Sermons, Part 4
TWO SERMONS VPONUPON MATTH. 13. verſ. 45.46.
Verſ. 45
Againe the kingdome of heauen, is like vntounto a Marchant man, that ſeeketh good pearles.
Who hauing found a pearle of great price, went, and ſolde all that he had, and bought it.
THe ſumme and effect of this Parable is this; that how baſe and vile ſoeuer the Goſpell ſeemes in the eyes of men; yet whoſoeuer commeth to finde the worth, price, and excellencie of it, will giuegive all that he hath to get it, and will rather part with all, then he will forgoe it.
What is meant by the kingdome of heauen.For here by the kingdome of Heauen▪ (that I may ſhew what is meant by it) wee are not to vnderſtand the place of the bleſſed manſion of the faithfull after this life, whither Chriſt is aſcended; though the words are thus to be taken ſometimes,Mat. 8.11. as in Matthew: I ſay vntounto you, that many ſhall come from the East, and from the West, and ſhall ſit downe with Abraham, Iſaac, and Iacob in the kingdome of heauen: neither is it taken for the abſolute kingdome of God, whereby he guideth and gouerneth all the world, and all his creatures, from the greateſt vntounto the leaſt of them: neither laſtly, is it taken for that eſpeciall rule and regiment, which Chriſt as the head, hath ouer the Church his bodie, which is likewiſe called a kingdome after a more eſpeciall manner: but here by kingdome wee are to vnderſtand the Goſpell of the kingdome,Mark. 1.14. as it is called in Marke: Ieſus went forth into Galile preaching the Gospell of the kingdome, and in diuers other like places.
And this Goſpell of the kingdome is not only in many places of this Chapter, but moſt euidently, in the 21.Math. 21. Chapter of this Euangeliſt, called the kingdome of God; in theſe words: Therefore I ſay vntounto you, the kingdome of God ſhall be taken from you and giuen to a nation, that will bring forth the fruite thereof. The kingdome of God, ſhal be taken away,Why the Goſpell is called the kingdome of heauen. that is the Goſpel ſhould be taken away from them. Now the Goſpell is called the kingdome of heauen or the kingdome of God, becauſe it is that powerfull meane, or inſtrument, that God hath appointed for the pulling of vsus forth of the kingdome of darknes, and tranſlating vsus into the kingdome of his Sonne, for the Goſpell is the power of God vntounto ſaluation, 1. Rom. 1.16.to eueryevery one that beleeueth.
This kingdome is alſo called the kingdome of heauen, to diſtinguiſh it from all eorthly kingdomes, ſuch as many imagine, and the Apoſtles long dreamed the kingdome of Chriſt the Meſſias, ſhould hauehave bin. And therefore the people were ſometime ready to hauehave crowned him;What maner of kingdome this is. other whiles his diſciples diſputing, and contending among themſelues, who ſhould be the greateſt, and made ſute for the places of greateſt dignity (as the ſonnes of Zebedeus, Matth. 20.21.) one to ſit at his right hand, the other at his left. But this kingdome, as it beareth the name of the kingdome of heauen: for it is a ſpirituall, and heauenly kingdome, not earthly and pompous in glory, to the ſight and view of the world. And therfore, our Sauiour being demanded in Luke by the Phariſes, when the kingdome of God ſhould come, he anſwereth:Luk. 17.20. the kingdome of God commeth not with outward obſeruation, neither ſhall men ſpeake of it loe it is here, or loe it is there, for behold the kingdome of God is within you. It is a kingdome ouer the inward hart and conſcience; there he hath ſet his throne, and there he wil reigne euen in vsus; and therefore the lawes of our king doe not bind the outward act onelyonly, but his lawes binde the very conſcience. And he ſearcheth and tryeth, (as himſelfe ſpeaketh in the Reuelation,) the Reynes, and the harts, Reuel. 2.23.to giuegive eueryevery man according to his workes.
It is therefore called the kingdome of heauen; firſt, in … it is ſpirituall. Secondly, this kingdome is heauenly, becauſe it is a righteous, ioyfull and peaceable kingdome.
Rom. 14.17.The kingdome of God (ſaith the Apoſtle to the Romanes) is not meate and drinke, but righteouſnes, and peace, and ioy in the holy Ghoſt. It conſiſteth in the inward righteouſnes of the heart, and conſcience, in the peace and tranquillity which we hauehave with God our king, and within our ſoules, and in the ioy that is ſhed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghoſt.Rom. 5.5.
Now this Goſpell which is the powerfull inſtrument of God for the erecting of this his kingdome in vsus, and is therefore called by the name of the kingdom of God in this place, is here commended vntounto vsus by a parable. The effect whereof, as I ſaid, is this, that how great a reckoning ſoeuer men make of other things, and how ſmal and ſlight account ſoeuer they make of the Goſpel of Ieſus Chriſt, Note. yet whoſoeuer he be, that commeth to know the incomparable value, and excellency of it, he will thinke no paines too greate, nor coſt, to much, that he may obtaine it: nor any care too greate to keepe it when he hath it: but rather he wil part withal he hath, Houſe, Land, Goods, pleaſure, friends, and whatſoeuer els, then hee will forgoe ſoe pretious and ſo inualuable a iewel, as he ſeeth the Goſpell to be.
