weak yet he was strong in the Lord and in the power of his might and did mightily admire the free Grace of God in Christ in separating him from his Mothers womb calling him by his grace and setting him apart for the work of the Ministry though unworthy of that high and holy Calling so many that walked worthy of their profession and received with the heart the form of Doctrine delivered to them And in his Sickness though sometimes he might be heard to groan yet never to grumble but would always justifie God and condemn himself and soon silence any mutinous and murmuring thoughts that might seem to arise in his heart upon their first sallying forth In the words of the Prophet Shall a man receive good from the hands of the Lord and not evil He counted his sickness and his sufferings light and momentany the glory to come weighty great and so joyous as too big to enter into the soul that the soul must enter into it often mentioning that passage of the Apostle For our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh 2 Cor. 4. 17. unto us a far more exceeding weight of glory March 22. 1665 his dear sister Mrs. Eleanor Smith came to visit him and attended upon him to the very day of his death and wrote down in her Book the most remarkable passages that she heard from him Many of which you will have wound up in the ensuing Discourse He said he had done his work meaning that he had run the course of his Ministry and accomplished that last Work of his upon the seventy-first Psalm and now longed for his Dissolution Psal 71. and to rest with his dear Lord Jesus And though he rejoiced much that he had compleated his former Works yet this was the quintessence of all that he was going to receive his Reward and counted not his life dear unto him since he should shortly see the lovely face of his dear Saviour And as St. Augustine when he meditated of that passage of God to Moses Thou shalt not see my face and live Lord saith he then Tunc moriar ut te videam let me die that I may see thy face So this serious and sincere Servant of Jesus Christ having seen him by the eye of Faith was now ready to sing old Simeons Nunc Dimittis Lord now lettest thou thy Servant depart in peace Nothing troubled him so much as that he was going to a place where he was to have so great Wages for so little Work And he not only at the last as it was said to be the Speech of Bellarmine upon his Death-bed Tutissimam est iter ad Coelum per merita Christi but he wholly in his health and sickness relied on Christ for Justification Life and Salvation freely by Faith in his Blood Rom. 3.24 He told Mrs. Smith he much rejoiced at her kind coming to him especially at the hopes he had of her continuance with him to the last which might be a means to free him from all scandals that might be cast upon him by the Papists or Quakers who he knew would spare him no less at his Death than they had done in his life he thought they would not stick to say he died raging an Atheist or a Papist or cast the like Calumnies upon him as they did upon Luther or Calvin But said he being now in perfect memory I do declare I die a sincere Servant of the Lord Jesus Christ and do detest from the bottom of my heart all their erroneous Opinions and Practices He said he thought he had been under as much contest with Satan the World and the Flesh as ever any man for his time of which he had left a particular testimony to be printed with his other works This was I conceive his Life written by his own hand which I never had the happiness to see though I much sought after it for the compleating of this his Narrative He often did reflect upon the evil of the times the reigning sins whereby God was dishonoured viz. Profaneness Atheism Idolatry c. were very grievous to him and he took it as a choice Mercy that God would take him out of the world in such a time as this Lord said he what am I that thou shouldst think on me and give me rest in such an evil day He much desiâ—ed to wait upon the Lord without distraction and diffidence knowing that his time was the best but rather if it were the Lords will and pleasure he desired to be out of the body that mortality might be swallowed up of life he would say O Lord how long holy and just why drive the Chariot-wheels on so heavily I long Lord to come unto thee And as he was comfortable in his Sickness so he gave much sweet counsel and encouragement to Ministers and private Christians that came to visit him especially to such as he had begotten to God by his Ministry or had fitted for the service of God in his Church A reverend Doctor coming to see him and