wealth honour and riches poor f Turcicum imperium quantuÌ„ quantum est mica tantum est Luth. crums or if you conceit it great morsels gobs and cantels upon the men of this world Gods great house now turned into a prison and appoints them ordinary relief out of the common basket of his bountifull providence which might lead them to repentance or will leave them without excuse and all this he doth for his Spouse the Church of the elect for whose sake he ordereth all men in the world or these common prisoners to be serviceable to her whom himself serves in not only with grace but with all outward mercifull supplies how mean or course soever in the great silver Charger of the Covenant as a Brother * M Tho. Case his Model of Thankfulnes in a Ser. before the Parl. upon Psa 107. 30 31 expresseth it Now who may not discerne a vast difference between the New-gate prisoners common basket and the Princes silverplates and chargers and who that will not shut his eyes seeth it not one thing to be reprieved and spared under the dominion of God's and Christ's power which is all the Serpents seed are capable of and another thing to be redeemed and bought out of the hands of sin and Satan into the Kingdome of Christs grace and glory yea and to have all things here come in by purchase and promise one thing for God to be the Saviour of all men or preserver of man and beast in the waies of his generall providence as Psal 36. 6. Another thing for God in Christ to provide for believers and his chosen ones from speciall purchase to serve them in with all things out of speciall love and to convey all unto them by a speciall promise 1 Tim. 4. 10. 6. Although this reprieve of the wicked is for the elects Demon. 6. sake and for Christs sake yet it follows not that it is by purchase for all that is for Christ and for the elect is not by purchase as to instance the creation of the world was for Christs sake All things were created by him and for him Col. 1. 16. yet he purchased not that creation The elect Angels are for him and he makes use of them for the good of elect men yet he purchaseth them not And the Reprobate Angels the devils are serviceable in the Kingdom of his power for the good of his Church to afflict and try them yet are they farre from being purchased so God can shew many drops of mercy to further on his Sons designes in a common way of providence and yet not put his Son to shed one drop of bloud for a reprobate mans preservation or livelihood that drop would make it too pure and shiere mercy which no serpentine seed tasts of but hath a cup of wrath and justice with every drop of mercy Lastly which may serve for our last demonstration and Last Demonstration and Answer last answer also to the grand Objection As Christs Kingdom of power and grace must not be confounded so his Redemption by price and his Redemption by power may not be separated They are only bought for whom the price is laid down 1 Cor. 7. 23. Ye are bought with a price who are there distinguished from men as men for whom the price is not so much as tendered but they who are bought with a price are h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Col. 1. 13. brought out by a strong hand from the power of darknesse and are translated into the kingdom of love and of the Sonne of Gods love yea and the creature shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the sonnes of God Rom. 8. 21. As it shall be the glorious liberty of the sonnes of God to give homage and service of praise to God and their Father Redeemer and Sanctifier for ever So it shall be the glorious liberty of the creature to minister matter of praise to the elect who shall improve the creature to its full and perfect use and raise it up to its honour and dignity for which it was made to be instrumentally helpfull to mans praising and glorifying of his Creatour as the nurse i Wâ—llet upon Rom. 8. qu. 34. out of Chryso to a Kings sonne and heit-apparant to the Crown when the Prince comes to his fathers Kingdom the is made partaker of some choice preferment with the Prince she nursed But what is this to Christs purchase of the world for the men of the world or of all men in the world for worldly enjoyments When as 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the creature it self Rom. 8. 21. or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 every creature ver 23. or totus mundus conditus as Beza the whole substantiall structure and frame of the heaven and the earth is not there to be understood of every individuum or singular of every kinde nay 't is disputable whether every species shall be restored and continued And 2. not one individuall-non-elected man woman or childe hath any part of spirituall liberty here which they had if they were under the liberty of Christs purchase nor shall have any share in the glorious liberty of the sonnes of God and of the creature hereafter but as they are now in the common prison of this great house the habitable earth so they shall be all shut up in the close prison of hell their souls at death till the day of generall judgement and their bodies with their souls after that great day for ever and ever No ground can I finde for asserting that Christ hath purchased heaven or earth or any saving or any temporall benefit at all for any of the sonnes of men whose bodies and souls are not purchased as the elect-sonnes and daughters of God All is theirs not the menâ— of this world whether things present or things to come by purchase by promise by firm title and everlasting possession in Christ or all in all while here and in God our all in all in heaven for ever Object If any offer to object yet further The world 1 Cor. 3. 