all thy daies for this pearl of great price Earthly affections worldly sorrows carnall joyes will come alone of themselves unsent for unsought but we must send for and call for and provoke these heavenly affections and glad when we can have them active and coming and especially this of joy Let me stir up my self and you to joy in the Lord our treasure and in the knowledge of Christ our Pearl by these following considerations Motives to joy 1. There is joy in heaven when a lost sinner is found and should there hot be so in thy heart when the hidden treasure is found they both are found together heaven findes the sinner and the beleeving sinner findes the Pearl oâ— heaven at one and the same time Why should not heaven and earth meet in their rejoycings as in their findings 2. Thou maiest rejoyce 'T is thy portion not allowed to others but to thee Rejoyce in the Lord ye righteous c. a Psal 97. 12. The wicked and unbeleeving are never welcom'd to the feast of joy if invited nor shall they taste of this supper of joy while they refuse to come to the dinner of grace If God saith to the young man in the heat of his lusts Rejoyce Eccles 11. it is but ironically spoken with a salt check and serious threatning in plain English it is Repent and his message to secure sinners is Be afflicted mourn and weep or Woe to them that have their consolation here for they shall weep but blessed are they that weep now for they shall laugh and leap for joy 3. Thou art not wise no more then obedient in this if thou dost not take thy fill of joy nay 't is a sinne not to rejoyce upon beleeving as not to beleeve upon a discovery of Christ 4. How many passe over the field and stumble at the Word where the Treasure is hid and finde it not thou hast it discovered before others while others are left in their blindenesse and given up to their blinde and wilfull stumblings 5. God loves a chearfull beleever and receiver of his Sonne and a chearfull giver of the heart to his Sonne and how canst thou give thy heart acceptably if not chearfully Take Christ therefore and be thankfull receive him and be joyfull How shall I joy saith the weak heart Ans 1. Give not way to doubting whether the treasure be Means of joy in the field or no or whether the Pearl be of such great worth or no or whether it â—as hid and is now revealed for thee or no beleeve that God hath discovered it and that for thee take it for thy own and rejoyce 't is nothing but this unbelief that hinders thy joy 2. Walk in this field of the Gospel take a turn or two every morning and at best leisure in thâ— meditation of the promises 't is a very pleasant field and walk you have none such in all your grounds orchards or gardens the poor-rich peny-father comforts himself in telling over and but looking upon his bags of gold in his hutch or coffer Câ—â—st Nummos contemplor in arca c. not thou be as wise to muse and thinke upon these hidden riches of Christ The devil an old enemy of mans continued comfort will interrupt thee and scare thee it may be off the ground but regard him not resist him stedfast in a beleeving meditation in the strength of a promise and he will flee and thou maist keep the field and keep but the field the Treasure is there 't is thine it will glad thy heart but to thinke it is there and there for thee 3. Quench not the Spirit of faith and hope and the Spirit of joy will come and will not depart apply thy self in praier upon the promise of joy there is a filling up of the soul to the brim with joy and peace in beleeving to be obtained neglect not the ordinances of comfort Word Sacraments conference sin not against the light of a promise no more then of a precept live by faith without beyond feelings and he that shall come will come and will not tarry beyond the fittest season wherein he will speak peace and quicken thee with joyfull consolation Use 4 Of Admonition For admonition in a word to them that be yet in unbelief strangers to true joy because strangers to true faith I do not wonder you are so sad and melancholy in these times these have been losing times and yet they are reforming times both these considerations damp the carnal mans heart and almost strike him dead The world goes away from them they see and mens goodly pearls that they have sought after can give them no content and comfort they thinke there is none in a work of Reformation Amidst such kinde of thoughts my word of warning is that men would be wise come to themselves with the Prodigal look after this Treasure in the Gospel 't is very good Treasure in these chargeable times to stock you and enrich you and bear your charges to heaven yea and make you chearfully fruitfull in all good works my counsel is you would get among beleevers they can though their commons fall short eat their bread with singlenesse and gladnesse of heart with leaping joyes as the word b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 imports Act. 2. 46. Would you beleeve upon the credit of my Text and the merchants experience that there are joyes upon joyes coming in with the adventures and merchandize of faith you would perhaps embrace the profer of Christ in the Gospel and come in to him who will be a Pearl of invaluable price to you till then we cannot speak a word of peace to you for you have nothing to rejoyce in till you have found what the merchant here found a Pearl his joy was the joy thereof Now take these words in with those that follow he goeth and selleth all that he hath And thence ariseth our Doct. 6 6. Observation The joy of a beleever it workes him to utmost self-denial or A joyfull Christian indeed will part Joy breeds self-deniall with all he hath for Gospel-treasure We have the Doctrine and Reason both in the point the Doctrine by it self is this Christ-finders are self-losers And the Reason is this Gospel joyes doe bring a soul to utter self-deniall and extreme poverty of spirit First We shall open this affair of the Kingdom a Christians selling all Secondly Discover the strength of the Reason for joy For the first in the kingdom of heaven or Gospel-state there is that done which amongst men you call trading buying selling and here is a selling first and buying afterwards In selling two things are considerable 1. The sale it self 2. The matters vendible and to be sold 1. The sale it self and there we have consent to part with 1. A Christian sale 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aliqâ—id amplius videtur significare quam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Beza in locum actuall
the field of precious promises 't is not so easily recovered again when but left or decaied Why should not our loves and esteems be more now then at first seeing more of Christs worth and and sufficiency is discovered daily And yet thou nor I did ever hear or know of half his worth which is further to be revealed Get we therefore more high and capacious apprehensions of his excellency and hide we him in our bosome with dearer affections then ever he is worthy of all our love of all our estimations and highest value we can prize him at he is above all we can love or beleeve or esteem or thinke of him Get we an estimation of him and affection to him beyond expression that still there may be more hidden in our hearts then can be uttered by our tongues or published by our pens 5. Having found Christ hold him fast hide him in your purposes yet more closely and strongly it was Barnabas exhortation e Act. 1â— 23. and it shall be mine that you would all with purpose of heart cleave unto the Lord. Christ knows from the beginning who have who have not beleeved who sticketh to him who departeth from him by an evil heart of unbelief an heart that purposeth not to live and die beleeving beware of it it is the first step of Apostacy be not fickle for fits and moods of beleeving let but there be the hidden frame of beleeving set and resolved to keep the heart close to Christ and Christ close to the heart daily hourly constantly Lay him and the promises up in the heart for use for a treasure of such worth a pearl of such price is much more worthy and precious to the soul as it is used and improved for it's spirituall advantage It followeth And for joy thereof c. These words have a two-fold connexion and dependance on the words before When he had found and on those that follow goeth and selleth c. From the first connexion ariseth our 5. Observation Every true beleever hath some joy yea Doct. 5 the conceptions of great joy in the finding of the Lord Jesus A beleever is a joyfull man Christ What man ever found a treasure and hid it for himself and as his own and joyed not at the very thoughts of it Beleeving thoughts are joyous thoughts and acts of beleeving bring in habits of joy or joyfull impressions at least till they break forth in gladsome expressions There be instances not a few to clear this truth When Christ hath prevented Zacheus and Zacheus at that instant is called effectually to beleeve in the Lord He receiveth Christ joyfully saith the Text f Luk. 19. 