a resplendent gem which draweth all eyes to it Secondly in Pearles is firmnesse and strength so hard and firme are some of them as fire consumeth them not nor much strength can breake them euen so firme and sure are the promises of the Gospell all of them are Yea and amen 2 Cor. 1.20 fire nor water prosperitie nor aduersitie can conquer them so firme is sauing grace which can neuer bee shaken out of the heart Thirdly 2 Tim. 3. last their magnitude and greatnesse so great is the mysterie of godlinesse amongst all Gods secrets there is none so great as this of mans redemption In the beholding of which the Angels cannot yet satisfie themselues 1 Pet. 1.12 Fourthly equalitie roundnesse much commend pearles The Gospell is offered to all alike to beleeuers and vnbeleeuers to masters and seruants rich and poore it is no fault of the Gospell if thou beest not saued by it 5. 5. For the effects which are three 1. To inrich In regard of their effects Pearles supplie our needs at al seasons and therefore Nonius a Senator of Rome persecuted by M. Antonius prouided only for himselfe an Vnion of inestimable price to carry with him in his flight by which alone bee was rich enough So the Gospell supplieth all our wants Christ in the Gospell supplieth vs all things prouideth for vs bread of life and water of life and garments of his owne righteousnesse hee payeth all our debts inricheth vs with inestimable treasures and naked Christ is wealth enough Secondly 2. To adorne Pearles serue for ornament and honour and shew a man to be in dignity some hang them in their eares some hang them in golden chains vpon their brests some set them in gold and weare them on their singers So the Gospell is the honour and ornament of a Christian and maketh vp all his indignities wrongs while he hangeth it on his eare by diligent and carefull hearing while he fastneth this Vnion and Pearle and maketh it shine by faith in his heart and while he weareth it as a ring on his finger by conscionable practise of the commandements of the Gospell which is to beleeue in the Sonne of God and loue one another this man is honoured of God and all his Saints Thirdly to cure and comfort Thirdly many Pearles are of great vse and effect to preuent poison to preserue naturall strength and recouer it decaied many of them great Cordials and others great comforters of the principall vitall parts of man So the Gospell and good of it preserue the soule from the poison of sinne preserueth supernaturall strength restoreth and reneweth strength of grace decaied is the only heauenly Cordial to comfort the heart in gripes of temptation and accusation it is the comforter in all afflictions that a Christian may say of it as Dauid of the Law Psal 119.92 Had not my comfort beene in thy law I had perished long agoe in my trouble Vse 1 Labour then to see the worth and price of the Gospell that with Christ thou maist preferre this Pearle of the Kingdome aboue all Pearles Kingdomes and value this Pearle of grace aboue al naturall Pearles Our Sauiour would haue vs see how carnall we are while such supernaturall treasures are so slightly accounted and at so little and low a rate with vs. How carnall is it to preferre other Pearles which are from earth or sea before this Pearle which onely is from heauen How vnwise are we so highly to value the Pearles whose matter is dust and slime and whose beautie is by the Sun beames included and contemne the Pearle the matter of which is the eternall loue of God by Iesus Christ and the beautie the light grace of Christ the Sunne of righteousnesse which for the orient brightnesse excelleth the Sunne shining in his strength Beside neuer shall this Pearle be purchased before it be prized nor euer be of vse to vs vntill we haue purchased it as a Pearle keepeth it shine beautie and vertue wrapped vp in the darknesse and bowels of the earth but no whit enricheth him that findeth it not Vse 2 Also let vs place our riches in the Gospell Place our riches in this Pearle which is so farre aboue Pearles as the substance is aboue the shadow Pearles here doe but shadow forth the worth of grace but there is no proportion betweene them in shining vse or beautie First because opinion setteth the price of the one 1. The excellencie of this Pearle aboue all other in fiue things but worth on the other the true worth of the grace of the Gospell heighteneth it to him that can truly esteeme it Secondly no Pearle can buy a graine of grace but grace may bring riches Pearles hauing the promise of this life as well as of that which is to come Thirdly no Pearle can auaile in the day of wrath only grace opposed to Gods displeasure stinteth it Prou. 11.4 Fourthly Pearles and treasures can no way further a mans saluation many wayes doe and may binder it many for gaping after the world lose their owne soules but the wealth of the Gospell only saueth soules and there is no other meanes besides it Fiftly Pearles may make a man rich in this world and adorne the outward man but not the inward neither will they goe with vs hence to doe vs any good here we finde them and here wee leaue them But the rich Pearle of the Gospel is indeed ours and maketh vs richest in heauen content thy selfe therefore with it as the blessed Disciple Peter saying Ioh. 6.68 Master thou hast the words of eternall life and whither shall we goe How haue the Saints esteemed and made grace their only iewell and treasure Ps 119.111 Dauid made the testimonie of God his heritage yea the ioy of his heart Ephes 1.7 The Apostle calleth it a rich grace and Chap. 2.7 the exceeding riches of his grace and Col. 1.17 which riches is Christ in you Ob. But men that seeke after grace are the poorest men meane and vnprosperous in the world Sol. No they are the richest men though neuer so meane in the world they haue many waies to be rich which the worldling wanteth They haue a rich knowledge 1 Cor. 1.27 they haue faith a rich commoditie more precious than gold that perisheth 1 Pet. 1.7 they haue Christ liuing in them and dwelling in them they haue praier a rich storehouse they naue title and are indeed heires of the Kingdome of heauen And suppose they be afflicted reiected and scorned amongst men yet can they with Moses account the rebukes of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt Heb. 11.46 On what a world of sweet content lodgeth in the heart with Christ in want of all things hee hath all things It one aske a Christian What is thy Country he may answer Christ and his Country What is thy kindred Ans Christ is my kindred Matth. 12.50 Behold my mother
one that thirsteth come yee to the waters and ye that haue no siluer come buy and eat come I say and buy wine and milke without siluer and without money Not the least of these commodities are to be valued by money gold pearles and the desirable things of this life Prou. 3.14.15 for the merchandise thereof is better than siluer or whatsoeuer men can deuise or desire besides it Sixtly 6. Circumstances 1. Of time in regard of circumstances of time and place For the time Ciuill merchandising is to be exercised on the six dayes not on the Sabbath day 13. Neh. 19 20. And when the gates of Ierusalem began to be darke before the Sabbath I commanded to shut the gates and charged that they should not be opened till after the Sabbath and some of my seruants set I at the gates that there should be no burden brought in on the Sabbath day So the chapmen and Merchants of all merchandise remained once or twise without Ierusalem But for supernatural and spirituall trading as all the six dayes are fit so the seuenth especially is the Lords mart or market to furnish all his people with prouision for the whole weeke following And for the place All places are not fit for ciuill marts Merchants but the principall prohibited place is the Church the house of God Matth. 21.12 Iesus went into the Temple of God and cast out all them that bought and sold in the Temple and ouerthrew the tables of the money changers and the seats of them that sold Doues Christ would not endure his Fathers house of praier to be made a house of merchandise But in spirituall trading for heauen all places are fit for Christian Merchants who should goe no where but still be trading for grace and continually either be doing of good or taking of good But especially the house of God is the most proper place appointed for the inriching of the heart and increasing of the stocke of faith and knowledge and of all graces So much for the dissimilitude betweene them The similitude and resemblance between earthly and heauenly trading standeth in fiue things Now the similitude and reason of this resemblance standeth in fiue things 1. A Merchant man is a man that dealeth in great and precious commodities The Greeke word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Merchant is no pedler nor chapman of small wares nor taken vp in selling pins or points and toyes for babes but tradeth for great things for great bulks quantities 1. In greatnes of the commodities for great summes and dealeth in most rich commodities So the Christian Merchant carefull for heauen aimeth not at the base profits of this life as siluer gold and such corruptible things for these things are but small in his eye and contemptible in respect of the businesse of iustification of holinesse grace and glory These are that one thing needfull Luke 10.42 and that better part that taketh vp his thoughts and desires such a rich Merchant was Dauid Psal 4.7 Thou hast giuen me more ioy of heart than they haue had when their wheat and their oile did abound Let other men peddle and barter for corne wine and oile the Christian Merchant hath a commoditie beyond all this in his eye Psal 4.6 Lord lift vpon me the light of thy countenance Such a Merchant was Zacheus Luke 18.8 when saluation was come to his house he cast away these pedling profits faster than he gat them halfe hee gaue to the poore and the rest he reserued to restore fourefold Such a one was Paul Phil. 3.8 who counted all things losse and dung in comparison of Christ and to know the vertue of his death and resurrection Such rich Merchants were the Martyrs who hauing heauen in their eye esteemed their goods libertie yea life it selfe not worth hauing in comparison thereof For as a man if hee were as high as the Moone would see the earth but as a pricke so hee whose thoughts are in heauen and his eye on things that are aboue within the veile esteemeth the earth but small and despicable For euen as the great light drowneth the lesser so the bright shining of the Sunne of righteousnesse drowneth all the lesser candles and comforts of this present world Secondly 2. In the skill of the commoditie there is likenesse in the skill of the