22. is the Saints and wicked men are a part of the world and so a part of Christs purchase as the chaff is purchased with the wheat for the wheats sake which when the wheat is severed from it is burnt up and cast into the fire I shall offer this Answ 1. Mans similitudes prove not a truth of God but illustrate onely and Gods similitudes Christs Parables as those of our Text or that of wheat and chaffe Math. 3. 12. have no such scope and they prove nothing beyond their scope 2. There is no Basis by any firm proposition of the Word to build such an illustration upon for all the world and even wicked men may be the Saints for use and benefit and yet they are not purchased but the benefit by them As death 1 Cor. 3. 22. is said to be the Saints i. e. at their
the field of precious promises 't is not so easily recovered again when but left or decaied Why should not our loves and esteems be more now then at first seeing more of Christs worth and and sufficiency is discovered daily And yet thou nor I did ever hear or know of half his worth which is further to be revealed Get we therefore more high and capacious apprehensions of his excellency and hide we him in our bosome with dearer affections then ever he is worthy of all our love of all our estimations and highest value we can prize him at he is above all we can love or beleeve or esteem or thinke of him Get we an estimation of him and affection to him beyond expression that still there may be more hidden in our hearts then can be uttered by our tongues or published by our pens 5. Having found Christ hold him fast hide him in your purposes yet more closely and strongly it was Barnabas exhortation e Act. 1â— 23. and it shall be mine that you would all with purpose of heart cleave unto the Lord. Christ knows from the beginning who have who have not beleeved who sticketh to him who departeth from him by an evil heart of unbelief an heart that purposeth not to live and die beleeving beware of it it is the first step of Apostacy be not fickle for fits and moods of beleeving let but there be the hidden frame of beleeving set and resolved to keep the heart close to Christ and Christ close to the heart daily hourly constantly Lay him and the promises up in the heart for use for a treasure of such worth a pearl of such price is much more worthy and precious to the soul as it is used and improved for it's spirituall advantage It followeth And for joy thereof c. These words have a two-fold connexion and dependance on the words before When he had found and on those that follow goeth and selleth c. From the first connexion ariseth our 5. Observation Every true beleever hath some joy yea Doct. 5 the conceptions of great joy in the finding of the Lord Jesus A beleever is a joyfull man Christ What man ever found a treasure and hid it for himself and as his own and joyed not at the very thoughts of it Beleeving thoughts are joyous thoughts and acts of beleeving bring in habits of joy or joyfull impressions at least till they break forth in gladsome expressions There be instances not a few to clear this truth When Christ hath prevented Zacheus and Zacheus at that instant is called effectually to beleeve in the Lord He receiveth Christ joyfully saith the Text f Luk. 19. 6. both into his heart and into his house The converts at Peters Sermon g Act. 2. 41. gladly receive the Word of salvation and of the promise to them and theirs A treasure a pearl in the field of the promise for them and their children this they rejoyced in and this doe beleevers that have right evangelicall apprehensions in our daies rejoyce in also When this Treasure is discovered to the people of Samaria h Act. 8. 8. 12 and many beleeved what Philip preached of the Kingdome of God and the name of Iesus Christ there was great joy in that City so was there in the Jailours heart and house i Act 16. 31 34 The Apostle Paul tels the Philippians for his part and Timothies k Phil. 3. 3. whom he joyns with himself in the inscription of the Epistle cap. 1. 1. We rejoyce in Iesus Christ and he speaks in the name of all beleevers if not there I am sure in his Epistle to the Romans l Rom 5. 