to rob thee of it But if thou bearest a faire face makest profession of much loue to the Gospell in times of peace and so long as it may stand with thine honor and wealth but God knoweth thou mindest earthly things thou louest this world if times of tryall should come thou wilt shew thy selfe to be but an Huckster a Broker a Mounte banke and Quack-saluer Oh then see there bee truth and sincerity in the heart reunite your languishing drooping and dying zeal to the Gospell let your neuer contenting preferments your neuer satisfying pleasures your neuer filling profits your momentany and euer dying liues bee esteemed as dung in comparison of the euerlasting truth of God for the saluation of your soules Oh that men knew how inualuable the truth of God is one iot thereof more worth then heauen earth Oh that men knew how happie they are that haue it and how rich though neuer so poore in the world Reuel 2.9 Happie is the man that findeth wisdome and getteth vnderstanding Prou. 3.13 And how poore and miserable wretched they are that want it though knowing no end of their worldly wealth and so decked with Pearles that they glister like the Sunne and dazle mens eies to looke vpon them Oh that yee knew this acceptable time and that God may offer this Pearle to others Oh then would you become franke Chapmen and sell all yee haue to buy it And will you not doe so before Market be done and Shop-windowes shut vp Looke vpon the Idolater he is a franke Chapman he will not sticke to sell all hee hath to satisfie his fleshly minde for so S. Paul saith Idolatrie is a worke of the flesh When the ChildreÌ„ of Israel were so earnest with Aaron to make them a God to coole their desire and preuent it as some of the Fathers construe it hee bad them bring not ordinary gold in wedge or coyne but Rings yea their golden Eare-rings that were in the eares of their wiues and children but did they stick at that No saith the Text They did breake them off and bring them An Idolater thinketh nothing too deare for his Idol Looke vpon the Epicure he will spend all hee hath for his belly Look vpon the proud person he or shee will spend all they haue for their backes to bee clothed gorgeously and phantastically These are frank chapmen indeed and neuer sticke at the price What shall the Idolater sell all he hath for his Diuells dunghill gods as the Scriptures disgracefully call Idols Shall the Epicure sell all he hath for the fat and sweat to sacrifice to his belly his god which remaineth there but a while and is purged into the draught Shall the proud person sell all hee hath for glorious colours lost sometimes with shining of the Sunne or a shower of raine or for fine apparell which vsed is quickly worne to rags or layde vp is eaten of Moths and shall we pinch to sell all wee haue to buy the truth of God for the eternall saluation of our soules Shall prodigall sinners for vanity errour falshood sell themselues their states bodyes soules and all and vvee pinch at the least price for the eternall verity of God God forbid then most vnhappie we that euer it vvas offred vnto vs. Oh England novv this pearle is offred vnto thee take heed thou foreslowest not the Market it is more worth then mountaines of Indian gold if God in iustice take it away if euery showre of raine were a shower of gold and euery stone in the Land as precious as the Rubie Margarite Topaz or Carbuncle or any other by Gods appointment set in the high Priests Brest-plate thou wilt be poore beggerly herein lyeth thy true wealth for which thou art so renowned through the Christian heathen world Oh buy this Pearle and weare it vveare it in thine eare heare the Word diligently and reuerently vveare it in thy forehead be zealous in the profession of the truth weare it in thy bosom sincerely beleeue and loue the truth weare it on thy fingers obey and practise it in life and conuersation be thou a righteous Nation keeping the truth and the GOD of truth will keep thee AMEN FINIS a Rom. 12.10 b Prou. 3.15 Genus mulierum natura ornamentorum amans et 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Poâ—n in Iob. 5.24 c 2 Cor. 5.20 d Ioh. 1.12 e Act. 17.11 f 2 Cor. 6.8 g Rom. 8 2â— h Reu. 19.8 i Reu. 2.17 k Ezech. 16.11 12. l Mat. 25.34 m 1 Pet. 5.4 n Reu. 3.17 “ Numquid in honore sine dolore Bern. dâ— quinque negot Coll. 1718. o Heb. 11.24 * Vâ—rtutis premium Arist Ethic. 4. Aquin. 