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
may be kept blamelesse vnto the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ S. Iames also biddeth all Christians Cleanse their hands and purge their hearts Yea euery page in holy writ is ful of such precepts though not such full precepts As Let your light shine before men Let not sin raigne in your mortall bodies Let your conuersation be such as becommeth the Gospell The Grace of God which bringeth saluation to all men hath appeared and teacheth vs to denye all vngodlinesse and worldly Lusts and to liue righteously godly and soberly in this present world Be yee holy in all manner of conuersation Yea what is true Repentance but the conuersion of the whole man from all sinne vnto GOD He felleth all his sinnes Such a sale holy Dauid made who had respect to all God's commandements restrained his feet from euery euill way and vtterly abhorred all false waies And Iosiah turned to the Lord with all his heart all his soule according to all the commandements of God And Zacharie and Elizabeth walked in all the commandements and ordinances of God without rebuke Zacheus hauing found the Pearl sold all his sinnes hee stood and said Lord the halfe of my goods I giue to the poore and if I haue taken anything from any man by false accusation I restore it foure-fold Marie who had beene a notorious and infamous sinner hauing found this Pearle shee sold all her sinnes both for delight and practise vtterly forsooke and detested her former sinful vnchast life her eies which had beene full of adultery became as riuers of teares to wash Christs feete her haire which doubtless had beene plaited and laide abroad an entisement to sin was made a to well to wipe his feete her face which had beene impudent was filled with shamefastnesse and modesty she came behinde Christ The poore Theefe finding this Pearl on the Crosse how did he sell all What a change was there wrought that little time he had to liue how well and godly did hee spend it in rebukes confessions and praiers The Iaylor who doubtlesse had beene the instrument of cruelty in punishing the Apostles hauing found this Pearle hee sold all his sinnes brought them forth of prison washed their stripes set meat before them and reioyced that hee his houshould beleeued in God Yea such as had vsed curious arts finding this pearl sold all their sins and in detestation thereof burnt their bookes though worth fifty thousand peeces of siluer Oh these were Merchants and made an happie market indeede Yea true repentance worketh such shame and confusion such zeale indignation and reuenge such beating on the breast with the Publican such smiting on the thigh with the Prophet such a change that their old companions take notice thereof that they will no longer run into the same excesse of riot with them But no maruell for they haue sold all their sinnes are become new Creatures So must all doe that will buy the Pearle But now alas how fearefull will the condition of many bee found if we make application Many seek for this goodly Pearl seeme very desirous to haue it commend it and the sellers of it but will not sell all they haue They come to the Church heare the word diligently respect the Ministers of the Gospel reuerently cheapen faire and stand at offer and proffer but they would haue the Pearle and their sinnes too they will by no meanes bee drawne to sell all them If you doe remember there were foure things laid downe in the Doctrine First they doe sell Secondly all sinnes Thirdly in regard of inward delight and outward practise Fourthly for euer Against which foure sorts of Chapmen doe offend who if they reforme not shall neuer enioy the Pearle First are such as leaue one sin and take vp another and commonly that they take is worse then that they left so some leaue prodigality and become couetous luke-warme Protestants become Idolatrous Papists some superstitious become prophain and many Atheists turne Heretikes In a word a great many thinke they haue made a faire market when they consider what they haue beene but neuer consider what they are what they haue lost but not what they haue taken vp wheras in truth they haue only made an exchang and that for the worse whereas my Text saith They must sell and deliuer seison Another sort there is that would sell some yea many but not all their sinnes such a Chapman was Herod hee did many things but not all his heart was still on Herodias he had not gone so far as Dauid to haue respect to all Gods commandements Thou shalt not commit adultery was cast behind his backe hee could not abide to heare of that the young man such another hee offer'd faire left but one thing but would not part with that but fell off and mist the happie bargaine Alas this is the wofull condition of many they will part with some sinnes yea not sticke to part with many but retaine some one singular and beloued sinne they will pare fingers and toes to the quicke yea launce some part till the blood gush out but the right eie will not out the right hand will not off Such Customers the Deuill liketh well enough he careth not how many sins we part with so hee hold vs fast but by one hee knoweth well that one raigning sinne ouerthroweth all religion One would thinke it but a smal sinne the sinne of the tongue yet S. Iames saith If any man seeme religious and refraine not his tongue this mans religion is vaine Oh remember this Text hee that will haue this Pearle must make a full sale of all To retaine a part is not to sell but with Ananias to dissemble He that keepeth sinne in any part looseth Grace in whole To loath some sinne and loue other is but halting One Colloquintida spilt the whole messe of pottage Is not a ship suncke by one leake a besiedged Citie lost by one breach a bird caught in the snare by one foot as well as the whole body a man killed by one disease Hee is no good Chapman in God's shop that doth not with Dauid Vtterly abhorre all false waies yea those especially wherein hee hath sometime walked with greatest delight Oh let vs remember the Preface which Moses setteth before the Law God spake All these words and saide Hee spake not the first and second no nor all the commandements of the first Table onely and there left but he spake All gaue as great a charge to keep euery one as any one And S. Iames saith He that breaketh one is guiltie of all He that wittingly and willingly transgresseth any one will if occasion serue breake euery one wee see that in Herod though he did many things yet he made no
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