commoditie hee dealeth in For as a Merchant greatly aduanceth his estate if he haue skill and insight what commodities are like to be of the quickest returne if he know and lay out for the best conditioned commodities of euery kinde So the Christian Merchant labouring for Skill knowledge and sound iudgement in the matter of Religion whereby he may be able to iudge aright of Doctrines deliuered shall grow rich in knowledge and to a great measure of faith and full of Christian wisdome whence the Apostle Phil. 1.10 praieth that they may abound in all knowledge and iudgement to discern things that differ and thus they shall be rich and filled with fruits of righteousnesse vers 11. And contrariwise for want of this skill a Merchant dealing for great bulkes soone falleth into great losses but especially the Ieweller or Lapidarie by ignorance may soone ouerthrow his whole estate in respect of many cheaters and couseners who can notably counterfeit Pearles and make them seeme very orient by false arts and so put away at a great price a peece of a fish bone or shell or some peece of painted glasse for rich Pearles and precious stones Euen so many spirituall Merchants decay and breake for want of this skill by meanes of many imposters and deceiuers heretickes false teachers Apostates Libertine Preachers and the Popish guides furnished with all arts to deceiue as with wit and speech and other insinuatiue faculties that make offer of pibles for Pearls and thrust vpon men for the true Pearle of Gods word the glassie and brickle conceits of mans braines which because they haue made to glister and haue set a good colour on them they hold at as high a rate as any Pearle can be valued and now many inconsiderate persons are taken with the beautie profit or some seeming pleasure and so robbed and gulled of their soundnesse for the present and of their expectations and hopes hereafter Now that we may not be thus abused let vs listen to those Apostolicall precepts Ephes 4.14 Not to be children wauering and carried about with euery wind of Doctrine by the deceit of men and craftinesse whereby they lie in wait to deceiue and in 1 Ioh. 4.1 Beleeue not euery spirit but trie the spirits whether they are of God and 1 Thess 5.21 Trie all things and keepe that which is good Thirdly 3. In conferring of their commodities the similitude is in their conuersing and conferring one with another Euery Merchant will be speaking of his commodities he will make offer of his pearles and wares of
Two Treatises THE PEARLE OF the GOSPELL AND THE PILGRIMS PROFESSION To which is added A Glasse for Gentlewomen to dresse themselues by By Thomas Taylor Preacher of Gods Word to the Towne of Reding LONDON Printed by I. H. for Iohn Bartlet at the gilt Cup in Cheape-side 1625. THE PEARLE of the Gospell OR Jewell Euangelicall 1. Diligently sought 2. Ioyfully found 3. Dearly bought by the wise Merchant Infolded in Christs Parable AND Vnfolded by the Application OF THOMAS TAYLOR Preacher of Gods Word to the Towne of REDING LONDON Printed by I. H. for Iohn Bartlet at the gilt Cup in Cheape-side 1625. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL Mris Elizabeth Backus Wife to Mr. Samuel Backus Esquire and Iustice of Peace And to her three vertuous and religious daughters Mris Mary Standen wife to Mr. Standen Esquire and Iustice of the Peace Mris Flower Backus wife of Mr. Iohn Backus Esquire and Mris Elizabeth Bellingham wife to Mr. Richard Bellingham Esquire Grace and Peace from the Fountains Right Worshipfull PEarles are small in quantitie but great in their hidden qualitie and smaller often in the weight than in their worth such an one is this which I haue presented vnto you as a token of my due respect and vnfained loue to your selfe and the Church in your familie Pearles from earth fit not common persons but this from heauen belongeth to all who meane to partake in the common saluation As this Pearle is yours in the common right of Saints so this offer of its is yours by a second and more peculiar right as who first helped it out of the darke into this light Your earnest and often desires of some of the written notes of this Treatise drew from me a promise the thought of the paiment whereof was my first thought of this publication And now this Pearle being yours weare it as your chiefe ornament the price of which raiseth your owne price and reckoning in the eyes of God and good men Pro. 30.10 aboue the Carbuncles and Rubies Other ornaments seuered from this are but beautifull vanities The largest reuenues the richest estates the most ample treasures the costliest cabinets filled with pearles and precious stones sets the person wanting this pearle in no higher reckoning than common flints or other contemptible stones Isa 40.15 with him to whom the Nations are but as the drop of a bucket or as the dust of a balance So of all naturall endowments wee may compare them as Salomon doth beautie to a ring of Gold which outwardly commendeth the wearer But the iewell of this ring is this pearle of the Gospell or the life of the Gospell in the life of the Gospeller Let this Iewell be lost once or missing the ring may be gilded and glistering without but the touchstone and triall will finde that it was neuer gold 3 Ioh. 4. And because I know that you haue no greater ioy than to see your children walke in the truth I am assured you will gladly afford them an equall share with you in this so precious a commoditie and therefore haue I taken them into this dedication Psal 127.5 Blessed are you that haue your quiuer full of such louely arrowes Of the vertuous woman is said Her children praise her Prou. 31.28 Were this a verball praise of the mouth children might seeme testes è sinu and the spreaders of the partiall praises of their mother but this is an actuall and solid commendation and vnsuspected when the shining vertues of the feare of God sobrietie and modest conuersation of children proclaime the grace pietie and care of the mothers education Among that rich store of earthly comforts with which God hath beset you you haue none comparably gracefull to this if you except your sweet societie with your graue and religious husband And now to you three daughters worthy of such a Mother When I call to remembrance the vnfained faith which dwelt and yet dwelleth in your Grand-mother whose reuerend old age is crowned with an ancient and honorable profession and practise of holy religion aboue any I know in these parts and in your deare mother and am assured it dwelleth in you also I could not but put you in remembrance to stirre vp the gift of God that is in you And exhort you as you haue happily begun to hold on in the way of grace and see that your works bee more at last than at first God hath aduanced you into the fellowship of religious and compleat Gentlemen your husbands to faire estates and portions in this world but especially to a sure expectation hereafter by meanes of your inseparable coniunction to your Head and Husband Iesus Christ. You must now aduance him who hath thus aduanced you and loue him for himselfe who hath loued you in his Sonne and hold euery new sense of mercy a new spurre and prouocation vnto dutie In the way and pace in which you goe I must acknowledge I passe and slip an opportunitie by passing ouer in silence so many commendable parts in you all Prou. 31.30 which make you worthy to bee praised among women fearing God But my praises can lift you no higher than your owne vertues doe whose diligent paines in gaining knowledge of holy things conscionable practise of sound religion charitable refreshing of the poore members of Christ and whose humble sober wise modest and louely carriage especially in these loose dayes are as so many tongues and mouthes and pens without mine to publish your due praises and knowing that you will be better pleased that I turne my praises into praiers for your progresse and prosperitie in the good way I shall endeuour to supplie that want this way heartily commending you to the power of his grace who only can further enrich you with the pearle of the Gospell who also giue you with the new yeere new supplies of all holy graces till the new man be compleat in Iesus Christ in whom I rest Your Worships to be vsed for your furtherance in the faith THO. TAYLOR THE PEARLE OF the Gospell MATTH 13.45 The Kingdome of Heauen is like vnto a Merchant man that seeketh good pearles Who hauing sound a pearle of great price went and sold all that he had and bought it OVr Lord Iesus comming from the bosome of the Father to reueale the mysterie hid from the beginning of the world spent the whole time of his ministerie in discouering to the Church the excellencie the vtilitie and the necessitie of that blessed and sauing truth the daughter of eternitie without which the whole world had lien in perpetuall death and darknesse This parable among many The scope of this Parable and aboue many manifests that how base soeuer and vile the things of God seeme to naturall men yet there is such worth vertue price and beautie in them as the godly man who only can discerne them will exchange all he hath with them yea part with all the world before he will part