6. both into his heart and into his house The converts at Peters Sermon g Act. 2. 41. gladly receive the Word of salvation and of the promise to them and theirs A treasure a pearl in the field of the promise for them and their children this they rejoyced in and this doe beleevers that have right evangelicall apprehensions in our daies rejoyce in also When this Treasure is discovered to the people of Samaria h Act. 8. 8. 12 and many beleeved what Philip preached of the Kingdome of God and the name of Iesus Christ there was great joy in that City so was there in the Jailours heart and house i Act 16. 31 34 The Apostle Paul tels the Philippians for his part and Timothies k Phil. 3. 3. whom he joyns with himself in the inscription of the Epistle cap. 1. 1. We rejoyce in Iesus Christ and he speaks in the name of all beleevers if not there I am sure in his Epistle to the Romans l Rom 5. 11. We joy in God reconciled through our Lord Iesus Christ Saint Peter also tels the Christians he writes to that beleeving they doe rejoyce in Christ with joy unspeakable and full of glory Reason 1 1. It is an unspeakable and glorious treasure that is found by every true beleever the very sight of it by faith cannot but ravish the heart and might were it narrowly viewed transport it into an extasie of joy 't is no common favour nor ordinary but rare and extraordinary to finde a treasure hid in a field And as for this treasure few there be that finde it As there is no other pearl of pearls but Jesus Christ so none but elect vessels of mercy doe finde him contain or hold him Well may every such soul rejoyce He that findes a treasure out of which he hath sufficient to pay all his debts and to stock him for trading with the beâ—t of merchants and merchandize may well rejoyce and rejoyce again The Christian here a bankrupt before he findes this Pearl this Treasure he findeth that in Christ his righteousnesse which satisfies Gods justice and justifies his person dischargeth him of all debts and trespasses and that in Christs spirituall graces which affords him a sufficient stock to be trading with heaven and to fit him for commerce and communion with Saints and with the King of Saints in earth and heaven Hath not he cause to be glad who findes a pearl that affords a rich dowry for the soul and prefers him to a marriage with the King of heaven That which brings him into sonship presently to God and heirship to a Kingdome and which gives him title to the crown of heaven and stores him with money to maintain warres against the spirituall enemies of his soul sinne world Satan Antichrist who would deprive him of his inheritance and take away his Crown Title and Dignity over whom the Christian combitant is made more then Conquerour through him that loved us 2. As the worth so the propriety which comes by finding of it joyes the heart a man may finde that which he must go cry in the market-place and part with it when the right owner is found out which brings but little recompence and comfort to the finder But here is a treasure who so findes it hath it for the finding Who so findeth me findeth life saith the wisdome of God m Prov. 8. 35. He that beleeveth in me saith Christ n Joh 6. 47. hath everlasting life He that hath the Sonne saith the holy Ghost in Iohn o 1 Joh. 5. 12. hath life He hath it for his own for his use for his comfort for his rejoycing Ioy cannot but rise out of faith which instrumentally doth bring home all Gospel-treasure to the soul therefore called the joy of faith p Phil. 1. 25. being the proper right-bred childe of faith conceived and brought forth by faith nursed and maintained by faith till faith ends in vision and hope in fruition of what is found 3. The beleever hath hope or certain expectation of the sure and full possession and of the pleasure that he shall have in such a purchase and possession and in hope of all this and of the glory of God he doth and will rejoyce Men of great and
name of the Lord was magnified b Act. 19. 17. with joyfull admiration of free-grace what followed They came and confest their deeds c ver 18. and parted with their curious gainfull arts and though they counted the price of their books worth fifty thousand peeces of silver d ver 19 yet that was no price to the Pearl and Treasure of the Gospel their joy of that which was so transcendently above any reckoning or arithmeticall accounts among men constrains them to undervalue their old profession and magicall practices and burn all their books to ashes Reasons speciall Now the joy of the treasure c. constrains to self-selling three waies First From it's strength The joy of the Lord is his servants strength to deny their sins to mortifie their lusts to cashiere their corruptions and abandon all wicked inclinations and acts Spirituall joy as it is a preservative from false carnall sinfull pleasures so it hath a purgative and expulsive faculty to banish that which will damp and hinder it's exercise where joy of the Gospel and a sinfull lust meet together in one heart there will be a conflict in which conflict spirituall joy will be too hard for carnall corruption and must give way to it I protest saith Paul that by the rejoycing which I have in Christ Iesus I die daily that is as worthy Dr Preston opens the place e Preston of mortif p. 41. That spirituall joy which he had in Christ of justification and remission of sins and that sight of glory which he saw by faith mortified sin in him made him basely to esteem of his corruptions He that findeth the Treasure and Pearl joyeth so in the excellency and worth thereof that he gathers and grows in a strong hatred of what would deprive him of it what ever in self or creature of parts profits honours c. would stand as competitour for a room in his heart therewith this heart the more riseth up against it and is alienated and weaned the more from it for nothing it knows doth or can minister that joy that peace that comfort to the soul which Gospel-treasure doth it must needs therefore bid farewell to all which shall hinder or interrupt this joy In a word there is strength from this joy to doe the will of God in all points of self-deniall if there were a 1000 lives to part with for Christs sake or would the soul go through a 1000 deaths to enter into more joy Secondly From it's free and royal nature when the treasure is found and rejoyced in the man is truly enabled and elevated to a holy magnanimity or greatnesse of spirit whereby he is carried above not only base lusts but all the royalties in the world which he esteemed out of a pure judgement and now from a pure joy much more reckons but as drosse and dung and can most willingly resign up for this one pearl you heard of Zacheus free and noble spirit before whence came it from his joyfull f Luk. 19. 6 8. entertainment of Christ The Primitive Christians were full of joy this made them empty their purses and sell their lands and the Primitive Martyrs yea all of them for these sixteen hundred years have out of their royall spirits filled with joy parted with husbands wives children lives and all As the Jews when they rejoyced they could offer up more then Hecatombes even multiplied Myriads in Solomons g 1 King 8. 63. Hezekiah's h 2 Chron. 30. 24. and Josiahs i 35. 7 8. time so Christians feasted with the joy of the Lord can willingly sacrifice up multiplied and dear contentments as God cals for them he shall be honoured with wit learning goods and priviledges and with whatsoever is naturally morally spiritually dear it is all dedicated to him and set apart for him Thirdly From it's sincerity purity and holinesse which makes the soul willingly active and passive in any thing to please him whose Treasure it is whose Kingdome and pearl it is originally Gods and Christs The soul who findes Christ hath faith and hope to have the treasure sure his own upon agreement with the owner of the field the God and Father of Christ who sets out this treasure in precious promises yea and amen in Christ to such as come up to his terms of assuring it further to the soul Joy I say would please him that hath pleased the soul God hath discovered that which gives the beleever full content and the beleever being contented would give God the owner of the treasure and field content and that is by coming into the possession lawfully steal he must not this treasure the field is not his but the Lords of the Mannour And this Lord of the Mannour is well pleased if he will but sell all that stands in opposition to or competition with this purchase he shall have it Why saith the soul if that be all I agree and consent all that I have or can have as mine what is it to the worth of this Pearl this Treasure and field All my sins are worse then nothing all my duties and qualifications be they for duties and qualifications never so good and usefull in relation to a sinners justifying righteousnesse they are just