But for our more cleare vnderſtanding of this Parable, we are to know, that the Goſpell or kingdome of heauen, is here compared not to the perſon, as the words may perhaps ſeeme at the firſt, to carry it, when it is ſaid: the kingdome of heauen is like to a marchant man, ſeeking good pearles: but to the pearle the rich and pretious pearle, which the Marchant findeth.
So that the meaning of the words is all one, as if they had bin layed downe in this forme and manner; The kingdome of God is like vntounto a moſt pretious pearle,The fruitfull hearer of the Goſpell is like vntounto a marchant man in three reſpects. which a marchant hauing found, that ſought for good pearles, ſold all that he had to buy it.
According to this expoſition, I will handle the parable. We are therefore to vnderſtand, that the fruitfull and kind hearer of the Goſpell, is reſembled heere to a merchant man: and that in three properties, though they be not all commendable: neither therefore is the hearer a profitable hearer, till he be commendable.
So that the beſt hearer in his beginning and firſt eſtate that he is in to God-ward, thereby is likened to a merchant man, and to ſuch an one, as by the kind of his trafficke and merchandize, whereabout he is occupied, ſeeketh pearles.
For as he doth, ſo eueryevery hearer at firſt, ſeeketh pleaſure and profit, &c. that is his pearle. Secondly, he is cōpared to a merchant, in reſpect of the euent that commeth after his ſeeking, that as he ſeeking common pearles, lighteth ſometime on a pearle of great price, ſo many a hearer, while he is buſie about commodities and pleaſures, beginneth to ſee in the Goſpel preached, a pearle of greater price, then he had found before, that is, aſſurance of ſaluation.
Thirdly, and laſtly, this hearer is compared to the merchant in another reſpect, namely, of the effect that followeth. For when he hath found that pearle of great price, he ſelleth all that he hath and buyeth it. So the hearer that hath found this pearle of ſaluation in the Goſpel, that he neuer found before, and knoweth the value of it, he ſetteth light by all his common pearles and former delights, and ſelles them all away, to the end he may enioy this.
To proſecute theſe three therefore in order, that yee may hauehave the right vſe of this parable, vnderſtand that the hearer is compared (to ſet it downe briefely) to the merchant in three things, to wit, in ſeeking, finding, and buying.All men ſeeke after pearles; ſuch as in their opinion may make them happie. In ſeeking good pearles; in finding one of great price: in buying that, and ſelling all for it. Of theſe in order more largely. The firſt propertie therefore of the merchant, fitly reſembleth the eſtate and condition of all men that are hearers: for all ſeeke pearles, that is, they ſeeke for that, which may in their opinion, make them happie and bleſſed men, and looke what they hauehave imagined in their own conceit, to be like to bring them to be happie, that they labour, and by all meanes endeuour to obtaine. In that (I ſay) the hearer is like to a merchant man, that careth not to trauell by wet and drie, by ſea and land; ſo that he may ſtore himſelfe with rich and precious pearles. For there is no man, but if he look into his owne heart, and diligently examine himſelfe, he ſhall find ſomething, which aboue all other things for the time, he doth affect; and whereunto the ſway of his deſires carrie him, and that thing is the pearle of that man, and he vſeth al the means he can to compaſſe and attaine it.
Thus one man ſtudieth and bendeth all his paines and care, only for this, how he may liue at eaſe and in pleaſure, and voluptuouſnes. Another, he ſeeketh after gaine and profit, and to adde houſe to houſe, and land to land. A third, he followeth his ambitious humour in ſeeking after fauour and authoritie, and renowne in the world. But theſe are all but deceitful pearles. They make a gliſtering ſhew to a mans cō ceit a farre off,But are neuer ſatisfied. but when he hath them, and conſidereth them aright, and as they are; then the vanitie and the baſeneſſe of them appeares, and therefore they that follow theſe, with tooth and naile, as they ſay, they are alwaies reſtleſſe, while they think of the vncertainty and momentany ſtate of them; and neuer ſatisfied with any thing they hauehave attained. Neither the voluptuous man with his pleaſure, nor the couetous man with his wealth, nor the ambitious with his honor, nor any man with that he hath neuer ſo greatly deſired.
The voluptuous man.For euen the very pleaſures, and ioyes, and delights of the voluptuous man, are as a continual feauer or ague, to vex and diſquiet his mind, howſoeuer he make a faire ſhew, and ſeem to be merry & happy; yet he euer carries a ſting in his conſcience, that inwardly prickes, and torments him in ſuch ſort, as in his greateſt mirth and iollitie he neuer can heartily and ſoūdly reioyce. And though the pleaſures be as hony for a little time in his mouth; yet he ſhal find thē, whē they are ſunck into his ſtomacke, to be as bitter and as vnpleaſant as gall. The like may be ſaid of the couetous and ambitious perſon.
The couetous man.Firſt for the couetous man, ſuppoſe he hath heaped vp, and gathered together his cheſts full of gold and treaſure, at leaſt more then euer he thought he ſhould, yea let him hauehave got all the pearles and precious ſtones into his owne poſſeſſion, that the Eaſt and Weſt Indians can afford; what hath he gathered together, but euen a heape of cares to vex & to diſquiet himſelfe withall? for as before he got and ſcraped them together with great paine and toile, and infinite dangers, which he hath paſſed through; ſo now he is to take no leſſe care to keepe them, as being many wayes in continuall danger of loſing them. And ſuppoſe he loſe them, as he ſhall either in his life or at his death, then it is an exceeding griefe and heart-ſore vntounto him, to ſee by experience, how vaine, flitting and vncertaine things they be, that he hath ſo exceſſiuely toiled for, and kept with ſo great care. And hence it commeth oft to paſſe, that he hauing loſt that, wherein the confidence of his heart was ſet, he fals into deſpaire, whence hardly he is euer able to be recouered.
