you your selves shall be burned so contrary are the Spirits of Papists to the Spirit of God and of the holy Fathers Secondly maintaine the Preaching of the Word Act. 8.31 Secondly because thou canst not understand and apply the Word aright without a Guide as the truely Noble Eunuch ingenuously confessed of himselfe Act. 8.31 Thou must therefore buy the Word of God preached that is thou art bound according to thy calling and ability to maintaine the Preacher of Gods Word liberally and that with all alacrity Let them saith the Apostle that are taught in the Word make their Teachers partakers of all good things Gal. 6.6 Gal. 6.6 that they may be able to doe their worke to purpose and with joy and not with distraction and griefe of heart for that is unprofitable for you As they say of keeping cattle hardly so say I in this case Simile if you pinch your pastures you pinch your selves and famish and starve your owne soules O that the unconscionable tythe payers Church-robbers of this Land had hearts to consider this and that wee did all prize the Word as hee did that said The Law of thy mouth is better unto me then thousands of gold and silver Psal 119.72 Psal 119.72 Thirdly we must buy the Truth not with money onely but principally with labour and industry Thirdly Buy the truth with diligent labor Men indeed must sell for money for Printers and Ministers cannot live upon the ayre But as the Heathen sayd Dii labore hominibus vendunt God sells knowledge and grace for labour Seeke her as silver search for her as for hid Treasure Then shalt thou understand the feare of the Lord and find the knowledge of God Prov. 2.4 5. What will it profit us my brethren Prov. 2.4 5. to haue the Word of God in our houses if we neither reade it nor meditate upon it or to have a good Preacher in the Towne if we either heare him not or take little or no paines in hearing but let the Word goe in at one eare and out at another nay beloved we must search the Scriptures Ioh. 5.39 1. Joh. 4.1 and try the spirits whether they be of God we must take heed how we heare and what we heare Luk. 8.18 and ingraft the Word when we have heard it yea and incorporate it into our soules I meane into our minds our wills Jam. 1.21 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and our affections and then have wee bought the Truth and purchased the Field But we must remember in the third place Thirdly Buy the Field for the Treasure wee must buy the field of the Word not for it selfe but for the Treasure in it I meane for grace and glory as wee see this man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith the Text for joy of the Treasure Get grace out of it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 goes and buyes that field not another it was not so much the Land as the Treasure he aymed at Many simple people rest in this that they have a Bible or a Testament and other good bookes in their houses or a good Preacher in the Towne or in some neighbour Parish and thence conclude they cannot possibly doe amisse Just like that idolatrous Micah Judges 17.13 in the 17. of Iudges ver 13. that reasoned after the same manner Now I know the Lord will doe me good now that I have a Levite to be my Priest What is this but to make an Idol of the Bible Vex audita perit and an Idol of Preaching but such Idols cannot save thee for the Bible may be burnt to ashes and the sound of Preaching vanishes in the aire all the Sermons preached formerly in this Church are past and gone But the Word of the Lord saith the Apostle Peter 1 Pet. 5.25 endureth for ever even this Word which is preached unto you namely as it worketh in us Grace and Glory V. 23. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for so it liveth and abideth in us for ever Get thou therefore not the shell onely but the kernell not the bone onely but the marrow not the field onely but the Treasures invaluable contained in the same And thus beloved wee have run through the second Generall part of the Text namely what is to be done of us for the obtaining of the Purchase and of the five severall duties comprehended in that generall and have insisted especially upon the last of them as being of the greatest waight wherein we see the absolute Necessity that lyes upon us of selling all of buying the field and taking possession of the Treasure What now remaines but to shut up all with an use or two by way of Application of this that hath been spoken to our selues Vse First of Reproofe of the Higling Chapmen of this Age. Num. 23.10 Which first of all doth serve for the sharpe reproofe and taxation of the trifling and higling Chapmen of this age that have a good mind as we say to the Treasures of Grace and Glory they wish with Balaam That they might dye the death of the righteous Num. 23.10 And with the young man in the Gospel they come to the Minister and say Good Master what shall we doe that we may inherit eternall life Matt. 19.22 Mat. 19.22 something they will doe and something they will give but yet for all this they will not come up roūdly to Gods price but when they heare that they must sell all That will not part then with that young man they goe away sorrowfull and never bargaine any further 1. With unlawfull things For first they cannot find in their hearts to part with all their sins and unlawfull lusts although they might as well spare them as water out of the ship They will perhaps exchange one sinne for another as when a young Prodigall turnes an old covetous Miser or they will lend or lay away their sins for a time as whē they come to the house of God to pray or heare but especially whē they are to come to the Lords Table but presently after they repent them and with the Serpent licke up their poyson againe will not sell away their sins for ever or lastly they will part with some of their sins but not with all Naaman will keepe his bowing in the House of Rimmon Herod will reserue his sweet Herodias Ananias will give part to God and keepe backe part for himselfe but not one of many will part with all such an one is as rare as a blacke Swan The truth is Beloved we love our lusts too well One is all for pride another all for revenge a third for drunkennes a fourth for adultery a fift for gaming some for one lust some for another but almost all men are for one or other What is this but to make our belly our God our lust our God Phil. 3.19 and to be lovers of pleasures more then lovers of