nothing all my parts and gifts they will stand me in no stead at all but as refined and spiritualized All my advantages in the world so farre as they are hinderances to Christ or baits to sin they are vanity and vexation All my priviledges in profession are without Christ empty things my glory with men vain-glory my strength is weaknesse my wisdome folly my end and self an idol and I know that an idol is nothing my life is but a vapour a breath a shadow I surrender up * Non quod tātum valet sed quod plus dare non possumus Aug. all to thy dispose and use O Lord I am willing thou shouldst take my sins to kill and destroy them Doe justice upon them with all speed and for all supposed worth or excellency 't is none at all I have found Christ and desire only to be found in his righteousnesse in his strength wisdome humility c. If any doubts arise why but is this all God requires that a man deny himself and take up his crosse sell all and follow Iesus Christ 'T is answered All All why then 't is done the bargain is concluded as from the strength and liberty so the sincerity and purity of a Christians joy I will be nothing that Christ may be all I will be poor that Christs riches may appear in me I will be foolish that Christs wisdome may shine in me I will be weake that Christs strength may be perfected in me I will lose in temporals that I may gain in spirituals and eternals Vse 1. Use 1 Of Instruction two waies For information two waies First See from hence one reason why Satan is such an enemy to true joy
abounded to the riches of their liberality hereis precious and choice checkwork joy and self-deniall self-deniall and joy egging on and backing each other And St Paul in his sufferings will not rejoyce alone but will have the Philippians joy and rejoyce with him Å¿ Phil 2. 18. If self-deniall with joy for it's antecedent it shall have it for it 's concomitant and consequent The Thessalonians t 1 Thess 1. 6. and the Hebrews u Heb. 10. 34. had abundant experience of joy for their companion and attendant in all that they sold away for Christ and the Gospel so many Martyrs of Jesus as we read of so many Witnesses to this truth Call we to minde but that one instance a M. Fox vol. 3 71â— of Iohn Carelesse who was resolved to cast all care away upon the Lord had his water turned into wine and that of the best filled out by the master of the feast that he was become drunken in the joy of the Spirit c. And that other of Pomponius Algerius an Italian Martyr b Vol. 3. 181 182 183. who stiled his Leonine prison a delectable Orchard where dropped the delectable dew where flowed the pleasant Nectar where was milk of consolation and plenty of all good things And how doth he from the joy which himself felt and beleeved call upon his dear brethren and fellow-servants to rejoycing rejoycing in the midst of their fals into divers tentations according to that of the Apostle Iam. 1. 2. Let us take up his resolution I will not set more by my life then by my soul deny we our selves to the utmost and we shall have joy to the utmost lay down the price and you shall have a joyfull possession as it followeth in the next and last Doctrine But a word of Direction for the close of this Would we cherish our joy of the Treasure and deniall of Means of self-denying joy our trash 1. Be much in beleeving strength on faith as one of our Worthies in the faith e M. Ward Life of faith and strengthen joy and joy strengthened will fortifie the spirit against fears or loves inordinate will more carry us off from self and creature 2. Pray and pray earnestly for that joy which will strengthen us in the inner man and for that Almighty glorious power which will strengthen unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulnesse as the Apostle for the Eph. 3. 16. and for the Col. 1. 9 11. 3. Attend upon your sealing daies we have every Sacrament Sabbath enough assured to make us say with the Disciple Let us also goe that we may die with him or with that heroick Saint Volemus in Coelum Let us flee into heaven or with the Apostle Let us live to him that died for us and be no more our own but his living dying And with that Italian preacher Let Montalchin die and live thou O Lord Iesus 7. Thorow self-deniall brings forth such diligence â—â— Doct. 7 whereby the true Christian groweth up to a firm assurance Self-denial brings diligence and assurance and clear evidence of the Kingdom-treasure and pearl of heaven Christ and Gospel-grace For the clearing and proving whereof how it is grounded and raised upon these Parables of selling and buying and how consonant to the truth of Scripture and reason I shall open the similitude that doth illustrate this truth and so farre as it is the scope of the Parables prove it and then by demonstrations shew and confirm that it is so and why it must needs be so In the metaphor of buying we have Cleared from the metaphor of buying considerable 1. The act 2. The object First In the act of buying there are four things obvious whereby it will appear that as the merchant mans buying is here set forth as a consequent of his selling so diligence unto more full assurance and clear evidence of Christ is a consequent and fruit of self-denial 1. In buying men lay out with cost of money much pains and diligence it cost the former and trades-man many a trudging journey to fairs and markets and the merchant many a walk up and down the City and riding from town to town in the Countrey yea many a hazardable voyage by and beyond the Seas So the self-denying Christian he laieth out much cost of pains and diligence to make his calling and his election sure A sure interest is that the earthly and heavenly merchant labours for There is a two-fold interest in and to the Kingdom of heaven 1. That which comes in by calling this is the finding of the treasure and pearl 2. That which was given the elect from all eternity the knowledge whereof is the effect of calling according to purpose Now by thorow-self-denial a soul is put to diligence and by diligence seeks the knowledge of both these interests But here is the difference between worldly and spirituall merchandizing the more money a man hath the more he can carry on his trade and merchandize in the world but the lesse worth a Christian man hath the more rich the merchant when he comes without money or moneys price he laieth out the more cost The more self-denial in the heart and the more empty the purse of the soul is the more diligence the Christian giveth to attain what he beleeveth and hopeth for And that a self-denying soul is such a painfull diligent soul is implied in that precept Isa 55. 1. compared with ver 2 3. 6. Buying with an empty purse is labouring using the means seeking in the Ordinances by faith hope humility c. in the sense of our nothingnesse to trust into God and wait upon him for all in Christ And it is so expressely found true in the practice of beleevers Matth. 19. 27. Behold we have forsaken all and have followed thee here is diligent following of Christ after negligent forsaking of a mans self and of all he hath So St Paul having suffered the losse of all to winne Christ what are his desires Phil. 3. 10. That I may know him more experimentally and his diligence what is it vers 11. If by any means I might attain c. And ver 12. I follow after and vers 13. reaching forwards and vers 14. I presse toward the mark the like diligence he exhorteth the Philippians unto v. 17. Brethren be followers together of me as in selling so in buying as in parting with your selves and own righteousnesse c. So in the endeavours of a more sure and full possession of Christ and what is his 2. The Merchant by his buying and trafficking obtains what he laieth out his cost for He that buyeth land takes up land He that buyeth a house takes livery and seisin 't is delivered up to him by waies of strong assurance he that buyeth a commodity at market carrieth it away with him from the shop and brings it home So he that by self denyal gives diligence in the way
