conscience of his wrongs done was ready to restore where hee had wrongfully receiued the Lord Iesus said vnto him This day Saluation is come into thy house to shew that true conuersion is a certaine signe of Life and Saluation By this I know saith Dauid that thou louest mee O Lord because my enimies doe not triumph ouer mee to shew that euen enimies are for signes tokens of gods fauour By this shall all men know that yee are my Disciples saith our sauiour Christ â—f yee loue one another to shew that christian loue is for a signe of gods loue but not a cause thereof as Papists teach And by the heart a man may know whether his part be in the booke of life and whether his soule shall bee bound vp in the bundell of the righteous or no For where the treasure is there will thâ— heart bee also that is there will be the ioy and delight of the heart the loue and deâ—ire of the heart the care and longing of the heart for the heart in this place is put for the affections of the heart or soule If then thou wouldest know whether thy Treasure bee in heauen or hell see where thy heart doth most â—aunt and whereabout it is most employed If Christ be the man the matter whom thy soule loueth if his Gospell bee the ioy of thy soule his commandements thy harts delight if for loue of his name and zeale to his glory thou fearest more to offend him then all the world besides and art for his sake content to endure with patience all the Tribulations crosses that the hands of wicked men can loade vpon thy backe if thou canst finde thy heart resolued to drink of his cup and to bee baptised with his Baptisme if thou bee bent to stand more zealously for his glory then for thy own life and if thy heart bee refreshed when thou thinkest on his death and art hartely desirous of his comming to Iudgement then happy and blessed art thou the king of kings hath put forth his golden Scepter vnto thee thou art in his fauour the fruitfull Tree of Grace hath budded in thy hart the Summer time of thy refreshing is approching and the Lord delighteth in the fruit of thy faith thy treasure is in heauen thy prouision is gone before thou shalt follow after yea more if thy heart doth mourne and grieue for thy owne vntowardnesse and the sinnes of other men thou art marked by Gods owne Secretary his sauing Angell hath set thee apart that the destoyers â— may not meddle with thee if they meete thee in their way And as Christ said to Nathaniel Dost thou beleue because I said I saw thee vnder the figge Tree thou shalt see greater things then these Soe do you beleeue because I say by the hart you shal know whether your treasure be in heauen you shall see greater things then yet you doe for now wee see but in part and we know but in part but hereafter wee shall know as wee are knowne in the meane time take these things as the first fruites of the spirit which are but thâ— least part of the haruest or as an earnest penny in assurance of millions not to bee numbred for certainly where the hart is there is the treasure but how great a treasure no eye hath seene nor eare hath heard nor tongue can expresse nor hart can conceiuâ— On the other side if thy hart hath no ioy in the gospell of Christ nor delight in the commandements of God if thou haue no zeale for the glory of God no desire to pray nor longing for the coming of Christ then feare for where thy treasure is there will thy heart be also If thou hast more felicitie in worldly vanities then in heauenly vertues if vaine company bee more welcome vnto thee then such as feare the Lord if thy study be onely how to liue heere thy cares and communications be altogether â—arthly and prophane then suspect thy estate not to bee good and know that thy hollow sound bewrayeth an emptie vessell thy figge tree hath nothing but leaues all thy Termes are but vacations and as for treasure in heauen thou hast none for they that are occupiers there haue their harts wholly employed there and as they looke for great aboundance when they come thether so they finde an earnest thereof in their harts heere alâ— is holy and heauenly comfortable and happie for righteousnesse and truth hath looked downe from heauen vpon them and mercy and peace haue embraced each other in their soules and heauen holding their treasure doth also hale and draw their harts thither likewise Now then let vs see how our harts stand affected for there is a sure witnesse and pledge eyther of Hell or of Heauen But how shall wee know whether our hearts be in heauen and Gods holy spirit be in our hearts Surely a needfull question for euery one wil say as the yong man in the Gospel all these things I haue obserued from my youth and that he loueth God aboue all yea hee would be sorry else but the Prophet Ieremie saith that the heart is deceiptfull wicked aboue all things who can know it and therefore to be suspected examined as Dauid aduised Examine your hearts vpon your beds euen secretly before God and free from all lets and encombrances Wouldest thou then know thy heart examine all her attendants and vnder officers wherabout they are chiefly employed as thy Tongue thy Eares thy Eyes thy hands and feet for out of the abundance of the hart the mouth speaketh that is the tongue will shew how the hart is affected my hart is enditing of a good matter saith the Psalmist and presently followeth my tongue is the pen of a ready writer Againe in another place My hart was hot within me and I spake with my tongue A good man saith our Sauiour Christ out of the good treasure of his hart bringeth forth good things If there be abundance of loue to God the tongue will still bee speaking in commendation of his praises and setting forth his greatnes his goodnes his iustice his holines his wisdome and mercy c. as the Church in the Canticles Oh let him kisse me with the kisses of his mouth for thy loue is better then wine that is better then all pleasant and profitable things If there bee abundance of ioy and delight in the commandements of God thy lips will declare the Iudgements of his mouth If there be abundance of feare to offend against God or the Godly thou wilt set a watch before thy mouth and thy feet shall carry thee speedely from euill company If there be abundance of zeale in thy hart then will thy tongue be enflamed with a holy fire for the truth If thy hart doth abound with desire and longing for the presence of the Lord then thou wilt still be wishing