1. In an holy Jealousie of our selves First at our first conversion and entrance upon profession hide it in an holy jealousie of our selves Be not too confident of our selves but examine throughly our estate lest we be in a spirituall dreame or delusion Be wary lest the shewes of grace deceive us and Satan that impostor put upon us There is something like faith that is not true Faith something like true Repentance that is not true and unfained repentance Psal 4.4 Examine your selves therefore upon your beds and be still Examine your selves whether you be in the faith Prove your selves and then you may know indeed that Christ Iesus is in you except ye be Reprobates 2. Cor. 13.5 Secondly in humility Secondly Hide it in humility Be not as Pharisees that doe all to be seene of men that Pedlar-like set all to open view and Player-like are ever upon the stage But let us beloved have more grace in our hearts then we are wont to make shew of to the world and doe more good and holy duties then we cry at the market Crosse Let us be like humble David that Hid the Word of God in his heart and true members of the Spouse of Christ that is said to bee All Glorious within Thirdly in an holy feare of losing it 1. Cor. 10.12 Rev. 2.5 Thirdly Hide it in an holy Feare lest we lose it Non tam ut alij non videant quam ut ipsi non perdant saith one He that standeth let him take heed lest he fall He that loveth let him take heed lest he leave his first love Rev. 2.5 the feare of losing is the mother of care of not losing and an excellent meanes to prevent falling away Rev. 3.11 Hold fast therefore that thou hast that no man take thy crowne Fourthly in an holy selfe-love Haba 2.4 Lastly Hide it in an holy selfe-love The just man saith the Prophet Habaccuk shall live by his owne Faith The faith of the beleeving Husband cannot save the unbeleeving wife nor the faith of the wife the unbeleeving Husband and so it is betweene parents and children pastour and people howsoever therefore the Church of Rome extends the Communion of Saints even to the partaking of other mens merits and hath erected a Common Treasury in the Church Let us follow the counsell of the Apostle Let every man prove his owne worke then shall he have rejoycing in himselfe alone and not in another For every man shall beare his owne burthen Gal. 6.4.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and if any foolish Virgin shall say unto us Give us of your oyle for our lampes are out let us answere them as the wise Virgins did Not so Ne non sufficiat nobis vobis lest there be not enough for us and for you Mat. 25 8 9. but goe ye rather to them that sell and buy for your selves Fourthly saith our Saviour 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 4. Duty He considers what he hath to doe He goes his way that is if there be any Emphasis in this word he withdrawes himselfe for consideration As Salomon saith of the wise woman Pro. 31.16 she considereth a field and buyeth it so he considers with himselfe what was to bee done for the purchasing of the field and obtaining of the Treasure Abit that is studiosè conatur saith Oâ—cumenius Vse And this consideration is of great use in our spirituall purchase To make profession of the Gospel in good earnest Consideration necessary when we enter vpon profession and to stand for the truth against all opposition and rather to lose our livings liberties and lives then to make shipwracke of Faith and good conscience is no slight or easie matter The marriage of our soules unto the Lord Jesus for ever and ever is not to be taken in hand rashly or unaduisedly but soberly discreetly and in the feare of God Let us therefore when we begin to build our Towre Luk. 14.28 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 31. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sit downe first and count the cost whether we have sufficient to finish it And when wee goe to warre against the enemies of Christs Kingdome sit downe first consult of our ability When we goe about to make this purchase let us consider seriously what it will or may cost us lest we begin rashly and hotly as many doe and be not able to goe through but give over in the plaine field In a word that which Christ would have us to consider is this That whosoever resolveth not to forsake all that he hath cannot be his Disciple Luk 14.33 and whosoever resolveth not to sell all that hee hath cannot purchase this field and Treasure And so I come to the fift and last but not the least duty He sells all that he hath and buyes that Field Observe here The 5. Duty He sels all and buyes the field beloved that he buyes the field not so much for it selfe as for the Treasures sake So Lyra emit aegrum ut habeas jus possidendi Thesaurum Obser 1 It was not Earth but Treasure that he had most mind unto to teach us why we are to