recompence all their diligence with full assurance of hope unto the end Heb. 6. 11. The Heathen could say That the gods sold all for sweat and we can say most truly of our God That when a Christian sweats in self-denial mortification sufferings c. he shall have from him as sure as he is just and faithfull what he sweats for 3. God is able to put a soul into possession and that everlastingly of what it laies out pains and diligence for Ioh. 10. 28 29 30. Christs and his Fathers power is united for the assurance of life to his sheep and for their preservation unto life Use 1 Aword of confutation Hence we inferre the certainty of salvation by Christ and Gospel-grace against all that doubting Doctours or doubting hearts can say to the contrary for it is as sure as any thing here can be made sure and more sure then any earthly purchase there being more in the substance of this parabolicall merchandize then in the shadow yet every expression in the shadowy resemblance speaks assurance a treasure found a treasure hidden a treasure joyed in and a treasure bought a pearl found and bought That the treasure was found hidden by God and is hidden by God and is hidden again by the finder and joyed in all this makes towards assurance but when that field for the treasures sake and the treasure with the field and the pearl and all is bought and all sold that all might be bought here is assurance upon assurance Then is Christ surely a mans own the propriety known enjoyed and used Are not you sure of that which you have bought and purchased and have deeds and evidences to shew for it after the true title is tried and proved and the false claim disproved The true beleever you see is a great purchaser he hath deeds and evidences in the promises to shew and he hath the witnesse in himself Our Gospel 1 Joh. 5. 10. saith the Apostle to the Thessalonians came not unto you in word only but in power and in the holy Ghost and in â— Thess 1. 5. much assurance And when the tempter came to tempt them though cap. 3. 10. there was something lacking in their faith in regard of degrees yet sensible they were and sure of what they had as of what they lacked and wanted The same Apostle to the Romans speaks of a double witnesse Rom. 8. 15. Gods Spirit witnessing with the Spirit or renewed conscience of a beleever Yea the Apostle Iohn makes report of â— Joh. 5. 7 8. three Witnesses in heaven and of three upon earth in the heart The Spirit equall with the Father and Son in heaven and above bloud and water on earth ratifying the acts and reflections of faith about our justification shining upon his own work of sanctification and ever teaching the soul in and after self-denying diligence to be assured never to doubt of what they have found as theirs Object 1 But some doubting Doctour will say There can be no assurance without extraordinary revelation Familists and Libertines say the like with the Papists in effect who are all for an immediate Testimony of the Spirit without evidence of grace within them or a life-testimony without them or without Scripture-evidence and verdict upon them Answ 1 1. Assurance is first found where it is founded without us in Gospel-grace Gods free-love giving Christ c. 2. Faith finding assurance in it's object more then in it's own acts and reflections by closing with a sure word of promise an unchangable Covenant becomes sure in it's acts and reflexions through the Spirit 3. More firm and full assurance comes daily in by this Christian selling and buying As the experience of thousands speak it By self-denial and diligent use of the ordinances and meanes of salvation they have ordinarily obtained sure hold possession and use of Christ have known they have had him and shall be saved eternally by him But with the tenets of Rome the Doctrine of doubting agreeth well enough viz. That a man is not justified by imputation of Christs righteousnesse but by inherent holinesse That a man must make some temporal satisfaction to Gods justice here and the rest in Purgatory That his general faith resolved into the testimony of the Church virtuall the Popes brest is enough to salvation That by the power of free-will and nature he may and must concur with Gods grace in conversion c. The Roman faith of these and such like tenets will never assure a man that he is in the state of grace or shall be in the state of glory Nor will Arminian grounds bring home assurance viz. That Christ died for all as for one That God hath not absolutely elected any That all things put into the balance which may be considered in Christs death yet none may be saved That all operations put which may be put in as ingredients to conversion yet grace may be resisted and if gotten yet lost it may be at last and put away But from the true Gospel-faith preached and the true Gospel-treasure in Christ discovered infallible and absolute promises Christs righteousnesse imputed to justification Faith and holinesse wrought irresistably by the Spirit who is given to discover and seal up grace given and glory promised and who carrieth on the beleever in the means and ordinances keepeth him to them and makes them effectuall for the obtaining of what he seeks after Assurance and evidence unquestionable may be is and shall be had and enjoyed for ever Object 2 But saith the doubting heart mans heart is deceitfull above all things and I cannot finde such and such evidences as you speak of by all the diligence and self-denying pains that I have yet laid out for the Gospel-pearl and Treasure Answ 1. I am very jealous whether thou hast denied that deceitfull heart from bearing any witnesse at all about thy estate If the heart be deceitfull as it is in the best so farre as unregenerate good reason it should not be heard speak at all 't is a false witnesse and will give in false evidence I agree with thee the old deceitfull heart and every piece of it must be sold away denied 2. The heart so farre as beleeving a faithfull promise Conscience as justified by Christs bloud and sanctified by the Spirit is not deceitfull The Spirit is truth and too holy to deceive 1 Joh. 5. 6 and too wise to be deceived in this great point of a Christians assurance when he certifieth Gods love and love-tokens to the soul 3. It is and will be more sure then any earthly purchase if that may be wrangled away this cannot if an heir may be cheated of his inheritance in his minority the childe of God cannot He who selleth all sels all his deceitfull heart away and all false evidences and dictates to consult with the Word and Spirit of truth to hearken to Gods bargain to read his writings to view and hold out
for Christ but not according to knowledge If you think to be saved and to help to save others by the doctrine of universall Redemption and by the particular act of rebaptizing and of being rebaptized you will still deceive and be deceived Perpend therefore and weigh with your self or rather out of your self with the minde of God in the Scriptures as here and in others more elaborate and spirituall dissertations is cleared and vindicated Had you sold your self wit fancy and conceit in Gods matters for Christ and Gospel-truth you would never have so abused the Parable of selling all and of buying the field and treasure as you did when you opened your pack of wares in our Town I know 't is incident to us all to erre but where self-deniall prevails errour shall not prevail to heresie Errour is a serpent with a long tail full of knots if unwary self-confident persons meet with it it will winde in and enwrap in it's endlesse train a thousand of them with which they cannot but be strangled that do not strangle it I am afraid my old friend T. More sometimes of Wels was thus ensnarled by doubtfull disputations with the erroneous Doctours of the times who hath pleaded your cause of generall atonement in print A book I could never meet with to this day but the other day when I had finisht this By M. Whitfield Piece there was presented to my view a godly learned friendly and faithfull Answer to that his book I shall hope by humility and self-deniall he will recover himself upon the reading of it and I shall pray you may prevent him or joyn or follow in a Palinodia Then will you see and say it had been better for you both to have kept to your looms then to have spun such a threed which will not make a web and that a garment to cover your nakednes withall Repent or you have much to answer a heavy account to give up For such as have had a better name for piety then ever Prelates had to make a more dangerous narrow bridge to Popery then they did by a more refined Pelagianisme For you who have pretended to more sanctity then ever Arminian Doctours have done in familiar communion with Gods people to be more efficacious in deceiving and mis-leading unstable souls O I tremble to think of the account Repent therefore and your errour of errours yet will not be your ruine But if the Lord leaves you to your free-will and you be hardened from his fear let him that you will procure to answer me if you cannot your self reconcile these contradictions between your universality of Redemption and your Anti-paedo-baptisme Vniversalist Anti-paedo-baptist Christ died to redeem all of man-kinde whereof Infants are a part As for Infants we know nothing of them Or thus Christ took away the curse from all men for sins against the Covenant of works Infants have no visible grace Again All of man-kinde are under a Covenant of Grace Infants of the best believing Parents are not under a Promise Again The guilt of Adams sin is taken off from all and by consequence there are no Pagans nor ever were No Infants are faederally holy They are all but young Pagans Now the good Lord the Spirit of truth deliver his chosen people from both these extreams and from all such interfeering and shackling opinions in whom I am theirs and Yours to read as to write to learn as to teach