The ambitious man in like ſort,The ambitious man. he highly priceth promotion, and riſing vp from a meaner eſtate, to an higher degree: as the meane cottager, if he could be but a yeoman; and he a man of worſhip, he ſhould be therwith content; and if the worſhipfull could come to be but a Knight, and the Knight a Lord, or an Earle, then he would deſire to be no higher, he ſaith, but would reſt well ſatisfied: but when he hath gotten his Knighthood, Lordſhip, or Earledome, which were the pearles he trauelled for, he cannot yet be at reſt, becauſe he ſees other in places aboue him; he is yet a ſubiect, and vnderunder a Prince, if he were a King, then he thinkes he ſhould be full content, and aſpire no further. But it is not a kingdome of a whole countrie, no, nor of the whole world that is able to ſtay the ambitious affection of men. Alexander the great Monarch, hauing in a manner conquered the whole world, is ſaid to hauehave wept when he heard ſome diſpute that there were no more worlds.
But not to ſtand particularly in exemplifying this point, I will bring one, who had his part in them al, pleaſures, profits, and honor: let him tell vsus the worth of them.Example of Salomon. Salomon was ſuch an one; he made triall of all wayes, and ſpared no paine, labour nor coſt, to trie what fruit and commoditie was to be reaped of them all. He had honor and fame, the greateſt that euer any Prince had, that liued on the earth. For pleaſure he inioyed whatſoeuer his wiſdome could deuiſe, and his hart deſire. He had his Orchards and Gardens, planted and ſet with all the moſt choice and excellent trees and herbes, whereof he had not only the ſight to feed and pleaſe his eye; the ſent to feed his ſmell; and the fruit to pleaſe his taſte; but the exact knowledge of eueryevery tree and ſimple therein, which he alſo committed after to writing; and imparted to others.
If muſick might delight, he had beſides the ſolemne quier of ſinging men, ſuch a quier as no Prince in the world had vntounto this day; ſinging men, ſinging women, which he had priuately for his owne delight: he had his poſſeſſion of ſeruants, of Beeues, of ſheep, of houſes, of vineyards, of ſiluer, of gold, of all precious ſtones, and all the choice treaſures of other kingdomes and prouinces, aboue any King that euer raigned in Ieruſalem, or that we can reade of in any hiſtories. And all theſe did he enioy, with great peace and proſperitie, both at home and abroad.
So that if any man could euer be happie by following his pleaſures, Salomon was the man. He had a greater wiſedome, then euer had any to inuent, and contriue and deuiſe, and he had all meanes at will, to compaſſe and effect them all. If any man could be happie by his wealth, Salomon was the man, for he had ſiluer as the ſtones of the ſtreet, and gold for all his veſſels, and the adorning of all his buildings, and ſtore of rich and precious ſtones. If honor might make a man happie, he had more then euer any Prince in regard of the incomparable glorie and wiſdome, which God gaue vntounto him.
All theſe Salomon enioyed, as much to his deſire as euer any hath done or ſhall do. And what was the happines that he found in them?Eccleſ. 1.14· Surely, vanitie, and vexation of ſpirit. And what then ſhould we account of theſe? Did Salomon find theſe to be vanitie, and moſt vaine, and emptie of all goodneſſe, and ſhall we thinke to find ſomething, where he could find nothing? to find ſubſtance, where hee found but ſhadowes and vanitie? and to find happineſſe, and a paradiſe of pleaſures, wherein he found nothing but trouble, diſquiet, and vexation of ſpirit? He tried all theſe, and he tried them throughly, and as they ſay, vntounto the proofe; and found them in experience ſuch, as in his Eccleſiaſtes he hath laid them downe to be, and as eueryevery one that will be ſo fooliſh as to make triall, ſhall find them to bee by his owne experience. Let this be inſtead of many examples vntounto vsus.
So that all men, we ſee, ſeeke for pearles, and for good pearles, but the moſt are deceiued with falſe and counterfeit pearles, when they come to the triall, they find them as baſe, and of as ſmall value and reckoning, to reſt in, as the dirt which is vnderunder their feet; ſo vaine and vile are all the pleaſures, and riches, and honors, and worldly things (to make a man happie) which men ſo highly price in their owne conceit. And this vilenes and baſenes, is much more in all other pearles, that is, in all worldly things, which men heere hunt and ſeeke after.
The vſe of this doctrine is,Vſe. that no man pleaſe himſelfe in the moſt precious things in this world, but ſeeke for thoſe which may make him happie. And that theſe pearles are all ſo meane and little worth. Our Sauiour Chriſt very euidently noteth vntounto vsus, in the words following, when he ſaith, the merchant found one pearle of great price.