prize the Word of God He buyes the Field for the Treasures sake not propter se sed propter aliud not for it selfe but for grace and glory but of this after in the application of the parable Obser 2 Observe againe that this man though he buy the field yet payes not a penny for the Treasure By which He payes nothing for the Treasure Grace and glory are the free gifts of God as I conceive our Saviour would intimate vnto us that the Treasures of the Kingdome are unvaluable and are the gifts of God not the purchases of men with mony or monies worth Deus donater est non venditor saith Philo God is a free giver and not a Merchant of his grace or glory The Papists indeed have coyned for themselues a mony of merits to buy the Kingdome of Heaven with all But Saint Paul tels us Eph. 2.8 that By grace we are saved through faith and that not of our selves it is the gift of God And though sinners purchase hell Rom. 6.23 yet the gift of God is eternall life through Iesus Christ our Lord. And againe Non sunt condignae passiones nostrae the short sufferings of this life 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of this short moment are not worthy of the glory which shall be revealed Rom. 8.18 They are worthy say the Papists they are not worthy saith Paul and whether of these we should beleeve judge ye But to end this point I say to such merit-mongers as Simon Peter said to Simon Magus Act. 8.20 Thou and thy money perish together Doest thou thinke the gifts and graces of the Holy Ghost can be bought with money or that any thing we can doe or suffer can be aequivalent to the Kingdome of Heaven Now because this fift
God as the Apostle speaketh 2. Tim. 3.4 not that ever any were so simple as to say thus with their tongues or to kneele downe and worship their bellies for their God but hee that knoweth the heart and raines telleth us that thus it is and the Apostle tels us that in the last dayes thus it should be Loe then unlawfull things wil not be parted withall for the Treasures sake And as for lawfull things I meane the good Blessings of this Life Much lesse will they part with lawfull things Oh where is the man to be found that is content to part with them Where is the man that esteemes basely of them as drosse and doung in respect of Christ and sauing graces that layeth them aside for conscience sake when the publike and private exercises of Religion call for their devotion attendance Where is the man that parteth with them cheerefully to good and commendable uses sowing liberally that hee may reape liberally at the harvest that in preparation of heart hath resolved if persecution come to suffer the losse of all joyfully knowing in himselfe that he hath in heaven a better and an enduring substance where is the man that when losses affliction and death come can bid them all adue and that from his heart that hee may enjoy the Heavenly Treasure I speake not this Beloved as if I thought there were none such to be found some yea many there are I doubt not and I pray God increase the number of them but yet in respect of the multitude they are as rare as Blacke Swans The most part of men every where dote upon the world loving it onely and altogether or at least in the first and chiefest place How many Esaus are there in the world that say Tush what is this Birthright to me give me the pottage so red Gen. 25.32 How many Gadarens that will rather part with their Saviour Mar. 5.17 then with their very Swine Mar. 26.15 How many Iudasses that will sell their Saviour and their Soules for thirty pieces of silver nay for a farthing token Troche ludunt prandium perdunt pueri Children saith Chrysostome Chrys will play with their toppes and play away their dinners and most men childishly for toyes and trifles lose their God and heaven and their owne precious soules Hagar now adayes hath beaten her Mistresse Sarah out of doores Gen. 16.6 I meane the love of the world hath beaten the love of God and of Religion out of our hearts The world the world that 's our Treasure If our Saviours rule be true That where our hearts be there are our Treasures also Matthew 6.21 Mat. 6.21 then it is most plaine that wee have layd up our Treasures upon Earth for our thoughts our words our works our company are all worldly all earthly All the day all the weeke yea and the Sabbath day too is too little for the world Now if any man love the world saith Saint Iohn in expresse tearmes the love of the Father is not in him 1. Ioh. 2.15 1. Joh. 2.15 and as the ground where gold groweth is barren of all other things so an heart set vpon the world Simile is ever barren and devoid of heavenly graces for ye cannot serve God and Mammon saith our Saviour Mat. 6 24. Mat. 6 24. As for our buying of the Field I meane the Truth and Word of God 2 Men will not buy the Word it grieves my soule to think how the Booke of God is generally neglected his tenth part for the maintenance of his Ministers defrauded gelt and curtayled and all the labour the most men take for buying Truth is but to sit and give the Minister the hearing no preparation made before and after no meditation no conference no repetition of the things they have heard 3 At least not the Treasure no turning the Sermons into Prayer or into Practise Men place the utmost of their Religion in this they have read the Word they have heard the Sermon but never shew me the Meat but shew me the Man Never tell me thus many Chapters I have read thus many Sermons I have heard But tell mee what art thou what knowledge hast thou gotten what faith what hope what love what patience what temperance what humility what thankfulnesse what obedience