2.2 quest 129. aâ— 4 p Tit. 1.15 C hubod Heb. Honorare onerare Quae hic honorant ibi onerant August Epist 2â—3 Col. 829. q 2 Pet. 3. vlt. * Virtus paucorum paucorum inquam presertim Nobilium Barn Epist 113 r 2 Cor. 11.2 s 2 Pet. 1.13 t 2 Tim. 1.6 u Eph. 6. vlt. Aug. 28. 1623. on 1. Cor. 22. My L. Meluin Coloss 4.7 O. Hall to the Court at Theâ—balds on â—unday Sept. â—â— 16â—3 b Gal. 2.9 c 2 Cor. 6.1 d Luk. 12.21 e 2 Tim. 3.15 * Aduersis vultibus et coniunctis caudis D King Serm. aâ— White-Hall Nouemb. 5. 1608. p. 11. f Exod. 25.20 g Prou. 23.23 h Mat. 12.42 i Mar. 4.34 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Parabola Heb. Mashal aâ—â—adice Mashul regere cum imperio Buxtorf Plus mouent figurate dicta Aug. Epist 119 ad lanuar “ Nitet in cortice dulcior in medull Iâ—ron Paulin. k Philip. 3.8 “ Sacra velamina Dion Areopag Myster * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iakar Heb. l Psal 119.72 m Pro. 3.15 n Mat. 16.17 o Mat. 11.25 p Act. 8.31 q 2 Cor. 6.7 r Ioh. 5.39 s Prou. 2.4 Diuision Non minor est virtus quam quaerere Subdiuision The difference betwixt heauenly earthly purchases t Luk. 14.2 v Mat. 19.22 w Mat. 19. penult Mat. 10.30 Conclusion the Preface First part x 1 Tim. 4.8 y 1 Cor. 3. penult 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vendidit * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—â—nuiâ— quae habuit Doct. Illustration 1. himselfe Confirmation z Mat. 16.24 a 1 Cor. 3.18.19 b Rom. 8.7 c 2 Cor. 10.5 Good Examples d Gen. 12.1 e Gen. 17.17 f Rom. 4.17 g Rom. 4 19. h Gen. 2â— 3 Heb. â—1 19 i Rom. 4.3 Euill Examples k Ioh. 20.29 l 2 Cor. 5.7 m 1 Cor. 1.22 n Act. 17.18.32 Aggrauation o Luk. 17.10 Good Example p Phil. 3.8 q Gal. 2.20 r Phil. 1.21 Euill examples s Rom. 10.3 2. His sinnes t Heb. 12.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 v Mat. 18.8 w 2 Cor. 6.24 Obiection Solu Sense Doct. Confirmaâ— x Deut. y Rom. 1 z 1 Ioh. 3 a Cor. 6. vlt. b Cor. 7.1 c Thes 5.23 d â—â—m 4.8 e â—at 5.16 f â—om 6.12 g â—hilip â— 27 h Tit. 2.1 i 1 Pet. 1. Example k Psal 119 l Psal 119.104 m 2 King 25. n Lu. 1.6 o Luk. 19.8 p Luk. 7. q Luk. 23. r Act. 16 s â—ct 19.19 t Dan. 9 7. r Cor. 7.11 w Luk 18.13 x â—erom 1.19 y Pet. 4.4 z Cor. 5.17 â—â—plication Examination Sorte â— Sort. a Mar. 6. 2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 b Psal 119. â— c Psal 50. â— d Luk. 3.15 e Mat. 19. Applicatio f Mat. 5.29 g Iam. 1. penul Vse â—xhortation h Act. 5.3 i 2 King 4. k Iames 2.10 l Mat. 11.11 3 Sort. m Psal 66.18 Obiect Prou. 20. Solution o Ioh. 8.34 p Rom. 7. nult 4 Sort. q Gen. 19. â—â— s 2. Tim. 4.10 t 2 Pet. 2.20 All his subâ—â—â—nce Examples u Heb. 1â— w Heb. 11.37 〈◊〉 2.45 x Act. 20 y Act. 21. z Heb 〈…〉 Applicatioâ— a â—â—a 55.1 b Gen. 22. Examinatioâ— Exhortation Argumentâ— â—rouocation c Gal. 5.20 Difficilia pre cepil vt isto modo ab illa intentione reuocaret Aug quaest 141. â— Exod. d Exod. 32. e Leuit. 17.7 2 Cron. 11.15 Ezech. 22.3 g Philip. 3.19 h Mat. 15.17 Conclusion i Exod. 28.17 Esay 26.2
attention and effectuall to moue deuotion A rich Parable rich in the historie but richer in the mistery It proponeth a Pearle of great price for purchase wherof all must be sold but it supponeth a Iewell of inestimable pryce in comparison whereof S. Paul esteemed all goodly things to bee but drosse and dung Parables are truely called sacred vailes giue me leaue to draw away the vaile and let you looke into the holiest of all This Pearle is the Truth in Hebrew Margerah in the Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Vnio for there is but one truth in the world and this Pearle is called a goodly Pearle a faire Margarite For euen the naked truth of God without welt or guard or any entising words of mans wisdome is most louely and beautifull yea it is a Pearle of great price Dauid esteemes it dearer then thousands of gold and siluer so did Salomon esteeme it all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared vnto it This goodly precious pearle is hid hid from the wisdome and search of flesh and blood CHRIST told Peter when he had found it Flesh and blood hath not reuealed this vnto thee And againe I thanke thee Lord of heauen and earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast reuealed them to babes Yea so hid as there is no finding it without a guid the Eunuch knew he was in the field where the Pearle was wanted not for paines taking yet Philip asking him if hee had found it he answered How can I