By the which is meant the Goſpell, giuing vsus thereby to vnderſtand, that it is a pearle of great price and value, he abaſeth the other pearles, and noteth them to be of no price, nor value to reſt vponupon. But of this afterward in the next point: In the meane while we ſee (and with that I will conclude this firſt point) that in this firſt act of the merchant, all men that are hearers in the viſible Church, agree with him: namely, that they ſeeke for pearles, that is, one way or other to be happie in this world. I hauehave ſhewed alſo, what vſe we ought to make thereof. Now it followeth that I come to the ſecond act or propertie of the merchant, and that is,The ſecond propertie wherein the hearer reſembleth the merchant man. Two things here to be conſidered. First, the thing that be is ſaid to find. The Gospell in diuers respects compared diuerſly. that he finds one pearle of great price.
In this propertie two things are to be conſidered. Firſt, the thing that he is ſaid to find: ſecondly, what it meaneth and importeth, that he is ſaid to find it. Firſt, the thing that he is ſaid to find, is one pearle of great price. By which pearle he meaneth nothing elſe (as I hauehave ſhewed) but the Goſpell, that is to ſay, the glad tidings of ſaluation by Ieſus Chriſt, for the kingdome of heauen, as elſewhere, and ſo in this chapter, is in diuers regards compared and reſembled diuerſly. In regard of the manner of teaching and receiuing it, and the diuers effects it hath in the hearers, it is compared to ſeed caſt by the hand of the ſower. In regard of diuers corruptions and errors that commonly ſpring vp together with it, where it is taught it is compared vntounto a field, wherein tares are ſowen and grow vp among the good corne. In regard of the ſmall beginnings and mightie encreaſe, it is compared to a graine of muſtardſeed. In reſpect of the power and force it hath to change and to alter the heart, it is compared to leauen. In that God draweth by it, of all ſorts of men, good and bad, one and other into the compaſſe of the viſible Church, it is cōpared to a drag or draw-net, that draweth as well weeds and ſtickes, and other ſuch vnprofitable baggage, as it doth good fiſh. In regard of the hidden and ſecret excellencie thereof, it is compared to treaſure hid in a field. In regard of the inualuable worth and excellency of it,In this place it is compared to a pearle. in compariſon of all other things, it is heere compared to a pearle of great price. That before he compared it to treaſure, it did in part ſet forth the excellency of it: but this doth more amplifie and encreaſe it. Treaſure, we know, conſiſteth either in ſiluer or in gold, which are of great account: but yet pearles paſſe them both farre, in value and eſtimation; as both it is commonly knowne, and if we knew it not, Salomon could teach vsus thus much, Prou. 3.14.15. where he ſaith; the merchandize of wiſdome is better then the merch indize of ſiluer, and the reuenue thereof better then gold. It is more precious then pearles, and all the things thou canſt deſire are not to be compared with it. Firſt, he preferreth wiſdome before ſiluer. Secondly, he preferreth it before gold, which is yet more excellent; and in the third place, as before the moſt excellent, he preferreth it before pearles.
The meaning of our Sauiour then in this parable, is to preferre the Goſpell in regard of the excellencie of it, infinitly before all other things, were they neuer ſo rich, rare, or precious. For if it be more precious then pearles, then much more precious then gold, then ſiluer, then any other thing of leſſe reckoning and account. And this is the reaſon, why Salomon hauing preferred it,Prou. 3.14. Prou. 3.14. before ſiluer and gold, and pearles, he addeth, that all the things a man can deſire, are not to be compared with it: as if he ſhould ſay, ſuppoſe either there be, or you can inuent any thing more precious then pearles, yet wiſdome is more precious then it. And Iob in the 28. of his booke, 15. verſe, and ſo-on,Iob. 28.15. becauſe hee would extol wiſdome before al precious things, he repeateth a great many of them. Gold, ſaith he, ſhall not be giuen for it; neither ſhall ſiluer be weighed for the price thereof. It ſhall not be valued with the wedge of the gold of Ophir, nor with the precious Onix, nor the Saphir; the gold, nor the Crystall ſhall not be equall vntounto it, neither ſhall the exchange be for plate of fine gold; no mention ſhall be made of the Corall nor of the Gabiſh, for wiſdome is more precious then pearles.
Now we ſee wherein the compariſon ſtandeth,Wherein this excellencie of it conſisteth. let vsus a little conſider wherin this great and inualuable excellency conſiſteth. And that is, in that it exhibiteth Chriſt vntounto vsus, who were loſt, and had no way any hope of recouerie out of our deadly woe, that euen then he is our deliuerer, our iewell, our life, our ioy, our happines, and whatſoeuer our heart can deſire. All the pearles of the world do not ſo enrich a man,Epheſ. 2. Philip. 2. Iohn 4.10. as Chriſt enricheth all them that by true faith lay hold vponupon him, for if it do not ſo, he hath not faith. For Chriſt is a ſhelter where we that bee in tempeſts and ſtormes may ſhroud our ſelues, and be ſafe from the wrath and vengeance of God that hangeth ouer, and ſhal fall vponupon the heads of other men. He is our attonement and propitiation for all our ſins, ſo that we ſhall neuer hauehave them imputed vntounto vsus, or hauehave any puniſhment inflicted which was due for them, his death, and his bloodſhed hath deliuered vsus from eternall death and condemnation; yea Chriſt is our ſtorehouſe, and treaſurie, in whom and from whom we hauehave all varietie of good things that may make men truly happie.