what good hast thou gotten by the Word How justly may we take up the complaint of Salomon Pro. 17.16 Pro. 17.16 Why is there a price in the hand of a foole to get wisedome but he wants an heart Men have money time wit strength meanes of all sorts to buy the Field and to gaine the Treasure but the foole wants an heart eyther they get not the Word or get no knowledge out of the Word or turne not their knowledge into gracious practise Scire cupiunt tantum ut sciant They desire to know onely that they may know as if a man should get together Nummum ad numerandum Mony onely to number and tell it over Vas vitreum lingimus sed pultem non attingimus and not to buy necessaries withall and if it be thus with them certainly they may have got the Field the shell the huske and empty Casket but they have not gotten yet one peny-worth of the Treasure And by these meanes it comes to passe that while the Divel and the world have multitudes of Chapmen flocking and thronging about them to buy their Pedling-stuffe and painted Bables Simile The Lord may stand in the high places of the City making Proclamation Hoe come and buy of me Isa 55.1 Isa 55.1 and offering his rich and inualuable Treasures and few or none will come to the price Something they will bid and something they are content to give But hoc aliquid nihil est this something is as good as nothing for when he tels them They must sell all that meane to have the Treasure they goe away sorrowfull Joh. 6. â—0 saying in themselves Durus est hic sermo this is an hard saying and who can beare it this is an hard purchase and who can buy it as if poore soules that heaven and happines should be bought at too deare a rate if they should give their sins and vanities in exchange for it Vse 2 But alas alas Non Priamus tanti totaque Troia fuit All the lusts of Hell are not worth so much Mat. 16.26 and it will be a poore advantage to win the whole world and to lose Gods Kingdome and their owne soules Of ExhortatioÌ„ to withdraw our love from sin the world and set it on better things Let the second use be for Exhortation Let us all beloved in the Lord be persuaded to call off withdraw our love and affections from our sinfull lusts and from this present evill world and to settle and fasten them upon the Treasures of the Word namely upon Christ upon grace and upon glory
have glory now to become the Subject of Jesus Christ submit to the gracious regiment and scepter of his Word and Spirit Rom. 14.8 live to God not to thy selfe by faith and not by sense rule over thy lusts that would rule over thee 2. Cor 5 7. be a little King in thine owne bosome If thou art risen with Christ and ascended with Christ Phil. 3.20 thy heart and conversation is in Heaven and no question but thou shalt at the day of thy Death enter into the Kingdome of Heaven Nay happy soule take this for thy comfort thou hast an Heaven vpon earth The faithfull have eternall life already thou hast taken possession of it already Beleeve not me beleeve the holy Scriptures This is life eternall to know aright thee and him whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ Ioh. 17.2 Ioh 3.36 He that beleeveth in the Sonne hath everlasting life He hath that life begun in his soule that never shall be put out againe and by the lively fruits of faith this life may be knowne as Saint Iohn saith By this we know that we are translated from death to life 1 Ioh. 3.14 because we love the brethren a point of vnspeakable comfort to the child of God if it be well weighed Vse 2 But as for those that are slaves to sinne and Satan drudges to the world Enemies of Christ hope for heaven in vaine rebels against Christ enemies of his gracious government that say with those in the 19. of Luke ver 14 Noturnus hunc regnare We will not have this man to reigne over vs that will have their wills and fight for their lusts alas they have no grace in them have neither ability to doe good duties nor make conscience of doing them Let all such know in vaine they expect at their Death to enter into Heaven Indeed they bow their knee to Christ and call him King but in the meane season they put into his hand a Scepter of Reed and so mocke him and yet they looke when they dye to be caught up into Heaven in a whirlwind with Elias 2. Kin. 2.11 1. Cor. 4.20 But be not deceived God is not mocked The Kingdome of God is not in word but in power saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 4.20 And againe 1. Cor. 6 9. Simile The uncleane and unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdome of God For as the Heathens so placed the two Temples of Vertue and Honour that no man could enter into that of Honour but first he must passe thorough the other of Vertue In like manner the Lord hath so placed these two parts and degrees of the Kingdome of Heaven that no man can possibly enter into that of glory but first he must passe thorough this of grace And this shall suffice for the first circumstance by which this Purchase is set foorth unto us and that is the NAME or title The Kingdome of Heaven The second followes and that is the value The Kingdome of Heaven is like vnto a TREASVRE The second circumstance But what is a Treasure Thesaurus saith Musculus est copia facultatum bonorum ad omnem eventum jam parata The value It is like a Treasure What a Treasure is A Treasure is the abundance of riches laid up in store for all assayes Thesaurus constat de Raris pretiosis durabilibus saith Hugo It consists of things rare not common pretious not vile durable not of small continuance In a word it is a great masse of silver gold jewels pretious stones great for quantity rich and excellent