a man returne to God First as his chiefest good and then as his utmost end 5. 5 This deceives most Mat. 7.14 This will be the deceit under which the greatest part of the world will be damned for straight is the Gate and narrow is the way that leadeth to life and few there be that find it All men are carryed forth to some good or other and say VVho will shew us any good Psal 4. But there are four things that most of the world do usually mistake in 1. They take that which is but a seeming good for a reall good 2. They take that which is a particular good for an universall good 3. They take that which is a temporary good for aneternall good 4. They take that which is another mans good for their own good Most men mistake under these four sorts of good and so perish 6. 6 This will cause Satan to insult If you be deceived in your chiefest good it will be the matter of Satans insultation and the matter of your Lamentation for ever It will be matter of Satans insultation Satan is the envious man TWO things there are in Satan to sinners one is cruell murderings and the other is cruel mockings of them as in Isai 14.11 12. How art thou fallen from heaven O Lucifer Sonne of morning Nebuchadnezzar that thought himselfe as it were placed in heaven falls downe to hell he deluded himselfe It will be then too late to say I was ignorant and as a beast before thee These men are miserable The misery of those that are herein cheated that are cheated of their chief good and their misery lyes in six Particulars 1. 1 There 's nothing good to such a man Because there 's nothing good to that man that err's in his chiefest good Eccle. 5.13 there 's a man that made Riches his chiefest good there 's no good to him therein because he made not God his chiefest good his Riches are to his hurt many a man is made honourable and Rich to his hurt But are not Ordinances you will say for a mans good Is it not good to live under the means of grace to have the droppings of the Sanctuary I answer no if not improved the nigher to Ordinances and at distance from God the nigher to the Curse Heb. 6.7 8. Ordinances will ripen your sinnes and they will hasten your ruine they will insnare your soules they will draw out your lusts and they will ruine you for ever As every thing is good to a man that is right in his chiefest good so nothing is good to that man that errs in his chiefest good 2. 2 This will cause him to eire in all things If a man erre in his chiefest good this will make him erre in his judging of al things and persons in this life for the rule of every mans judgement is according to his chief good he errs and must needs do so if he errs in that Take a man that judgeth finning better then suffering he chuseth sin before suffering Iob 36.21 Take heed regard not iniquity for this thou hast chosen rather then affliction He chuseth the present things before things to come things that are seen before things that are not seen But to a godly man sin is worse then suffering then death then hell It was the saying of one of the Martyrs He is not praise-worthy nor worthy of praise that God praiseth not A man that hath his treasure in heaven he judgeth all things aright according to the heavenly Treasure 3. 3 This makes him misplace his affections If a man mistake his chiefest good this causeth him to misplace all the affections of his soule they will be set wrong are set upon wrong objects The Holy Ghost speaks of a crooked and a perverse Generation when they were set upon wrong objects they were in feare where no feare was Now take an other man whose chiefe good is God he feares sinne the other feares man he rejoyces in God the other rejoyces in man here the affections of soule are mistaken by misplacing the chiefest good 4. 4 To lose his labour This makes a man loose his labour in what ever he doth all his life time he labours onely for the meat that perisheth but not for the meat that endureth for everlasting life he spends his parts his strength and time in vaine He sowes the wind and reaps the whirle winde This grand error makes you erre in every thing you doe the wicked man is deceived disappointed and at the last will be ashamed of all his undertakings But the godly man cannot be deceived nor disappointed of his hopes nor return ashamed because he is not mistaken in his chiefest good and therefore cannot lose any of his labour 5. 5 This will destroy him This onely will destroy the man This is the grand mistake a man may be deceived in particular things and yet the soule may be saved in the day of the Lord but if once he be deceived in his chiefest good he can never be saved for what is a mans chiefe good here by way of Election shall be hereafter his chiefe good in way of fruition 1 Cor 3.11 For other foundation can no man lay then that is laid which is Iesus Christ c. To erre in this is a fundamentall error those that erre in matters of practise 't is said yet their soules might be saved though their labours be lose but if thou errest in thy chiefe good thou canst never be saved 6. 6 It s the greatest cheat of all If there were nothing else but this it s the greatest delusion and the obsurdest cheat in the world for a man is deceived and makes that his greatest happinesse that is the quite contrary that will prove his greatest misery blessing or blessednesse requires two things 1. It must be that which cannot be lost 2. It must be that that puts the soul into a condition that he he doth not sinne or that he cannot sinne He that placeth his happinesse below God and Heaven he sets up an other God which is the highest way of sinning in the world and therefore see what a miserable condition that man is in that sets his chiefest good in things below God and Heaven Vse 3. Vse 3. For Exhortation Is this a truth that every man in this life hath something hee laies up for his Treasure whether it be in Heaven or Earth then take this exhortation in the words of the text lay up treasures in Heaven Three things I shal premise 1. Some doe observe the sweetnesse of Christs Commands how he applies himself to the desires of his people the Lord Jesus Christ doth not forbid this hee doth not say let there bee no such providence in you but if you will lay up treasure hee tells you where you should lay up the true treasure So Luke 10.20 he sends forth the 72 Disciples and they rejoyced the