11. We joy in God reconciled through our Lord Iesus Christ Saint Peter also tels the Christians he writes to that beleeving they doe rejoyce in Christ with joy unspeakable and full of glory Reason 1 1. It is an unspeakable and glorious treasure that is found by every true beleever the very sight of it by faith cannot but ravish the heart and might were it narrowly viewed transport it into an extasie of joy 't is no common favour nor ordinary but rare and extraordinary to finde a treasure hid in a field And as for this treasure few there be that finde it As there is no other pearl of pearls but Jesus Christ so none but elect vessels of mercy doe finde him contain or hold him Well may every such soul rejoyce He that findes a treasure out of which he hath sufficient to pay all his debts and to stock him for trading with the beâ—t of merchants and merchandize may well rejoyce and rejoyce again The Christian here a bankrupt before he findes this Pearl this Treasure he findeth that in Christ his righteousnesse which satisfies Gods justice and justifies his person dischargeth him of all debts and trespasses and that in Christs spirituall graces which affords him a sufficient stock to be trading with heaven and to fit him for commerce and communion with Saints and with the King of Saints in earth and heaven Hath not he cause to be glad who findes a pearl that affords a rich dowry for the soul and prefers him to a marriage with the King of heaven That which brings him into sonship presently to God and heirship to a Kingdome and which gives him title to the crown of heaven and stores him with money to maintain warres against the spirituall enemies of his soul sinne world Satan Antichrist who would deprive him of his inheritance and take away his Crown Title and Dignity over whom the Christian combitant is made more then Conquerour through him that loved us 2. As the worth so the propriety which comes by finding of it joyes the heart a man may finde that which he must go cry in the market-place and part with it when the right owner is found out which brings but little recompence and comfort to the finder But here is a treasure who so findes it hath it for the finding Who so findeth me findeth life saith the wisdome of God m Prov. 8. 35. He that beleeveth in me saith Christ n Joh 6. 47. hath everlasting life He that hath the Sonne saith the holy Ghost in Iohn o 1 Joh. 5. 12. hath life He hath it for his own for his use for his comfort for his rejoycing Ioy cannot but rise out of faith which instrumentally doth bring home all Gospel-treasure to the soul therefore called the joy of faith p Phil. 1. 25. being the proper right-bred childe of faith conceived and brought forth by faith nursed and maintained by faith till faith ends in vision and hope in fruition of what is found 3. The beleever hath hope or certain expectation of the sure and full possession and of the pleasure that he shall have in such a purchase and possession and in hope of all this and of the glory of God he doth and will rejoyce Men of great and
recompence all their diligence with full assurance of hope unto the end Heb. 6. 11. The Heathen could say That the gods sold all for sweat and we can say most truly of our God That when a Christian sweats in self-denial mortification sufferings c. he shall have from him as sure as he is just and faithfull what he sweats for 3. God is able to put a soul into possession and that everlastingly of what it laies out pains and diligence for Ioh. 10. 28 29 30. Christs and his Fathers power is united for the assurance of life to his sheep and for their preservation unto life Use 1 Aword of confutation Hence we inferre the certainty of salvation by Christ and Gospel-grace against all that doubting Doctours or doubting hearts can say to the contrary for it is as sure as any thing here can be made sure and more sure then any earthly purchase there being more in the substance of this parabolicall merchandize then in the shadow yet every expression in the shadowy resemblance speaks assurance a treasure found a treasure hidden a treasure joyed in and a treasure bought a pearl found and bought That the treasure was found hidden by God and is hidden by God and is hidden again by the finder and joyed in all this makes towards assurance but when that field for the treasures sake and the treasure with the field and the pearl and all is bought and all sold that all might be bought here is assurance upon assurance Then is Christ surely a mans own the propriety known enjoyed and used Are not you sure of that which you have bought and purchased and have deeds and evidences to shew for it after the true title is tried and proved and the false claim disproved The true beleever you see is a great purchaser he hath deeds and evidences in the promises to shew and he hath the witnesse in himself Our Gospel 1 Joh. 5. 10. saith the Apostle to the Thessalonians came not unto you in word only but in power and in the holy Ghost and in â— Thess 1. 5. much assurance And when the tempter came to tempt them though cap. 3. 10. there was something lacking in their faith in regard of degrees yet sensible they were and sure of what they had as of what they lacked and wanted The same Apostle to the Romans speaks of a double witnesse Rom. 8. 15. Gods Spirit witnessing with the Spirit or renewed conscience of a beleever Yea the Apostle Iohn makes report of â— Joh. 5. 