with them In which Parable consider foure things Foure parts of the Text. 1. What is this kingdome of heauen 2. What is this pearle and the goodnesse of it 3. Who is this Merchant man 4. What are his actions namely three 1. He seeketh good pearles 2. Hee findeth a pearle of great price 3. Hee sold all to buy it For the first By the kingdome of heauen What the kingdome of heauen is not is not meant the blessed estate of the Church triumphant in heauen as in Matth. 5.10 Yours is the kingdome of heauen Nor the Church militant and visible as in Matth. 13.47 which is like a net cast into the Sea Nor the time of grace vnder Christ exhibited to preach in his owne person Mat. 3.3 For the kingdome of God is at hand Nor the estate of grace wherin the elect be iustified by faith and are lead forward by grace toward the kingdome of heauen as Matth. 13.51 The kingdome of heauen is like a graine of mustard seed Nor the kingdome of power by which God in heauen as a King gouerneth all the world and euery particular creature in it What it is But by it is meant the preaching publishing of the Gospell called here 1. A Kingdome 2. A Kingdome of Heauen A Kingdome 1. Why a kingdome 3. Reasons for three reasons 1. Because the doctrine of the Gospell bringeth vs to Christ that he as a King may reigne in vs hence it is called the Gospell of the kingdome Matt. 4.23 2. Because it is a powerfull meanes ordained by God to pull vs out of the kingdome of darknesse and translate vs to the kingdome of his deare Sonne Coloss 1.13 and the Apostle calleth it the power of God to saluation Rom. 1.16 3. Because God hath set it apart not only to erect vp the kingdome of God within vs which standeth in inward righteousnesse peace of conscience the ioy of the Holy Ghost Rom. 14.17 but also to leade vs thorow to the participation of that kingdome of glory reserued in heauen for vs. Secondly of heauen Why of heauen 1. Because of distinction from earthly kingdomes it preacheth Christ a King but withall that his kingdome is not of this world hee ruleth not after a temporall manner but sitteth as King in the spirits of his subiects and ruleth the conscience and holdeth vp this scepter of his kingdome in the hearts of men so as this kingdome is heauenly and spirituall 2. For exaltation and aduancement lifting it vp aboue al that earthly kingdomes can afford for worth and excellencie and so to stirre vp our affections and pull our eyes toward it the very name of it should rauish vs and commend the priuileges of the Gospell vnto vs. 3. For admonition and caution that the subiects of this kingdome should receiue their lawes from heauen and contemning earth earthly things should aspire meditate and frame themselues to heauenly conuersation this very title of the Gospell should be of power to lift vs aboue the earth Now what is meant by this pearle What is meant by the Pearle By the pearle is meant 1. The happy estate of grace here 2. The happy estate of glory hereafter Of which latter see Reuel 21.21 the foundations of the new Ierusalem were garnished with all manner of pretious stones Iasper Saphir Chalcedon and the twelue gates were twelue pearles c. But here it signifieth the happy estate of grace in which wee are still seeking and purchasing the pearle and the good things of the Gospell as namely the glad tidings of it the offer of Christ with his merits the gift of faith iustification sanctification Good things of the Gospell resemble a Pearle in fiue things sanctification and these are called a pearle for sundry reasons 1. For the value and worth of them 1. In value and worth which passe all other treasures in excellencie and estimation As siluer is beyond brasse and gold beyond siluer so pearls are beyond gold and the good things of the Gospell beyond the most precious pearles so saith Salomon Pro. 3.14 15. The merchandise of wisdome is better than the merchandise of siluer the reuenue of it is better than that of gold it is more pretiou than pearles and all thou canst desire are not comparable to it What a world of wealth both spirituall and heauenly is manifested by the Gospell which exhibiteth Christ in whom are al treasures of grace and glory What a rich store-house is Christ himselfe the least drop of whose bloud was more precious than al the world How precious are all his merits and plentifull for redemption What a good thing and precious grace is faith which storeth a man with all the good things of heauen How precious is the doctrine of saluation which must not be cast to swine as Matt. 7.6 Well doth our Sauiour therefore call this a pearl of great price for the most precious pearles in regard oâ— these good things oâ— the Gospell are but dust and clay 2. 2. In rarenesse For the rarenesse Pearles are not so common as pibles nor in the hands of common and ordinary men but fit for Princes great personages common men know them not nor the price nor the vse of them Euen so the good things of the Gospell are not known or obuious to euery one but hidden mysteries vnknowne to the most part of the world and a wisdome reuealed to Babes And as Pearles are easily contemned of vnskilfull persons who are ignorant of their price and vse so the mysteries of the Gospell offer them to the Gentiles they esteeme them foolishnesse 1 Cor. 1.23 to the Iewes they are as a scandall Christ crucified is the very scorne of the world onely a few beleeuers aduanced to be Kings and Priests to God Reu. 1.5 know the price of this commoditie and lay out for it 3. 3. For hidden vertue In regard of the hidden vertue and secret excellencie of them The body and quantitie of a Pearle is small but the vertue and power of it great so the Gospell seemeth small and contemptible Rom. 1.16 but it is the power of God to saluation and faith in the Gospell draweth vertue from Christ to open blinde eyes to cure all spirituall diseases to raise from death in sinne to driue away deuils and breake the force of temptation all the Pearles betwixt heauen earth haue not such power onely faith as small as a graine of mustard seed draweth vertue from Christ and grace though it bee neuer so little if sound it is of power to open blinde eyes and to carry the Saints along vnto their saluation 4. In regard of their excellent qualities Foure qualities of a rich Pearle as puritie and cleerenesse 1. Brightnesse 2. Famnesse 3. Greatnesse 4. Roundnesse and orient brightnesse so the law of the Lord is pure Psal 19. The doctrine of grace for the brightnesse and perspicuitie of it is as
and my brethren and my sisters What is thy wealth and honor Answer Gods Kingdome is mine yea God himselfe he is all things to mee here and hereafter Men cast vp their heads and looke aloft if they be Lords of some small Manour or possession but to be a King or Prince of a peece of earth lifteth them in their conceits aboue the tops of the clouds But a poore Christian is better contented with poore and naked Christ than with all such high and stately vanitie Vse 3 Wee must also doe for the Gospell as men will doe for pearles and treasures Doe for the Gospell as men doe for Pearles take paines to purchase and obtaine it 1. 1. Painfulnes to procure it What a deale of paines and trauell doe men take to Faires and Markets in hope of a little profit of which yet they may be disappointed but refuse all cost and trauell for the Gospell Oh that men would heare the call of the Gospell and seeke for faith aboue siluer and for grace aboue fine gold happy is the man that findeth the merchandise of grace and the commoditie of faith which is aboue all commodities alas that such precious wares should lie neglected and neuer asked after nay refused and thrust off when God maketh offer to thrust the same vpon vs while for euery trifle wee want for euery shooe-string we can inquire aske and pray for but content our selues with goods wanting goodnesse and with a full chest of siluer or gold and a heart emptie of God and his grace woe to so rich a begger and vnhappy is that man that hath only not purchased what was only worth purchasing 2. 2. Carefully locke it vp in thy surest thest Locke vp the doctrine and promises of the Gospell in faith full hearts and memories A man that hath a Iewell of inestimable price will bee sure to locke it vp in the surest chest hee hath How careful then should we be of safe keeping the instructions of Gods word which wee can lightly reiect and will bee more carefull to keepe the least peece of siluer that euer we saw coined than the most inualuable treasures of Gods word that euer we heard preached But Mary pondred Christs words and laid them vp in the closet of her heart Vse 4 Againe Comfort to poore Christians this tends to comfort poore Christians Thou art poore and despised in the world but God hath honoured thee with a Pearle worth all the Kings ransomes in the world Thou art a loser in the world the profits of it flie from thee into other mens hands But 2 Cor. 6.10 as poore and yet making many rich as hauing nothing and yet possessing all things Thou losest thy name goods and libertie but this Pearle remaineth with thee in all estates thou art neuer so poore as thou seemest nor such a loser as the world takes thee for Dauid found the word his comfort in trouble and that kept him from perishing yea the statutes were his songs in the time of his pilgrimage Psal 119.50.54 This of the second thing 3. Who is the Merchant Who the Merchant is Answ Euery Christian man and woman who are in the way to heauen and in respect of their trade of Christianitie are compared to the Merchant Prou. 3.14 for the merchandise of wisdome is better than the merchandise of siluer and the gaine thereof is better than gold Luke 19.13 And hee called his ten seruants and deliuered them ten pecces of money and said vnto them Occupie this till I come Christianitie is a spirituall merchandising I say spirituall to distinguish it from ciuill neither is it altogether so like but that there is much difference and dissimilitude betweene them Seuen differences betweene ciuill and spirituall merchandising and the difference is in seuen things 1. In respect of persons 1. Persons in ciuill societie all must not bee Merchants The Polititians call Merchants Pedes corpor is politici that is the feet of the body politicke both to carry out needlesse commodities into forraine parts and by exchange to bring in more and other necessaries for them Now all the body must not be a foot nor all the members of a naturall body haue the same function But in this mysticall body it is farre otherwayes For here euery Christian ought to bee a Merchant Luk. 19.13 seeing euery Christian man hath receiued some talents of his Lord to trafficke with charge also to trade and occupie with them till hee come And whereas in ciuill dealings Ministers are excepted and prohibited that they must neither make merchandise of the word nor intangle themselues with the affaires of this life 2 Tim. 2.4 No man that warreth intangleth himselfe with the affaires of this life because hee should please him that hath chosen him to be a souldier These are in this supernaturall trading the chiefe Merchants of whom men must expect inquire of these chiefe and heauenly commodities Secondly 2. Commodities in respect of the commodities Ciuill Merchants doe only deale in profits from earth and for earth in earth are they gotten and in the earth are they left but these spirituall Merchants deale in commodities farther fetcht namely from heauen and for heauen not left by vs nor leauing vs till wee get into heauen the Apostle calleth them heauenly things in Christ Thirdly in regard of the manner of obtaining them they doe much differ these are often gotten by indirect meanes as by false weights measures counterfet money lies and oathes and this ciuill merchandising is one of the Arts or Trades that may bee well or ill vsed But in spirituall supernaturall trading the Merchant aduanceth his estate by true and iust meanes onely euery thing is weighed out and taken in by the weights of the Sanctuarie sealed by God himselfe for true and iust they are people of a pure language casting deceit out of their mouthes here they are not craftie Merchants to deceiue their brethren Iohn 1. but true Nathaniels in whom there is no guile Fourthly Fourthly effects in regard of the effects Ciuill trading oft times calleth men from the worship of God and hindreth it Luk. 14.18.19 wee may read of three sorts that refused to come to the supper two of them were Merchants the one had bought a farme and the other fiue yoake of oxen and these must be excused But this euer furthereth it for no man can attaine to the meanes of saluation which is this supernaturall merchandising but by such parts of Gods worship mans duty as the Lord hath appointed in his word Fiftly Fiftly meanes in respect of necessary meanes to vphold and driue the trade withall In ciuill trading money is necessarium subsidium for when men needed not the commodities exchangeable mony was inuented to preserue contracts without which the Merchant cannot compasse his commodities But in supernaturall trafficke the Merchant buyeth without money or money worth Esa 55.1 Hoe euery