without a guide And there is but one Field in all the world wherin this Pearle is hid viz. the Word of God which is therefore called the Word of Truth which precious Pearle is hid so deepe in the field of the sacred Scripture that there is no finding of it without much search and diging therefore Christ biddeth vs Search the Scriptures And Solomon biddeth Seeke for wisdome as for siluer and search for her as for hidden treasure but as the wise Merchant that after great search findeth a precious Pearle hid in a field will sell all hee hath to purchase that field pearle in it so a wise Christian by great study and meditation hearing reading and praying hauing found in the field of holy Scriptures the hidden wisdome of God for the saluation of man by IESVS CHRIST it is a knowledge so sweet and deare vnto him as hee will easily part with all earthly things that he may enioy the blessing of the Word and thereby encrease in the sauing knowledge of GOD's Truth So much for the mistery The parts of this Parable are two viz. First the finding of this Pearle Secondly the procuring of it that it may be his owne that findeth it I purpose by GOD's grace to handle the second part it being to no purpose to find it vnlesse wee make it our owne that we may be enriched by it The manner how to compasse it our Sauiour expresseth figuratiuely by a bargain in which bargaine there are two things done First Selling. And secondly Buying He sold all that he had and bought it In this world Kings Princes and great rich men are able to buy goodly precious Pearles and not sell any thing the ouerplus of their great reuenues will compasse them but in the spirituall bargaine for this Pearle there is no buying of it but we must first sell it is sometimes so deare as the richest man must in action sell all and it is neuer cheaper but he that will haue it must in affection sell all that he hath for it CHRIST our Master hath himselfe in writing set the price and we his Seruants cannot a bate an haire If any man come to me and hate not his father and his mother and wife and children and brethren and sisters yea and his owne life also he cannot be my Disciple A great price I confesse yet lest any should either stick at it goe away shucking the shoulders as the rich man that went away sorrowfull for hee had great possessions or repent of their bargaine Christ hath assured of all purchases it is the best bargaine and the onely way to bee rich Euery one that hath forsaken houses or brethren or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for my names sake and the Gospels he shall receiue an hundred-fold now in this time and in the world to come eternal life Oh suffer me then to prouoke you in this dead time wherein though truth was neuer cheaper it is generally thought to be too deare amongst many cheapners but few buyers GOD's seruants haue but cold takings it is much to bee feared if the market mend not Christ will shut vp his shop-windows and offer his Pearle to such as will more esteem of it Oh buy the truth whilst you may buy it lest it prooue so scanty and deare that it cannot be had at any rate And that you may buy first sell that is the thing I purpose to presse at this time In Parables the letter hath the least part if other haue any this passage needeth none I neede not prouoke men to sell that they haue too many haue done so in these late and deare yeares to buy bread for them their families others in this prodigall and luxurious age sell more then they haue both present and reuersion inheritance and offices and run in debt to buy wine drinke Tobacco spend vpon their lusts we had need to read lectures of good husbandrie to such and pray them to keepe that which they haue let nothing be lost lest they pinch with the Prodigall in the end to sell all is the high-way to misery This sale is to enable a man to buy CHRIST yea and heauen it selfe good husbands may thus sell yea thus to sell is the way to bee rich this is godliness which hath the promise of this life and of that which is to come all good things of this life are in God's will and Testament entituled to such Prodigals Hee that will sell all for Christ shall enioy all with Christ Marke then the words This wise-man proposed for patterne doth not lay vp or lend or morgage retayning propriety but doth Sell not superfluities and such things as he can spare or hath no present vse of but All that hee hath The words being opened hence we learne that whosoeuer will attaine to the sauing knowledge of Christ him crucified must euer part with all hee hath For the Illustration wherof let it be noted that euery godly Christian must sel these three things First himselfe Secondly his sinne Thirdly his substance Hee that maketh this sale selleth all and is able to buy the Pearle For the first Hee must sell himselfe What to become a Bond-slaue No