for quality containing much in a little ready for all occasions laid up as we say for a rainy day and therefore is peculiar to Kings and Princes Now Grace is a Treasure saith our Saviour Doct. yea saith Salomon The merchandize of wisedome that is of Grace is better then of Silver and the Gaine thereof then of fine Gold Grace is a Treasure Pro. 3.14 15. She is more pretious then Rubyes and all Desireable things are not to be compared to her Take triall in one or two graces A meeke and a quiet Spirit in the Hidden man of the heart is a better ornament to a woman saith Saint Peter then all outward adorning plaiting of haire wearing of gold or putting on of apparell for it is in the sight of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of great price and value 1. Pet. 3.4 1. Pet. 3.4 when a woman meekely submits her selfe unto her Husband as her head for the ordinance of Gods sake this one grace is worth all the outward ornaments and abiliments in the world See it in another grace The Trial of your Faith that is Bifeild your Faith which is tryed and approved is much more precious then gold that perisheth 1. Pet. 1.7 saith S. Pet. Loe Faith is precious as gold as tried gold yea more yea much more pretious thē tried gold for gold perisheth V. 8. but faith saveth Faith unites the soule to Christ Col. 2.3 Deus est summum bonum fons omnis boni in whom are hid the Treasures of divine wisedome and knowledge Col. 2.3 and by Christ it unites vs to the Father the holy Ghost it makes God the chief good and fountaine of all good to be our God and portion As for Glory that is a Treasure indeed a Treasure laid up in Heaven Glory is a Treasure also there is perfit Holinesse perfit Happinesse Aderit omne bonum aberit omne malum There is the presence of all good and the absence of all evill Augustin There is no sinne no sorrow no want no annoyance no feare of change there is more then eye hath seene 1. Cor. 2.9 eare hath heard of or mans narrow heart can comprehend In a word it is a Treasure that cannot be valued that cannot be wasted Vse 1 Is it thus Beloved that the Kingdome of Heaven is a Treasure let this set an edge upon that Exhortation of our Saviour Seeke Gods Kingdome first Mat. 6.33 Mat. 6.33 Seeke ye first the Kingdome of God and his righteousnesse Let it move us to set our first and best affections and endeavours on grace and glory We covet riches we covet Treasures Loe the onely true riches Quis nisi mentis inop◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luke 16.11 Mat. 6.19 Pro. 10.2.11.4 and heavenly Treasure Treasure on earth cannot be secured from the Canker from the Theefe saith our Saviour but these are durable The Treasures of wicked men profit nothing neyther doe Riches availe in the day of wrath but Righteousnesse delivereth from Death Once cre ye die one graine of Faith though as small as a graine of mustard-seed will be worth all the perishing gold of India For the end of your Faith is the salvation of your soules saith Saint Peter 1. Pet. 1.8 Take therefore to heart the Exhortation of our Saviour Lay not up for your selves Treasures upon
said unto them Will you also go away So say I to you Joh. 6.67 some run to Brownisme some to Familisme some to Anabaptisme some to Papisme some to flat Atheisme will you also goe away Let each of you answer in the secret of his heart with Simon Peter verse 68. 68. Master whither or to whom shall we goe Thou hast the Words of eternall life And this of the third circumstance The place or situation of the Treasure I come unto the fourth and last and that is The fourth Circumstance The Difficulty The difficultie of finding and obtaining it It is Thesaurus absconditus a Treasure HIDDEN in the Field The Kingdome of Heaven is like c. Our Saviour doth not liken it to an open Treasure in the Kings Court or Exchequer It is an hidden Treasure Non apertus in aulâ— sed absconditus in agro but to a Treasure hid in a field Nature her selfe hath hidden gold and silver in the inward mines and bowels of the earth farre remote from the eyes of men as foreknowing that they would prove occasions and incentives of pride ambition and covetousnesse contention warre and bloudshed And as Nature so experience teacheth men to hide their Treasures Depraedari desiderat saith Gregory qui Thesaurum in viâ publicâ portat Gregory He desires to be lightned of his Treasure that carries it in open view Isa 39.1.6 Hezekiah shewes his Treasure to the Embassadours of Babel and shortly after they were fetcht away to Babel Is 39.4.6 Treasures you see are to be Hidden In like manner Grace and Glory are hid Treasures Doctr. Grace and Glory are hidden hidden in the Word and hidden in themselves and in the world First Grace and heavenly wisedome lies not fleet in the letter in the upper Rine and barke of Scripture In the Word but deepe and low in the marrow and bowels of it Latet Christus saith Hugo Hugo in cortice literae vt Moses in fiscella scirpeâ Christ lyes hid in the ryne of the letter as Moses in the Arke of Bulrushes Exod. 2.3 Exod. 2.3 and Great is the mystery of godlinesse saith Saint Paul 1. Tim. 3.16 1. Tim. 3.16 As for Glory it is indeed described in the Word yet alas very darkely and obscurely in types and shadowes as of Crownes of Kingdomes and of Treasures So that secondly both Grace Glory are Hidden froÌ„ the men of the world To wordly men Mat. 11.25 1. Cor. 2.14 as our Saviour saith And S. Paul tels us That the Naturall maÌ„ perceives not the things of God he savours them not they are foolishnesse unto him The Crosse of Christ is a scandall Faith is a fancy Mortification is onely a bridling of nature Sanctification is but Hypocrisie and an outward shew yea Heaven it selfe is but a Dreame or â—able like the Poets Elysian fields Platoes Common-wealth or Moores Vtopia at least they thinke as slightly of it as of some farre countrey that little concerneth them they cannot with the eye of sense or carnall reason see the spirituall beauty of it and therefore are so farre from desiring with Saint Paul to be dissolved Phil. 1.23 that they say in their hearts with profane Esau Tush what is this birthright to me and with that Cardinal that would not give his part in Paris for his part in Paradise Thirdly Grace is an hidden and secret worke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Grace is a secret worke Rom. 7 22. 