we haue receiued of the Lord to trafficke withall what portion or proportion of gifts we haue in our hands and esteeme our selues worth so much as we haue receiued of grace and no more Secondly the Merchant will not lay out his money but for a hopefull bargaine Esay 55.2 Wherefore doe you lay out siluer and not for bread and your labour without being satisfied Hearken diligently vnto me and eat that which is good and let your soule delight in fatnesse taxing the folly of such as labour and dearely buy externall food and prouision with neglect of the wholesome bread and water of life So a wise Christian Merchant will spend his time and labour on that which when hee hath gotten will satisfie him which if hee bestow in outward things suppose hee doth gaine them they cannot satisfie him Eccles 5.9 He that loueth siluer shall not bee satisfied and hee that loueth riches shall be without the fruit there of And of all earthly things may be said that of Salomon The eye is neuer satisfied with seeing nor the eare with hearing onely godlinessE bringeth with it contentment Thirdly the Merchant will often cast his estate his bookes his shops and his reckonings to see whether his stocke increaseth or decayeth If he finde himselfe a gainer then he is glad if the contrary he is heartles and sorrowfull So the Christian Merchant is much and often in trying his estate and standing in grace and is most glad when hee findeth in himselfe increase of grace knowledge humility faith loue c. but it is a death to him to goe backward and to see his estate of grace rather to decrease than increase hee hath no comfort in his present vnfruitfulnesse much lesse in Apostacy and backe-slicing but his comfort and account to the Lord is onely when hee can say Luke 19.13 Lord thy talent hath increased ten talents Vse 3 Let this consideration also comfort godly poore men despised in the world The poorest Christian is a very rich Merchant thou that art a poore Christian in a low estate in the world labour busily for grace and thou maist bee as rich a Merchant haue as rich a stocke and deale in as great and rich commodities if poore in spirit as the richest Thou that hast no money and but little credit in the world maist heere make as good a bargaine and as gainfull returne for thy selfe as he that hath thousands of money beyond thee The poore receiue the Gospell saith our Sauiour that is few but the poore in estate none but the poore in spirit for this trading is without money like the poore womans curing who spent all her money on the Physitians and yet was not cured but Christ commeth and cureth her freely Againe art thou a poore man hast thou a great charge of children and no meanes to put them forth to trades here is a rich trade make Merchants of them teach them and binde them to this trade of godlinesse this is the way to make them prosperous in earth and bring them happily towards heauen Prou. 14.26 The feare of the Lord is an assured strength and his children shall haue hope Vse 4 Haue likewise a care that hauing bought and purchased the Pearle Part not from the Pearle once gotten thou doest not fell it againe Pro. 23.23 Buy the truth but sell it not likewise wisdome and instruction and vnderstanding for what wee sell we esteeme it lesse worth than that we sel it for but we must value this Pearle aboue riches glory libertie Pearles and life it selfe by no meanes part from wisdome neither by our forgetfulnesse security or ouer-sight any way Besides we can sell it for nothing which is not vncertaine gaine but this is most certaine and most lasting and therefore not to bee exchanged with any other This of the third generall The Merchant mans actions are three Three maine actions of a wise Merchant 1. He seeketh a good Pearle 2. Findeth an excellent one 3. Selleth all he hath to buy it Euery man naturally will be seeking some thing to make him happy the naturall man hath some naturall Pearle or other on which hee setteth his affection and in which bee taketh greatest delight Some Merchants esteeme pleasure their best Pearle some honour some riches and the most of the world seeking some Pearle light vpon some counterfeit or other wherein they content themselues and blinde both themselues and others which made an ancient Father cry out Foelix negotiator qui nouit qua rerenon necina vt ambitiosi nen inutiâ—a vt curiosi sed salubria vt sancti Happy is that Merchant that knoweth to seeke not hurtfull things as the ambitious doe nor vnprofitable things as the curious doe but the most wholesome things as doe the Saints but this a supernaturall both seeker and seeking and things sought The thing sought is the grace of the Gospell a good Pearle indeed as before the seeker was the wise Merchant Quest. But how can any man seeke grace seeing Psal 14. and Rom. 3. no man seeketh after God Sol. Answ No man by nature can seeke after grace nor of himselfe once aske after it because he is destitute of the spirit of God no more than the lost groat can aske after her that lost it or a wandring sheepe after the Shepherd or a dead man after life So as those places are meant of men before conuersion and calling for the elect seeke not God till God first seeke them and findeth them But this is to be vnderstood of men called conuerted already found of God and mooued by the Spirit of God who mooued by God can now moue themselues and sought by him now can seeke him Which both setteth out our infinite miserie who of our selues neuer minde the meanes of happinesse and also magnifieth Gods mercie which is infinite who offering vnto vs a free grace doth truly say I was found of them that sought me not and giueth him also the honour of goodnesse and of our seeking of him Only the godly and all they are seekers of the good Pearle Doct. they seeke after God in Christ and the grace of the Gospell Only the godly and all they are seekers of the Pearle euery where the godly are called seekers of God and seekers of wisdome Prou. 2. and seekers of the kingdome Matt. 6.33 and wicked men are described to be such as seeke not after God Psalm 14.4 And why Reas 1 1. These onely doe see their owne want and beggerie which is implied in seeking No man seeketh that hee wanteth not or that first findeth not in himselfe a want of grace Psal 143.6 Dauid desired grace as the thirstie ground and grace is not promised nor giuen to any but the thirstie Isa 55.1 Euery one that thirsteth come yee to the waters Psalm 14.2 First they must vnderstand namely their estate and then seeke after God Reas 2 2. All these and they alone doe see
other things before it as worldlings nor other things with it as prophane Epicures who would graspe heauen and earth together nor yet seeke it for other things as Hypocrites who professe the Gospell for fauour credit profit or some other in respect of that base things But seeke it alone for it selfe and in sincerity for only such seeking findeth it Neuer will Christ bee sought for loaues nor can the same eye looke to heauen and earth together Fourthly Fourthly humbly it must be sought humbly that is first out of thy selfe a man that wanteth water will go to the fountaine the waters of grace must flow from the fountaine and well-head Christ Iesus seeke it therefore in him and from him The eye of faith spieth it in him and the hand of faith doth take it vp from him Secondly it must be sought with godly forrow and repentance for sinne Isay 1.16 Wash you make you cleane take away the euill of your works from before mine eyes cease to doe euill Thirdly with reformation of heart and life Psal 14.4 The workers of iniquitie are vnfit and vnworthy seekers of grace Fiftly 5. Constantly it must be sought constantly Mary and Ioseph neuer gaue ouer seeking Christ vntill they found him nor the Church till shee found him neither must we giue ouer seeking hauing found grace for it is not in this seeking as in other things where hauing found we rest contented and seeke no more but here hauing found the thing wee sought we must seeke still for a Christian is euer wanting of grace if not in whole yet in part if not in substance yet in some degree and measure of it and therefore this worke as the husband mans is neuer at an end Vse 1 This must needes condemne many of vs of extreame folly and sinne how few of vs haue sought after grace as after siluer for siluer we will take great paines rise early goe to bed late and eat the bread of carefulnesse but when doe wee so for grace for siluer we will trauell many miles on horse and foot to a market or faire if wee can but gaine or returne halfe a handfull of siluer but for grace we will hardly step out of doores or bestow the least paines to frequent the places of Gods exchange In seeking siluer euery man will seeke a good penny-worth hee is carefull that none ouer-reach him hee parteth with his money as warily as may be and will be ready to lay hold on a good bargaine when it is offered In the matter of grace how fearefully doe many thrust it away with both hands wilfully forsaking their own mercy Iona. 2.8 They that wait vpon lying vanities forsake their owne mercy that is refuse the bargaine of eternall life offered almost forced vpon them and others that seemed to haue receiued a good sum of grace foolishly depart with it and fall away either quite or wholly or else from their measure and their first loue these men are farre from seeking grace and farther from finding it Vse 2 This should stir vp our thirst after grace to expresse our selues wise Merchants seazed on the Pearle which that we may earnestly seeke after let vs consider these fiue motiues 1. 5. Motiues to prouoke vs earnestly to seeke after grace Christ seeketh vs and desireth vs to seeke him and shall Christ seek thee for thy good and not thou seeke him for thine owne good But Christ seeketh vs as a Hen that gathereth her chickins vnder her wings Matth. 