to our owne vse when time shall serue as if he should say I doe not absolutely forbid you to gather and to lay vp in store but I would haue you so gather and so to lay vp that you may finde store of treasure in Heauen your heauenly countrey whereunto you are borne againe and where you must abide for euer And these treasures thus to be laied vp hee commendeth vnto vs for their Excellency for their Securitie and for their Perpetuitie things which all desire and which are able to free a mans minde from all care Of which it will not be amisse for vs to take a little view What are those treasures then that are commended vnto vs for their excellencie In a word they are heauenly now looke how farre heauen is more excellent then the earth and the spirit then flesh and God then man so much doth the Christians heauenly treasure excell all the treasures of this world This is true indeede but in heauen thou wilt say there is neither buying nor selling trading nor traffique building nor planting letting nor hiring hungring nor thirsting no cold nor heat no working nor labouring no iourneying nor trauelling And therefore we need not care for any prouision for any such vses what then are those treasures or what is in them more then in others that wee are so charged to lay them vp here we know saith the Atheist what wee haue but what we shall haue there we know not But heare thou earthly minded man and harken O thou whose mind and hart lye buried vnder a loafe of bread There are indeed no such commodities in heauen as the earth affordeth yet heauen is a rich countrey the commodities thereof are far aboue the fine golde of Ophir First there is the Lord Iesus who is the Lord high treasurer of heauen and earth In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge In whom God hath blessed vs with all spirituall blessings in heauenly things Of whose fulnes we receiue all grace for grace In whom and by whom wee liue and moue and haue our being of whom the church enquired and was sicke of loue vntill she found him Worldlings make a wonder at this geare vntill they know what it is but then they are as desirous of it as others as plainely appeareth by the conference that passed between the regenerate Spouse of Christ and the vnregenerate members of the visible Church about the excellency of Christs person and loue and the effect of the said conference most liuely and pathetically deciphered by Salomon in his spirituall song And first the regenerate and Godly Spouse of Christ beginneth in this manner I Charge you O Daughters of Ierusalem if you finde my wel-beloued that you tell him that I am sicke of loue Now mark the answer that is made to this charge by those which yet knew not the excellency of Christ. O the fairest a mong women what is thy welbeloued more then other welboued what is thy welbeloued more then an other louer that thou dost so charge vs Now mark the descriptioÌ„ of Christ set forth by the true church as glorying and delighting to speake of the beautie and riches of their heauenly Bridegrome to the shame of those that beare the title of Christians and yet are neuer so much daunted and silenced at any thing as when speach is offered them of Christ and Christian Religion as if it were possible that an honest woman should bee ashamed to heare good spoken or to speake good things of her Husband My belouod saith the Spouse of Christ is white and ruddy the cheifest of ten thousand His head is as fine gold his locks curled and black as a Rauen. His eyes are as Doues vpon the Riuers of waters which are washed with milke and remaine by the full vessels His cheekes are as a bed of Spices and sweet Flowers and his lips like Lillies dropping downe pure Mirrhe His hands like rings of Gold seâ— with the Chrisolite his belly like white Yâ—ory couered with Saphirs His legs as pillers of marble set vpon sockets of fine gold his countenance as Lebanon excellent as the Cedars His mouth is as sweet things and he is wholy delectable that is my Beloued and this is my Louer O Daughters of Ierusalem What say you to him now Heare now what effect this sweet description of Christ hath wrought with the Daughters of Ierusalem that is with the members of the Church yet such as hitherto were ignoraunt of these things O the fairest amongst women whither is thy Welbeloued gone whither is thy Welbeloued turned aside that wee may seeke him with thee And would you seeke him indeed then heare more This heauenly and louely Bridegrome hath for his Spouse a whole Cittie and A holy Cittie called new Ierusalem whose Daughters you are come downe from God our of heauen prepared as a Bride trimmed for her husband hauing the glory of God and her shining is like vnto a stone most precious and as a Iasper stone cleare as Christall The Wall of it is great and high and hath twelue Gates and at the Gates twelue Angels for Porters And the Wall of the Cittie hath twelue Foundations and in them the names of the Lambs twelue Apostles It is euery way twelue thousand furlongs as broad as long and extending aswell to one part of the world as to another The building of the wall is of Iasper and the Cittie pure Gold like cleare Glasse The foundations of the Wall were gaâ—nished with all manner of precious stones And the twelue Gates wore twelue Pearles and euery Gate is of one Pearle and the Street of the Cittie is of pure Gold There is no Temple there for the Lord God Almightie and the Lambe are the Temple of it There is no neede of Sunnâ— or Moone for the glory of God doth light it and the Lambe is the light of it And the people which are saued shall walk in the light of it and the Kings of the earth shall bring their glory and honour vnto it And the gates of it shall not bee shut by day for there shall be no might there And the glory and honour of the Gentiles shall bee brought vnto it And into it shall enter no vncleane thing neyther whatsoeuer worketh Abhomination or Lyes but they which are written in the Lambs booke of Life Now if the Gates Wals and Streets of this Cittie bee soâ— beautifull and sumptuous then how glorious and rich are the inward parts nay who can expresse the riches and pleasures that are there layd vp for the Cittizens and Spouse of Christ are they not thinke you like those things which Saint Paul saw when hee was rapt vp into the third heauen which the tongue of man cannot vtter And mustâ— they not needes bee
those ioyes which the same Apostle saith are such as no Eye hath seene no Eare hath heard no Tongue can expresseâ— nor Hart conceaue Now doe but consider with thy selfe if thou canst what some Eyes haue seene what some mens Eares haue heard and what some trauellers Tongues haue reported in these dayes and what the hart of some man is able to conceaue and then doe but imagine what those ioyes of heauen are if thou canst But what are the commodities and Riches of that Heauenly Ierusalem and the Cittizens therof that cannot bee valued If the report thereof will mooue thee to seeke after them then heare for euen in this life the true Christian is put in possession of them in part by which as by a tast hee is certified and as by an earnest pâ—nny hee is assured of the rest that is kept for him vntill hee bee ready for them Saint Iohn saith that as if some rich merchant were come from a far Country the Lord Iesus inuiteth vs and setteth vp as it were his bils in euery Church offering to all that will vse the meanes to make themselues sure of his marchandise which is meant by buying no worse wares then fine Gold tryed in the fire to make vs rich white rayment to couer our filthy nakednes withall and eye salue to heale vs of Spirituall blindnesse that is himselfe his Word and his Spirit And the like offer in most kinde mannâ—r againe hee maketh by Salomon willing vs if wee bee wise to God ward to receiue instruction and not Siluer and knowledge rather then fine Gold Whereof Salomon himselfe giueth this testimony after his long experience of both that to get wisdome is much better then gold but how much better hee cannot tell it so far excelleth and therefore hee sets it downe with an Interrogation How much better is it c. and to get Vnderstanding saith he is more