7 8. three Witnesses in heaven and of three upon earth in the heart The Spirit equall with the Father and Son in heaven and above bloud and water on earth ratifying the acts and reflections of faith about our justification shining upon his own work of sanctification and ever teaching the soul in and after self-denying diligence to be assured never to doubt of what they have found as theirs Object 1 But some doubting Doctour will say There can be no assurance without extraordinary revelation Familists and Libertines say the like with the Papists in effect who are all for an immediate Testimony of the Spirit without evidence of grace within them or a life-testimony without them or without Scripture-evidence and verdict upon them Answ 1 1. Assurance is first found where it is founded without us in Gospel-grace Gods free-love giving Christ c. 2. Faith finding assurance in it's object more then in it's own acts and reflections by closing with a sure word of promise an unchangable Covenant becomes sure in it's acts and reflexions through the Spirit 3. More firm and full assurance comes daily in by this Christian selling and buying As the experience of thousands speak it By self-denial and diligent use of the ordinances and meanes of salvation they have ordinarily obtained sure hold possession and use of Christ have known they have had him and shall be saved eternally by him But with the tenets of Rome the Doctrine of doubting agreeth well enough viz. That a man is not justified by imputation of Christs righteousnesse but by inherent holinesse That a man must make some temporal satisfaction to Gods justice here and the rest in Purgatory That his general faith resolved into the testimony of the Church virtuall the Popes brest is enough to salvation That by the power of free-will and nature he may and must concur with Gods grace in conversion c. The Roman faith of these and such like tenets will never assure a man that he is in the state of grace or shall be in the state of glory Nor will Arminian grounds bring home assurance viz. That Christ died for all as for one That God hath not absolutely elected any That all things put into the balance which may be considered in Christs death yet none may be saved That all operations put which may be put in as ingredients to conversion yet grace may be resisted and if gotten yet lost it may be at last and put away But from the true Gospel-faith preached and the true Gospel-treasure in Christ discovered infallible and absolute promises Christs righteousnesse imputed to justification Faith and holinesse wrought irresistably by the Spirit who is given to discover and seal up grace given and glory promised and who carrieth on the beleever in the means and ordinances keepeth him to them and makes them effectuall for the obtaining of what he seeks after Assurance and evidence unquestionable may be is and shall be had and enjoyed for ever Object 2 But saith the doubting heart mans heart is deceitfull above all things and I cannot finde such and such evidences as you speak of by all the diligence and self-denying pains that I have yet laid out for the Gospel-pearl and Treasure Answ 1. I am very jealous whether thou hast denied that deceitfull heart from bearing any witnesse at all about thy estate If the heart be deceitfull as it is in the best so farre as unregenerate good reason it should not be heard speak at all 't is a false witnesse and will give in false evidence I agree with thee the old deceitfull heart and every piece of it must be sold away denied 2. The heart so farre as beleeving a faithfull promise Conscience as justified by Christs bloud and sanctified by the Spirit is not deceitfull The Spirit is truth and too holy to deceive 1 Joh. 5. 6 and too wise to be deceived in this great point of a Christians assurance when he certifieth Gods love and love-tokens to the soul 3. It is and will be more sure then any earthly purchase if that may be wrangled away this cannot if an heir may be cheated of his inheritance in his minority the childe of God cannot He who selleth all sels all his deceitfull heart away and all false evidences and dictates to consult with the Word and Spirit of truth to hearken to Gods bargain to read his writings to view and hold out
Kings and Monarchs here below 3. The Kingdoms treasure is of greater worth then the particular revenues of the King for as the King is so is his treasure though singulis major over and above all individuals yet universis minor lesse then the publike Behold the Kingdoms treasure is here for you yea the King himself is his Kingdoms treasure and his Subjects Pearl 4. What Kingdom but that of heaven What treasure is it but an heavenly To be prized above all the treasures of the earth and earthly Kingdoms put together take the Persian and Turkish treasures the wealth of all the Princes and states of Europe Asia Africa and America with all the Indian gold and jewels Summe all up they are all but Ciphers without a figure they come all to nothing nothing but vanity and winde all earthly treasure is but trash and dirt from beneath the treasure of our text is from above that may be lost stolen this no thief can break thorow and steal that is but corruptible at the best this incorruptible and fadeth not away 5. 