23.37 and woe vnto vs if we remaine vngathered The father of the prodigall goeth out to meet his sonne returning home to incourage vs to goe out of our solues to seeke him Secondly the fearefull reuenge against such as seeke not nor inquire after GOD should mooue vs to seek him as Zeph. 1.6 in the fourth Verse I will cut off the remnant of Baal in the sixth And them that turne backe from the Lord and those that haue not sought the Lord nor inquired for him And if they vnder the Law were so reuenged how much more shall wee liuing vnder the Gospell Heb. 2.3 if we neglect so great saluation If the Gospel be now hid it is hid to them that perish 2 Corin. 4.3 Oh what a fearefull case is it that the Gospell should serue for the conuiction of men and not for their conuersion Oh thrice vnhappy man that shall peruert this so aboundant grace to his owne destruction and yet the plenty of Gods grace in the Gospel shall condemne thousands that neuer required or sought after it 3. Thou shouldest seeke grace from God but he seeketh to pin his grace on thy sleeue God bringeth home the Gospell to thy house and doores hee sendeth forth his seruants he continueth to seeke thee by continuing the meanes and the season of grace he seeketh thee daily by his word his Ministers his blessings his corrections by the motions of the spirit by the checks of thine owne conscience and wilt thou not seeke being so sought vnto darest thou receiue such grace still in vaine 2 Cor. 6.5 or turne it to wantonnes Iud. 3. Fourthly of this saluation the Prophets search diligently 1 Pet. 1.10 and shall wee to whom it more specially belongeth not so much as aske or inquire after it or shall we thrust it away as the Iewes did Acts 13.46 but not without the most fearefull reuenge that euer hapned to any nation vnder the heauens vnder which they lye at this day Fiftly for a man to abide destitute of desire and indeuour after grace sheweth that Sathan the God of the world worketh mightily in such a one and hath him in his power to hood-winke him and hide from him the grace of the Gospell that the brightnesse of this Pearle should neuer shine to him least he should conuert and be saued See 2 Cor. 4.3 4. This of the first action Who hauing found a Pearle of great price The second action of the wise Merchant is he findeth an excellent Pearle Of the Pearle and of the excellencie we haue spoken Now are we in this part onely to speake something of the finding of it And by the Pearle being meant the grace of the Gospell as wee haue heard wee learne this Doctrine Doct. 1 Seekers of grace shall finde it That seekers of grace shall finde it and onely they Psalme 118.5 I called vpon the Lord in trouble and the Lord heard me and set me at large and Psalm 138.3 When I called then thou heardest mee hast increased strength in my soule Salomon seeketh wisdome and findeth it Luke 15.9 Matth. 7.8 The woman that sought the lost groat found it Whosoeuer asketh receiueth and he that seeketh findeth Why Reas 1 1. Faithfull seeking can neuer take God wanting or vnwilling to giue grace both because hee hath promised and is able to performe aboue all we are able to aske or thinke His power is sufficient to supply all our wants and Isay 65.1 I was
encline his eare to his Prayer and shew him fauour because hee is a stranger in the Lords Countrey and therefore committing himselfe to the protection and safe conduct of the Lord of the Countrey hee doubteth not but to finde grace in his eyes and by his meanes a comfortable passage till hee come happily to the end of his way For who should heare the complaints of a soiourner but hee with whom he soiourneth 4. But is it otherwise with Dauid now than with other men No surely but hee beareth part in the common condition of his Fathers Although hee was deare to God and the King of Gods people yet hee is no better than his Fathers hee is a stranger as all his Fathers were Hee meaneth not the fathers of his flesh onely who were all dead and gone to their iourneys end but the Fathers of his faith also those holy Patriarchs Abraham Isaac Iacob and their posterity which were the holy seed who in their times accounted themselues strangers Heb. 11.13 14. and declared themselues so to bee both in that they chused to dwell in Tents Heb. 11.9 and not in houses or Cities as the posteritie of Cain did for they held themselues strangers on earth and expecting euery day the word of God to call them hither or thither at his pleasure they would not cumber themselues with buildings or purchases but betooke themselues to poore and portable tents which were soone pitched vp and as soone taken downe As also in that they were contented to wander vp and downe as Pilgrims restlesly from place to place insomuch as the iourneyes and trauels of Abraham recorded in his Story amounts to 1794. miles Iacobs little lesse whose posteritie was a stranger in Egypt foure hundred yeeres and from thence were taken into the terrible Wildernesse where they wandred forty yeeres and all the rest of them in the wide wildernesse of this world and vale of Baca onely passed thorow as Pilgrims vnto the heauenly Canaan All which our holy Prophet reuoluing in his minde subscribeth the same schedule that he is a stranger also as they were Doct. Hence wee learne That all the Saints of God and true beleeuers are strangers vpon earth for so was Dauid and all his Fathers of his flesh and of his faith as himselfe not onely heere in sense of his affliction professeth but elsewhere stirred vp by the sight and sense of Gods abundant mercie towardes him and in the time of his solenme ioy and festiuitie vttereth the same words 1 Chron. 29.15 All things come of thee and of thine owne hand â—ee haue giâ—en thee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for wee are strangers before thee and solourners like all our Fathers 2 Cor. 5.6 while wee are at home in the body wee are estranged from the Lord. And indeed euery Christian is a Gershom that is a stranger and in a strange land in respect first of place for they are absent from heauenly Canaan their owne home and Countrey heere is not their fathers house nor their brethren and sisters nor their treasure they are Citizens with Saints Eph. 2.19 and heauen their home where our Lord Iesus is preparing Mansions for them Iohn 14. Secondly as for the world it is but a way to their Countrey and as a wildernes thorow which the Israel of God passe towards their Canaan They are indeed in the world but not of it for they are called out of the world 1. by Christs separation Iohn 15.19 I haue chosen you out of the world 2. Christs interdiction 1 Iohn 2.15 Loue not the world nor the things of the world 3. Christs operation Gal. 6.14 Commorandi diuersoriuÌ„ non habitandi Cicero de Senect The world is crncified to mee and I vnto the world The very light of nature saw and said that nature hath affoorded vs in this world onely an Inne and not a dwelling and should not grace much more acquaint vs with Gods decree and ordinance which is that man should bee a while in the world as in a way to passe him vnto his finall estate elsewhere or at most but a trauailer in an Inne which hee is ready to leaue the next morrow Secondly in their owne account and confession they are strangers Heb. 11.13 All these confessed that they were strangers and pilgrimes vpon earth And in the account of the world also they are strangers which vseth them strangely and coursely as Dauid was a stranger to his brethren Psal 69.8 And whereas were they of the world it would know them loue them and hugge them in their lap they being strangers it is an other Egypt to Gods first borne and knoweth them not but to vexe and oppresse them Thirdly in respect of the short time of their continuance for as a stranger abides not in a strange place as the natiues doe but hasteneth through his way and so with his time cutteth and shorteneth his iourney Heb. 13.14 so the godly haue here no abiding city neither is this their resting place For this cause the whole militant Church is called a Tabernacle Psal 15.1 the Saints call the time of their life for the shortnesse and discontinuance of it but a being in this tabernacle 2 Pet. 1.13 because first as a Tabernacle is but a soiourning place set vp for a shift to hide our selues for a small while as the Souldier hides himselfe in a sconce or tent onely for the time of a siege at the longest so is it with the Tabernacle of the body set vp for a small time not so much for it selfe as for the Inmate the Soule which is contained in it Secondly as a Tabernacle is a moueable tent pitched for a day ouer-night is set vp and perhaps the next day the stakes are pulled vp and the cordes are slacked and the couering is folded vp no otherwise is it with the Tabernacle of the body which no man knoweth whether it shall stand vnmoued till the next morrow no nor till the next houre Thirdly as a Tabernacle is onely a couering but hath no foundation to settle vpon so Iob speaketh of our bodies as houses of clay Iob. 4.19 whose foundation is in the dust that if God did not fasten the siluer cords of them to his appointed time euery blast would ouerthrow them euery moment Fouthly the godly are strangers heere below in respect of their businesse and employment a stranger is vnacquainted with the affaires of the place where hee takes vp his Inne hee meddles not with the gouernment the offices the passages of causes in the towne where hee lieth as a stranger but intendeth his iourney and onely careth how hee may passe through and if hee haue any businesse there it is onely to aduance his estate at home in his owne Countrey And so it is with the godly they estrange themselues as much as may bee from the world and the common courses of it their callings they cast not off because they