mans treasure be in heaven in the enjoyment of God and Christ what ever his esteem is in the world it doth not trouble him so he can but go on to the obtaining of more of his treasure Now where your treasure is there is your heart that is there is your wisdome your plottings and contrivings for the getting keeping and improvement of it 3. 3 The heart is put for the thoughts and meditation of the heart The heart is used for the thoughts and meditations of the heart Psal 139.23 Trye me O Lord and know my thoughts there 's nothing carryes the heart with it more then the thoughts thoughts are the first born of the soule the immediate issuings forth of the heart The way to tast water and not be deceived is to cast it at the Spring and Wine if you would not bee deceived by the Vintner you must tast it at the Wine-presse so if you would judge aright of your hearts you must look to your thoughts Solomon speaks of one that invites to dinners Now saith he Eat not the bread of him that hath an evill eye neither desire thou his dainty meats for as he thinketh in his heart so is he eat and drinke saith he to thee but his heart is not with thee Prov. 23.6 7. what way your hearts goe Three Rules for discovery where your thoughts hearts are that way your thoughts go There are three Rules that will much discover which way your thoughts goe and by these you will know where your hearts are and by that where your treasure is 1. 1 Whither doe your thoughts retyre when you ar alone When you are alone sequestred from company out of worldly imployment whither then do your thoughts usually retyre for the man iâ— as he is alone such as thâ— thought is such is the man Take a godly man would you know where his thoughts are when he is in his Closet in his bed when I awake saith David I am still with thee early in morning will I direct my prayer to thee and will look up Psal 5.3 2. 2 What are these thoughts in which you finde the greatest sweetness Rule by which your thoughts may be discovered and you may judge where your hearts are is this what are those thoughts that you use to find the greatest sweetnesse and delight in Psa 12â— 17 How precious are thy 〈…〉 unto me O God! 〈◊〉 great is the summe of them To one man the thought of his lefts are sweet and he acts over his wickednesse in a contemplative way with delight and the thoughts of God are bitter unto him and trouble him there 's no sweetnesse in thinking upon God to a wicked man and there 's nothing but sweetnesse in the thoughts of God to a godly man 3. 3 What thoughts are of longest continuance with you Rule What thoughts are they that are of longest continuance with you that your soules doe most abide upon the thoughts that abide in your soules most discover where your hearts are Jer. 4.19 How long shall vaine thoughts abide in you Psal 10.4 God is not in all his thoughts nay God is not in his thoughts at at all what do your thoughts stay on Take a naturall man and cast in some thoughts of his treasure his thoughts will abide there but cast in any thought of heaven and those dye presently as a fish out of its element Then examine your thoughts when you are alone what thoughts come into your mind and abide up on your spirits for your treasure is as the meditation of your thoughts and hearts are 4. 4 The heart is put for the love and affections of the heart The heart is put for the love and affections of the heart Iudg. 5.9 My heart is towards the Governours of Israel that offered themselves willingly among the people It s Deborah's speech The people of God love all that are imployed for God and the more men are imployed for God the more their hearts are drawn out after them The heart of man is said to be where it loves rather then where it lives now the heart is here taken properly for the loves of the heart so where the heart is there 's the Treasure Now how should a man know where his love is set 'T is a thing of marvellous great consequence to consider where a man sets his love It s a thing of great concernment where a man sets his love and upon what his love is fixed And this is the maine of this Text and there are 4 grounds why 't is a thing of so great Concernment where a man sets the loves of his heart 1. 1 Because a mans love is his greatest gift Because a mans love is his greatest gift there is nothing else a gift indeed without love but love is a gift of it selfe though there be nothing else It 's so if you consider the love of God though the Lord have not given you any thing if he doth but set his love upon you it s a greater gift then Heaven or Earth could be so likewise the Lord Jesus Christ if he had not given us interest in his victories in his sonship in his priviledges so hee had given us but his love it was a greater gift then heaven or earth saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 13.1 If I had all things and had not Charity it profiteth nothing Hypocrits many times give God great gifts but they reserve their love so God gives many of them great gifts but he reserves his love for the saints so that love is the greatest gift that a man hath from God and 't is the great est gift a man can give to God 2. 2 He that gives his love gives himself Because he that gives his love he gives himself he gives all things else whatsoever hee hath That 's pure and free love indeed that gives all things to the person beloved the Lord sets his love upon his people from all eternity and when hee purposeth to give all things hee gave himself love first gives it self and then all things else Revel 21.7 he that overcommeth shall inherit all things how so I will be his God and be shâ—ll be my Son So t is with men he that gives his love gives all things and hee that withholds his love withholds all things for a mans love Commands all that he hath Therefore 't is a mighty thing to consider where a man sets his love 3. 3 A mans love maks the 〈◊〉 loved his own A mans love is that which makes the thing beloved his own A learned man saith God is our owne above all things we call ours Estate is ours and friends are ours but God is more ours then they because he loves us more then they 'T is by the love of God that we come to be his by our love to God that he comes to be ours It s our love that makes the thing beloved ours