speaking comfortable words to him he told him he was going to his rest and hoped the Church of God would have rest and that God would raise up and refresh his faithful Servants in the Ministry and though there might be a sharp storm coming he conceived that it would be but short He advised his Visitants to stand fast in the Faith and not to shrink though a trying time should come he would have them to continue constant to their Christian calling and not to be carried away with the errour of the wicked to forsake their stedfastness but to grow in grace c. prepare for death and judgment A young Minister coming to see him he exhorted him to adorn his Ministry with a holy life which if he did not he might do more harm by his Example than by all the Sermons he should preach He called for the four Youths in the Family under his inspection and gave them wholsome instruction viz. to remember their Creatour in the days of their Eccl. 12.1 youth he warned them to keep Gods watch to abstain from youthful lusts to observe the Lords Day strictly and to be obedient to their Parents which if they did it would be well with them and they should be a blessing to Posterity and bid them remember these were the words of their dying Master and so he blessed them particularly in the Name of the Lord. Ordinarily such of his Parish that came to see him he would caution them not to procrastinate their repentance but to be serious in the matters of God and his Service to break off all delays and to embrace the tenders of grace the motions of the Holy Spirit and set upon the practice of good works and to do nothing that might interrupt the peace of a good conscience which would witness for them or against them testifying that what he had taught them was the Truth of Christ
infirmities of flesh and blood you may see it in Elias 2 King 15. 14. Jam. 5. 17. in Jonah in Peter and the rest of the Apostles So Ministers in this sense are Earthen Vessels and Satan is sensible of this and therefore will sift them to the bran Can he Luke 22. 31. but get such as they to side with him in the promotion of his works of darkness it makes much for the advancement of his Interest As Luther said of a great Scholar Cupit a te ornari Diabolus 3. They are Earthen Vessels in respect of their resolution and dissolution subject to the stroke of death as well as others Zaâ— 1. 5. like water spilt upon the ground or like Earthen Pitchers that are carried oft to the Water but are come broken home at last Eadem conditione mortalitatis simili conditione vobiscum humanitatis afficiuntur Budaeus 4. They are obnoxious to crosses and changes in their outward estate in the world they pass from prosperity to adversity they suffer imprisonment banishment Psal 123 3 4. contempt and scorn and are counted the very scum and off-scouring of all things God is pleased many 1 Cor. 4. 13. times to empty these Vessels and to pour them forth as Wine out of a Jer. 48.11 Cask and they are vilely esteemed of men as Vessels of no value The Reasons are such as these They have here many times to do with men of earthly minds to plant Isa 51. 16. a Heaven and to found a Earth or rather that God may do it by their Ministry as our Translators render the Words Now what Vessels are fitter for the Lords use to call home the Vessels Deut. 5. 24 25. of Mercy than men like themselves The Israelites would not hear of it that Exod. 20. 19. God should speak unto them immediately from Heaven but by the Ministry of Moses a man like themselves So men of like passion are men of more compassion such as can truly say with the Apostle Who is weak and I am not 2 Cor. 11. 29. weak Who is offended and I burn not Likeness breedeth liking and our own weakness feebleness afflictions stir up affection as it did in Calvin of whom it is said He was no otherwise affected towards the Churches than if he Beza in vit Calv. had born them upon his shoulders 2. The great Shepherd of his Sheep will have it so to humble us that when we take notice of the Treasure we 2 Cor. 12. 7. are intrusted with we may seem low and little in our own eyes and esteem of our selves Coniah a Vessel wherein is Isa 13. 3. Jer. 22.28 no pleasure Flesh and blood is apt to boast in parts in gifts wherein happily we may esteem to excel other men But did we but consider our own brittle imbecillity and from whom our sufficiency comes We would no more boast than of a borrowed Sute or the Man of his Hatchet Alas Master It was borrowed 2 Kings 6. 5. 