In Chriſt we are righteous (our owne righteouſnes being as a filthie and menſtruous cloath) becauſe he by imputation, doth cloath and couer vsus, as it were with the robe and veſture of his righteouſneſſe. From him alſo we receiue inward ſanctification and holineſſe, wherein we labour to be pleaſing and acceptable to God in all things, whereas otherwiſe we could not hauehave any true euidence of this faith. From him we receiue ſuccor and comfort in all our tribulations and wants, and ioy in all our ſorrow. Hee hath all power giuen him in heauen and in earth, and therefore he will ſupplie both our outward and inward neceſſities, and powre vponupon vsus that ſtore of his graces, as ſhall be moſt for our good, and beſt for the bringing of vsus to eternall glorie. But heere I will ſtay and go forward with the reſt, in the next Sermon.
THE SECOND SERMON VPONUPON THE SAME TEXT.
The ſecōd point: what it is to find the pearle.I HaueHave ſhewed in the former Sermon what it is, that the hearer hath found, when it is ſaid of him, that he hath found the pearle of great price. Now let vsus ſee, what it is to find this pearle. To find the pearle of the Goſpell, which is the next thing that I propounded to ſpeake of in this ſecond propertie of the hearer, is nothing elſe, but by the powerfull hearing thereof, to ſee and to perceiue, what excellent and worthie graces, benefits and prerogatiues it conferreth vntounto ſuch as feele great need thereof, and that Chriſt is thereby to be made theirs, that hee may bee a defence and protection vntounto them to ſhelter them from the wrath of his Father; that he may looſe the bands and chaines, wherewith they are tied and faſt fettered in their ſinnes to the will of the diuell: and that he may vnite them in ſoule, and in bodie, to himſelfe and to God. In a word, the Goſpell layeth out moſt plainly the way to eternall life.
The due and ſerious beholding, and conſideration of theſe and infinit other graces depending vponupon theſe, which God by the hand of the Goſpell reacheth out, and offereth vntounto vsus, is the firſt finding of this pearle, which many heare a long time, and yet neuer ſee thus much, I meane the beautie of it. And ſo long as men do in hearing, neuer ſee and behold this admirable and vnualuable treaſure in it, they hauehave not yet found the pearle of great price. For the Goſpell howſoeuer it be in the declaration of the many good things of it, continually ſounded in their eares, yet it is a myſtery hidde, and ſecret to their vnderſtanding.
The Goſpell is, to all ſuch as yet, as the light of the ſunne to the man that is ſtarke blind. The ſunne, it ſhineth vponupon the blinde man, as it doth vponupon the ſeeing man, but the blinde he hath no greater benefit of the mid-day, then hee hath of the midnight, and therefore for himſelfe he careth not for the ſunne, in reſpect of any light hee hath by it, becauſe hee is blind: So the light of the Goſpell, it ſhineth vponupon the blind and vponupon them that ſee: the faithfull, and vnfaithfull: but here is the difference. The one hath the eies of his vnderſtanding opened by the ſpirit of God, though it be but a common gift of the ſpirit, and hee ſees the light of the Goſpell, and accounts and priſeth it at a great reckoning: But the other cannot diſcerne any whit of the excellencie of it.
The vſe then that we are to make of this point, is this;Vſe. becauſe we ſee finding goeth in order,1. Cor. 2.14. Matth. 11.25. before the getting and the purchaſing of the iewell and pearle of the Goſpell; and that none findes it, but he to whom God by his ſpirit reueiles it: it is our duty when we come to heare the Goſpell of Chriſt preached, to lift vp our harts with prayer to the Lord,Pray vntounto God that we may ſee the excellency of the pearle. that he would giuegive vsus eyes to ſee into the riches, and excellency of it, that thereby our heart may be inflamed, and kindled with an earneſt deſire and longing after the ſweetnes of it. For the reaſon why men are ſo cold, and ſo backward in affecting the Goſpell, and why they take ſo ſmall delight, and pleaſure in it, and eſteeme any pleaſure and commodity of their owne before it, it is this, becauſe they hauehave not yet found either the vanity of other things, or the excellency of the Goſpell.
And if we hauehave found that the Lord hath in part opened our eyes, that we can but dimly and darkly diſcerne it,If we ſee it in part, pray that we may ſee it yet more clearly. as the man in the Goſpel, that at firſt ſawe men, but he ſawe them as trees, vntill Chriſt againe put his hands vponupon his eyes; let vsus deſire the Lord, againe, and againe, to lay his hand vponupon the … minds, & vnderſtandings, that we may clearly ſee the excellencie of the Goſpell, whereof we have as yet but a darke, and obſcure glimpſe. So will it come to paſſe, that, that which now we hauehave a ſaint, and litle deſire vntounto, we ſhall daily growe more hoately and earneſtly to affect, and labour for it, which the other cannot abide.
And ſuch as God loueth; ſhal, though they hauehave not ſometime looked after it, but hauehave been worldly minded; they ſhall, I ſay, hauehave their eyes opened to ſee into the beautie, power, neceſſity, and comfort of this Goſpell, and what happineſſe it bringeth, by hearing it preached; which to doe, is to finde it: Yea he whom God will ſaue ſhall bee brought to heare, if not otherwiſe, by father, ſonne, friend, neighbour, himſelfe not intending any ſuch thing. And thus hearing what the treaſure is,Coloſ. 3. ſhall finde that which is hidde in it. And ſo he beginneth to ſee, conſider, weigh, reſolue of the all ſufficiency of that, which the Goſpell hath brought to light vntounto him; and to wonder at the ſame, Pſalm. 87.3. Ioh. 6.66. Pſal. 84.Tim. 1.16. And wondring, ſhall deſire a part in it againſt all lets, and diſcouragements, and ſearching with Salomon, and finding nothing like it!1. King. 3.7. Oh how ſhal he maruaile, that he neuer ſawe ſo much before. And ſuch a one hath found this pearle in the Goſpel, and may be ſaid truly to hauehave found it: and yet it may be, he hath heard a hundred ſermons before, who yet neuer had his eyes opened to ſee that which he now doth.