the Lord is his Treasure this is peculiarly spoken of Hezekiah and in him of the Church of God Now what is here meant by the fear of God Calvin notes two things 1. Reverential fear and awe of the Majestie of God from a right apprehension of his Righteousnesse and Holinesse so Prov. 17. The feare of the Lord is the beginning of wisdome 2. By Fear is meant an aweful worship of God Worship the Lord with fear and rejoyce with trembling Psa 2.11 Thus you see what was Hezekiah's Treasure It was the feare of the Lord a holy feare of God and a constant worship of him is a Christians Treasure But how comes it to passe that every man hath his own Treasure 1. From the different lights that men have Men have different lights some can see good in that which an other man can see none 2 Cor. 4.18 We look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen c. 2 Cor. 4.4 There are some in whom the God of this world hath blinded their eyes and some the eyes of whose understanding are enlightned Ephe. 1.17.18 Men have different good things because they have different lights the things of this life are base in the eyes of some though glorious to others 2. 2 Men have different savours Men have different treasures to themselves because they have different Savours Rom. 8.5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh but they that are after the spirit the things of the spirit the meaning is they savour the things of the flesh Tell a naturall man of a promise it hath no more savour to him then a stock or a stone tell a Rich man of a promise who makes Riches his treasure this hath no savour in it he can taste sweetnesse in dainty meats and in gorgeous apparell and in the pleasures of sin that are but for a season but let a Saint come and look upon the word of God thy word is sweeter to me then the honey or the honey combe Psal 19.10 people runne after vanity because they savour no better things 3. 3 Men make different choice From their choice would you know why Israel was Gods peculiar treasure it was because God chose them himselfe Psal 144.4 Some men make choice of God as their chiefest good let him enjoy God he is contented saith David Whom have I in heaven but thee there 's none on earth whom I desire in comparison of thee But if you let me live without God 't is nothing he accounts all things nothing in comparison of God because that 's the mans chief good Take an other He saith I can live without God all my life time and I can be content never to heare of God the Reason is because they chuse an other good for their chiefe good besides God himselfe this chief good is called a mans Treasure you see now every man hath his chiefe good in this life and his own chiefe good in this life 4. A mans chiefe good is his treasure Particular That a mans chiefe good is his Treasure and that upon a three-fold Accompt 1. 1 Because of the preciousnesse From the Preciousnesse of it No man owns or esteems his Treasure unlesse it be his own chiefe good and that which he esteems as precious A mans Treasures are precious therefore when the Lord speaks of precious things he calls them a Treasure Mat. 13.44.2 Cor. 4.7 The Gospel is caled a Treasure because it carries precious things with it Take a man whose chiefe good is God take God from him and he is undone But an other man who makes wealth his treasure he saith take away this and I shall have no comfort one takes God for his treasure and the other wealth for his 2. 'T is called Treasure Plentifulnesse not onely for the preciousnesse of it but for the plentifulnesse of it for 't is not a little that will make a Treasure but abundance Col. 2.3 In whom are hid all the Treasures of wisdome and knowledge What ever is a mans chiefe good he desires it with an infinite appetite for he is never satisfied Take a man that makes pleasure his chiefe treasure he is like a Horse-leach that cryes give give let him have to day yet he is hungry to morrow Take a man whose chiefe good is laid up in God though he have all the world can afford him yet he sayes give me more comfort from God more Communion with God and more likenesse to God hee is still unsatisfied because it 's his chief good 3. 3 Valuation of it 'T is called a Treasure because it 's that by which a man values himselfe look how much a man hath in his Treasure so much he conceives he is worth there is a Rate which the man puts upon it it adds as it were to the value of himself Now as men value themselves according to their wealth honor c. so God values every man according to his heart Prov. 10.20 The heart of the wicked is little worth the man is worth nothing if his heart be worth nothing For these grounds 't is called a Treasure for the preciousnesse for the plentifullness for the value and esteem a man puts upon it Use 1. Vse 1. For the examination Of Examination where is your treasure Take this rule where thy love is ther 's thy heart where thy heart is ther 's thy Treasure where thy Treasure is ther 's thy Heaven where thy heaven is ther 's thy God and where thy God is ther 's thy happines There are six things I would have you to consider That is your Treasure as to this use of Examination that you may know where your Treasure lies 1. 1 Which you labour most for Consider what it is that you dig for that you labour for that you are willing to spend your money for this is the first try all of your Treasure If you dig for wisdome as for pretious stones If thou seekâ—st her as Silver and searchest for her as for hid treasures Pro. 2.4 and saith our Saviour Job 6.27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life What 's the great thing you work for in this life What is it you lay out your money for that you labour for dost thou lay out thy Knowledge for God thy estate for God or dost thou spend thy money for that which is not bread and labour for that which satisfieth not Isaiah 55.2 When a man shall return to his own heart and say I have laboured for Wealth all my daies and wearied my self for vanity and now I come to die I find that I have not laboured at all for God I have not chosen God for my treasure Oh this mans condition is very sad how many are there that can lavish out their wealth upon their lusts But let