to be desired then Siluer Yea Blessed is that man saith hee that findeth Wisedome and that man that getteth Vnderstanding Now marke his reasons For the marchandise thereof is better then the marchandise of Siluer and the gaine thereof is better then gold It is more precious then Pearles and all things that thou canst desire are not to bee compared vnto her Length of dayes is in her right hand and in her left hand riches and glory Her wayes are the wayes of pleasure and all her pathes posperitie Shee is a Tree of Life to them that lay hold on her and blessed is hee that receiueth her There is also a spirituall traffique and intercourse betweene Christ the faithfull Christian. For Our conuersation is in beauen saith S. Paul very troublesome and dangerous I confesse for a time for this world is the sea tempestuous and tumultuous enough The Church militant is the ship of Christ that is tossed in the same The tackling of this ship may be the communion of Saints The Pilate that guides the course the spirit of God The Carde or Compasse the Word of God The Purser of this ship is loue The Baliffe is humane frailties noisome feares and troublesome doubts The munition of this ship is the armour of God that is the Helmet of Hope the Shield of Faith the Sword of the Spirit the Brest-plate of Righteousnesse c. as the Apostle describeth it in the 6. to the Ephesians The windes which driue this Bark are prosperitie and aduersitie The waues which tosse this ship are presumption and despaire The enimies to this ship are the world the flesh and the Diuell The Factours are the faithfull Ministers of Christ. The Commodities are the Treasures of Heauen the Riches of Christ or Fruites of the Spirit Our Messenger is Peace a speedy Poste The Hauen is the Kingdome of Heauen The landing place is Golgotha The Land is the land of the liuing The Customer is Death who sets all men at libertie and yet is bound himselfe Peter was once one of these heauenly Factours for the Lord Iesus a Creeple came vnto him for an Almes but what was his aunswere Siluer and Gold haue I none but such as I haue I giue thee in the name of Iesus of Nazaret arise and walke A better Almes a great deale then hee expected So wee may say If you aske vs what commodities our vessell hath brought we may make Peters answere Siluer and Gold wee haue none new wine haue we none pleasant tales haue wee none and Popish trash haue wee none but wee haue the hidden treasures of the Gospell the puritie of true Religion the rich Iewels of the holy Ghost as Faith to ouercome the world repentance to make men new remission of sinnes and Reconsiliation with God by the death of Christ peace of Conscience which passeth all vnderstanding and is a continuall Feast ioy of the holy Ghost aâ—d gladnes of hart which the world cannot take from him that hath them wee offer loue to God and Charitie to men zeale for the truth patience in affliction moderation of affections lowlinesse of Spirit to grace all our actions and assurance of euerlasting life after this life the great gaine of godlinesse with sweete contentation to all estates Behold these are the Riches and these are the Treasures that the Lord Iesus sendeth from heauen to enrich and glad his seruants withall while they liue here dispersed and despised vpon the face of the earth And yet here bee not all for euen all outward blessings also do attend vpon these inward graces so that if any man can finde these and hartely affect them the other shall follow measurably and proportionably according to euery mans place and want And therfore our blessed Sauiour not knowing how to enuy or deny vnto his Church the smaller things hauing frankly bestowed himselfe and the greater things of his Kingdome set vs in the way and directeth vs a right course for the obtaining both of heauenly Treasures as also of earthly Commodities Seeke first saith hee the kingdome of God and his righteousnesse and all these things shall bee cast vnto you but Gods Kingdome must bee first sought When Salomon preferred in his request vnto God a wise and vnderstanding hart for the well gouerning of his people God gaue him that and also Riches and Honour things that he asked not So if our chiefest desire and endeauour be to lay vp treasure in heauen and to bee rich in the graces of the holy Ghost the Lord will giue vs those Graces and earthly Blessings besides But alas it fareth with most men as it did with Boaz his kinseman who was well content to redeeme the field of Naomie but when hee heard that hee that should haue the field must also marry Ruth hee would none So many hearing of earthly commodities and worldly blessings are content to strain themselues for the obtaining of them but when they heare that they must take them
of man ebbeth and fâ—oweth more turbulently from the beginning to the ending without intermission And what tempests and madnes is there not in these foure passions to hope or desire and to reioice to feare to be sorry which trouble the poore and miserable minde by driuing it with sodaine windes and gales far from the Hauen into the middest of most dangerous Rocks And therefore say not as some doe that thou wilt trust no body but thy selfe or what thou hast once resolued vpon no man shall alter thee from it for they selfe are most variable and thine owne false hart will bee the first that shall betray thee And therefore to conclude and returne where wee began sith the life of man is so full of misery and vnquietnesse sith there is so little agreement nay so much strife and contention betweene all things created sensible and insensible and all against man and sith there is so much discord and iarring in all estates and degrees of men and lastly in euery particular man with himselfe how canst thou now that art a Christian and induced with any sparke of Heauenly light set thy heart vpon the world or any thing that is in the World to make it the study of thy braine the care of thy minde or the ioy of thy heart sith in this world as there is nothing of any Excellency or Perpetuitie so likewise is there nothing of any Securitie or safety but all exposed to perill danger and losse But in heauen it is otherwise looke what Treasures thou sendest thether before thy dying day thou shalt bee sure to haue them secured vnto thy vse for euer and why surely because they are with thy GOD and most louing Father where no Theefe can breake through and steale As this Doctrine should cause vs to leaue our doting vpon this World so it seru eth to stay the troubled Conscience from drooping vnder his sins â— and from despairing of Gods mercy for though thy Siâ—nes bee many and great yet thy Treasure is sure in heauen and there is thy Comfort Haddest thou euer any Peace of Conscience any Comfort in Christ any Ioy in the holy Ghost that same abideth still in heauen for thee and that which thou haddest here was but an earnest of that which is laide vp for thee there But thou canst not see it nor feele it thou canst not pray so effectually as thou wert wont to doe c. What then yet it is in Heauen and nothing can take it from thee God doth not keepe our Treasure from Mothes and Theeues to let the Diuels deceiue vs of it no no it is sure for euer When the Childe abuseth such things as his Father bestoweth vpon him they are taken