no but his owne natural wisdome reason will affections desires yea confidence in his owne righteousnesse This CHRIST expresseth saying He that will be my Disciple let him denie himselfe And S. Paul If anie man seeme to be wise in this world let him become a foole that he may be wise for the wisdome of this world is foolishnesse with God Yea the carnall mind is enmity against GOD it is not subiect to the Law of GOD neither indeede can bee euery imagination and high thing that exalteth it selfe against the knowledge of GOD must be cast downe euery thought brought into captiuity to the obedience of Christ and then appeareth Faith which bringeth forth most excellent obedience though most ridiculous in the eies of the worldly wise Thus Abraham being called of God out of Caldeah hauing sold himselfe hee followed God he knew not whither Againe when the Lord promised him a Son by Sarah his wife it was much against his naturall reason hee being an hundred yeares old and Sarah ninety but Abraham had sold himselfe and therefore neither considered his owne body nor Sarah's wombe which were both as dead but gaue glory to God being fully perswaded that what the Lord had promised he was also able to perform when also the Lord commanded him to take his beloued and onely Sonne Isaac and sacrifice him how contrary was that to his naturall reason and affection for a Father to lay violent hāds on his son and neither spare him liuing nor dead till hee was burned into ashes Yea what a shake was this to his Faith that hee should kill him in whom he had receiued the promise that hee and his should be blessed But hauing sold himselfe hee rose vp early to doe it for he knew that GOD was able to raise him vp from the dead wherefore being thus prepared he made an happy market he beleeued it was imputed to him for righteousnesse he became the friēd of God father of all thē that beleeue But the Philosophers are no good Chapmen for whereas Christ hath pronounced Blessed are they that see not and beleeue And S. Paul saith We liue by faith not by fight They seek after wisdom and will beleeue no more thē they can see or comprehēd by reason therefore the misteries of the Gospel are foolish ridiculous vnto thē when S. Paul offered this Pearl to the wise Philosophers at Athens preaching Christ and his resurrection they called him babler and mocked him neither are the Philosophying Schoolmen good Chapmen because they haue not sold themselues but turn Theology into witty questions and bring the hidden Mysteries of God within the compasse of reason by their subtle quiddities and distinctions Yea we must not onely sell our naturall and vnregenerate wills and reason but also all confidence in our own works and righteousnesse so our Sauiour hath taught vs when we haue done all wee can to say Wee are vnprofitable Seruants thus S. Paul became a blessed Merchant who hauing so much to be proud of and to glory in and concerning the righteousnesse of the Law being vnrebukeable yet for this Pearl's sake euen the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Iesus he accounted it losse and dung therfore made a good market saying I liue by faith in the Sonne of God who hath loued mee and giuen himselfe for me And againe To me to liue is Christ and to dye is gaine But the Iewes are no Chapmen for this market for they going about to establish their owne righteousnesse haue not submitted themselues to the righteousnes of GOD in which condition were the Pharises and are the Papists who trusting in the merit of their owne Workes and going about to establish their owne inherent home-made righteousnesse cannot submit themselues to the righteousnesse of God no welcome Chapmen to God's shop but such as are humble poore and beggerly that haue sold themselues their reason and righteousnesse workes and wisdome and doe altogether hunger thirst after reioyce and glory in Christ and saluation by him Secondly he that will buy the truth must sell and sell all his sinnes whereas