3. The Lord doth so ordain that this precious Treasure should pass to you through Earthen Vessels 1. That you should not cast Contempt upon this holy and honourable Calling of the Ministry because of the meanness of mens persons parts parentage trials or temptations since Gods Prophets and even Christ and his Apostles were liable to the like Amos was neither a Prophet nor the Amos 1.1 Son of a Prophet but a Herd-man of Tekoah Jesus Christ before he entred upon his Ministry served in the mean employment of a Carpenter his Apopostles Mark 6. 3. were many of them poor Fishermen And the Apostle Paul was sometime a Tent-maker though indeed brought Acts 18.3 up at the feet of learned Gamaliel and yet for all the trials and temptations that he indured the Galatians were nothing the less indeared to him you know saith he How that through the infirmity of the Gal. 4. 13 14. flesh I preached the Gospel and the trials of me which was in my flesh ye despised not neither abhorred 2. The Lord will have it so that you should not have Ministers persons in admiration for any elegancy of Wit Jude 16. excellency of Learning strength of Memory c. Since they are but Men and of like passions and the Lord is pleased Acts 14. 15. many times to hide the great mysteries Mat. 11.25 1 Cor. 1. 26. of his Kingdom from the wise and prudent of the world few of such are called I know well that God distributes his Gifts variously to some a greater measure than to other men and such are worthy of double honour especially if they labour in the Word and Doctrine 1 Tim. 5. 17. But though you ow them reverence yet you must not have them in admiration For this was the Original of the various Sects at Corinth I am of Paul and I am of Apollos and I of Cephas 1 Cor. 1. 12. and the Apostle is afraid lest any one should think o him above that he seeth in him and will rather glory in his infirmities 2 Cor. 12. 5 6. for this very cause 3. That the Grace of regeneration may be ascribed not to the preaching of Men but to the power of God so in the Text and by the operation of his Spirit 4. The Lords intent in this dispensation may be to puzzle and perplex the great Wits of the world who rest and relie upon their carnal wisdom and think thereby to fathom the depth of these 1 Cor. 3. 18. Mysteries but such must empty their Vessels of this Earthly Treasure and count it trash before they be capable of Phil. 3. 7. conceiving of or receiving in the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledg in Christ for Intus existens prohibet alienum If any man among you seem to be wise in this world let him become a fool 1 Cor. 3. 18 19. that he may be wise Vse 1. Admire the goodness and gracious condescention of God who might have delivered his mind to you by the ministration of Angels and in terrible things as at the Tradition of the Law upon Mount Sinai with Exod. 20. 18. thunder lightning and sound of a Trumpet the Mountain burning and covered with blackness darkness Heb. 12.18 and tempest so full of terror that not only the People but even Moses himself Exod. 19. 16. trembled But God was pleased to deliver his will to you by men formed of the same clay cut out of the same Job 33.6 7. lump with your selves Earthen Vessels Well may we say with the Psalmist Lord What is man sorry sickly mortal miserable Psal 8. 4. man that thou shouldst be thus mindful of him to leave thy mind to us and Heb. 1. 1. deliver it by the Ministry of Men As the Disciples said Vse 2. If the Apostle who was so eminent an Instrument of Christ and laboured more abundantly than the
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A PEARL IN AN Oyster-shel OR Pretious Treasure put in perishing Vessels The Sum or Substance of two Sermons Preached at Withall-Chappel in Worcestershire Wherein is set forth the Mightiness of the Gospel the meanness of its ministration Together with a Character of Mr. Thomas Hall His Holy LIFE and DEATH By Richard Moore a willing though a most unworthy Servant of God in the Gospel of his Son Jesus Christ London Printed by A. M. for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and three Crowns near Mercers-Chappel in Cheapside 1675. To my much-honoured Friend Thomas Jolly Esquire High-Sheriff for the County of Stafford Justice of the Peace for Worcester-shire and Captain of the Train-band in the same Worthy Sir THE Dedication of Books to Persons of Integrity Authority hath been of antient account in the Church of Christ Saint Luke had his Theophilus a man of Luke 1. Acts 1. power and preheminence whose Name he prescribeth to his Books of the New Testament Indeed few such Stars have remained fixed in the Churches Firmament Piety being often overborn by State-policy too many are of Gallio's mind they care not to intermeddle with these things or as the King of Navar said They will go no further in this Sea than they can come safe to Land Hence not many Wise not 1 Cor. 1. 