Thus the woman of Samaria found it, when ſhe had heard Chriſt.Act. 26. And Agryppa Acts 26. when he ſaid to Paul, almoſt thou perſwadeſt mee to become a Chriſtian. Now when he hath thus beheld the beauty of the Goſpell, and ſeeth it to bee of ſuch value, as I hauehave ſaid, he is much before the firſt ſort of hearers, who hauehave their felicity in this world, and yet commeth much ſhort of, and behind the laſt ſort following who hath bought it; Note. and ſaieth with the Queene of Sheba, I hauehave heard much of it, but now I ſee farre more then I hauehave heard. But if ye aske,1. King. 10.7. is he, now that hath found it, paſt the worſt? that is to ſay; happy, and hath he done all that is required? I ſay noe, till he hath bought it: but he may fall away from his eſteeming ſo preciouſly of it, and become ſecure againe, notwithſtanding he is ſo well affected, euen better then …er he was, for he is but of the ſecond or third ſort of hearers,Mat. 13.19. mentioned by our Sauiour, out of this which hath bin ſaid three things may be noted: firſt, let not ſuch thinke,3. Obſeruation. they be conuerted, that in this ſort are thus reuiued, and thus inlightned to ſee the price of it; no, though they ſigh for ſin or ioy for the hope that the Goſpell offereth, yea, though they weep at a ſermon, for we muſt not more flatter, then diſcourage men.
The ſecond thing is, that we maruaile not, if we ſee ſome, who hauehave bin ſo forward as theſe that I hauehave ſpoken of; to fall away; neither ought we to be diſcouraged at it; if wee hauehave true faith our ſelues, as though we muſt needes fall away too: for ſuch were neuer ſetled in beleeuing, neither euer had ſauing knowledge, though they hauehave bin zealous.
Thirdly, ſuch as hauehave long prized the pearle, and yet are now dazeled againe with pleaſure and profit, let vsus bewaile them, whether they be miniſters, or people. Many learned men hauehave bin ſuch, who had the Goſpell in an high account ſometime. Oh they hauehave profitted fairely, Note. and be come about commendably, are they not, thinke we? that they bee turned to their firſt ſottiſhnes, when God had done ſo much for them, as to reueale himſelfe ſo farre vntounto them. All this danger they are come, to ſeeing they did not nouriſh their ſparkles of good deſires, which gaue good hope, but they quenched them, and ſuffered them goe out.
Therfore it followes, that the wiſe Merchant went by and by and ſolde all that he had, and bought that pretious pearle. And here I will paſſe to the third point, and ſhew how the good hearer is herein like to the merchant man, as he hath reſembled him in both the former, that is, in ſeeking good pearles, and finding one of great price.
Now becauſe the excellēcy of this pearle doth yet more appeare heerby that this hearer, doth as the marchant,The third thing wherein the hearer is compared to a merchant man. go and ſel al that he hath & buyeth this pearle, I wil firſt ſpeak of this laſt action of his, and then make vſe of it. It is ſaid, he went his way and ſold al that he had, and bought that pearle. This going away firſt ſheweth, that he did not ſtand ſtill to muſe, doubt, and linger out the time; but as a wiſe marchant, ſoe ſoone as he ſeeth a penyworth to be bought, which may inrich him; he leaues all other things, and ſets himſelfe about that buſines.
The pearle being found, muſt be bought without delay.And this teacheth vsus, that we are not to linger, nor deferre the time, when God reueileth any excellent fruite, or benefit that the Goſpell bringeth vntounto vsus; but preſently goe our way, and endeuour to make it our owne. But how rarely ſhal we finde this to be done, when for the moſt part eueryevery where men practiſe the contrary? Many ſee, and will confeſſe, that there is in the Goſpell moſt precious treaſure and worthy to be imbraced; but they thinke the time too ſoone as yet to goe about it: when they hauehave followed their other pleaſures and delights, in their youthfull dayes: or when they hauehave obtained theſe or thoſe purpoſes of theirs, then they will entertaine the Goſpell, and ſell their other delights for it: euen as he who would firſt goe bury his father (which Chriſt reproued) and then he would follow him. And thus it comes to paſſe vſually with theſe men, as it doeth with careles, and vnthrifty marchants, that ſlacke, defer, and driue off the time of their commodity whiles it is to be had, and repent them after, when it is too late.
So theſe men, they defer and delay the time, in which God ſetteth out the pearle of the Goſpell, as it were to ſale, that they may buy it at a ſmall, and eaſie reckoning, vntill the market of God be done, and the day of grace be paſt, that they cannot then hauehave it, would they neuer ſoe gladly. For as wiſdom calleth and crieth vntounto men a long time, and cannot be entertained of them, for their owne good: Soe wiſdome threatneth; that ſhe will refuſe to heare them in the middeſt of their trouble,Prou. 1.20. and in the day wherein affliction and anguiſh, ſhall, like a whirlewind, come vppon them: Though they cry neuer ſo loude, and ſeeke her neuer ſo earneſtly, ſhe will not anſwer, nor be found of them.