from him and laid vp till another time and though the foolish Childe would haue them still in his sight yet that may not bee the wisedome of the father will not suffer it so God dealeth with his Children as touching the gifts and graces of his Spirit and the vse of them The similitude applyeth it selfe It sufficeth Iacob to heare that his sonne Ioseph was a liue though hee saw him not so it should much comfort vs to know that our Sauiour Christ liueth in vs though wee alwaies feele him not alike I once loued the word of God thou wilt say and was zealous for the glory of God and did beleeue his promises and did reioyce in the exercises of Religion and prayed continually and grieued heartely for my sinnes Oh then I had Treasure in heauen now all is gone my Spirit is dull and heauie I cannot pray nor meditate with that feeling and comfort that I was wont to feele But doe the Lord no iniurie doe not measure his grace by thy feeling while Sathans messenger did buffâ—t Paul that blessed Apostle could not so sensibly feele Gods grace as before but cryed out Oh wretched man that I am who shall deliuer mee So whiles temptations doe buffet vs wee are benummed and know not well how it is with vs in respect of Grace but yet Gods grace doth vphold vs for all that Whiles Sathan sifted Peter Christ prayed for him that his Faith might not faile but it was more then Peter felt and so it is with the rest of Gods Children at some times These buffetings and siftings are tokens of Gods fauour yet secret in vs for the time for whom doth Sathan most desire to sift of all the Apostles surely none so much as him that before had made the best confession of Christ. And none are more buffeted then they that haue receiued the greatest Graces Ye shall sorrow saith our Sauiour Christ in the World but in mee yee shall haue ioy and your ioy shall no man take from you no nor Diuell nor Angell nor God himselfe for if wee beleeue not yet God is faithfull saith Saint Paul and not deny himselfe And againe The foundation of God abideth sure and hath this seale The Lord knoweth who are his and let euery one that calleth on the name of the Lord lesâ—is depart from iniquiâ—â—e to shew that if wee depart from iniquitie wee shall our selues also know that wee are the Lords yea and to that end wee ought to call on the name of the Lord Iesus that by his grace wee may depart from iniquitie And in so doing we may say as the Apostle saith I know whom I haue beleeued and I am perswaded that hee is able to keepe that which I haue committed Vnto him against the day of Christ. And whereas thou complainest that thou canst not pray know that yet for all that the Spirit of God may bee in thee For the Spirit saith Paul helpeth our infirmities for we know not how to pray as we ought but the Spirit it selfe maketh request for vs with â—ighes which cannot be expressed to shew that when the hearts of Gods Children are oppressed with burdensome Temptations which stop the course and passage of our Prayers that then the Spirit of God makes a supply by sighes and grones But if Gods spirit were in thee thou sayest thou shouldest feele it working in thee some heauenly and spirituall work True it is and so hee doth for euen the sighes and grones of a troubled spirit are the workes of Gods spirit and euen the hungring after righteousnesse is no lesse the work of Grace then the hauing of righteousnesse And the work of Gods Spirit is oftentimes more secret in thee then thou art aware of for could God take a Rib out of Adams side while hee slept and neuer felt it and cannot God put his Spirit into thy hungry and heauie Soule and keepe it there as a Liger while thy Faith sleepeth and thou not feele it God dealeth with his Children as Ioseph dealt with his Brethren who knew them well enough but for a time would not bee knowne of them yea and put their money into their sacks
vs to trash but not to Treasure to hell but not to heauen to the flesh but not to the spirit and so from God to the Diuell And being come now to the place and hauing found the Booke that will rcueale this Heauenly Treasure what must wee doe Search the Scriptures saith our Sauiour Christ to shew that there is some hidden Trasure in it more then is seene outwardly or more then they make shew of and so there is And therefore the Word is preferred before Gold albeit most men had rather haue Gold then the Word but Daâ—id could say that of Gods Word which he could not doe of Gold nor all the world besides and that was this Except thy word had beene my comfort in my Affliction I had perished And Salomon auoucheth that man to bee blessed that findeth wisedome and him happy that getteth Vnderstanding and doubteth not to yeeld this for his reason That the marchandise thereof is better then the Marchandise of Siluer and the gaine thereof is better then Golde It is more precious saith he then Pearles and all things that thou canst desire are not to be compared vnto her Length of dayes is in her right hand and in her left hand riches and glory Her pathes are the pathes of pleasure and all her wayes prosperitie Shee is a Tree of Life to them that lay hold on her and therefore blessed are they that receiue her But to see these are required very heauenly and spirituall eyes euen the eyes of a liuely â—aith for carnall sence cannot comprehend them and worldly wisedome cannot conceiue them yea many laugh at vs because we seeke for life in the death of Christ grace in his curse righteousnesse in his condemnation and comfort in his holy Gospell Verely say they so floweth cold water out of a burning Furnace and so springeth light out of darknesse and hereupon they conclude that none are more foolish then wee which hope for Life at a dead mans hand which aske forgiuenesse at a condemned person which fetch the grace of God out of one that was accursed and flye for refuge to the Crosse as to the onely author of euerlasting Saluation which are all the Treasures that the word of God doth offer vs and therewithall laughing at our simplicitie they think themselues very sharp-witted but alas they want the chiefest thing in true wisedome namely the feeling of Conscience and the â—eare of God-Let vs but enter deeply into our selues and so soone as wee acknowledge our owne wretchednesse the way for vs vnto Christ and for Christ vnto vs will bee by and by paued and made lâ—uell for as to the attaining of humane Sciences is requisite a fine and well furnished wit so to this Heauenly Philosophie is required a subdued minde for what tast can there bee where is lothing As many then as will not willinglie bee deceiued and perish let them learne to begin with this lâ—sson to know that they haue to doe with God to whom they must giue accompt let them set before their eyes that iudgement seat that makes euen the Angels to tremble let them hearken to their owne conscience bearing witnesse against them let them not harden their harts against the pricks of sinne and then they shall find nothing in the death of Christ to bee ashamed of And let not their astonishment bee a stumbling blocke to vs but rather let vs bee carryed from the humane nature of Christ to the glory of his Godhead which may turne all curious questions into admiration And let vs goe from the death of Christ to his glorious resurrection