1. Pet. 3.4 In the Inner man as Saint Paul saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the hidden man of the heart as Saint Peter phraseth it It makes no glorious show or splendour in the world it alters not the visage or person of a man it sets no Crowne on his head it puts no gold ring on his finger or gorgeous attire on his backe The Kingdome of God comes not Luk. 17.20.21 saith our Saviour 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with observation or as Agrippa and Bernice came with Fesâ—â—s to keepe the Assizes Act. 25.24 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with great pompe and glory No no 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith our Saviour it is within you it is seated in your mind Luk. 17.21 will and affections Grace makes an ignorant man wise to salvation a couetous man liberall a proud man humble a drunkard sober and temperate aâ— unbeleever faithfull a worldling heavenly minded in a word it makes the Kings daughter all glorious within it is a secret worke Psal 45.13 Yea further it is oftentimes so hidden in the children of God under many outward infirmities Grace overwhelmed in Gods children under Crosses 1 Joh. 3.1 Esa 53.3 Psa 73.15 of poverty infamy and crosses that as Saint Iohn saith The world knowes them not can see in them no forme beauty or comelinesse that they should desire them but as the Psalmist saith they condemne the Generation of the righteous and no marvell for they are Gods hidden ones And yet further And under corruptions and sins it is oft so hidden in them under many sinnefull corruptions as ignorance unbeliefe pride hypocrisie anger yea and sometimes grosse and open sins as in the case of David and Peter that not onely carnall men cannot see their grace and goodnesse but even themselves doe question whether they have any true grace in them or no and though they have it yet they want the feeling and comfort of it for a time crying out with David Ps 77.8 Joh. 2.4 The Lord hath cast me off for ever and with Ionas I am cast out of his sight and no marvell for I am but an Hypocrite I have no truth of grace in me And as for Glory as the excellency thereof appeareth not to the carnall eye of sense or reason it being within the vaile Heb. 6.19 Heb. 6.19 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so through the weakenesse of our faith even we that beleeve doe see the beauty of it but dimly as he in the Gospel saw men walking like trees and a farre off as Moses saw Canaan from the top of Pisgah Deut 34. Onely now and then in the vigour of our Faith we may with Moses Heb. 11.27 Act. 7.56 see him that is invisible and with Stephen see Heaven opened and Christ Iesus ready to receive us and yet so as when we shall come thither we shall be forced to say as the Queene of Saba 1. Kin. 10.7 The one halfe of this Glory was not told me in mine owne Country And thus we see the truth of the point Vse 1 Let it be of use unto us beloved to teach us not to wonder or be offended Musculus Be not offended that few regard it that the Kingdome of Heaven á tam paucis ambitur is so little sought after or regarded and so much neglected and despised in the world T is a Treasure indeed but HIDDEN and unknowne and because unknowne therefore undesired Ignoti
nulla cupido Men see not the hidden excellency of the Scriptures and of Grace in them and in Gods children in whom it is overwhelmed with infirmities and corruptions Mar 4.11 To you saith our Saviour to his faithfull disciples it is given to know the Mystery of the Kingdome of God to them without all these things are done in parables Indeed the Scriptures and Religion for the power of it are to them a mystery Joh 4.10 a parable and a very riddle If thou knewest the gift of God saith our Saviour to the Samaritan woman and who it is that speaketh to thee thou wouldest have asked so say I of the men of this Generation If they knew the worth of Grace and the happy estate of Gods children they would not so neglect and contemne as they doe both the word and Christ Faith and Glory As our Saviour spake in great compassion and sorrow over Jerusalem now ready to perish O Ierusalem Luk. 19.42 Ierusalem If thou hadst knowne even thou at least in this thy day the things that belong unto thy peace but now they are HID from thine eye So say I with a bleeding heart over many of you my brethren If you had knowne even you at least in this your day the things that belong unto your peace If the drunkard the swearer the blasphemer the Sabbath-breaker the adulterer and the covetous worldling did know the things that belong unto their peace they would not so neglect and undervalue the Kingdome the word of God the graces of the Spirit and the joyes of Heaven but alas alas these things are hidden from their eyes 2. Cor. 4.7 in whom the God of this world hath blinded their minds lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ should shine unto them But let no wise man thinke the worse of Religion because it is so commonly neglected for as the Apostle saith 2. Cor 4.3 If our Gospel be Hid it is Hid to them that perish And as it is true of knowledge in generall so of divine and heavenly knowledge in particular Scientia non habet inimâ—cum nisi ignorantem it is hated of none despised of none but such as doe not discerne the hidden excellency of it V. 7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because we have this Treasure in earthen vessels as the Apostle speakes in the same place Vse 2 Secondly and to conclude if Grace and Glory be a Treasure hidden in the Word how carefull should we be to follow the counsell of our Saviour in Io. 5.39 Search the Scriptures diligently Joh. 5.39 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Search the Scriptures for in them we looke to have eternall life How should we search and digge in these holy Mines as with spades and mattocks not for the literall meaning of them but especially for the spirituall How should we follow the counsell of Salomon Cry for knowledge Pro. 2 3 4. and call for understanding seeke her as silver and search for her as for HID TREASVRES V. 6. for then saith Salomon We should understand the feare of the Lord and find the knowledge of God then should we perceive the excellency of Grace not onely by speculation in our braines but even in our hearts and soules we should taste feele the goodnes and sweetnes of it to our unspeakable comfort When we come at any time to reade or heare the Word how should we pray with David Lord open thou mine eyes that I may beheld the wonderfull things contained in thy Law Psal 119.18 And when the eyes of our minds are opened to behold them how should we prayse the Lord in the words of our Saviour I thanke thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth Mat. 11.25 because thou hast Hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto Babes Even so O Father because it seemed good in thy sight V. 26. And thus you have heard the first generall part of the Text namely the heavenly purchase set forth unto us by foure severall circumstances the name the value the place and the difficulty of obtaining We should now proceede to the second generall part namely to show what is to be done about the obtaining of this Purchase to our selves But the handling hereof will require another houre Let us therefore pray to God for a blessing upon that that hath beene already spoken The end of the first Sermon THE HIDDEN TREASVRE OPENED IN A SECOND SERMON UPON MATTHEVV 13.44 Preached by ZACHARY CATLIN Minister of Gods word at Thurstone in SVFFOLKE To him that overcommeth I will give to eate of the HIDDEN Manna REV. 2.17 LONDON Printed by M. Flesher for ROBERT DAVVLMAN at the signe of the Brazen-Serpent in Pauls Churchyard 1633. THE SECOND SERMON MATTHEVV 13.44 Againe the Kingdome of Heaven is like unto Treasure Hid in a field the which when a man hath found he hideth and for ioy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath and buyeth that field HAving spoken of the first generall part of this Text in the former Sermon namely of the Heavenly purchase about which we are to be employed entituled by our Saviour The Kingdome of Heaven likened for value to a Treasure placed and scituate in a field yea and said to be Hidden in that field to note the difficultie of obtaining it The second generall part What is to be done to obtaine the purchase J now proceede unto the second generall part propounded at the first Namely what is to be done by us about the acquiring of it to our selves and here our blessed Saviour propounds unto us for out direction the example of a worldly wise man in this parable in whose steps we are directed to tread and they are five In five particulars First he findes the Treasure Secondly he rejoyces in his finding for that is next in order of nature though not in the order of the words Thirdly he hideth it againe Fourthly he withdrawes himselfe for consideration Fiftly and lastly he sels all that he hath to buy that field not for it own sake but for the Treasures sake which Treasure when a man hath found He hides it saith our Saviour and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath to buy that field Duty 1 First of all he findes the Treasure A Treasure is sometimes casually found before ever it be sought He findes it Note Finding is Gods free gift 1. Sam. 9. Acts 9. So the Lord doth oftentimes prevent us with his Grace while we are conversant in the field of the word for by-respects As Saul seeking his Fathers asses found a kingdome so Paul seeking the blood of Martyrs in the way to Damascus found the bloud of Iesus and this kingdome of heaven In like manner the woman of Samaria seeking the water of Iacobs Well Iohn 4. found the God of Iacob and the water of life And so the Jailour and many others according to that