are commaunded to abide in them with moderate care to prouide for themselues and theirs And for earthly things they cannot bee without them while they haue a life to maintaine by them but yet they meddle no more with them than needes must and in the middest of their earthly businesse are not earthly minded They are Burgesses of another Corporation Col. 3.10 and all their trading and traffique heere is to make themselues a rich and sure estate there They haue a chiefe businesse to doe which they principally intend namely to seeke the kingdome of God and the righteousnesse of it to repent of their sinnes to beleeue in the Sonne of God and to make their election sure whereto they giue all diligeuce as they are exhorted 2 Pet. 1.10 Fiftly The godly are strangers in respect of their affection for as strangers long after home and where euer their bodies bee their hearts and mindes are not there but at home where their deare friends and estates are So is it with the Saints whose mindes and meditations and conuersation are in heauen before hand for there is their Fathers house and there is their inheritance there is Iesus Christ their treasure and no maruell if their hearts bee there where their treasure is The worldling hath his whole portion in this life and therefore hee bestowes all his heart his thoughts his cares his desires and endeauours vpon the world he runs after it with a full desire But it cannot bee so with the godly man who is minded as was good Nehemiah 2.3 Who although his person was in the King of Persia his Court and was a neere attendant at the Kings Table yet his heart was at Ierusalem And as Daniel who while hee was in the land of his captiuity yet he opened his windowes euery day towards Ierusalem Quest But are not wicked men strangers heere vpon earth as well as the godly Answ Wicked men and worldlings are indeed strangers here if we looke towards God they are strangers with him strangers from the Couenant of God and strangers from the life and wayes of God Or if we consider the time of their continuance heere they haue no more continuance heere than others they haue no Leases of their liues nor no surer hold of their estates than others haue The rich Glutton heard Thou foole this night shall they take away thy soule and all Or if wee consider the place in which they liue they are strangers for the East wind takes away and hurles them out of their place Iob 27.21 as easily as any other And the mightie die suddenly Iob 34.20 and are taken away without hand And their houses and possessions which knew them once shall know them no more but take in other strangers for a terme of dayes as they tooke in them But wicked men are not strangers as the godly are in foure respects 1. In their owne account or conceit for though their estate bee as vnstable as any others yet haue they a strong conceit of continuance and of taking their rest for many yeeres They are described to bee such as put off the euill day and make leagues with death and are hardly brought to confesse themselues to be Pilgrims and strangers 2. In the worlds account they bee not strangers but neighbours and Towne-dwellers The world knowes them and loueth them as her owne yea lulleth them in her lap as her children shee graceth them enricheth them and aduanceth them as men of best deserts In a word shee thinketh nothing shee hath too good for such fast friends and diligent seruants 3. In their owne affection they bee no strangers for how can they considering they haue no other portion but here Psal 17.14 How can they but minde earthly things Phil. 3.19 to whom God hath shewed no better How can they but giue away their affections and bury their hearts in earth and drowne themselues in the delights of it that haue no other God no other Heauen What man will bee willing to giue ouer a broken title till hee bee assured and seated in a better which because they are not like prophane Esaus they hunger after pottage let the blessing goe where it will 4. In their course and conuersation they doe not declare themselues to bee strangers All their studie their paines their sweat and endeuour is to get a sure and contented estate in earth they treasure all in earth If they can encrease their Corne their Wine their Oyle their Coyne their Commodities they rest as in a good portion seldome or neuer seeking in earnest that good part which should neuer bee taken from them nor they from it if once they could attaine it Thus much of the Doctrine and this question The Vse followeth First In that the godly man is a stranger and Pilgrim here we learne sundry duties As first to practise Christian sobrietie in the affecting Christian sobriety in 1. affecting enioying and vsing the things of this life For 1. a stranger in his way affects not desires not lookes not for great things for himselfe in the Citie hee trauelleth thorow hee lightly regardeth the honours offices reuenues and priuiledges of it his chiefe desires and affections are elsewhere all the priuiledge he expecteth there is how to passe quietly safely through Euen so ought the Christian Pilgrim by the weaned carriage of himselfe towards things below declare plainly as the Patriarches did that hee seeketh a Country Heb. 11.14 Seekest thou great things for thy selfe saith the Lord to Baruk seeke them not Ier. 45.5 And why must hee not because he was but a stranger in that Land now presently to bee giuen ouer into the hands of strangers Secondly 2. Enioying A stranger enioyes the things of a strange place as a stranger he vseth other mens goods for a night but he setteth not his heart on them nor taketh much delight in them because hee knoweth hee must leaue them next morning and may take none away with him Euen so a Christian stranger taketh but little delight in his iourney because hee thinketh not himselfe at home neither doth hee enioy things here as his portion nor as his owne because hee is to bee countable for them and because hee well knoweth that too much delight in fleshly and worldly pleasures giueth life to corruption and weakeneth grace in him hee attendeth that wholsome Apostolicall exhortation 1 Pet. 2.11 Dearely beloued as strangers and Pilgrims abstaine from fleshly lusts which fight against the soule Thirdly 3. Vsing the world a stranger vseth the necessary comforts hee meeteth with in his way as a stranger hee vseth them rather for necessitie than for satietie onely for present occasion and that with moderation and sobrietie Euen so a Christian Pilgrim must learne to vse the world as not vsing it 1 Cor. 7.31 and in the midst of his wealth and abundance in the fruition of his greatest delights and pleasures to take his
countrey where his parents his ancestors and deare kindred dwell and inhabit Now where dwelleth the Christian mans Father but in heauen Where is his elder brother but there Where are all his brethren and sisters sonnes and daughters of the same parents but there and therefore heauen is his Countrey Thirdly Further that is a mans Countrey where his principall estate and goods are where his patrimony and inheritance lyeth and where is the chiefe portion the treasure the immortall inheritance of the Christian but in heauen And where else is his Countrie Now then a Christian considering on the one hand that hee is in a strange Countrey and how hardly hee hath bin intreated in it and so likely to be still and on the other hand that hee hath an home and a father there that loueth him dearely and that his elder brother Iesus Christ and all his spirituall kindred the Saints of God are there And besides that hee hath a rich portion and a large patrimony euen an immortall inheritance in heauen how can hee chuse but to bee reared in his affections yea rauished to bee there desiring nothing in the world more than to bee dissolued hence and to bee with Christ which is best of all Phil. 1.23 A Traueller hath his minde and thoughts still vpon home and saith with himselfe Home is homely And the Marriner or Sea-faring man in a storme or rough Sea hath his desires on the Shore and his minde is not where his body is So is it with the Christian Passenger his minde is not where his body is and if hee cannot get home in the body as soone as hee desireth yet in his spirit hee will minde heauen and heauenly things hee will get as neere home as hee can if he cannot get into the heart of the citie hee will bee sure to get into the suburbes the Church of God If hee cannot get suddenly into that Ierusalem which is aboue Reu. 21.2 hee will get into the Ierusalem which is from aboue and where his person cannot bee for the time his conuersation meditation shall bee in heauen Matt. 6 21. for where his treasure is there will his heart be also Vse 2. In that wee are strangers with God wee learne diuers things 1. The soueraigntie and power of God who is the great owner Zach. 4.14 and ruler of the whole earth Kings themselues who are the highest earthly Lords and commanders are but strangers with God Psal 24.1 for the earth is the Lords and all that therein is And no man sitteth in his owne but are Tenants at will vnder this great Land-Lord The greatest of men yea of Kings are but as David was soiourners in his sight Leuitic 25.23 The Land is his and wee are but strangers and soiourners with him 2. Wee must hence gather out our owne dutie towards God in whose Countrey wee soiourne and our dutie is manifold 1. To aske leaue of GOD to passe through his Countrey so did Israel of Edom a wicked Prince and people Numbers 20. I pray thee that we may passe through thy Countrey c. It is fit to aske leaue where no right is Besides that by daily prayer for Gods leaue and fauourable loue in our way wee both ascribe vnto God the honour of soueraigntie and bountie as also sweeten his mercies which hee giueth vs leaue to enioy all which are sanctified to vs by the word and by praier 1 Tim. 4.5 2. Binde thy selfe from trespassing in the way and Countrey through which thou passest So did Israel vnto Edom Num. 20.17 We will not goe through the fields nor the vineyards neither will wee drinke of the water of the wells wee will goe by the Kings way and neither turne to the right hand nor left till wee bee past thy borders So must the Christian bee carefull hee transgresse not the lawes of the Countrey in which hee soiournes to stirre vp against himselfe the wrath and reuenge of the Lord in whose Countrey hee soiourneth but frame himselfe to please him by whose leaue hee trauelleth through his Countrey How carefull and diligent were Iosephs brethren to please their vnknowne brother Gen. 44. the Lord of that strange Countrey Much more ought we to please our brother Iesus Christ the Lord of this strange countrey through which wee passe to our owne Canaan 3. Cast thy care vpon God and depend vpon him for all needfull supplies so did holy David heere because hee was a stranger in Gods Countrey he therefore casteth his burden vpon the Lord desiring him to heare his prayer and to hearken to his cry and not to bee silent at his teares A stranger ouer-loadeth not himselfe with cares and carriages but carrying a competent viaunce with him dependeth for all necessaries vpon them where he soiourneth so a Christian stranger need bee in nothing carefull Phil. 4.6 but in all things let his requests bee shewed vnto God the King of the Countrey in prayer All distrustfull and excessiue carefulnesse is to bee auoyded of a Christian yea suppose the care be about things lawfull if it bee excessiue it is sinfull and vnseemely in a Christian Pilgrim Let thy chiefe care be Psal 37.5 1 Pet. 5.7 to commit thy way vnto the Lord and trust in him and hee shall bring it to passe Psal 55.22 Cast thy care vpon the Lord and he shall nourish thee 4. Be much in thankefulnesse vnto God for all the comfortable blessings thou receiuest in thy Pilgrimage a stranger thankefully accepteth all the fauours shewed him in a strange Countrey and so did holy Dauid when God had enabled him to prepare abundantly for the building of the temple breake out into abundant praises Wee thanke thee our God 1 Chro. 29.13.14 and praise thy glorious Name But who am I or what is my people that we should offer vnto thee for all is thine and of thine own haue we giuen thee for wee are strangers before thee and soiourners as all our Fathers were And surely it well beseemeth the iust to bee thankfull seeing they are strangers in the Lords land and all the comforts they enioy are his by right and possession and theirs onely by leaue and thankfull acceptation 5. Be contented and patient if this great Lord deny thee any thing thou wouldst haue whilest thou passest through his Countrey Numb 20 21. so was Israel when Edom out of a churlish and hurtfull minde denied them peaceable passage But the Lord of this Countrey knoweth what is fit for vs and neuer denieth any thing out of a churlish minde neither can deny any thing good in it selfe and good to vs and if he with-hold any hurtfull things we must be not onely patient but thankfull Vse 3. In that wee are strangers heere and trauelling to our countrey as all our Fathers haue done before vs it appeareth that our wisdome will bee to resolue of paines and trauell all the dayes of our life and