which may wipe away all slaunder of his Crosse Let vs passe from the weakenesse of the flesh to the power of the Spirit which may swallow vp all foolish thoughts And let vs still pray with holy Daâ—id that the Lord would open the eyes of our Vnderstanding that wee may see the wondrous things of his word for not euery one that readeth the booke of God doth come to the Treasure for it is like a Nut with a double shell both which must bee broken before the kernell can bee found or like a Chest with many locks and euery one must be opened before the Treasure can bee met withall To which end the Lord hath appointed Preaching and Preachers and endued them with the tongues of the learned and all to open the hidden Treasures of the Gospell of Christ. To which must bee ioyned a diligent eare a minde to meditate and a sober tongue to confer with thy Pastor and familie and an humble Spirit to bee enformed and reformed by the counsell of God These meanes are called digging and searching laborious exercises indeed to shew what paines and diligence must bee vsed in searching after the heauenly Treasure My Sonne saith Salomon if thou wilt receiue my words and hide my commaundement within thee and cause thine eares to hearken vnto Wisedome and incline thine heart vnto Vnderstanding if thou callest after Knowledge and cryest for Vnderstanding if thou seekest for her as for Siluer and searchest for her as for Treasures then shalt thou vnderstand the feare of the Lord and finde the knowledge of God But if wee bee negligent backward and indifferent or luke-warme then will it fare with vs as with Laodicea wee shall thinke wee are rich and increased with goods and haue neede of nothing when indeed wee are wretched and miserable and poore and blind and naked And alas so it is with too too many and therefore when you come into their houses if the booke of God bee there you shall finde it couered ouer with much rubbill and drosse as Cards and Tables merry Tales with sorry or sorrowfull tailes profane and scurrilous discourses and paultry pamphlets and such like stuffe which domineere ouer the booke of God as the Iewes did ouer Christs in Pilates hall all which should bee swept out of doores or sacrificed in the fire and as for such humorists as do nothing but feede mens humours with idlenesse and ply them with the pleasures of sinne to the losse of their precious time which should bee spent in seeking of the heauenly Treasure say vnto them as Christ did vnto Peter when hee solicited him against the will of God vnto carnall courses Turne thee behind me Sathan thou art an offence vnto mee and sauourest not the things of God The next thing to bee considered is the time of gathering and laying vp this heauenly Treasure for there is a time for all things saith the holy Ghost All in time saith the World hereafter when old age comes or when sicknesse comes or at the houre of death It is not good to bee too forward in Religion or to meddle too soone with matters of God and Godlinesse for a yong man may prooue an old Diuell But heare what God saith thou foolish man Remember thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth
such like whatsoeuer they say in word if we respect the tenor of their liues are flat enimies of the crosse of Christ and tread his precious bloud vnder their feete So farre Perkins But if thou wilt haue the Treasures of Christ in heauen thus thou must learne to know and feele Christ crucified and the benefits of his Merit Vertue and Example and thus must thou come to the knowledge of God of thy neighbour and of thy selfe in Christ crucified euen whiles thou art here vpon earth which feeling knowledge is a sauing knowledge euen an excellent portion of heauenly Treasure imparted to the true Christian in this life and is a pledge of endlesse and infinite treasure prouided for him in the life to come and so much for the wayes and meanes of laying vp treasute in heauen which are by giuing to the poore Members of Christ by suffering patiently for the truth of Christ and by growing in the sauing knowledge of Christ crucified In laying vp Treasure after this sort we shal prooue good Alcumists An Alcumist they say can turne lead into gold or out of Lead or other mettals extract Golde which many haue practised to their vtter vndoing The Pope is the cunningest Alcumist it is thought that the world hath for hee can of a pound of Lead make an hundred pound of Gold for all his Buls and Pardons are sealed with lead but what fooles are they that turne their Gold into Lead or what calues rather that buy his Buls so deare But lay vp Treasure as hath beene shewed thee before and thou shalt turne earth into heauen corruption into incorruption Gold into godlinesse which is great gaine labour into rest sorrow into ioy pouertie into riches and thy cottage into a kingdome euen the kingdome of heauen Now followeth the reasons of Christs Commandement For where your Treasure is there will your heart bee also A Reason of great force as if hee should say for this cause chiefly you ought to lay vp your treasure in heauen that God may haue your heart which cannot bee vnlesse you lay vp your Treasure in heauen for our hearts will bee where wholy their Treasure is Here wee are taught that no man can loue the Lord with his heart that seeketh and placeth his happinesse in earthly things but onely those whose ioy and felicitie is in heauen and the heauenly graces of the Lord Iesus Christ. Worldlings make no doubt but that they may and doe serue God and loue God with their heart yea and haue as good â— hart to God as any whatsoeuer though they follow the world heare not sermons although they keepe not the Sabboth so precisely as others do which will not worke or play then though they neuer meddle with the Scriptures but bee vtterly ignorant of the wayes and will of God But Christ here sheweth that they are al deceiued by a general principle that neuer faileth Wher the treasure is there will be the hart and wher the hart is there is the Treasure of the hart wherupon it followeth that they doe wholy renounce heauen that do seeke for happinesse here below and if they set their harts vpon heauenly things it cannot be that they should esteeme of them no better or frequent them no oftner then they doe The Philosophers haue most exactly so much as the Star-light of nature would giue them leaue disputed of the happines or chiefe wel-fare of man And no meruaile for who doth not desire to bee happy and to win that hold are all mens Sences and Wits mustred and marshalled because it is the onely true treasure For where the Treasure is there will the hart be but most men doe mistake the matter while they seeke for happinesse in the flesh which is not to be found but in the spirit while they confesse that it is in God yet runne after the Diuell for it When some seeke for it in Honour Ambition is made generall of the field and doth commaund the minde while others seeke it in worldly profite Couetousnesse doth inuade the soule taking vp euery roome for worldly desires and noysome lusts which doe eat out the heart with cares and drowne men in perdition others seeking for it in carnall pleasure and sensualitie cry one to another come let vs eate and drinck and bee merry for to morrow wee shall dye and in the