there are many poore and simple people in the world that haue but a small share either in the gifts of nature or good things of fortune all men are exceedingly fraught with sinne nothing may more properly be called a mans owne then his sin a man would thinke he might wel call such lands and inheritance his owne as hee can shew good euidence for and is come vnto him by diuers descents and he hath legal writings to shew for it made in such and such a kings raigne hundreds of yeares agoe But no man can shew such euidence for his lands as a man may for his sins The one can hardly goe so far as William the Conqueror not much aboue 500. yeares but the other hath his sin by inheritance from Adam almost 5550 years since Thirdly there is nothing doth more beset a man or cleaue more fast to a man or man can hardly be drawne to leaue then his sinne the leauing of some sins is as the pulling out of the right eye the cutting off of the right hand But righteousnesse vnrighteousnesse cannot dwell together there is no remedy hee shall neuer haue the Pearle doth not first sell all his sins Alas who can doe so Are we not all sinners Was there euer any so righteous on earth as sinned not I answer It is one thing to haue sin dwelling another to haue it raigning in vs this is meant of raigning sinnes according to which sence I will lay downe the doctrine in plaine tearmes and prooue it for in this the very life of religion and power of godlines doth consist Whosoeuer will enioy the sauing truth with the comforts benefits of the Gospell must haue no raigning sin but for euer renounce and forsake both inward delight and outward practise of euery knowne sinne Oh this is a hard taske and as it keepeth a great many from market so others that seeme faire Chapmen either to goe away offended or deceiue themselues with cunning trickes and shifts Verie few but faile in one point or other of this lesson but let vs hearken to God's owne precept Thou shalt loue the Lord thy God with all thy soule strength and might Hee that doth so cannot loue any sin for the loue of God is the fulfilling of the law whereof sin is the transgression S. Paul biddeth all Christians to glorifie God in their souls and in their bodies to clense themselues from all filthinesse of the flesh and of the spirit And what hee commandeth hee elsewhere praieth for The very God of peace sanctifie you throughout and I pray God that your soule and spirit and body
conscience to breake the seauenth command he hauing occasion made no conscience of the third but sware to a wanton Dancer to giue what shee should aske though to the halfe of his kingdome yea made no conscience of the sixt command but most cruelly for his faithfull dealing persecuted to the death Iohn the Baptist A greater then whom was not borne of women so dangerous a thing it is to liue in any knowne sinne though a man part with neuer so many yet that one remayning sinne will as occasion serueth bring all the rest againe wherfore be sure ye make a thorough sale sell all your sins be faithfull with Moses and leaue not an hoofe behinde Exodus 10.26 A third sort of Chapmen there are that sell and all in regard of outward and customable practise in the meane time there is a secret inward pleasure and delight oh there is still a good wil borne to such and such a sin if ability time and occasions did serue the heart wil not seale and confirme the bargaine and sale but doth rather grudge at it and seeke to picke holes in the euidence but such as will buy the Pearle must be sure the heart sell all for if lust and delight raign in the heart the sale is nought as Dauid saith If I regard iniquitie in my heart God will not heare mee Oh Lord will some say Who can make such a sale Who can say Mine heart is cleane I answer That as the sale of all sinne doth not import a not sinning at all for if none but such then none should buy the Pearle but not an habituall customable sinning which the Scriptures call A committing of sinne so neither doth this cleansing of the heart imports an vtter freedom from sinfull lusts motions and desires but a dislyking resisting and bewailing of them with the Apostle Oh wretched man that I am So that if thy soule and conscience can truely witnesse there is nothing more grieuous irkesome and displeasing vnto thee then the corruptions of thine heart which as they doe appeare thou dost checke snub and suppresse the sale is good and