Devills were subject to them Now he doth not forbid their joy but hee doth augment their joy Rejoyce rather that your names are written in the book of life so when he faith Matth. 20.18 Feare not him that can kill the body he forbids you not altogether to fear but see if your feare be plac'd on the right object that is himselfe more then them so when men are apt to glory in some excellency they have obtained saith the Holy Ghost Jer. 9.23 Let not the wife man glory in his wisdom neither let the mighty man glory in his might let not the rich man glory in his riches but let him that glorieth glory in this that he understandeth and knoweth me that I am the Lord. Set a right object for your glorying in so here hee doth not forbid you to labour for riches but to be rich towards God he doth not forbid you to bee adorned but let it bee with beauties of holinesse 2. It 's observed that there are diverse waies of treasuring 3. Sort of treasure there are three forts of treasures that are laid up three severall waies 1. 1 Treasures on Earth There are treasures on Earth some place their hapinesse on the things below our Saviour faith lock not to the things that are seen but have an eye to the things that are not seen It was well observed by one that that whieh a man loves and aimes at as his end that 's his treasure A man that hath no end beyond this life hath no treasure beyond this life let me be rich let me be honourable and brave in this world that 's all he looks at He looks not up to the treasure above this man placeth his affections on the Earth and makes that his portion 2. There are Treasures in Hell 3. Treasures in Hell some lay up their treasures in Hell Rom. 2.5 they treasure up to themselves wrath against the day of wrath There are two treasures one of sin and the other of wrath and the one sits for the other as the man adds to the one so God adds to the other for you must know as sinne ripens so doth judgement as sin encreaseth so doth wrath Ezek. 7.10 The Rod hath blossomed as Pride hath budded It 's spoken of Gods bringing of wrath upon Nebuchadnezzar now mind the gradation the Rod first blossoms then it buds judgement first ripens and then ruins you read in scripture of an Ephah of wickednesse that is that which notes the full measure of wickednesse and you read of a Talent which is judgement proportioned to the sin As you fill up the treasures of your sins so God fills up the treasures of his wrath you think you onely carry on your own treasure but God is carrying on his treasury of wrath also The 3. 2 Treasures in Heaven Sort are those that lay up treasure in Heaven that place their happinesse in the chief good in nothing but Heaven that have aimes beyond this life the things present are but for their way not for the end of their Journey Every man is as his chiefe good and as his utmost end is if thy end be Earthly thou art a man of the Earth if Heavenly thou art a man of Heaven It is said Psal 17.14 Men of the world that have their portion in this life They are called men of this world because their end and aime is not beyond this world But the Saints and Citizens of Heaven are so called because their end and aime is beyond this life and their chief good lies there 3. You are to observe the manner and nature of this command lay up treasures in Heaven his meaning is not that they should lay up nothing on Earth To lay up on Earth is a duty as to provide things necessary for the body but in especiall manner bee sure to lay up in Heaven have your hearts in Heaven though your bodies be on the Earth we ought to lay up something in summer against the time of Winter Parents ought to lay up for their Children Lay not up treasure on Earth that is to say as it is contrary to a treasure in Heaven but so as it may be helpfull to thy treasure in Heaven Again lay not up treasure on earth so as if there were an absolute necessity of it or as if a man could not live without it â—â—ke 12.15 a mans life consisteth not in the abundance of the things that he possesseth Lastly lay not up treasure on Earth so as to neglect Heaven let not this be a means to take off your hearts from higher things if so your treasure will be your curse and God gives you a great estate in great Judgement Let us now come to set home this Exhortation seeing some lay up treasures in Earth some lay up treasures in Heaven do you be exhorted to lay up your treasures in Heaven Four things I will speak to in proscuting of it 1. What is meant by Heaven 2. What are the treasures of Heaven 3. What is it to lay up treasures in Heaven 4. Some arguments to enforce the Exhortation First what is meant by Heaven What is meant by Heaven There is a twofold Exposition of it and we may make an improvement of both of them 1. 1 God himself By Heaven some expound it of God himselfe as if hee should say lay up your treasures in God with God so that they take Heaven for God that is the God of Heaven the pleasures of Heaven Now this will help you to understand other Scriptures Mat. 21.25 The Baptism of John was it from Heaven that is from the God of Heaven Heaven is there put for God so Luke 15.18 Father I have sinned against Heaven that is against the God of Heaven the God that dwells in Heaven there 's your happinesse alone let your chief good be laid up in him let him who hath promised to be our portion and exceeding great reward be our treasure in Heaven yet you are to consider that the Scripture speakes of other treasures in Heaven Luke 12.33 Provide your selves a treasure in Heaven that faileth not that is of good works but they are onely as they aim at God God is himself the great reward and the rich treasure of Heaven this is the excellency of every gratious performance of duty 't is a treasure of heaven because it is recorded in heaven by God himselfe lay up therefore your treasures with God that he may be your eternall reward The 2. 2 The third Heaven Exposition of this place is this They take Heaven for the third Heaven the highest Heaven the habitation of Gods majestie and glory the place where the Saints shall be with God where the Angels have Communion with God Ier. 23.23 He is said to fill heaven and earth 't is called the place where his honour dwels there you have two things 1. The Vision of him 2. The Fruition of him so 't is said to