meane time the brute beast in that regard is more happy then such Epicures for that more freely without any shame or feare hee enioyeth the pleasure of carnall sensualitie then they doe But if we were once soundly perswaded of our happines in heauen it would bee an easie matter to tread the World vnder foote and to haue our mindes mounted vp to heauen If the loue of God bee our Treasure and through the spectacles of a liuely faith wee can read our names regestred in the booke of life and descry our happinesse to be hidden in Christ if the spirit of Adoption doth certifie our spirits that God is our Father and wee are his children and with the same certificate shall deliuer vs a discharge against sinne death and hell then will our harts feede vpon heauenly meditations and our soules hunger and thirst after righteousnesse wee will then account all but dung that wee might winne the Lord Iesus Christ. And then as the Hart brayeth for the riuers of water so will our soules long for the presence of the Lord And then the Word of God will bee the ioy of our harts and wee will desire to bee dissolued and to bee with Christ for where the Treasure is there will the hart bee also And vntill then wee shall sauour nothing but earthly vanities Therefore when S. Paul would draw the faithfull to the studie of a heauenly life he doth propound Christ vnto them in whom onely all true felicitie is to bee sought If yee bee risen with Christ saith hee set your minds on things aboue and not on things which are below as if hee should haue said it is an absurd and base thing for christians to haue their mindes grubling on the earth whose Treasure is hid in heauen and that is his reason for yee are dead saith hee and your life is hid with Christ in God Hence we may further learne in what a miserable case they are whose harts are set vpon earthly things which are subiect to Mothes and Theeues Rust and other such manifold mischiefes A cousening match it is of the diuels owne making hee is subtill and sheweth men the world and the glory of it the Court and the brauery of it Honour and the fame of it iniquitie and the profit of it sinne and the pleasure of it as it were his daughters with their dowrie On the other side wee are simple and beleeue him presently our hart is a match for them and happy hee thincks himselfe that can get one of them and to breake it off is a hard matter Their
hart shall haue his hart and the golden Misers and pleasant companions shall please them so that nothing shal be thought too deere for them Well now is the time to know both their harts for these pleasing placeboes with their tripping trulles care not a straw for any preaching but in their harts wish all except their mealy mouthd Prophets which neuer goe without a slickstone in their pocket hangd out of the way And till sit time serueth they can daunce after times pipe but if time change his note they will also change their coppy and will make better Christians then euer Herod was to daunce after their pipe if Gods grace be not the more abounding euen to the bitter perfecuting and disgracing of Gods poore Ministers and seruants yea they haue the skill to watch the time at a feast at a dauncing reuell or a gossips meeting to winne their harts deâ—ire and make better then Herod to doe that they will be sorry for afterward Therefore let men take heed that they be not deceiued by such hipocrites and that they deceiue not themselues whiles they professe religion from the head and not from the hart But some will say a man may be religious in hart and yet fall away from grace and so come to no assurance of treasure in heauen because it is said in the Gospell that some receiued the word with ioy and yet fel away now ioy is an affection of the hart and ioy in the word is a fruite of the spirit Gal. 5. therfore it seemeth y â— though a man hath a religious heart yet hee may fall away consequently one cannot tell by his heart whether he hath any treasure in heauen or no. But that ioy that S. Matthew speakes of is rather a liking or wondring at the heauenly doctrine as at some strange and excellent thing then any sound or setled reioycing in God who speaketh in his word And ioy is to be distinguished for it is eyther carnall and temporary or spirituall and permanent A carnall man reioyceth many times at a Sermon for the preachers rare inuention or his varietie of phrases or the sharpnes of his wit or the artificiall conuaiance of the matter or his excellent gift of vtterance and boldnes or because hee heard some touched that hee was not friends withall but not for the simplicitie and euidence of the truth nor for any reformation that he felt wrought in himselfe nor for any hatred of sinne or loue of righteusnes that the word wrought in him for commonly such kinde of reioycers or admirers of men goe presently from the Sermon with the dog to eat vp their vomit and Swine-like to tumble in their mire again Such were many of Iohns auditours such were many of Christs auditors such were most of Ezechiels auditours and such are too many of our auditours which flock at the first to a man for nouelties sake to see whether they shall be clawed with a curry-combe or smoothed with a slik-stone Such are they that haue the word of God in respect of persons and such are those fantasticks that will buy a booke onely for the merry conceits that are in it and not for the matter like children which ioy in a booke with a faire couer and reioyce more at the gaies or gawdy letters then any thing else in the booke be it neuer so good The spirituall man reioyceth for that God hath found out his sinne and feeleth the hand of God reforming his heart he reioyceth for that he perceiueth Sathan dispossessed and his life amended his soule hee findeth humbled and his affections bridled himselfe won to God and his familie with him and for this hee reioyceth like the conuerted Iaylor who reioyced for that he and all his houshold beleeued in God But now the afflicted soule is to be satisfied who complaineth with the Spouse of Christ in the Canticles that shee hath sought him whom her soule loueth euen by night in her bed she hath sought him but she cannot finde him that is the conscience afflicted with the wounds of sin cannot find in her hart any assurance of Gods fauour in the remission of her sinnes But for answere we say that there is an earnest penny pawne of Gods loue in that hart though as it were sealed vp in a bag and in time it shall be opened and perceiued for first the very seeking after the loue of God is a speciall fauour of God and an euident token that the spirit of God is there for that proceedeth not of flesh and bloud Seeke yee my face saith the Lord my hart answered saith Dauid thy faâ—e will I seeke hee doth not say thy face will I finde but seeke to shew that seeking of gods fauour is a grace of God as well as finding of Godâ— fauour Seeke and yee shall find saith Christ to shew that finding comes after seeking Seek the Lord saith Esay while he may be fouud and call vpon him while he is nigh at hand to shew that God is sought for by inuocation or calling vpon his name long before hee is found or felt gracious vnto vs but euen then he is nigh at hand or else we could not call vpon him for it is euen his spirit that sends forth our