John Stalham To the Christian Reader Christian and Beloved Reader VNder the favourable allowance of the Authour of these ensuing labours my very loving Friend and vigilant Pastour I am crept into thy view not arrogating so much repute as to encline thee to a more venerable esteem of any thing in them because attested in an Epistle of mine For I am not of Classick authority to do any competent service of that kinde My scope rather is to witnes to what I have heard and received from the undoubted word of truth made known to me by the spirit of truth which hath wrought effectually as in other means so by the Ministery of this Authour to confirm and establish me in truth received before my acquaintance with him and to deliver me out of the snare of some errours in which I began to be entangled about that very time in which I began to know him And though I know him too well to go about to winde into his better esteem by painting and tickling encomions who lives upon a purer and more heavenly air then the vapour of mans breath exhaled by a corrupt fancy from a muddy heart yet I deem it some encouragement to him that is set over me in the Lord to watch for my soul to be acknowledged in his work and successe and in so doing I do only discharge a debt Some of the strong supporters of the rotten fabrick of Arminius thou maist see him batter and rase in this Discourse into which since I was a waifaring man to heaven I never turned in to lodge for a night finding it inconsistent with that foundation against which the gates of hell shall never prevail Especially that of Saints apostacy And for Paulus Testardus his friend and neighbour I cannot but issue my thoughts that he is here so fully enervated and enfeebled that when I read that passage in the book which concerned him if I had been a woman and in Elizabeths condition when Mary came from the hill countrey to salnte her the babe would have leapt within me for joy Another errour occasionally touched upon I must crave thy patience to speak a little to and that is the opinion of Anti-poedobaptisme in the lime-twigs whereof I my self was once taken and held till by the Lords blessing upon the judicious meek and divine reasonings of this Authour I was enabled to discern the Arminian results that naturally and therefore necessarily arise from Anti-poedobaptisticall grounds while they both make the Covenant of grace dependent upon some spirituall qualification in the creature And this I blush not to publish to the world hoping that it may be for thy benefit I am not ignorant that there are irreconcilable contradictions between the opinions of him who is both Anti-pedobaptist and Arminian a taste whereof thou shalt meet with in the close of the Authours Epistle to the Reader and no wonder for errour is often so divided and engaged in battels and feuds that thou maist meet with one corrupt opinion triumphing upon the neck of another like Tamerlane upon Bajazet unity and consent being the honourable titles and inseparable attendants of nothing but truth Nor yet doe I insert this as if I would insinuate that every Antipoedobaptist is an actuall Arminian it being quite against my principles to represent any man in a worse shape then his own digested opinions put him into And indeed I have so charitable assurance of some of their sincerities in saving truths as if their eyes were clear enough to
of minde must not decay you are undone then 2. In that you rest in these things â—s the sole and only mediums and waies to a compleat and full happinesse looking no further but for more of such goodly pearls and for more content in them Christ is not in all mens thoughts all this time or if he be 3. These things are thought to be and so sought after as of equal necessity with Jesus Christ if not more necessary I have heard many a natural man say why we must have food and raiment and accommodations to our estate place and rank amongst them when I never heard him say we must have Christ Whereas there is no absolute necessity of food and raiment much lesse is it necessary that we have more It is not necessary that I have such accommodations as another Minister for estate maintenance books portion or provision for wise and children 't is not necessary that you doe vie with other Gentlemen and Farmers and have in every respect what they have no man is to seek great things for himself but the great things of Christ and heaven 4. When Christ is not a Pearl in thy eye in comparison of these Thou makest a tush of Christ and art angry that we hold forth heavenly treasure before you or art sad and mesancholy as the young man Matth. 19. when we chalk out the way to happinesse by Christ alone or by self-denial and denial of all the world for Christ this evidence with the former discovers sufficiently the carnality and natural temper of mens hearts and know you may of what strain you are of if you will suffer the Word to divide between the joynt and the marrow and to discover the thoughts and inâ—â—ts of the heart 5. See the necessity the absolute necessity of higher light Vse 3 about the true medium and way of happinesse then what is left in men or given back upon Adams forfeiâ— to the most of mankinde for some are born Idiots yea then all common supernatural light given as an overplus to natural light By the reâ—nanâ—s of the first light of creation forfeited and given back 〈◊〉 have l Rom. 1. 19. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That which may be known of God in the heavens and the earth as touching his eterâ—â—â— wisdom goodnesse c. But have they 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Indeed it is not there to be had neither in the natural â—ans 〈◊〉 nâ—â— in the natural mans book the great 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 Thâ—â— which is knowable of Christ is not found in the wisdome of the world no not the saving knowledgeâ—â—f God 〈◊〉 these be had but m 1 Cor. 1 21. in the foolishnesse of 〈◊〉 in the field of Gospel-ministery there is the doctrine and discovery of the Lord Jesus yet lead men over all this field and that with Scripture-light except the Spirit coâ—eth and convinceâ—â— and openeth mens eyes and gives a light and disâ—erâ—ing beyond his own common workings we shall but grope after Christ nay misse oâ— him catch at shadows of a Pearl in stead of the substance and be ever learning never coming to the right knowledge of him The third Observation fellows Doct. 3 3. In Gods 〈◊〉 his elect prevâ—â—ted with his love and light 〈◊〉 drawn to beleeve the certain attainablenes of Christ Gods elect better finders then seekers and his grace for themselves The treasure is not so hid but found it is nor the Pearl so fine off but found it is of the man the merchant man no other but the elect of God And that at some certain time when he had found even upon Gods preventing or finding of the man and the merchant he findes the treasure and pearl For the further illustration and confirmation of which truth 1. I shall shew what the finding of this treasure is that it is a Christians beleeving c. 2. Where Christ is found even in the field of Scripture promises Sermons c. 3. When this treasure and pearl is found at Gods time of effectual calling 4. Why some finde Christ not others even Gods free preventing love and powerfull discovery and drawing of the soul upon that discovery c. First The finding of the treasure and pearl is nothing else 1. How finders but beleeving Christ is found by the light and apprehension of faith for what is faith but a perswasion or apprehension of Christ to be certainly attainable by him that receiveth him and resteth upon him 1. In faith there is a light and sight of Christ in his fulnes and â—â—tablenesse for the souls necessities brought home to the minde and understanding the Father teacheth and revealeth Christ to the heart and n Joh. 4. 45. every one that hath heard and hath learned of the Father cometh to Christ o Mar. 16. 17. Flesh and bloud makes not such a discovery as the Lord said to Peter but God himself and that not only to a soul but in the soul p Gal. 1. 16. 〈◊〉 saith St Paul He revealed his sonne in me he brings the light into the heart and gives the eye of faith to see and behold the treasure within the mines c. 2. The soul is convinced that he may have it if he will take it or make out for it Christ is offered to every soul and to his to thy to my particular q Act. 16. 31. Beleeve and thou shalt be saved and thy house r Rom. 10. 9. If thou shalt beleeve with or in thine heart c. he is thine his mine whereof upon such a conviction the Prodigall makes no Question but that in his Å¿ Luk. 15. 17. Fathers house there was bread enough and that if he went to his father he might get in among the hired servants c. 3. When the minde apprehends what is discovered and the conscience is convinc't that it is for him as for others the will is drawn to receive and rest upon it for his He hath found it why should it not be his The heart is concluded by faith that he will seek no where else for treasure but pitch and rest live and die there whither To whom should we goe Here are the t Joh. 6. 48 49. words here is the Treasure of eternal life The clear knowledge of Christ draws the heart to beleeve as it followeth And we beleeve that thou art Christ c. And the heart beleeving this beleeveth in him there the soul rests and will not away nor look any where else but there nor any way else but by beleeving which further appears by these three Demonstrations 1. Faith is the first seeking grace and therefore the first Faith the great finding grace finding grace They that seek by works before faith lose the Treasure as the Jews did Rom. 9. 31. Israel which followed after the law of righteousnes hath not attained to the law of righteousnes wherefore because they sought it not by faith but as it