26. Mr. Bolton many Noble are called And some great by Birth and Noble by Blood are a notorious blemish to an honourable House Like Sepulchers they are painted without Tacitus l. 1. c. 10. yet have putrefaction within or like the Apothecaries Pills are gilded Nobilitas Heroica est Eminentia quaedam notabilis c. per quam homo fit per adoptionem Filius Dei Sponsa Christi Templum Spiritus Sancti Gres Tract de Nobil Joh. 1.33 Mr. Bolton in his Sermon of this Subject p. 214 on the outside but have poyson within Intus Nero foris Cato Loquitur hic ut Piso vivit ut Galonius That is ever the best in this kind when God is the top of the kin Religion the Root the holy Scriptures the Rule when the person is made by Adoption the Son of God the Spouse of Christ the Temple of the Holy Ghost this is that Heroica Nobilitas without which all other is little worth It is not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of Man but of God Hence it was that Beatus Laudovicus would be called Lodovicus de Pisciato rather than to take greater Titles to himself Why there he became a Christian and for this cause the Bereans are said to be more Noble than the Men of Thessalonica better born more Gentlemen more Noble by birth or blood this was not by Act. 17.11 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 generosiores Beza reason of Naturals or Morals but for their spiritual Regeneration readiness to receive the Gospel and their searchings into the Scriptures daily Now Noble Sir the Kings Majesty hath conferred a double Honour upon you in making you his High Sheriff of his Counties of Worcester Stafford for two years together It put me in mind of what was said concerning Mordecai What shall be done to the man that the King Hesth 6.6 delighteth to honour Since therefore Promotion comes not by Purchase but by Psal 75.6 Providence and all Dignity conferred by God calls for Duty from Man Go on Sir to do worthily in Euphratah and be famous in Bethlehem like a true plant of Renown growing in the Ruth 4.11 Churche's Garden and gathering strength by being incorporated into this Body and by receiving nourishment from the true Root walking in the fear of God growing in favour with your Prince and getting further friendship with his People by your readiness to do good and by being rich in good works willing to communicate thereby laying up for your self a good 1 Tim. 6. 18. foundation for time to come And in a word improve your power against Impostors who go about to impugn and oppose the Divine Authority of the Holy Scriptures Antisthenes the Philosopher was wont to say that a man should lay up such provisions as in a shipwrack might swim Plut. out with him such Treasures as may pass and be current in another world and will follow a man thither So treasure up the Word of God containing precepts promises and prohibitions in the table of your heart that you may with that good Housholder bring forth out of your treasury things new and old And this was one end I proposed to Mat. 13. 52 my self in the Dedication of these my mean first-fruits to you which come abroad not so much by a voluntary choice as by a kind of necessity to midwife I may so speak a poor Embrion that otherwise would have lien as dead in its Mothers womb As also to stir up your pure mind to a serious search and enquiry into the Holy Scriptures which are the invariable Canon of Truth the Cubit of the Sanctuary 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Irenaeus the wise mans Star to lead to Christ Basil saith the Bible is a Physitians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Athanasius In the life of Basil Shop of Preservatives against poysonous Heresies a patern of profitable Laws against rebellious Spirits a Treasure of costly Jewels against beggarly Elements and a Fountain of most pure water springing up unto Everlasting Life Men of Noblest Birth and Royal Blood recorded in History Sacred or Civil have highly prized the Word and preferred it before their outward Priviledges and Possessions King David counted it more to be desired than refined Gold and Honey Psal 19. 10 Psal 119. 72. Job 23. 