be a City Heb. 11.10 whose builder and maker is God this being the place of the Saints therefore they are exhorted to lay up their treasure in it the time will shortly come when the Saints shall be removed from earth to heaven for here they have no abiding City now their happinesse in heaven being to enjoy God to eternity for this cause they are exhorted to lay up a Treasure in heaven Well take it in both these sences in God or in heaven where the eternall enjoyment of God shall be In the second place What is that Treasure that a man should lay up in heaven We shall understand it by the opposite there is a treasure that man layes up on earth as his chief good as Riches Honor High-places Pleasure popular applause c. and where his Treasure is there his heart is So there is a treasure in heaven which is a mans chiefe good it is God that is his reward Christ as Mediator that brings him to God There are three things that demonstrate Nothing but God can be a mans treasure in heaven that none but God can be a mans treasure in heaven 1. 1 Because a man must love it best A Mans treasure is that which he loves best and a man must love nothing more then God nay a mans chiefe good is that which he loves with an infinite love that he doth never say I have enough The Hebrew word for Treasures signifies that which a man sets his heart most on where a mans love goes there a mans zeal goes that 's his treasure that carryes out his love 2. 2 Prize it most That which a man prizeth most which a man sets highest price on that 's a mans Treasure now a man should prize nothing more then God Kingdomes and Nations be not deare to God for the sake of the Saints therefore Kingdomes and Nations should not be deare to the Saints in respect of God they should prize nothing in comparison of him much lesse in competition with him 3. 3 Relieup on it Upon a mans Treasure he relies for supplies that which a man makes his Treasure in Calamities and Distresses he goes to it therefore David saith Psal 13.25 Whom have I in heaven but thee and there 's none upon earth that I desire besides thee my flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever Thus you see every man must be supplyed out of his owne Treasure Thirdy You will say God is in heaven above the habitation of his holinesse and glory How can we be said to lay up God for a Treasure 'T is true God is in heaven he made the heavens and he dwels in heaven but he is not laid up there for thy treasure unlesse thou closest with him by faith and lay him up for thy God and in so doing he will be thy treasure for though he dwels in heaven yet he dwels also in humble and contrite Spirits Now there are six Rules to get the God of heaven to be our God and Treasure 1. 1 Chuse God so thy treasure He that will lay up Treasure in heaven he must chuse God for his treasure in heaven not onely the joyes and delights of heaven the happinesse of heaven but the God of heaven that which thou chusest is thy treasure If a man chuse Honour and Riches and Pleasure that is his treasure what you chuse first you prize most and you shall be sure to have God for your treasure if you chuse him 2. 2 Part with all for him Then part with all other treasures for him No man can have two Treasures no more then he can have two Masters Mat. 19.21 Look to your selves you have not God for your treasure except you part with all other treasures for him 3. 3 Let thy heart be after him The soul is to be carryed out after this treasure incessantly that man that layes up God for his treasure his heart is continually carryed after him and so must yours if you will have God to be your Treasure Psal 73.24 How doth the foul go out after God Psa 119.20 My soul pants for the longings it hath towards thee my soul longeth yea even fainteth for the Lord. Psal 84.2 so saith David If your souls do not go out after God and relish the sweetnesse of God certainly you have no part nor portion in this Treasure 4. 4 Live upon him If you would have God for your treasure live upon him men live upon their treasures so must you upon your God 5. 5 Glory in him Would you have the God of heaven for your treasure then glory in him what a man labours to get for his treasure that he glories in Every man values other men as he values his treasure take a man that makes Riches his treasure let the person be never so honourable he despiseth him because he hath not so great an estate as he so a godly man values every man according as his chiefest good is he is worth no more then he is worth in Gods account therefore he esteems no more of him 6. 6 Add to thy treasure What ever is your Treasure if you lay up your treasure in any thing you must use all means to add unto it and make a daily increase the increase of your treasure coms in by adding to it Isai 33.6 Why doth Hezekiab lay up treasure in God he gets a further interest in God therefore the man is bless'd with his treasure wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times and thought of Salvation and this is because the fear of the Lord is his treasure The fourth particular is to give you some grounds to enforce the Exhortation is there a treasure in Heaven then do not be such Enemies to your soules as not to lay up treasures there There are four Arguments to enforce the Exhortation 1. 