thou shalt haue the Pearle A fourth and last sort there are who sell all both for outward practise and inward delight but not for euer like Lot's wife they looke backe againe with Demas they returne to the world againe and hauing once escaped the filthinesse of the world yet come to be entangled againe and are like the Dog returning to his vomite and the washen Sowe to wallowing in the mire againe the consideration whereof maketh good what I said before that of many Chapmen few buy this Pearle because few make a perfect All of their sinnes for such an one selleth All both for outward practise and inward delight for euer and yet the bargaine is not made there is a further sale yet to be made viz. He that will buy this Pearle must sell all his substance and all his worldly goods and temporall estate he hath here Sometimes this Pearle is so deare as it will cost all that a man hath his houses lands goods honour peace libertie and life as in the daies of the persecuting Emperors and Princes when goods libertie and all were confiscated and they cried Christianos ad Leones So truth was deare in this Land in the daies of Queene Marie there was a great famine in her daies of corne and they were glad to make breade of Oke cornes saith the History but the word of God was dearer and the Pearle of truth more precious so as many holy Martyrs sold all they had to buy it Such good chapmen were the Christ an Hebrews who suffered with ioy the spoile of their goods and those of whom the same Apostle also speaketh who for the Gospel and a good conscience were tryed with cruell mockings and scornings bonds and imprisonment they were stoned and sawen asunder tempted and slaine with the sword wandred about in Sheepe-skinnes and Goat-skins being destitute afflicted and tormented they wandred in deserts and mountaines in dens c. And such chapmen were the beleuers in the primitiue Church who sold their possessions and goods and pauned them to all men as they had neede Such a Chapman was S. Paul who professed he was not moued to know that bonds and afflictions did abide him yea he did not count his life deare that he might finish his course vvith ioy And thus rebuked such as vvith teares besought him not to goe vp to Ierusalem What mean you to weepe and to breake mine heart for I am readie not to bee bound onely but also to dye at Ierusalem for the name of the Lord Iesus Such a franke Chapman was Moses who refused to bee called the sonne of Pharaoh's Daughter and chose rather to suffer afflictions with the people of God then to enioy the pleasures of sin for a season Thus you see the Pearle hath bin and may bee so deare that a man must indeed sel all that he hath in this world to buy it But blessed be God in these happie daies this Pearle is cheap wee may buy it at an easie rate now if euer wee may say with the Prophet Come buy without money Come take paines to fetch it and haue it you neede not sell all nor any thing you haue for it but keepe it and all you haue yea many by this Pearle haue beene enriched and made happie in the world many a man preferred to great dignity honour office authority wealth in Church Common-wealth for his profession of Religion and godlinesse Oh happy time But let me tell you this Pearle neuer was is nor shall be cheaper but he that will buy it must in his affection sell all that euer he hath And God accepteth of affection for action as God accepted the full purpose and resolution of Abraham to sacrifice his Sonne as if he had done it Oh examine your soules what is it you doe chiefly minde Are your praires that in your beds by night powred out vnto God with sighs and teares when no eye seeth no eare heareth you for the preseruation of the Gospell and truth of God to you and yours Doe you esteeme it as the greatest blessing in this world and so as in comparison of it you esteeme the whole world with all the pleasures profits honor and happinesse thereof as most vile base and contemptible and those many good things which with it you enioy and they are deare vnto you yet for it you would â—ate and become prodigall of Or at least art thou grieued and sorrie in thy soule that thou discernest weakenesse and fearefulnesse and want of such resolution and dost thou vnfainedly pray to God to giue thee such loue zeale and courage Oh then bee of good comfort thou hast made a good market thou hast gotten the Pearle and the Deuill shall not bee able