12 from the Honey-Comb Job the greatest man of the East esteemed it more than his daily Bread and bodily Food Our King Edward the Sixth when he was Crowned they put three Swords into his Hand he said there was one yet wanting the Word of God the Sword of the Spirit Charles the Great was said to set his Crown upon the Bible Theodosius the Elder to write the New Testament with his own hand which he counted a choice Jewel Theodosius the Younger learned much of the Scripture by heart as also the Lord Thomas Cromwel did Queen Elizabeth of blessed Memory kissed the Bible presented to her and laid Speeds Chron. c. 24. p. 838. it to her breasts and said it had ever been her delight shew would frame her Government according to it The Lady Jane Grey in her Letter that she left her Sister Katharine saith of the Greek Testament this is a Book which though it be not garnished with Gold yet it was See her Letter Acts and Monum in wardly more pretious than Rubies It is the Law of the Lord the Testament left to us wretches which will lead you in the paths of eternal Life c. Time would fail me if I should go about to shew you what account the Fathers Confessors and Martyrs of
to excel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 follow him as he follows Christ Now give me leave to acquaint thee good Reader with the occasion of this my undertaking I was desired by some Friends to write what I knew concerning the Life of Mr. Hall which I did with some unwillingness and happily no less waywardness and no wonder for besides my personal knowledg of him and what I gathered out of his own Works I could be informed little of him by his Friends except about the manner of his Death I could neither procure to see the several Occurrences of his Life written by his own hand nor a sight of the Sermon preached at his Funeral and hearing that his Life written by himself was lost and being lost that one so well deserving of the Church of God should not be more publickly spoken of I was perswaded to print these plain Sermons together with his Character Life and Death wherein happily I may expect to meet with some morose reception from the malevolent but it matters not contra sycophantarum morsus non est remedium As touching me it is a small matter for me to be judged 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 1 Cor. 4.3 August cont Fass l. 22. c. 34. mans day Non curo illos Censores qui non intelligendo reprehendunt vel reprehendendo non intelligunt My Comfort is this That how mean soever the undertaking is yet the intenton of the Author is to bring honour to God and imitation to Men. Go and do like to him Ibeg of thee Courteous Reader to pardon my boldness in this my undertaking and where thou meetest with any Errata's correct them with thy Pen or cover them with a Mantle of love considering with thy self Humanum est errare errare possum haereticum nolo esse Mistakes may be occasioned by my distance from the Press or through the Printers being unacquainted with my hand Farewel Horace his Epistle Si quid novisti rectius istis Candidus imperti si non his utere me Thine in the dearest Lord. Richard Moore SERMON I. 2 COR. 4. 7. But we have this Treasure in Earthen Vessels THe great Apostle of the Gentiles begins the Chapter with v. 1. a Remonstrance of Gods meer Mercy in calling him to the Ministry in the faithful discharge of which though afflicted he will go forward without fear or fainting and in this Case he commends himself and his Colleagues to the Corinthians Conscience and hereby takes away all suspicion v. 2. of arrogancy in that they sought not their own Gain their own Glory but v. 5. 2 Cor. 1. 24. Christs not to rule over their Faith but to relieve their Joy And here he seems to wipe off an Aspersion of the false Teachers tending to the contempt of his Person and the discredit of his Preaching They seem charge him as if he had not light and 2 Cor. 10. 10. sight to fit and qualifie him for the dispensation of the Gospel To this St. Paul answers 1. By way of Assertion God hath v. 6. shined into our hearts and given us out of his rich Treasure Wisdom and Knowledg 2. By a Concession he yields that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he and others who were authorized by Christ to preach the Gospel and to represent his Person were Earthen Vessels In the words you have these Parts 1. A Precious Pearl dispensed viz. The Gospel 2. The Steward 's intrusted with it The Apostles and all Faithful Pastors We have it 3. The great Proprietor that communicates it God who causeth Light to shine out of Darkness 4. The Pots or Pipes wherein this Pearl is put 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Earthen Vessels 5. The End intended in it that the Excellency of the Power may be of God and not of us Herein the Apostle alludes to earthly Calvin in loc Pearls which usually are not put into a costly