1 No treasure below God will be lasting No treasure below God will be lasting Christ speakes therefore to you continually to lay up your treasure in Heaven because there will come a time when all treasures laid up below God will be expunged and gone and then what will you live upon 1. Cor. 7.29.31 the Apostle faith the time is short and the fashion of this world passeth away 't is a Metaphor taken from things folded up a great part of time is unfolded and unwoven it 's almost spent there 's abundance of life run out already and little left behind there is an eternity that will never be spent after all thy time here is spent lay up therefore treasures there 2. 2 Nor hopes of Heaven without this treasure Heaven is the place to which you hope to go now carry your treasures with you and send your treasures before you or else there can be no hopes of entering into Heaven This is the Exhortation of our Saviour when he faith
to a man whose treasure is in Earth if a mans treasure be in Heaven his mind is in heaven hence it comes to passe that a godly man is said to be a stranger here Psal 39.12 I am a stranger and a Sojourner what 's the reason because hee doth not converse here as in his Country but seekes a Country above he is a stranger here travelling towards his owne Country Bernard saith a godly mans heart is in Heaven because the Lord dwells in Heaven hence it is that grace is called glory not onely because its of the same nature with that grace which a man in glory shal receive the the perfection of nor onely because it is a pledge and an earnest and will end in glory but because the soul immediately enters into glory after his treasure for his treasure immediately being in Heaven his heart is there hence 't is a godly man is more in Heaven then in Earth for his treasure is in Heaven and his heart is there But let us see in particular What iâ— meant by the heart what is here intended by the heart more especially there is meant all the things that are seated in the heart and let 's begin with the first of them 1. 1 The ain and ben of the cart The heart is put for the aime tendency and bent of the heart it is Animi Propositum it 's the propension of the heart Deut. 24.15 Hee is poore and setteth his heart upon it he is a hireling and his heart is set upon his waies hee doth not work for love to his master nor love to his work but the aime and bent of his soul is for the good hee shall receive by his work therefore the Scripture speaks of a double heart Ps 12.2 what makes a heart a a double heart some apply it to instability in opinions that which is called halting between two opinions when the mind is in suspence Luke 12.20 Be not of doubtfull mindes But whether it be in reference to opinions or what ever it is the mind is in doubt and hee is double minded But the intention of the Scripture by a double heart doth mainly aime at the intentions of the heart the heart goes not alwaies one way but sometimes for God sometimes for the Creature sometimes for Heaven sometimes for Earth when men have not a single Eye when they have not single aimes this the Scripture calls a double heart When a man hath an aime at God and the things of God and looks it other things in subordination thereto this the Scripture calls a single eye or a single heart but when men go sometimes very hotly after the things of God and at other times pursue after Riches immoderately this is a double heart Act. 8.1 Thy heart is not right in he sight of God and Hab. 4.12 The word of God is the discerner of the intents of the heart Now then thus where a mans Treasure is there the bent the aime and the tendency of a mans heart is one of the great things you are to look to is the heart for in the heart lyes the greatest deceit but in the heart above all other things the bent and tendency of the heart is that you are to looke at and there are two Reasons for it 1. 1 The aime of his heart is the godly mans comfort in all failings Because this is the great Comfort nay the onely comfort that a godly man hath to flye to in all failings and in all his falls the bent and aime of his heart In any particular failing and infirmity what is it the soul can retreat to truly when a godly man can say this hath been my transgression but this was not my intention this is the onely comfort of the man so it was with Peter it was a desperate fall to deny his Master and wish himselfe accursed that hee knew not the man but Peter could say Lord This was the bent of my soule not to deny thee but to die for thee Sinne comes upon a godly man at unawares sinne comes upon a godly man as judgement comes upon a wicked man by way of surprisall but the bent of his heart was not to sinne therefore this is a comfort to him 'T is an expression of David Though he did offend with his mouth yet I have purposed that my mouth should not offend it was my transgression but not my intention I have plotted that my mouth might not offend In all your failings this is that that must support you yea in every transgression that it was not your intention so to do 2. 2 It is his comfort after his failings Sometimes a godly man can take comfort in this after his fallings many times the Saints commit wickednesse out of consultation Psal 19.3 the Scripture calls them Presumptuous sinnes sinnes that they doe intend before hand 1 King 15.5 'T is said Davids heart was upright in all things all he dayes of his life save onely in the matter of Uriah the Hittite Then Davids heart was not upright in this matter his dissembling and his lying was clearly demonstrated But now what may a godly man retreat to to the generall bent of his heart when hee failes in a particular act 1 Kin. 15.14 Neverthelesse Asa his heart was upright with God all his daies he doth not speak of particular Acts but of the generall bent of his heart though in some particulars he contrived sinne wicked men when they are carryed on in a designe that 's sinfull they will not be beaten from it but the generall bent of their soul is to go on in it Now would you know which way the bent and tendernesse of your heart goes Six rules for discovery of the bent of the heart there are six Rules I shall give you It was the saying of a godly Minister I blesse my God I have stadied my own heart more then Boukes It would be very happy for you to say I have studied my heart more then the would more then trading 1. 