prayers and helps them with sighes and grones and if hee did not help and heaue vp our dull and drowsie spirits we should neuer once flutter towards heauen but euen lye like dead blocks sencelessely groueling vpon the ground Again Christ is in the hart of the troubled spirit for asmuch as the loue of Christ is there for the saith whom my soule loueth which very loue that thou bearest to Christ is a note of the sanctifying spirit of God Againe thou desirest to feele the assurance of Gods loue which desire is also a pledge of the spirit of grace A man may feare God in some sort and ioy in the things of God for a time in some carnall respect desire with the sluggard Balamâ— like to dye the death of the righteous and yet not loue the Lord but the loue of God desire of his fauour makes all sure Fourthly if thou feele it not yet as thou wouldest then vse the meanes of Preaching Reading Prayer Conference Meditation and patiently waite the Lords leasure as Dauid saith to his Soule Waite on God and be not so cast downe for he is thy present help and thy God As a sicke man taketh meat drink and phisick though it goeth against the stomacke and his stomacke so weake that it casteth vp all againe yet hee hath a desire to brooke it and doth striue to keepe it and at last it worketh strength so is it with the sick distempred Soule There is a defect in the stomacke or in the pallat or in some other part of the body which hindreth the working of corporall phisick so in the inward man there
before the euill dayes come vpon thee and the dayes whereof thou shalt say I haue no pleasure And Esai cryeth out vnto thee saying Seeke the Lord while hee may be found and call vpon him while hee is nigh at hand to shew vs that the Lord will not alwayes bee found much lesse when wee thinke good neyther will the dayes of olde age and sicknesse bee like the dayes of youth and health for then shall wee feele our selues vnfit and vntoward to seek after these things in two regards first in regard of naturall infirmities and bodily paines which will hold thy mind occupied about meanes of ease as Phisicke and such like Secondly in regard of that strong hand which sin through long custome will beare ouer thy soule euen to the hardning of thy heart for custome of sinne breedeth hardnesse of heart and hardnesse of heart begetteth impenitencie as the Apostle sheweth in the second to the Romanes But the speciall time of gathering and laying vp this heauenly Treasure is the holy Sabboth and other times of holy assemblies and generally whensoeuer thou art called forth to heare the Word preached vnto thee or hast any occasion to exercise thy Faith in the workes of Charitie and pietie Then comes the Angell to stirre the Poole step in then if thou wilt doe thy selfe good for afterward will bee too late Whosoeuer carelessely neglecteth the Sabbaoth of the Lord and presumptiously giueth God the slip in the holy Assemblies as many carâ—all Christians doe who mistrusting God with their estate thinke it no sin to spend the Sabbaoth day in their worldly affaires or vaine exercises well may they with Esau get a sup of pottage to stay their hungry mawes withall if God doe not crosse their enterprises and curse their labours as oftentimes hee doth but surely their heauenly Birth-right is forâ—aite by the bargain and but bankroupts they proue in the heauenly Treasure of a Christian They heape vp but it is nothing but wrath against the day of wrath The Sabboth day is especially appointed for gathering of heauenly treasures Remember therefore that thou keepe it holy as the Lord comminandeth pâ—etend not a necessitie of breaking the 〈◊〉 rest where 〈◊〉 is apparant as the manner of some is when 〈◊〉 a faire Sabboth day they must work for feare of Raine but consider thou whose heart is buryed vnder thy loafe and wilt needs bee rich by deceiuing the Lord of his right consider I say hath not the Lord prouided for thee when it hath rained and darest thou not trust him when it is faire did he euer deceiue any that trusted him with their estate while they walked reuerently in his feare and carefully kept his commandements what indignitie then and dishonor is this that thou offrest vnto the most high in that thou darest not trust him with thy body whiles thou seekest for the good of thy Soule And how doest thou thinke to answere this geare when thy conscience shall bee summoned to answere therevnto before that Iudgement Seat which maketh the very Angels and Celestiall Powers to tremble Oh consider of these things betimes and the Lord 〈◊〉 thy drowsie soule And aboue all beware of sorting thy selfe with profane company which will cause thee to loose thy time and dull the edge of the Spirit decay thy graces and make thee to treasure vp sinne against the day of vengeance for one sinne admitted with loue and liking letteth out many graces and maketh hauock of all thy vertues Now the manner how to lay vp this heauenly Treasure commeth next to be remembred and that is done three waies First by relieuing of the Lord Iesus Christ in his members which stand in neede of help Sell that you haâ—e ouerplus saith Christ or that you can spâ—are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and giue to the poore Make you bags which waxe not old Luke 12. 33. to shew that when a man giueth almes to the poore hee doth but take it out of one purse and put it into another out of bags that waxe old and put it into bags that waxe not old and in so doing saith Christ thou shalt finde treasure in heauen in so doing I say but not for so doing as Papists teach If thou wilt be perfect saith Christ to the rich yong man goe and sell that thou hast and giue to the poore and what you doe to them I take it as done vnto my selfe for saith our Sauiour Christ when they my poore members were in prison I was in prison when they were hungry naked and cold c. I was hungry naked and cold and therfore what you did to them you did to mee To the like effect speaketh the Prophet Esai If saith hee thou deale thy bread to the hungry and bring the poore that wandreth into thy house and couer the naked when thou seest him then shall thy light breake forth as the morning and thine health shall grow speedely thy righteousnesse shall goe before thee and the glory of the Lord shal embrace thee These bee sweet encouragements and necessarie because poore people are vnable to recompence the kindnesse of those that bestow any thing vpon them and as they are vnable so for the most part they are very ingratefull and their vnthankfulnesse doth not a little discourage many who would otherwise bee more beneficiall then they are And in these respects men had rather venture their goods vpon any other thing then vpon the poore For say they quod ingrato feceris perijt It is cast away which is giuen to vnthankfull persons but howsoeuer it bee that many of the poorer sort bee both wretchedly vnthankfull and miserably vnable to repay thee yet if thou giuest them for Christ his sake in whose name commonly they aske it thou shalt finde it againe in heauen But it may bee thou wilt be content to giue part of thy ouerplus to the poore so thou maist reserue the other part to bestow on thy pleasure but beware thou deceiue not thy selfe for all thy ouerplus is for the poore when thy familie is prouided for thy debts paid and all Dueties that thou owest to the Church and Common-wealth thy Prince and Countrie are deâ—â—ayed that which remaineth is for the poore to play for that is to cast lots vpon the Garment of Christ Ne fundis parcendum est sayeth Calâ—sin Euen of a mans ground and Inheritance a Christian man must deuide some to poore Schollers some to scholes of learning some to the Ministry of the Gospel some to maimed souldiers some to poore hospitals in all to Christ he that giueth but a cup of cold water to the poore members of christ hauing no more to giue shall not loose his reward The second way to lay vp Treasure in heauen is by suffring constantly and patiently for Christ when thou art thereunto lawfully called and required and that two wayes First thou must suffer the word