Christ in his preventing love and call shall come to Christ observe it in John they are given before they come as well as when they come and because given before all time they shall come in time unto him Reasons special And that faith is a fruit of election and finding this treasure a fruit of Gods speciall love appeareth by two Reasons among many 1. The treasure of and in Christ is a great secret it is for Gods friends and children that he loveth to finde it and to have the speciall grace of faith to apprehend it for theirs it is the childrens bread and portion To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom c. 2. God who elects to the end elects to the means he did not elect all to the end therefore not to the means some are left to a losing faith others chosen to salvation have a finding and a saving faith given them as the proper and choice means of getting an interest in Christ and all that they are chosen to in him before the foundation of the world Ephes 1. 1. to the 4. the faithfull in Christ Jesus are blessed with all spirituall blessings according as God hath chosen c. For Application and first to your understandings First From hence see the necessity of true faith if it be 1. Use of Instruction three waies necessary thou findest this treasure and truly that is needfull enough for thou art a merchant-bankrupt in Adam till Christ stocks thee and sets thee up by Gospel-riches and wealth and except thou beleevest thou wilt never see not understand any thing of this mystery of Christ and of Gods love Christ will never have any dealings with thee he will not trust thee nay unlesse thou beleevest sincerely he will not commit himself unto thee nor trust thee with this true treasure Secondly See what effectuall faith is that which is the â—ffect and fruit of Gods free everlastin ever-preventing love that which brings home a discovery of Christ in a promise to the soul with some certainty of apprehension for a mans self that it is the will of God Christ should be his mine thine Hast thou by the light and conviction of the Gospel been drawn to this apprehension of a possibility yea a certaincy of attaining to true treasure surely thou hast been prevented by the love of God and hast found that which thou beleevest and maist know thy faith and beleeving is noâ— in vain when as by the very first act of it thou hast hold of a Treasure a Pearl which will make thee for ever Thirdly See the riches of a beleever and his happinesse by faith he findes a treasure that make him what a man of this world a merchant of small wares No but a Merchant-venturer for heaven a venturer said I no a merchant finder and possessour he findes all at once by faith that ever any Saint was or shall be worth he findes the treasure of the Kingdom of heaven and all that the King and Kingdom of heaven is worth this he findes by beleeving ô that you would beleeve how great his findings are thâ—â— you may grow great by beleeving also with him Use 2 Exhortation three waies Secondly To come to what is yet more practicall let â—â— caution and counsell you about the great work of beleeving First Bewere of an evil heart of unbelief thou wilt ever be â—t â— lesse for Christ till thou beleevest thou wilt lose Christ and lose thy soul by unbelief Consid 1. Unbelief is a sin against Gospel light which brings condemnation with a witnes Ioh. 3. 19. The sinfulnes of unbelief 2. 'T is a same against Gospel-love it hinders the exâ—â—â—tion of Gods-election in these that are chosen then maist be among the chosen of God beleeve and thou shalt below it 3. 'T is a sin against the person offices worth efficacy of Jesus Christ he will not he cannot do what he would 〈◊〉 hee in thee because of thy unbelief 4. It hath more evil in it then all the sins against the 〈…〉 called by a more eminent disparagement an p Heb. 3. 12. an 〈…〉 of unbelief a proud heart is 〈…〉 heart is an evil heart and an unclean heart an evil heart yet not 〈◊〉 in Scripture that I remember as an unbeleeving 〈◊〉 in 〈…〉 that â—ame more then all other 〈◊〉 of spirit which yet are bad enough upon these grounds 1. 〈…〉 are in this virtually and actually pride is in all unbelief and acted with it and the worst pride of all exaltings and liftings up of the heart against God pollution and uncleannesse is in and with unbelief they are never separated hypocrisie and unbelief unthankfulnesse and unbelief are linked inseparably together 2. It brings more mischief to the soul then all other sinnes more griefs cares vexations despairs and deeper damnation for ever 3. It keeps the heart under the guilt and power of all sinne whatsoever thy heart will never be better but worse and worse while unbeleeving Secondly Wouldst finde Christ get rid of this evil heart of unbelief Beleeve and thou hast found Christ righteousnesse and a treasure of all grace in him Hast found thy self empty By faith thou shalt see and share in Christs fulnesse Hast found thy self bankrupt Beleeve and thou shalt have riches and stock enough in Christ Hast found thy self foolish in Christ are treasures of wisdome and knowledge Beleeve and thou shalt finde thy self Gods by election Christs by redemption and purchase and the Spirits by his in dâ—velling sanctifying presence Say and conclude it if God hath discovered Christ it is that I should beleeve it is for obedience of faith I beleeve I beleeve then mâ—st thou say I have found I have found What The Gospel-treasure and the Gospel-pearl Thirdly Would you beleeve walke up and down the field where the Treasure is hidden and revealed reade and search the Scriptures hearken after the promises attend to the Sermons of Christ to the Word of the Kingdom and to this end 1. Give not over hearing and hearing again upon all occasions of those that preach Jesus Christ purely and sincerely 2. Meditate turn over Christ and the promises in thy thoughts oft in a day and as oft or oftener in the night season 3. Enquire and make out for knowledge more light into the mystery of the unsearchable riches of Christ And you that have beleeved and found something hear meditate pray and pray in faith for more understanding they use to dig for hid treasures Joâ— 3. 21. q Prov. 2. 2 3 c. If thou encline thine ear and apply thy heart criest and liftest up thy voice for wisdome if thou seekest her as silver and searchest for her as for hid treasures then shalt thou understand and finde the knowledge of God of God in Christ of Christ in a promise and Covenant of grace Amen We have dispatcht three of the Doctrines the other four drawn from the
another Gospel then that of justification by faith he speaks of the man and his miracles with a holy disdain He that ministreth c. q Gal. 3. 5. as not owning the man nor his gifts For his part he would have all common gifts to vale and stoop to the exalting and lifting up of the knowledge of Christ and him crucified 3. All his own righteousnesse which men have an opinion of and confidence in for their acceptation before God either as it lieth in outward conformity to the commands of first or second Table or in the inward frame of the heart by inherent qualifications before or after faith All these when God cals a man to beleeve in Christ alone for justification and life a true beleever finding this treasure in Christ renounceth and disclaimeth as any piece of his justifying righteousnesse before the Lord. St Paul was most eminent in this also Touching the righteousnesse of the Law he was blamelesse r Phil. 3. 6. before men and for his inward conscience he did not sin against the common light of it Å¿ Act. 23. 1. what he did against Christ he did it ignorantly t 1 Tim. 1. 13. And after his conversion he walked in his calling of the Ministery most innocently and uprightly and was not conscious to himself of base ends c. yet did he sell away and suffer the losse of all his Pharisaicall blamelesse life and renounced his innocent conscience yea and sanctified conversation and gracious frame of heart in the point of his justification I know nothing by my self yet am I not hereby justified u 1 Cor. 4. 