2 That which its casryed after under different conditions is the aime of the heart Rule That which the soul is carryed after under different conditions this declares what the aime and bent of the soule is and so you must judge of the tendency of the heart as waters though you turn them out of their proper current and alter their channell yet they all runne into the Sea you will say then the tendency of them is to the Sea If you see the Sun whether the day be cleare or cloudy it makes to the West it concludes there 's the end of its course this is the race it hath to runne the going of the heart is the same in different conditions it doth wonderfully cleave to that which is its chief good is never at rest til it be centered there As for example suppose it be the heart of a naturall man his aime is at his owne exaltation now
treasure Then this shews to every unregenerate man that there is an absolute necessity of Regeneration Many a carnall man will complain and fay I cannot bow my thoughts God-ward what commands my thoughts Thy treasure commands them If thy treasure be in God the meditation of thy heart will be towards God What is Conversion 'T is a change of a mans chief good Thy treasure and thy heart will be changed together change thy treasure and thy heart will change The misery of that man whose treasure is on earth The misery of that man whose heart is on earth is unspeakable because then his treasure is on earth Consider these things 1. Let thy Actions be what they will if thy treasure be below thy heart will be below A temporary man may and will goe forth in temporary actions more then a spirituall man can do But in a Temporary man there 's no change of heart Act 8.21 Simon Magus he washed his hands but kept his heart in the same blacknesse of covetousness that it was before Till thou change thy treasure thy heart will never change The misery of an ungodly man is in this he may change his love when he will but his heart is not changed unlesse his treasure be changed 2. This is the ground of the greatest bondage to an ungodly man in the world because his treasure is below therefore his heart cannot be above for where his Treasure is there will the heart be This is that which keeps all unregenerate men in bondage there is therfore an absolute necessity for the change of a mans treasure or otherwise thou canst not be assured that thy heart is changed Use 3. Use 3. Learn then the blessed condition of a godly man To discover the blessed condition of a godly man whose treasure is in heaven he is every where blessed his body is on earth but his heart is in heaven There 's a twofold blessing upon this account First Let this man at any time go astray for a godly man is apt to wander this will reduce and bring him home againe the heart will be to the Treasure A godly man can never fall from God why because the heart and the treasure are inseparable As the misery of an ungodly man is let him professe what he will yet his treasure will bring him back so a godly man let him wander whither he will yet his treasure will reduce him Secondly He is a happy man that hath his treasure alwaies in Heaven he is a happy man because he is a heavenly man his heart is in heaven There are four Reasons why he that hath his Treasure alwaies in Heaven is a happie man 1. 1 Here by he is evidenced to be an heavenly man Because hereby he is evidenced to be a heavenly man 1 Cor. 15.48 As is the earthly such are they that are earthly and as is the heavenly such are they also that are heavenly Because thy heart is in heaven therefore thou art a heavenly man As that wisdome that is conversant about earth is said to be earthly so that wisdome that is conversant about heaven is said to be heavenly An earthly mind is a plague an heavenly mind is a glory 2. 2 His heart doth not change with his condition He that hath his treasure in heaven is a blessed man in this that his heart is not subject to those impressions of changes that other means are It a mans condition doth change yet if his heart doth not change it s no great matter as Tertullian observes though he was under great afflictions on earth yet his heart was out of danger because it was in heaven therefore Rev. 13.6 Saints are said to dwell in heaven the heart changes not for any evil because it s bound up in an unchangeable good 3. 3 His conversation will be in heaven He is a happy man who hath his Treasure alwaies in Heaven because where his treasure is there will his heart and conversation bee Phil. 3.20 Our conversation is in Heaven from whence also wee looke for our Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ. Saith the wise man Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life Prov. 4.23 The way of his life comes out of his heart Now this man taking up of his heart with God must have his life taken up with God also he is taken up with God as his Father with Christ as his husband with the Saints and blessed Spirits as his companions 4. 4 His soul shall shortly be there A mans heart being in heaven his soule shall shortly be there too And this also is an argument that bodies shall be there shortly for though body and soule be parted by death yet it will not be long before they are united again and what a comfortable thing is this then for a man to lay up his Treasure in Heaven seeing it is such an argument that he himselfe shall be taken up into Heaven FINIS