notable saying of the Lord himselfe Act. 16. Isa 65.1 Isa 65.1 I was found of them that sought me not And it is truely affirmed by Hilary Hilary Thesaurum in venisse gratuitum est It is the free grace of God preventing us that any man should find the Treasure for flesh and blood reveales it not c. Mat. 16.17 Matt. 16.17 Vse But yet beloved finding implyes our duty of seeking Yet we must seeke Gods Kingdome and righteousnes Mat. 6.33 Pro. 2.4 It is the expresse precept of our Saviour elsewhere Seek ye first of all the Kingdome of God and his righteousnesse Mat. 6.23 the counsell of Salomon Pro. 2.4 Seeke her that is wisedome or grace as silver search for her as for Hid Treasures Labour we therefore for illumination for conversion for repentance and for faith and take we this for our comfort Motive The Lord will reveale this Treasure unto us he will enlighten our minds and sanctifie our hearts he will let us see our sinnes and withall his mercy in the pardon of them and the way how to get the dominion over them For if he be found of them that seeke him not how much more will hee be found of us if wee seeke him in vprightnesse of heart For so saith our Saviour expresly Matt. 7.7 Seeke and ye shall finde and againe Every one that seeketh findeth Be exhorted therefore in the words of the Prophet To seeke the Lord while he may be found and to call upon him while he is neere Isa 55.6 seeke the Lord in his Temple and the heavenly Treasure in the field of his Word Duty 2 Secondly he rejoyces in his Finding for that is next in order of time and nature He reioyces though not of the words as they lie in the Text. Finding even of an Earthly Treasure bringeth no question great joy especially in this golden age of the world But to finde the pardon of our sins So must we to be assured of the love of God in Christ and that we shall overcome Satan and all our corruptions and finally attaine eternall life this must needs bring Joy unspeakable and glorious as Saint Peter calls it 1. Pet. 1.8 Zacheus found this Treasure and he Rejoyced The Iaylour found this Treasure and he Rejoyced Luk. 19.6 Act. 16.34 Act. 8.39 The Eunuch found this Treasure and he went on his way Rejoycing Act. 8 39. And David professeth of himselfe Psa 119.162 I rejoyced in thy Word as one that findeth great spoyles Indeed all beleevers have not this joy alike Caution Some have it more at their first conversion and lesse after some lesse at first and more after and never any have it at all times alike but with some remission of degree and intermission of feeling But this is a certaine truth that it is to be found more or lesse in all those that finde this Treasure Vse Abandon we therefore my brethren all false joyes of sinne Let this be our chiefest Joy Jer. 9.23 the object onely of griefe and sorrow and all petty joyes of worldly pleasures profits and honours in companion of this Let not the wise man saith the Lord glory in his wisedome nor the strong man in his might nor the rich man in his riches that is to say comparatively but let him that glorieth glory in this Luk. 10.20 that he knoweth me to be the Lord. Rejoyce not in this saith our Saviour that the spirits or divels be subdued unto you but rather that your Names are written in Heaven that you are enrolled as Subjects into this Kingdome And in this rejoyce and spare not the true ground of sound comfort is in the grace and favour of God manifested to us in our true conversion I wonder they that want it can be so merry and that those that have it can be so sad Rev. 3.17 If we have found our selves heretofore most miserable poore and naked out of Gods favour in the cords of sinne in the jawes of Satan every moment in the danger of hell fire and now by the mercy of God finde our selves delivered from these miseries and enstated in a Kingdome and a Treasure how can we possibly be sad Let us with David checke our selves for our lumpish pensivenes Why art thou thus cast downe O my soule Psal 43.5 and why art thou thus disquieted within me and make conscience of the Apostles earnest charge Rejoyce in the Lo d evermore Phil. 4.4 and againe I say Rejoyce for the fruit of the Spirit is joy and peace and the Kingdome of God is Righteousnesse and Peace Rom. 14.17 and Ioy in the Holy Ghost In a word spirituall joy is a certaine consequent and assured note of one that hath found the Treasure The 3. Duty He hides it Lyra. Thirdly having found it and rejoyced in it he hideth it againe Lyra observeth that a Treasure hid in any mans ground is ordered by the civill law for the common peace of men to be equally divided betweene the finder of the Treasure and the owner of the Land Reason This man therefore hides it and conceales it not onely from other men but even from the owner and possessour of the field lest having gotten knowledge of it he would not have parted with the field at least would have claymed halfe the Treasure no marvell therefore though he hides it Not that thus it ought to be but that too too often thus it is It is naught it is naught saith the buyer but when he is gone aside he boasteth Prov. 20.14 Pro. 20.14 So wise and wily are the children of this world in their generation as our Saviour observeth Luk. 16.8 Luk. 16.8 As this man so generally all men use to hide their Treasures lest other men should defraud them at least share with them and so their Dividend and share should be the lesse Indeed there is no such cause in Christs Kingdome in that respect There is grace and glory enough for us all For besides that God cannot bee mocked or beguiled of his Treasure There is in the Word Grace enough for us all and though we bee many hearers yet every hearer may have all And in Christ there is merit enough to supply us all and in heaven is glory enough to make us all fully happy Joh. 14.2 In my Fathers house saith our Saviour are many mansions many dwelling places roome enough And indeed such is the nature of spirituall graces and blessings that the more they are communicated unto others the more they are increased in themselves like the widowes oyle that multiplied more the oftner it was powred from vessell to vessell 2. King â— 2 Neverthelesse How wee must hide our graces to hold proportion to the parable in the application of it to our selves I conceive it is fit for us to Hide our Treasure also and that in three or foure respects