4. I have suffered the losse of all and doe count them but dung that I may win Christ and be found in him not having on mine own righteousnesse which is of the Law but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousnesse which is of God by faith x Phil. 3. 8 9. From which Scriptures you may observe he did not throw away his blamelesse civility but the Pharisaicall pride of it nor did he pack up his sanctification and send it beyond sea as a commodity he would in no case have any dealings with but in comparison of Christs inherent righteousnes imputed to him by faith to his sole and perfect justification he will own none of his own adherent moralities or inherent graces nor in the least confide therein or admit thereof as a co-partner with Christ c. The best frame of heart or life is but for evidence to a soul that he is justified not any ground of beleeving as in any piece of the cause why he is justified 4. All worldly comforts and advantages and creature-engagements they are likewise by consent put away sit loose from and as God cals parted with to instance 1. In worldly profits no sooner doth the Lord call Matthew not only to a Christian estate but to the Ministery of the Gospel but he riseth up from the receit of custome where he had sweet gains and comings in and followeth Christ a Mat. 9 9. No sooner doth Christ call Simon and Andrew his brother with this promise to make them fishers of men but straightway they forsook their nets and followed him b Mar. 1. 17 18 The like did James and John Mark 1. 16 20. Not that all who finde Christ must presently forsake their particular lawfull vocations and imploiments but when such a vocation and imploiment will be a distraction let and hinderance to Christianity and much more to the service and work of the Ministery then all such shackling profits and profitable imploiments are laid aside If Peter or any of the Apostles did afterwards goe a fishing upon the sea it was not as their particular calling but upon the by as we say and but occasionally Take another instance or two of parting with worldly advantages upon the finding of the Gospel-treasure Zacheus you know gave away half of his goods to the poor and if he had taken any thing from any man by false accusation he restored him four-fold c Luk. 19. 8. here is but half you will say of his estate but that half is freely offered and given before an explicite call And again a four-fold restitution of what was snatcht by forged cavillation if he had much plaid the Sycophant would take away a good share of the other half of his estate and for the remainder he that prevented the poor before they askt a part to give the half and those he had wronged to offer so fair and full a restitution was prepared to let goe all the rest of his estate when God called for it As the members of the prime Church at Jerusalem came up to this fale of worldly estates and profits in the very letter by the power of the Spirit d Act. 2. 44 45. 4 34 35. they gave as if others had interest and right in their goods with themselves and sold to that end that they might put the propriety out of their hands to the common stock for the Church it 's maintenance which upon such a speciall call and extraordinary occasion by the grace of self-deniall the true Christian merchant consents still unto and would bring into act 2. As for pleasures of the world and even lawfull recreations he sels them away also consents to none which prove a bait and a snare to sin and useth none but with an indifferent minde as the Apostle exhorteth e Cor. 7. 30. He rejoyceth as if he rejoyced not 3. As for honour credit favour this also with Moses f Heb. 11. 25 26. is lightly set by and the afflictions with Gods people and the reproach of Christ esteemed and chosen before it When both these Christs favour and the worlds Gods honour and esteem with the creature cannot actually be held together the later is both actually and affectionately forsaken and the former cleaved unto 4. As for relative engagements to friends parents children wives husbands kinred house and family these are set by and not known in Christs cause yea there is a kinde of comparative hatred of them in respect of the Pearl and Treasure 'T is remarkable that when John and Iames were called by Christ to follow him and to take up a new profession They left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants g Mar. 1. 20. Yea Paul though of the stock of Israel and of the tribe of Benjamin h Phil. 3. 5. yet forsakes his kinred and fathers tribe and family where they forsook Christ and the Gospel Eminent is the story of that noble Marquesse of France Galeacius Caracciolus who did dis-engage himself from estate friends wife children and all for the Gospel sake and how many such self-denying Merchants some of them noble and great have we among the Martyrs In the Martyrology i M. Fox vol. 2. p. 178. there is mention of one Galeazius Trecius who was bound to a
of diligence obtaineth what he seeketh for the Treasure the Pearl Christ and Gospel-grace he gets sure hold of it and surer hopes of the enjoyment of it in a graduall way or by certain degrees now some assurance anon more Matth. 19. 29. Every one that hath forsaken houses or brethren or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for my names sake shall receive a hundred fold of heavenly assurance and shall inherit what he is assured of everlasting life Heb. 6. 12. with 10. and 11. v. They that laboured with faith and patience inherit the promises and such as are followers of them in the same diligence come to the same full assurance of hope that they shall have the same inheritance 3. When the field treasure and pearl is bought there is a knowledge of the mans and merchants propriety and title to be good having bought it in a legall way So the self-denying diligent Christian obtaining in a Gospel-way of assurance what he gives diligence for can say this is mine for I bought it upon such and such lawfull terms St Paul is able to say upon crucifying himself with Christ Gal. 2. 20. and denying a life in himself for the life of Christ in him that Christ loved him and gave himself for him 4. What is lawfully bought may be and is lawfully held kept and for ever possest against all the cheats and challenges of others So the Christian merchant hath by this his self-denying diligence such a strong and firm title given him that none shall cheat him or deprive him of it Thus the holy Ghost exhorteth Revel 3. 11. Hold that fast which thou hast that no man take thy crown and thus he assureth 1 Pet. 1 3. and 5. They that are begotten to a lively hope are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation and vers 4. The inheritance is reserved in heaven for them Secondly In respect of the Object what is bought the field and treasure in it the same with the Pearl you will have an illustration and evidence that self-denial brings in assurance 1. The field being bought which is the summe of all Gospel-promises set forth in Gospel-ministery and sealed up in Gospel-Sacraments all the treasure hid in that field is a mans own and by self-denying diligence made sure to him Having the promises he is so farre sure of what is promised as he is sure the promises are his Heb. 11. 33. through faith in sufferings they obtained promises that is in some good accomplishment And 2 Pet. 1. 4. By great and precious promises participation of the divine nature comes in and all things ver 3. that pertain to life and godlinesse And 2 Cor. 1. 20. all the promises yea and amen in Christ we are established and sealed by the spirit given as an earnest of that which is behinde ver 22. Nothing is more clear in Scripture then this that a beleeving self-denying Christian is in Covenant with God and in constant dealings and transactions between heaven and his soul who taking all upon Gods Word of promise he hath all made sure to him upon Gods Word and seal 2. The Treasure and Pearl being bought with the field as what the man and merchant buyeth he makes use of so the Christian hath the use of that grace made over to him in the promise and by the use of it he comes to be more sure of it and hath further evidence of Christ as his by the experience of the workings of God upon his soul according to promise hence after much self-denial and sufferings he comes with Paul Rom. 5. 3 4 5. to glory in tribulation knowing and finding that tribulation worketh patience and patience more experience and experience still more hope and hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in the heart c. Assurance at last comes to be a great part of the treasure and pearl And the Christian buying all of Christ as he sold all of himself he must needs have all Which yet will further be confirmed by these Demonstrations Proved 1 That it is so First That it is so 1. That which cleareth a mans right assures it amongst men by the confession and experience of all so that which cleareth the right of a Christian to Christ doth assure his right unto him Now this self denial and diligence therein cleares his right Matth. 