go out after 3. 3 It s the delight of the soule Reason why the Treasure is attractive of the heart because it is the delight of the heart and a man cannot live without delight but he cannot have delight but by retyring to his chiefe good and there he must delight himselfe the chiefe good is the object of the greatest the highest the fullest delight all its joyes come in by its chiefe good without delight the soul cannot live take away all delight and the soul dyes saith Austin therefore it must needs go out after the treasure because the treasure is the delight of the soul 4. 4 It s the beauty of the soul A mans chiefe good is that wherein the beauty of the soule doth lye take the soule off from this and its naked because the chiefe good is the beauty and ornament of the soule Ier. 2.32 Can a Maid forget her Ornaments saith God it is intimated God is the Ornaments and the attire of the soule Take one whose chief good is in cloathing that 's it that beautifies the body and he will not easily forget his attire Can a maid There 's not a naturall impossibilitie of a maids forgetting of her attire and the Bride her ornaments but there 's morall impossibility because they are her chiefe good and the heart goes out after them But take a godly man now God is the beauty and ornament of his soul his glory and chief good and therefore his heart must needs go out after God All the adorning of the soul is from the Treasure and therefore it must needs attract the heart 5. 5 It s the breath of the soul The soul must go to the Treasure because it is the breath of the soul the soule strangles and dies if it do not enjoy it The Soul is alwaies breathing after the chiefest good Psal 42.1 As the Hart pants after the water brooks so my heart pants after thee O God saith David the chief good causeth the breathings of the soul after it 6. Because the chief good is the onely rest of the soul Ps 116.7 Return unto thy rest O my soul the soul is restlesse till it come to the enjoyment of him therefore return unto thy rest The next thing is How the heart is carried out to its treasure how is the heart of man is carried out to his Treasure doth it alwaies go after it here let me lay down these six Conclusions 1. 1 Continually That the heart goes after the Treasure continually the soul of man is alwaies active and never idle and what 's the ground of all its motions its the chief good that 's the ground of it therefore the soul moans continually after its chief good Eccl. 2.23 the wise man speakes there of a Covetous rich man whose chief good is his wealth the heart takes no rest in the night because his heart is continually carried forth after his treasure the abundance of the rich will not suffer them to sleep 2. 2 Infinitely The heart goes after the Treasure infinitely and unsatiably it is never satisfied with any thing else till it be arived to its chief good They that place their Treasure here below they are never satisfied but their hearts are going forth after it without measure as Hab. 2.6 't is said there they load themselves with thick clay A wicked man man have as much as may sink him but hee never hath so much as will satisfie him they are like the horse-leach that cries give give so a godly mans heart is alwaies gasping after God and going out with bounless desires after Heaven 3. 3 The heart possesseth it for his own The heart taketh fast hold of its Treasure and possesseth it for its own There be other things that a man may look on as his own but this chiefly Iob 8.15 he shall take fast hold of his house Take a proud woman her vanity is in her apparell her apparell is her treasure and how fast will shee hold it Take a covetous man that makes Riches his Treasure he takes fast hold of his Treasure and will not let it goe so take a man that makes God and Christ his treasure when temptations and afflictions come that labour to pull a man from his treasure yet he laies fast hold of it and wil not let it go 4. 4 The heart re turnes to its treasure If at any time the heart be shaken yet it returnes to the chief good again So you shall finde an unregenerate man that hath his treasure below the man is shaken with Afflictions Crosses Troubles Sorrowes yet he returnes again to that which he hath taken up for his chief good So let a godly man be shaken by temptations from God yet for all that the soule returnes to God again Hos 2.19 I will return to my first husband c. 5. 5 The change of a mans chiefe good is the first change The change of a mans chief good is a godly mans first change and a godly mans great change and his chiefe change There is a change to destruction they have forsaken me the Fountain of living waters But there is a change to perfection and that is forsaking of broken Cisterns for living waters do not talk of the change of Actions but talk of this the change of the chief good change thy Riches for a God thy pleasures for a Christ 6. 6 In this the liberty and bondage of the heart lies In the chief good the liberty and the bondage of the heart doth lie wherin lies the liberty of the soul 't is in this that the soul is fastned upon God as the chiefe good and looks upon all other things in no other way then as they are in subordination unto him when the soul cleaves to God and God alone and lookes upon all other things as nothing but as in subordination unto him Then and not till then the soul is at liberty the more thou art taken up with thy chief good the freer thou art for his service is perfect freedome on the contrary all men that have their Treasures below this spirituall life they are in bondage continually because their treasures are below themselves There is another thing wee are to open Such as the treasure is such is the heart as the heart and the treasure are inseparable that the heart will bee where the treasure is So such as the treasure is such is the heart as well as where the treasure is there will be the heart and such as the heart is such is the man if it belaid on Earth then men are said to be Earthly if laid up in Heaven men are said to be heavenly Phil. 3.19 Your Conversation is in Heaven though their soules go up and down among many Creatures yet their Conversation is in Heaven for the heart of man doth cheapen here and there before itbuyes yet notwithstanding all is included in things below