Cabinet but into a vile Vessel so the Lord is pleased to make use of frail miserable men to be his Ministers to bring their brethren to Christ that his Power hereby may be the more apparent As the Text hath reference to the foregoing Verse it seems to be a Metaphor taken from Lanthorns and so the Apostles did not hide their Light that shined into them but let it out to enlighten others but according to the Original Word it may be rendred Vessels made of Oyster-Shells by an allusion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the Precious Pearl that is found in Shell-fish Hence you may observe Doct. That the Gospel is a Pearl of Price a choice Treasure 2. Christ Embassadours are Earthen Vessels intrusted with this Treasure 3. The Gospel should not be in less esteem with you because it is dispensed from or in Earthen Vessels In the handling the first Point I shall shew what a Treasure is what kinds of Treasures there are What a Treasure the Gospel is the Reasons why it is so and the Causes why worldly men do not so account it 1. A Treasure is something of Price and of account laid up closely and charily for future use in Chests or Cabinets in peace from the pilfering of Thieves and in War from the plundering of Souldiers And it is either 1. An Earthly Treasure as Gold and Silver Pearls and precious Stones Jam. 5. 3. which worldly men heap up for the last day wherein they place their chief happiness yet which shall be as fewel to put on fire the Wrath of God against them These have their Names written Jer. 17.13 c. 41. 8. in the Earth and their Conversation only their Treasure is in the Field 2. A Heavenly Treasure viz. Christ the Graces of the Spirit and the Gospel which Believers hide and hoard up in their hearts and lay out as the Merchant Luk. 12.33 upon Exchange doth his Money that he may receive it with advantage in another Country so Christians that are trading in and travelling towards Phil. 1.27 c. 3.20 another Country are laying up and laying out for that where they have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their Burgess-ship they live by the Laws of that Country which is Psal 119. 11. Heavenly and hide them in their hearts Thy Word saith the Prophet have I hid in my heart This is the Treasure I am now to treat of More to be desired Psal 19.10 than gold yea than much fine gold More precious than jewels the price of it is Job 28.16 17 18. above rubies The Gospel is that Treasure hid in the Field which cannot be too far Mat. 13 44 fetcht or too dear bought 1. It is a precious Treasure to be preferred before thousands of gold and silver Psal 119. 72. it 's better than precious Stones Prov. 8.11 M. Bolton Job 28. 15 16. all the Pleasures nay all the Treasures in the world are not to be compared to it though the Mountains were Pearl and the whole Globe a shining
but drink of this Well of living Waters where only it is the deeper the sweeter I cannot but wonder that Men that have Reason and are in their right wits can hear these things and not be at the least convinced if not converted Oh that the god of this World the Devil should be able in things so clear and perspicuous to put a Blind upon your Understandings and Bribe your Judgments Truly if the Gospel in these Halcyon-days be a hidden Treasure to you it is so only to such as are lost c. 2 Cor. 4.4 3. Beg of God by frequent and fervent Prayer that he would give you inlightned understanding so as you Psal 119. 18. may see a singular vertue in and may set a superlative value upon this excellent Treasure the Gospel which is a manifestation of Gods Mind the mystery of his Will and Wisdom a Copy of his Truth a transcript of Heaven and Happiness to the Heirs of Glory What Aeneas Sylvius saith of Moral Vertue may much more truly be said of the Gospel If moral Vertue could Aeneas Sylv. in his Epist to Sigismond be beheld with mortal eyes it would work a strange admiration in the Beholders But behold here you have Divine Vertue pointed out to the life Majesty and Mercy Vertue and Verity Righteousness and Peace kissing each other a far greater Treasure than the Ishmaelitish Merchants had of Joseph Psal 85. 