not to expect rest till the night of death come when dying in the Lord we shall rest from our labours and because this is not our rest Mica 2. â—0 wee must arise and depart hence And seeing wee can no more auoid this weary iourney than any of our Fathers could doe we must rather bestow wise and carefull thoughts in fitting our selues to our iourney and in behauing our selues through our way than to expect to auoid the tediousnesse and difficulties of it Quest How may we fit our selues for our iourney home into our owne Countrey Ans A traueller fitteth himselfe to his iourney two waies especially 1. By casting off and leauing behinde him whatsoeuer would burden or hinder him in his way 2. By prouiding for himselfe things fit for his iourney Of the former sort there be three especiall encumbrances that the Christian Pilgrim must lighten himselfe off The first of them is sinne which as an intollerable burden presseth vs downe Heb. 12.1 and hangeth fast on and therefore the Apostle counselleth to cast it off if wee meane to runne the race before vs. Now the way to lighten our selues of this weight is to exercise euery day the grace of repentance and mortification and daily to take some sinne or other in hand and at least to slake and abate the power of it that if wee cannot bee rid of the sinne in respect of the presence of it yet we may be rid of the reigne and command of it The second are earthly cares profits and pleasures which are as heauy stones tyed vnto vs and pressing vs from heauen to earth making heauie and sad the soule and vnweildy in her motions The way for vs to lighten our selues of these encumbrances is daily and continually to eleuate and raise our thoughts homeward and heauenward and exercise our selues in holy meditations praiers and praises sundry times through the day For as he that would keepe a Clocke in true motion must euery day sundry times winde vp the plummets which are stil drawing downward euen so must we doe with our hearts the cares and pleasures of the world are as plummets of Lead pressing downe the soule incessantly in her motion towards heauen and hee that would continue his motioÌ„ must daily wind vp his heart towards God and by maine strength of grace fetch it vp from earth that it may be sirmly setled on heauenly things delighting it selfe with the riches of heauen with contemplation of those pleasures that are at the right hand of God for euermore The third encumbrance is the feare of death which presseth vs all our life and the Christian must lighten himselfe of this burden by looking beyond it to his own home by longing after the liuing God whom none can see in the body and liue by considering that the nearer he is to death hee is so much neerer home And what stranger feareth to goe home or is sorry when after a long absence hee is entring into his owne Citie Secondly A wise Christian will furnish and prouide himselfe with necessaries and needefull supplies to helpe him through his iourney There be fiue things especially which a traueller must fit himselfe withall that his iourney may bee lesse tedious and more prosperous to himselfe 1. The knowledge of the direct way Now whereas no man knowes the way to the heauenly countrey without Gods teaching euery one must goe to God himselfe first and then to such as God hath appointed to bee the directors and instructors in this way The former wee see in holy Dauid Psalme 119.19 I am a stranger vpon earth therefore hide not thy Commandements from mee Hee knew well how hardly a blinde man could performe a farre and dangerous iourney and thus it is onely the Commandement that shewes the way to this heauenly Countrey Why was Dauid a blinde man or did hee not know the ten Commandements Euen Dauid who was not stone blinde but much enlightned was blinde in part and still earnest that the LORD would further open his eies Psal 119.18 34 35. to see the way more plainly clearely than yet hee did And though hee knew the words and true sence of the ten Commandements yet hee desireth still to bee led further into the particular vse application direction and obedience of them and of all other parts of the Word which hee saith is exceeding large Vers 96 And for the latter As a straÌ„ger in an vnknown Country and way will euer bee asking the way of euery one neuer so simple who knoweth the way better than himselfe and will obserue the seuerall markes and statues by which hee may know whether hee bee right or no So must euery Christian Pilgrim bee inquisitiue of his way for which purpose he must frequent the ministry of the word diligently which God hath erected to bee as A light in a darke place as the Pillar of the Cloude and fire by night and by day to direct vs through this dry and desert wildernesse as Ariadnes threede to helpe vs through this trouble-some Maze and Labyrinth and as a voyce behinde vs saying this is the way walke in it An inquisitiue Christian will bee still consulting with Gods Ministers about the way of God and conferring with priuate Christians bee they neuer so meane in place or appearance concerning their great iourney betweene heauen and earth and will take speciall notice of the markes of their way as whether it bee the narrow way or the broad way whether it be strewed with crosses or pleasant to the flesh whether it bee a cleane way or a foule dirtie and mirie way of lusts whether it bee an old beaten way by the feet of ancient beleeuers the Prophets the Apostles and holy men yea of Iesus Christ himselfe or a new broken and deuised way vnknown vnto them and the Scriptures whether it bee a right way Hos 14.9 or a crooked path of by lanes and turnings to the right hand or to the left whether it bee a lightsome or a darke way Pro. 4.19 and the like Thus inquisitiue and carefull will a Christian Pilgrim bee of the best directions he can get as the poore iaylor will know of Paul his prisoner what hee may doe to bee saued and it is none of the lightest plagues of God to haue an heart vnwilling to ask about the way of heauen A second comfortable helpe in an vnknowne way is a good guide The Christian stranger hath neede of a guide and the best guide is God himselfe yea and more God is the only guide In any other way or iourney the natiues or inhabitants can guide a stranger from place to place but here none but God can bee our guide Psalme 25.9 He will guide in Iudgement and teach the humble his way Quest But how then may a man get God to bee his guide Answ By two speciall meanes 1. By earnest Praier Dauid knowing that none but God could guide him prayeth Psalme 143.8
the small favour they find in the world for what can they looke for other being strangers but strange vsages and entertainements from the world If they were of the world the world would loue them as her owne Euery Corporation preferreth into offices her owne free men and inhabitants and it were folly for a stranger passing but through to expect those places and preferments hee must rather cast to endure wronges where his worth is vnknowne and expect no remedy or release at any of their hands but herein comfort himselfe that hee hath credit and can haue right in his owne countrie and if he were once at home hee should put vp no such wrongs and indignities 2. Against the troubles and oppressions of the Saints of God in these heavie times of warres and bloudie persecutions in which the Captaines of Antichrist chase the godly from their seates houses estates and countries not suffering the Doue of Christ a rest for the sole of her foot Here is a ground of comfort 1. That all the furie of the enemies exiling and banishing the godly can but make them strangers and so were they before whersoever they dwelt in any place of the earth It is no great addition of miserie to banish him that was in banishment before or to driue a man out of one strange place into another Hee that is alreadie a stranger vpon earth in affection can easily become come actually a stranger if God call him vnto it 2. When the enemies haue exercised all their rage they cannot banish them out of GODS Countrey but they are strangers before God who is equally present with them in one corner of the earth as well as in another to protect them to provide for them to pittie them and guide them home to their owne Countrey 3. Although the enemies would bee endlesse in their rage against the Saints and were they to liue ever they would ever nourish and exercise an immortall wrath against the people of God yet can they not inflict so much mischiefe on them as they desire For besides that themselues are mortall and besides the justice of God breaking quickly to peeces the rods of his wrath and casting them into the fire the godly themselues are but strangers here and of short continuance so as suppose their sufferings bee sharpe yet they bee but short The rods of the wicked shall not alwayes lye vpon the lot of the righteous as they desire they should seeing the godly are strangers as well in time as in place and themselues not continuing their miserie cannot bee continuall 3. In the many losses of these worldly and corruptible things which take them to their wings and flie from one maister to another by meanes of warre mortalitie and