5. 3. Poverty of spirit is a clear evidence of a blessed state and of our right to the Kingdome of heaven and so to all the treasure in it and being such an evidence it is a means of great assurance 2. Additions of grace to grace in their diligent acts and exercises bring forth assurance as is plain 2 Pet. 1. from ver 5. to 10. Now self-denying acts bring on these additions and steps of grace when a Christian comes off to soul-emptyings he hath the more fillings from God Luk. 1. 53. He hath filled the hungry with good things when the rich he sends empty away He that laboureth to see himself and all he doth to be a Cypher Christ will be to him a figure and the more such Cyphers we make the more will be our value and treasure when Christ puts to himself as our figure as to three Cyphers prefix but a figure of one and 't is one thousand to four 't is ten thousand to five 't is a hundred thousand He that shall more annihilate himself shall finde more the creatures all in Christ Christs all in him for him to him If we be Sceletons he will put flesh and substance upon us when naked he will clothe us when blinde he will give eye-salve when poor he will put money in our purse very good gold tried in the fire and stampt with his own image and superscription Secondly Why it must needs be so 2. Why so Reason 1 1. God is most free and bountifull intending all the Kingdome and treasure of it of free gift to bestow it and assure it upon those who labour to be emptied of themselves and are most willing to take all of free-gift Buying according Emere quod nunc est merâ—â—ri antiqui accipiebant pro sumere Fest de verb. signif to an old acception of the Word in the Latine Authours is nothing else but receiving and diligent self-denial doth but make the heart capacious to receive the glorious fillings of heaven and if the Christian Merchant be free and bountifull to part with all God assuredly will be as free and infinitely more free and liberall to give him all again upon a blessed and glorious exchange of eternals for temporals Ioh. 12. 25 26. He that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternall And if any man serve me him will my Father honour 2. God is faithfull and just in his promises and dealings when men come up to his price to let them have what is worth their money that is to
to view his seal And when he seeth all is currant and good to buy the truth of the Gospel-doctrine and promises and of the Spirits evidences by which he and his brethren come to know within themselves that they have in heaven an enduring substance Plundred Heb. 10. 34. and spoiled they may be of what they buy in this world or of all purchased treasures here they may be cheated disappointed but as for the treasure in our Text it can neither be taken from them being in Gods keeping and Christs keeping not they be taken from it because when they die they goe to it where it is reserved for them As they have Christ and Gospel-grace here they goe thither to enjoy Christ and Gospel-glory Use 2 A note of discovery why some want assurance 2. See the reason why some want evidence and assurance because with self-denial and diligence they doe not seek it Of those that are uncertain of the Gospel-treasure of Christ the pearl of the Kingdom and the promises as theirs there be two sorts First Some who want evidence and will never have it nor come by it because they will not buy it with that wherewith they should buy it all they have set to sale they will not so much as consent to the letting go of self-righteousnesse sin or the creature c. Now such as will not yeeld to a parting with what stands in opposition to or in competition with the Lord Jesus neither will agree to an absolute hatred of sin nor a comparative hatred of the creature for him are not worthy meet or fit to have any Christ or heaven assured to them Secondly Others who want evidence and will want it a while because they hickle and dally and do not set roundly to the work either they are not faithfull in selling or not diligent in buying 1. Not faithfull in self-sale 1. Some lust is indulged and that keeps the soul in the dark 't is deservedly haunted with doubtings whether Christ be theirs while there is a favouring of any sin Or 2. Some parts and common gifts are preferr'd before sanctification and a mortified crucified use of them the pin-dust before the writing the varnish before the picture or post beware there of a rotten post which may be varnish't over as well as a sound Or 3. The man seeks his comfort in his duties and enlargements or in some frames of heart and will only then beleeve and be confident when the heart is in such a frame Many weak souls would make poverty of spirit hungring and mourning the cause and ground of their faith and not the evidence and fruit of it Or 4. The creature steals away their affection some profits pleasures or advancements relations and respects this and that way take up the room that comfortable assurance cannot dwell there scarce lodge a night in such a common Inne Or 5. The priviledges in and with the Church visible are built upon more then promises to the Church-mysticall and true members of Christ the head of the Church Or 6. The mans ends are not only stickling with Gods but indulged very farre and his own things sought not Christs or before the things of Christ Or 7. The poor soul goeth about self-denial in self-strength and would mortifie and sell all by his own power This is as main a let to assurance as the rest 2. Not diligent in buying of treasure Ordinances and means of assurance are neglected graces are not acted assurance is not prized the man resteth in the finding of the treasure is bidding and cheapning and endeavouring to draw it down to a lower price then God hath propounded he is tempted to repent of the full bargain and so God will not let him have it as yet but upon the just free and honourable terms as was at first agreed Hence hence so many doubting staggering Christians because so much slothfulnesse and indifferency in the matter of further and stronger assurance Use 3 A vvord of Exhortatiō Now let me addresse my self to such and such only who have beleeved and prized Christ and Gospel-grace and had some joy therein and have begun to deny something ye◠consented to let goe all for Christ here is I may say as the Apostle to the Hebrews That which accompanieth Heb. 6. 9 11. salvation but we desire that every one of you may shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end 1. Be diligent from first to last 2. Shew it as well as use it First Be diligent in all acts of selling that you may buy and come in to the evidence and assured possession of Christ and all Gospel-treasure and here let me present most needfull helps and waies of diligence before you 1. Let there be diligence in the meditation of promises and remembrance of Scripture-grounds of Assurance is God free bountifull willing able faithfull and unchangeable Is Christs intercession and the spirits presence perpetuall Let your thoughts be frequently fixt hereupon think not how able you are to keep your selves in his love but how able God is to keep you not how willing you are to be Christs but how willing he is to be yours not how faithfull you are but how faithfull he is c. 2. Let there be diligence in actings of Faith and renouncings of self-righteousnesse and all priviledges short of Christ and him crucified which the heart would build and rest upon for acceptance that Christ for your justification may be your sure your only treasure and pearl your all in all By faith 2 Cor. 1. ult Phil. 4 1 ye stand Stand fast in the Lord. 3. Let there be diligence in all departure from iniquity You must not think to be as the women Isa 4. 1. to be called by Christs name and eat your own bread wear your own apparel still live upon your lusts and goe in your rags 2 Tim. 2. 19. Let him that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity God will have his people stand at a distance from the waies of sin who would be sealed as his God can endure no Hab 1. 13. Tit. 1. 14. iniquity Christ came to redeem us from all iniquity It is his will we should be holy He hath a privy seal a seal of secrecy He knoweth who are his but this is his open seal impressions of holinesse upon the hearts and fore-heads of all professours of faith If you would have your assurance of Christ and hold it to the end beware of sins against light and sins against profession Let carelesse Christians thinke or boast what they will of assurance He that shall fall and fall again into sinne carelesly So many acts of sin so many steps down to hell so many degrees of Apostacy all which will weaken and darken assurance for 1. Though sin will not weaken Gods grounds yet it will weaken our apprehension of those grounds 2. Though the light be clear in the Word yet