10 who became Lord-Treasurer of Egypt and blessed be the Lord that we should be born to behold with our eyes the things that many Prophets and Mat. 13 17. righteous men desired to see and have not seen them Paulum in Ore Christum in Carne revelatum were two of St. Augustin's great wishes To see Paul in the Pulpit and Christ Incarnate c. The Queen of Sheba came from far to see Solomon and to hear his Wisdom and parted with much precious Treasure for this But behold a greater than Solomon the great Lord-Treasurer of the whole world hath sent his Embassadours to publish the glad-tidings of Peace and to sing that Evangelical Hymn Glory to God in the highest on Earth Peace good will towards Luk. 2.14 Men. And yet this Treasure sticks upon our hand and is vilely valued by the blind world who see not their want and know not the worth of a Christ Wisdom uttereth her Voice and proclaims her precious Wares and saith How long ye simple ones will you Prov. 1. 21 love simplicity and ye scorners delight in scorning c. yet the Staple-treasure of the Gospel will not off Men make light of it who have their Treasures Mat. 22. 5. in the Fields and will hardly step over their thresholds to gather this Mannah Could we but once perswade you to get inlightned understandings you would see with other eyes and hear with other ears than you now do and walk with other feet and work with other hands you would no longer lie down with the sluggard and say O utinam boc esset laborare Oh that this were to labour you would not with the hungry man barely long for this food but labour for it you would not only thirst as the Covetous Man doth after Wealth but you would work to get it you would wait at the Pool and at the beautiful Gates Acts 3. 2 10. of the Temple and your main request to Christ would be that of the blind Man Lord only that mine eyes might be Mark 10. 51. opened saith he Vse 4. With what Joy should we embrace the Gospel Men use to rejoice when they get Treasures The Marriage-day upon this account is called a Merry-day because the Man expects a Treasure for on what he sets his heart and affections that 's his Treasure Shall carnal Men rejoice when they find Jewels And shall not Christians who have a Treasure made up Psal 119. 14. of Jewels in the Gospel rejoice even more than in all riches We read in the Occurrences of the Low-Countries That a day of Festivity was kept some time for joy that the Scriptures were translated But this joy lasted but for a season like unto that of John Baptist John 5. 35. his Hearers And indeed what Reverend Moulin saith of his Countrymen we have cause to say of ours Time was Moul. Theoph. 2. 278. saith he That whiles they burnt us for reading the Scriptures we burnt with zeal to be reading of them Now with our liberty is bâ—ed a neglect of the Word of God and so it is with us as in some parts of the World where there are great store of Pearls and other precious Things the people will part with them for such things that we here count trifles So the Gospel is looked upon by many as Mannah was with the Israelites but common Meat Surely were it to be sent to such as have not heard it they would hear it more believe it more rejoice in it more than we do Alas for this poor Nation it surfeits upon the glorious Gospel And hence it is so few with Joy receive it with Faith believe it with their Heart embrace it But let all that are Gods Jewels rejoice in it more than in Corn and Wine and all earthly Comforts Vse 5. Let us come to the Preaching of the Gospel as unto a Treasury and Store-house of all good things Isa 55. 1. the Common Mart and Market of all spiritual Provision even Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledg Here is Bread for the hungry Water for the thirsty Milk for Babes strong Meat for 1 Cor. 3.2 Psal 104. 15. Men Wine to make glad the Heart and Oyl to make his face shine Herâ— you may have Gold to enrich you 〈◊〉 Rev. 3.18 Garment to cloath you here are Ornaments for your head Bracelets foâ— your neck and arms Pendents for youâ— ears Eye-salve for your eyes a Girdâ—â— for your loins Brest-plates for youâ— hearts and Signets for your handâ— You have here a Cornucopia for Plenty a Catholicon for Cures an Armory foâ— Weapons against spiritual Wickednesses a Library for Books and Treasury for Jewels What woulâ— you have What are your Wants Here you may have a Supply from Jesus Christ In whom doth all fulness dwell and from whose fulness we receive Grace for Col. 1.19 Joh. 1.14 Grace Are you poor in spirit here are durable Prov. 8.10 Riches for you sick here is Physick for you sorrowful here 's Comfort for you tempted here 's sufficient Strength for you Are you in 2 Cor. 12. 9. Bonds here 's Bale for you Are you broken for sin here 's a precious Balm for you Have you a hard heart here 's a suppling and a softning Oyl for you Are you subject to fears and doubts here Faith is begotten for you Are you sullen or silent and cannot pray here you have the Spirits Promise to help your Infirmities Would you Rom. 8.26 Eph. 6. 1 2 3 4 5. know how to