Wherefore it is good for vsus to follow the counſell of the holy Ghoſt,Heb. 3.15. while it is called to day to heare the voice of God, and to hearken to wiſdom, whiles ſhe calleth vntounto vsus; for we know not how long the day of grace will laſt with vsus. It may be not a yeere, or a day, or an houre, and if that be paſt, then it is too late for vsus to ſeeke after it, we muſt hauehave our lamps ready burning with the fiue wiſe virgins, if we wil enter in with the bridegrome,Matth. 25.34. but if we linger and deferre the buying of our oyle till hee come, wee may knocke and call, but ſhall finde no entrance nor ingreſſe for vsus,Luk. 14.15. as they in the Goſpell, that were bidden to the ſupper, and refuſed, of all other they were debarred from it. So wee ſee then the wiſedome of this marchant commended vntounto vsus. Hee doth not foreſlacke nor foreſlowe any time, but preſently goes about the purchaſe of this pearle. So that in earthly delights we ſee we ſoone reſolue; but twenty lets are in the way to hinder vsus in heauenly.
Let vsus next ſee what courſe he takes to get it.By ſelling all and buying he meaneth not as the Papiſts teach. He ſels all that he had, and buyeth that pearle. By ſelling and buying here we are to vnderſtand not ſuch a marchandiſe, as Papiſts make that ſay, by their goods and ſubſtance they thinke to purchaſe heauen to themſelues. For there is no equality betweene all that we hauehave, or can hauehave, and betweene the kingdome of heauen; but in things that are bought there is ſome equality betweene the price, and the thing that is bought. So that if they by their almes, or good works whatſoeuer, be able to purchaſe heauen at Gods hand, it followeth that they are as profitable to God, and benefit him as much by their almes, and other good workes, as he by heauen, doth benefit them.
But we know the doctrine of our Sauiour, when we hauehave done all we can do, though we giuegive al our ſubſtance, yea and our owne life for Gods glory, we muſt ſay, and acknowledge, as the truth is, we are but vnprofitable ſeruants vntounto him.Luk. 17.10. For we hauehave done no more then duty required at our hands. Rom. 6.23.And therefore marke how the Apoſtle Paul calleth death the wages of ſinne, but life eternall, the free gift of God. For the wages, ſaith he, of ſinne is death; but life eternall is the free gift of God, in Chriſt Ieſus our Lord. So that death and condemnation, we may deſerue, for it is the wages of ſinne: but life eternall, we cannot deſerue, becauſe it is the free gift of God.
But to proceede by ſelling all, he meaneth the ſame that he doth in other places by forſaking, and leauing all,Who may truly be ſaid to ſell al, and buy the pearle. and by buying the pearle and getting the right poſſeſſion and aſſurance of it to our ſelues, he meaneth, that we ſhould be ſure of it, euen as thoſe things which we hauehave bought, and paide for, are our owne. As for that which he ſaith, firſt he ſelleth al, this is not ment ſimplie, as if the poſſeſſion of our goods and the enioying of the Goſpell would not ſtand together, but he ſpeaketh comparatiuely that rather then we will not get the Goſpell, when we may hauehave it: we will abandon al whatſoeuer beſide; and retaine it.
Luk. 14.26.The like ſpeech is vſed by our Sauiour. If any man come vntounto me, and hate not father, and mother, & wife, and children, and brethren, and ſiſters, yea and his owne life, he cannot be my diſciple. The meaning of our Sauiour is not ſimply, that a man ſhould hate his father, his mother, and ſo forth, or make away himſelfe, which were wickednes, and impiety: But, as the Euangeliſt Matthew interprets it,Mat. 20.37. he that loueth father, or mother, aboue mee, is not worthy of mee, and he that loueth ſonne, or daughter aboue mee, is not worthy of mee.
The Goſpell is not ſo eaſily come by, as men ſuppoſe.The meaning therefore we ſee clearely to be this, he that getteth the pearle of the Goſpell, he prizeth it farre aboue all the things he hath beſides in the world, and will rather forgo them all, then part with it. Hence we ſee that the pearle of the Goſpell is not ſo eaſily come by, as men ſuppoſe commonly. For it is no eaſy matter, as experience may teach, when triall is made, for a man, to abandon his pleaſures, to leeſe his goods, to forſake his deareſt, and neareſt friends, and to lay downe his owne life for the louelove of it. But the Goſpell it can be bought with no leſſe price; if we will hauehave it as our owne iewel, we muſt ſell goods, ſell our name, ſel friends, ſell liberty and life, and all we hauehave, and giuegive them for it: and account that we hauehave made a very good bargaine of it, as indeede we hauehave.
For what compariſon is to be made betweene the earthly riches, that here men enioy, and thoſe vnſpeakeable and vneſtimable treaſures that Chriſt Ieſus bringeth vntounto vsus thereby? what compariſon betweene that name we can leeſe here for the Goſpell, and the eternall weight, and crowne of glory, that ſhal be ſet vponupon our heads in heauen? what is the louelove and friendſhip of all men, to the louelove and fauour of God; which we gaine by the Goſpell? and what is the life we can leeſe, to the life which we obtaine in Chriſt? And yet if we trie and examine our ſelues, we ſhall find that we come farre ſhort of forſaking all; when we are priuie in our ſelues, that a little pleaſure doth many times ſtay vsus from the hearing of the Goſpell, and how much more then from obeying it? And that a little expence and charge ſhall hinder vsus, or ill companie ſhall hold and keepe vsus away from the benefit which we might enioy by it.
