure and the owner of the Land Reason This man therefore hides it and conceales it not onely from other men but even from the owner and possessour of the field lest having gotten knowledge of it he would not have parted with the field at least would have claymed halfe the Treasure no marvell therefore though he hides it Not that thus it ought to be but that too too often thus it is It is naught it is naught saith the buyer but when he is gone aside he boasteth Prov. 20.14 Pro. 20.14 So wise and wily are the children of this world in their generation as our Saviour observeth Luk. 16.8 Luk. 16.8 As this man so generally all men use to hide their Treasures lest other men should defraud them at least share with them and so their Dividend and share should be the lesse Indeed there is no such cause in Christs Kingdome in that respect There is grace and glory enough for us all For besides that God cannot bee mocked or beguiled of his Treasure There is in the Word Grace enough for us all and though we bee many hearers yet every hearer may have all And in Christ there is merit enough to supply us all and in heaven is glory enough to make us all fully happy Joh. 14.2 In my Fathers house saith our Saviour are many mansions many dwelling places roome enough And indeed such is the nature of spirituall graces and blessings that the more they are communicated unto others the more they are increased in themselves like the widowes oyle that multiplied more the oftner it was powred from vessell to vessell 2. King â— 2 Neverthelesse How wee must hide our graces to hold proportion to the parable in the application of it to our selves I conceive it is fit for us to Hide our Treasure also and that in three or foure respects
you your selves shall be burned so contrary are the Spirits of Papists to the Spirit of God and of the holy Fathers Secondly maintaine the Preaching of the Word Act. 8.31 Secondly because thou canst not understand and apply the Word aright without a Guide as the truely Noble Eunuch ingenuously confessed of himselfe Act. 8.31 Thou must therefore buy the Word of God preached that is thou art bound according to thy calling and ability to maintaine the Preacher of Gods Word liberally and that with all alacrity Let them saith the Apostle that are taught in the Word make their Teachers partakers of all good things Gal. 6.6 Gal. 6.6 that they may be able to doe their worke to purpose and with joy and not with distraction and griefe of heart for that is unprofitable for you As they say of keeping cattle hardly so say I in this case Simile if you pinch your pastures you pinch your selves and famish and starve your owne soules O that the unconscionable tythe payers Church-robbers of this Land had hearts to consider this and that wee did all prize the Word as hee did that said The Law of thy mouth is better unto me then thousands of gold and silver Psal 119.72 Psal 119.72 Thirdly we must buy the Truth not with money onely but principally with labour and industry Thirdly Buy the truth with diligent labor Men indeed must sell for money for Printers and Ministers cannot live upon the ayre But as the Heathen sayd Dii labore hominibus vendunt God sells knowledge and grace for labour Seeke her as silver search for her as for hid Treasure Then shalt thou understand the feare of the Lord and find the knowledge of God Prov. 2.4 5. What will it profit us my brethren Prov. 2.4 5. to haue the Word of God in our houses if we neither reade it nor meditate upon it or to have a good Preacher in the Towne if we either heare him not or take little or no paines in hearing but let the Word goe in at one eare and out at another nay beloved we must search the Scriptures Ioh. 5.39 1. Joh. 4.1 and try the spirits whether they be of God we must take heed how we heare and what we heare Luk. 8.18 and ingraft the Word when we have heard it yea and incorporate it into our soules I meane into our minds our wills Jam. 1.21 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and our affections and then have wee bought the Truth and purchased the Field But we must remember in the third place Thirdly Buy the Field for the Treasure wee must buy the field of the Word not for it selfe but for the Treasure in it I meane for grace and glory as wee see this man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith the Text for joy of the Treasure Get grace out of it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 goes and buyes that field not another it was not so much the Land as the Treasure he aymed at Many simple people rest in this that they have a Bible or a Testament and other good bookes in their houses or a good Preacher in the Towne or in some neighbour Parish and thence conclude they cannot possibly doe amisse Just like that idolatrous Micah Judges 17.13 in the 17. of Iudges ver 13. that reasoned after the same manner Now I know the Lord will doe me good now that I have a Levite to be my Priest What is this but to make an Idol of the Bible Vex audita perit and an Idol of Preaching but such Idols cannot save thee for the Bible may be burnt to ashes and the sound of Preaching vanishes in the aire all the Sermons preached formerly in this Church are past and gone But the Word of the Lord saith the Apostle Peter 1 Pet. 5.25 endureth for ever even this Word which is preached unto you namely as it worketh in us Grace and Glory V. 23. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for so it liveth and abideth in us for ever Get thou therefore not the shell onely but the kernell not the bone onely but the marrow not the field onely but the Treasures invaluable contained in the same And thus beloved wee have run through the second Generall part of the Text namely what is to be done of us for the obtaining of the Purchase and of the five severall duties comprehended in that generall and have insisted especially upon the last of them as being of the greatest waight wherein we see the absolute Necessity that lyes upon us of selling all of buying the field and taking possession of the Treasure What now remaines but to shut up all with an use or two by way of Application of this that hath been spoken to our selues Vse First of Reproofe of the Higling Chapmen of this Age. Num. 23.10 Which first of all doth serve for the sharpe reproofe and taxation of the trifling and higling Chapmen of this age that have a good mind as we say to the Treasures of Grace and Glory they wish with Balaam That they might dye the death of the righteous Num. 23.10 And with the young man in the Gospel they come to the Minister and say Good Master what shall we doe that we may inherit eternall life Matt. 19.22 Mat. 19.22 something they will doe and something they will give but yet for all this they will not come up roūdly to Gods price but when they heare that they must sell all That will not part then with that young man they goe away sorrowfull and never bargaine any further 1. With unlawfull things For first they cannot find in their hearts to part with all their sins and unlawfull lusts although they might as well spare them as water out of the ship They will perhaps exchange one sinne for another as when a young Prodigall turnes an old covetous Miser or they will lend or lay away their sins for a time as whē they come to the house of God to pray or heare but especially whē they are to come to the Lords Table but presently after they repent them and with the Serpent licke up their poyson againe will not sell away their sins for ever or lastly they will part with some of their sins but not with all Naaman will keepe his bowing in the House of Rimmon Herod will reserue his sweet Herodias Ananias will give part to God and keepe backe part for himselfe but not one of many will part with all such an one is as rare as a blacke Swan The truth is Beloved we love our lusts too well One is all for pride another all for revenge a third for drunkennes a fourth for adultery a fift for gaming some for one lust some for another but almost all men are for one or other What is this but to make our belly our God our lust our God Phil. 3.19 and to be lovers of pleasures more then lovers of