of Christ which is the sword of the Spirit to hew and cut thy sinnes and bee content with patience to endure the sifting and fanning of the Gospell for except the dead and superfluous branches be cut off we can neuer bring forth fruit in Christ. Secondly wee must resolue to endure all outward crosses and losses for the euerlasting Truth of Christ for hee that will saise his life saith Christ shall loose it and he that will loose it for my sake and the Gospell shall saue it And if wee suffer with him saith S. Paul wee shall also raigne with him If wee belong to Christ wee must looke for tribulation and anguish and persecution and famine and nakednesse and perill and sword all which will try their force to see if they can seperate vs from the loue of Christ. Yea wee must looke for his sake to bee killed all the day long and to bee counted as sheepe for the slaughter But in all these things saith the holy Apostle wee are more then conquerours through him that loued us And therefore wee faint not but though our oâ—tward man perish yet th' inward man is renued daily For our light affliction which is but for a moment causeth vnto vs a farre more excellent waight of glory While wee looke not on the things which are seene but on the things which are not seene This point will bee scarce welcommed or well liked of nice and daintie professours of the Gospell which must neuer goe to Gods house but when the Sunne shineth the waies are faire and no Winde is stirring to blow vpon them and when they are there they must heare nothing but pleasing things their sinnes must not bee touched much lesse can they endure to haue the cutting knife of Gods law laid to the throat of their sinne And if all the world doth not applaud and commend their zeale and good deeds they soon are discouraged stand stone stil like the winde mill that goeth no longer then the winde bloweth no scoffe or reproach no persecution or trouble can they endure for the Truths sake what Treasure can these lay vp by their daintinesse in heauen The third way to lay vp Treasure in heauen is while thou liuest here vpon earth to grow in the powerfull and liuely knowledge of Christ crucified by a liuely apprehensiue faith to make thy selfe sure of all his benefits in comparison of whom thou oughtst with the blessed Apostle to esteeme all the world but drosse and dung Now to effect this we must consider the merite of Christ the vertue of Christ and the example of Christ and what benefit wee haue by euery one of them as that worthie man of God M. Perkins hath both learnedly heauenly declared the somme whereof I will breefly recall into thy minde Christ is to bee considered as the common Treasurie and store-house of Gods Church for God hath blessed vs with all spirituall blessings in Christ. Eph. 1. 4. And in him are all the Treasures of Knowledge Wisdome hidden Col. 2. 3. And of his fulnesseâ—wee all receiâ—e grace for grace Iohn 1. So that all the blessings of God without exception are conuayed vnto vs from the Father by Christ and so must they bee receiued and no otherwise But concerning the benefits of Christ wee are to learne further two things first what they are Secondly how or in what manner to vse them His benefits are three Merit Vertue and Example The Merit of Christ is the value of his death and passion whereby he hath obtained to vs Reconciliation And this Reconciliation hath two parts first Remission of sinnes Secondly acceptation to eternall life and both for the merit of Christ imputed This benefit must bee knowen not by conceipt nor carnal presumption but by the inward testimonie of gods Spirit To attaine to the infallible assurance of this benefite we must call to minde the promises of the Gospell touching remission of sins and the gift of eternall life to the Faithfull Secondly wee must endeuour by the assurance of Faith to apply them to our owne hearts And thirdly wee must vse often exercises of Inuocation and repentance for by our crying to God for reconciliation commeth the assuraunce thereof And if it so fall out that a man in temptation feele nothing but the furious wrath of God yet euen then against all reason and feeling hee must hold to the merit of Christ and know that God is a most louing father to them that haue a care to serue him euen at that instant when he sheweth himselfe a most fierce and terrible enimie which Iob knew right well when hee said If the Lord should kill mee yet I will trust in him From the benefite of Reconciliation proceede foure benefites First that excellent peace of God which passeth all Vnderstanding Phil. 4. And that hath sixe parts first peace with the Trinitie for being Iustified by Faith we haue peace with God Rom. 5. 1. Secondly Peace with Angles who do ascend and descend vpon the Sonne of man Iohn 1. 51. and all for the good of Gods Church For the Angels doe incampe about those that feare the Lord. Psal. 34. And like Nurses doe beare them in their armes Psal. 90. 12. that they hurt not their foot against a stone All this seruice which the Angels performe vnto the faithfull proceedes of this that the faithfull being in Christ are pertakers of his merit Thirdly peace with the Faithfull for the Wolfe shall dwell with the Lambe and the Leopard shall lye with the Kid and the Calfe and the Lyon and the fat beasts together and a little child shall lead them Esay 11. 6. Fourthly peace with a mans selfe and that is first when the Conscience washed in the bloud of Christ ceaseth to accuse a man secondly when the will and affections are obedient to the minde enlightened by the Word and Spirit of God and this is that which the Apostle meaneth when hee saith Let the peace of God rule in your hearts Col. 3. 15. Fiftly Peace with our enimies and that two wayes first in seeking Peace with all hurting none but doing good to all secondly in that God restraineth their mallice inclineth their hearts to peace Sixtly Peace with the Creatures Psal. 91. 13. Thou shalt walk vpon the Lyon and the Dragon c. And in that day saith the Lord I will make a coâ—enant for them with the wild Beasts and with the foules of the heauen with that that creepeth vpon the earth c. Hos. 2. 18 If therefore wee see God against vs our owne Conscience against vs the Angels against vs the Faithfull against vs the wicked against vs the Creatures against vs let vs examine this point of Reconciliation and if all bee with vs let vs know that it is the benefit of Christs merit The second benefit of Christs merite is