Nay our hearts can tell vsus, that many times when we are preſent with our bodies, where it is preached, yet we ſcarce will vouchſafe to lend our eares, to harken to that which is taught vntounto vsus, but our mind is ſet vponupon other matters, either on profit or pleaſure, or elſe ſome vaine, idle and wandring conceits, or elſe we euen ſhamefully giuegive our ſelues to ſleepe. So baſe and vile account and reckoning do we make of the precious and vnualuable pearle of the Goſpell.As men price the Gospell, ſo will their zeale be to the hearing and practiſing of it. For accordingly as men price it, ſo vndoubtedly will their zeale be to the hearing and practiſing of it.
And therefore marke how Dauid bewailes his abſence from the houſe of God: he was baniſhed the court, and countrie, yet that did not ſo much moue him, as this,Pſalme 84.1. that he was barred and baniſhed from the place, where he vſed with ioy to feed vponupon the comforts of the word of God, taught and preached in the aſſemblies of Gods people: and this made him ſay with griefe, that the ſparrowes and the ſwallow might hauehave nearer acceſſe then he, to the place where God was ſerued, and his word preached. This he did, becauſe he ſaw Gods word to be of more true value then all his thouſands of gold and ſiluer, of more ſound delight to his ſoule, then all his other delights and pleaſures in the world. It was as hony to his taſte, and as the ſtreames of a fountaine to the thirſtie and drie heart. This ſhould we all do, and this would we do if we were wiſe, and did rightly price the Goſpell.
And although I hauehave not particularly ſet downe thoſe things which accompany the buying of this pearle, becauſe the text giueth no neceſſarie occaſion of ſpeaking of them; yet in the way of preoccupation, and anſwering a doubt, which the ignoranter ſort would put forth, I will ſay ſomewhat, though very briefly of it. They aske, if as ſoone as a mā find the pearle, he by and by that buyeth it, come into the poſſeſſion of it, and nothing elſe be required thereto: I anſwere briefly, when a man hath found it, if God giuegive him grace, to go further, he doth thus, and goeth to worke after this manner.
How a man maketh the pearle his owne.He earneſtly wiſheth and deſireth that he had a part in it: then he ſeeth that his ſinne is in the way to hinder him, that he falleth to diſlike and crying out of it: then it troubleth him to thinke, that he is out of fauour with God, and growes vtterly to diſlike himſelfe for both: and ſeeing himſelfe no better then a loſt man, hee heareth that God will pitie and ſhew merciemercy to ſuch, and that hee is then the perſon whom God ſeeketh to ſaue, and will heale him of his ſorrow: and will louelove him freely for euer. And that it is the Goſpel which bringeth tidings of this, and ſundrie other good things, which when he apprehendeth, and ſees, that he may hauehave them all for his owne proper good, and that freely, and for nothing; God ſo worketh in him by all theſe, that he applieth the promiſes to himſelfe, and ſeeth that without money or recompence, God is well pleaſed that he ſhould take them for his owne, and be fully perſwaded thereof, ſo as now he reſteth therein, which is the purchaſing and buying of it, that is heere ſpoken of.
And when this is thus brought to paſſe, let all that know what this meaneth, gueſſe how he will louelove the Lord for this bountie ſhewed vponupon him, and how readie he will be to be guided by him, and alſo what comfort it is to him. But for concluſion of the whole, now that ye hauehave heard, that the hearer who ſhall be able to reioyce in his worke at the end thereof, is fitly reſembled to the merchant man, as we hauehave heard, firſt in that he ſeeketh pearles, ſecondly, in finding one of great price; and thirdly, in ſelling all that he hath to buy it; that is to make it his owne; that he may be happie thereby, and all this is done, when he beginneth to beleeue; let him be ſure he doth ſo, and let him get many grounds, and euidences thereof, by the Scripture, and experience. And aboue all other this vnualuable treaſure of the forgiueneſſe of his ſins, and aſſurance of ſaluation, he beleeuing the Lord, that he may be bold to lay hold on it, as Gods will is hee ſhould.
And let him well weigh how much he is bound to him for it, and ſo doing, let him liue on his purchaſe, and take the benefit thereof, to the comfort of him and his, no otherwiſe then they do, that hauehave bought houſe and land. And eueryevery day weigh the fruit of ſuch a purchaſe in true and vnfained peace and comfort, and ſeeing he ſhall liue vnderunder ſo kind and good a Lord, as he that is Lord of all lords,Deut. 28.46. let it moue him to ſet his heart on him, and delight and endeuour to pleaſe and obey him in all things, and let him do it alſo with ioy.
For why? if we thinke, they that be in a noble mans houſe, faring well, may be merrie, is there any ſuch merry-making, as in Gods houſe? ſo that the man may be merry at his work, and the woman at hers? They that powre water on the hands of a Prince, or a King, are thought happie: but then to hauehave the honor that is greater then Kings? is ſomewhat. And by this little that hath been ſaid of, and about the pearle, gueſſe what the reſt is, euen as yee would gueſſe of the whole proportion of a man by ſeeing his foot.