'T is an hidden d Thesaurus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aurum repositum Isid orig treasure the more hid the more precious wise men much more the most wise God laies up only things of worth and hides them from the notice of all There is more then yet can be found and that which is found is more then can be told over 't is the love of Christ that passeth knowledge and the merit of Christ that passeth all price and worth in the creature and surpasseth all the valuation and esteem you can give it set it as high â—s you can Christ and his grace cannot of any mortall of any Saint be too high-prized 6. All this treasure is made up in one Pearl of great price and that with God why should it not be so with us The richest Pearl that ever I read of was that which Cleopatra dissolved and drunk in a health to Antonius her friend worth a hundred thousand gold pieces What if the price had been a hundred millions or a million of millions this is but mans price and in mans market who value things especially jewels and pearls more according to fancy then true worth but God himself here sets the price beyond what you can reckon it at yet if you like it you shall have it at an under-rate have but these thoughts of it it is surely worth all that I have or that any man hath of his own and that the merchant man was no fool to go and sell all that he had to buy it of which in it's due place Thirdly Pity we those who know nothing of it and it 's worth and make we the best discovery of it we can Let the Ministers of the Lord and people of God let all Christs factours who have any trading and commerce with heaven set forth the excellency and the worth hereof after Pauls patern in every Epistle of his to the life and to the lustre and glory of it that poor earth wormes and ignorant soules may may be taken with it's commendations and drawn to dig and search for it where it is to be found Fourthly Seek we for it and more of it where it is hidden in Scripture-promises and Gospel-Sermons give that choice field its due account and wait for the opening of the field the treasure and your hearts together to understand more of the mystery of Jesus Christ Suspect those who would lead you from the Field where you may finde the Treasure yea conclude they are deceivers who call into Question the whole written text of Scripture And take but this Antidote or two along with you when you are tempted to sip of such a cup of poison 1. Those are the Scriptures and written Word of God where Christ and his grace is to be sought and found Joh. 5. 39. in the present Scriptures Christ is found and eternall life is found in his words by us Gentiles and when the Iew shall turn to the Lord the vail shall be taken away which now is upon their heart in the reading of the old Testament and they shall finde this treasure also with us 2. They are the true Expositours of Scripture and the right Expositions which hold forth Christ and Gods free grace in him Yesterday to day and for ever so as they give nothing to nature or the creature at all which they doe who lay all the ground of Baptisme upon mans act not Gods promise and who by preaching Christs death for all leave it to the contingency of the creatures slippery-slavish will to vote it whether this or that man or any man shall be saved or no I come to a second observation 2. Even Gods elect as others for a time they wander Doct. 2 after some or other imaginary mediums and waies of soul-enrichment Gods elect are but common seekers for a time and contentment So much I conceive is taught us by our Lord in that he saith the merchant man who at last findes the true pearl of the Kingdome is in his first seekings busied with other men Proved about supposed specious pearls which men may set a price upon but here is no price put upon them by Christ e Psal 4. 6. Many even the elect a while with others till their hearts be touched as Davids was are enquiring Who will shew us any good If it be but a shew of good it shall they think content them f Mat. 6. 32. After these things doe the Gentiles even every one in natural state seek g Luk. 14. 18. One follows his form and seeks a pearl there another his merchandize c. and seeks a pearl or two there I shall further make out the truth hereof in a few Demonstrations that it is so and why it is so First that it is so is evident three waies First That it is so 1. All men have a natural aim at happinesse and they who live under the preaching of the Word they aim at such a place as is called heaven for the will naturally hath good for its object and enclines to chuse a sumâ—um bonum some chief good to make the soul happy by And when any conscience is a wakened it presently asketh What shall I do to be saved Miserable it would not be 2. Mediums and waies men have though false as so many pearls in their eye fair and goodly possibilities to keep them from misery and to make them happy such a carnal pleasure as the Epicure or such a portion of estate as the rich fool in the Gospel such honour at Court or preferment at or by the Parliament some are for profound learning and travels in the writings of the Ancients others for common parts or trades and imploiments in the City or Countrey some for Philosophy and physick others for Rhetorick or musick some for common graces others for religious duties and offices in the Church by some