many casualties a Christian hath comfort that hee beeing a stranger here he hath no great estate to lose some Mooveables such as hee carryeth along with him in his iourney hee may lose by the way but his estate and inheritance is safe enough at home Nay in that great and finall destruction of the whole world by the dreadfull fire of the last day 2 Pet. 3.10 When the heavens shall passe away with a noyse and the elements shall melt with heat and the earth with the workes that are therein shall bee burnt vp When all other men shall bee loosers of all their whole estates onely the godly because they are Strangers here they shall escape all these things and be no losers at all If some whole Citie should bee consumed by fire when the whole multitude of Inhabitants sustaine losse and beggery by that Accident a stranger that is but passing through the Cittie and hath his estate and dwelling elsewhere hee loseth nothing at all So the godly shall be glad in that day that they haue no stocke nor portion with them who had no other portion but in this life 4. As his estate is safe so likewise is the person of the godly Pilgrim For hee not being of the world hee shall not perish with the world It was happie for Lot that hee was a stranger Gen. 19.9 and scorned as a stranger by the Sodomites for when all they were scalded with a shower of fire and Brimstone the Lord being mercifull vnto him his person was in safetie Sever thy selfe from the condition of sinnefull men estrange thy selfe from the condition of sinnefull men estrange thy selfe from their courses walke as one deliuered from this evill world if not yet in respect of place yet in respect of new qualities thou shalt haue Gods protection and see the salvation of the LORD when all the wicked Inhabitants of the earth shall call for the hills to cover them and the mountaines to fall vpon them to hide them from the wrath of the Lambe for the great day of his wrath is come Rev. 6.16 17. and who can stand ₠FINIS A PROFITABLE MEMORIALL of the Conversion Life and Death of M ris MARY GVNTER set vp as a Monument to be looked vpon both by Protestants and Papists I Could not better spēd some part of the dayes of my mourning for the losse of my deare wife than in setting downe briefly some Passages of her course and Pilgrimage that the happy memory of her graces and vertuous life might euer liue with me both for incitation and imitation And if my desires were strong to make them more publike for the direction of some others I hope it will rather be charitably ascribed to the working and stirring of my affection towardes her Ashes than to any vanitie of minde or ostentation in her Besides I am sure that if a Protestant had beene seduced from vs as shee was called out of Popery and had liued and died so zealous in that Religion as shee did in this the aduersaries would haue made their aduantage of it and published the same as one of the miracles of their Church And I see not but it may bee as lawfull for mee as it may prooue profitable for others to set down the knowne Truth concerning her that as shee was in her life so also shee may happily continue now after her death an happy instrument of Gods glory in earth as I am assured shee is a vessell before him filled with his glory of heauen THis gracious Woman was for birth a Gentlewoman Her birth but descended of Popish Parents who dying in her infancy shee was committed vnto the tuition of an old Lady Popish education honourable for her place but a strong Papist who nousled and misled this Orphane in Popery till shee came about foureteene yeeres of age at which time this Lady died Vpon which occasion God hauing a mercifull purpose towards her conuersion by his good Prouidence brought her to the seruice of that Religious and truly honourable Lady the Countesse of Leicester who entertained her with more than ordinary respect both because of her young yeeres as also because shee was allied to Sir Christopher Blunt then
minde off them and to lift vp his thoughts to heauen the place of his abode Which dutie the Apostle strongly enforceth Phil. 3.20 Carnall men minde earthly things and forgetting both heauen and the God of heauen Make their belly their God that is drowne themselues in the pond and puddle of sensualitie But farre bee it from vs who professe the teaching of grace so to doe Our conuersation is in heauen from whence wee looke for a Sauiour they haue their portion in this life Psa 17.14 but our portion is in another and contrary courses beseeme men of contrary Countries Secondly In that wee are strangers heere wee learne another Dutic which is the exercise of Christian patience and contentment in all estates be it sicknesse pouerty reproaches abuses or wrongs in any kinde a stranger is contented to endure the wrongs that meet him in his way hee digesteth and putteth vp all patiently he complaineth not and much lesse seeketh reuenge for hee knowes he shall haue little rest or redresse till hee come home Euen so the Christian Pilgrim must learne patiently to endure the afflictions and course and crosse vsages of this strange Country 2 Cor. 4. last verse the blessed Apostle was contented to endure all indignities and wrongs because hee was of another countrey the high priuiledges and excellencies whereof Eie hath neuer seene nor eare hath ever heard nor ever entred into the heart of man Ioh. 14.4 When the Disciples of our SAVIOVR tooke it heauily that Christ sayd hee must leaue them for now what could they expect but to bee exposed and layd open to all the worlds malignitie destitute of their Lords presence and protection hee comforteth them by this same argument That this is not their place of rest but hee goeth to prepare a place for them Moses chused to suffer afflictions with Gods people Heb. 11.26 because hee was a stranger heere and looked for a recompense of reward hereafter A cloude of Martyres as witnesses seale this truth who were slaine hewen a sunder wandred vp and downe in sheepes skins in goats skins being destitute afflicted and tormented and would not bee deliuered Ver. 35 namely vpon vnequall conditions because they saw that God had prepared better things for them A stranger turnes not against euery Dogge that barketh at him let Doeg accuse and Shemei reuile let Currs barke there is no hope to still them the best way is to contemne them and attend and ride on thy way A stranger shrinkes not for euery shower of raine nor is disheartned with the roughnesse Nubecula est transilis and foulnesse of the way but hee will through thicke and thinne through drops and drought and all because hee is going home Neither must thou that art a Christian Pilgrim shrinke for the stormes of the world nor the asperousnesse of the way which is all strewed with crosses but hearten thy selfe as the Passenger who vsually sayth it is neuer an ill day that hath a good night and though many bitter pils of harsh and strange vsages must bee swallowed by these strangers yet the consideration of home is as sugar in their pockets to sweeten them all A stranger measures not his owne worth nor thinketh worse of himselfe for things befalling him in the way but esteemeth and valueth himselfe according to his estate at home So must the Christian stranger liue by faith looke vpon things not seene Let the world vnder-value thee content thy selfe that thou hast credit and reputation at home where thou art knowne and thy worth is knowne which by no disparagement in the way can be obscured or diminished Thirdly a third dutie hence that wee are strangers heere is to learne to estrange our selues from the world and courses of worldly men A stranger when euer hee trauailes reteineth the manners fashions and customes of his owne countrey a Christian stranger although hee bee in the world yet hee is not of the world hee is of another corporation and therefore though hee walke in the flesh 2 Cor. 10.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yet hee must not warre according to the flesh Hee carrieth this body of flesh about him as others doe but hee must fight against flesh and the lusts of it contrary to the Patrons and defenders of the corruptions that are in the worlde through lust The worlde may and must enioy our presence for a time but must at no time gaine our conformity to it Rom. 12.2 Fashion not your selues according to this world that is the customes and guizes of it because it lieth in wickednesse and the Christian is cast into another forme of doctrine and conuersation Art thou now sollicited to follow the lusts and fashions of this world thinke with thy selfe that thou art a stranger heere and of another Countrey thou liuest vnder other lawes thou maist not cast in thy lot with the wicked of the world nor giue voice or suffrage in their meetings but bee as Lot who though hee were in Sodome was not of Sodome but was perpetually vexed with the vncleane conuersation of those wicked men Art thou prouoked to sweare to drinke excessiuely to lie for aduantage to breake the Sabbath for gaine to vncleannesse or any other foule lust Now say to thy selfe I am of the kingdome of light but this is a worke of darkenesse this is an vnlawfull act in my Countrey and why should I practise it heere seeing my Lord and King must needs know it if I commit treason heere against my King and Countrey my King hath informers enough and I shall loose my whole estate there and bee banished out of my countrey for euer Shall I saith Ioseph commit this sinne against my God against my Master Seeing my Master hath kept nothing from mee but sinne I will not doe this thing I will not sinne and commit this high wickednesse Fourthly A fourth dutie is that seeing we are strangers heere to learne to affect our owne countrey and highly to esteeme it Euery man by nature loueth his natiue Countrey best neither thinketh himselfe so well in any forreine land and strangers especially hauing parents kindred and great reuenues in their natiue soyle and being hardly entreated where they soiourne would be glad to returne home and enioy the sight of those whom they haue long longed to see Euen so the Christian Pilgrim Neuer did Israel more affect and extoll their owne Countrey in their banishment from it and captiuitie in Babylon than the Christian stranger doth affectedly desire and preferre his heauenly Countrey aboue this strange land the Countrey of his captiuitie For hee discerneth that this is not his Countrey first That is a mans Country where he was borne and brought vp but whence taketh a Christian his spirituall birth or where is hee brought vp but in the Church and kingdome of Christ Earth giueth him a birth and being as hee is man but as a Christian hee is borne of God Secondly againe that is a mans