The Best Treasure, Chapter 23
CHAP. XXIII.
Containing two Branches of Information: What a great bleſſing the Goſpel is: The greatneſs of their ſin that oppoſe the Goſpel.
IF there are great, Glorious, and unſearchable Riches in Chriſt; If it be by the Goſpel theſe Riches are brought forth, opened, and tendered to ſinners; O then what a mercy is it for Souls to enjoy the Goſpel! The Goſpel is the field in which this treaſure is hid: The Miniſtery of the Goſpel is the digging out, and laying open this treaſure: The G…ſpel is the Cabinet in which theſe Jewels lye lock'd up: And the Miniſtery of the Goſpel, by the Spirit, is the opening and unlocking this Treaſury and Cabinet: Jeſus Chriſt is this treaſure: The Miniſters of the Goſpel are Meſſengers and Ambaſſadours of Chriſt, ſent into the world with news of this Treaſure, and impowered to treat with periſhing Souls about making them Rich: The Miniſters of Chriſt are Stewards of this great Lord of Glory, entruſted with the tendring and Miniſterial diſpoſings of theſe vaſt treaſures, according to his inſtructions: This way God brings to light the hidden things of the Goſpel, 2 Cor. 4. 7. We have this Treaſure in Earthen Veſſels: As if the Apoſtle ſhould ſay: O Corinthians, there is a treaſure, there are Riches in the Goſpel, and we have theſe Riches in Earthen Veſſels: The Lord commits them to us, that we may open them, and make a tender of them to periſhing ſinners, according to his order. Our buſineſs is to preach Chriſt, and open the treaſures of Chriſt, with all his vaſt Inheritance to every Soul that receives him: O then the ſingular happineſs they have, that have the word of this Grace ſent to them: Oh what a mercy is it to live within the day-ſpring from on high, and under the joyful found: To hear the good news of a Saviours being born, and offer'd to periſhing Souls: To have the tydings of thoſe Soul-enriching overtures; O think upon the blind periſhing world, that live without the Line of Communication, with whom Free-Grace holds no correſpondence about Salvation, thoſe Indians and Pagans that live without the Goſpel, and then reflect upon the priviledges you enjoy, and ſee what a mercy this is; and then ſay, who hath made you to differ; O why ſhould the Sun ſhine on your borders, and the day ſpring from on high viſit your coaſts; leaving others to periſh without regarding? O is it not Grace that God ſhould viſit you with the Goſpel, and ſuffer others to perſecute it? O theſe are the motions of Sovereign pleaſure, and the paths of diſtinguiſhing mercy: O ſinners! how much are you indebted to this free unſearchable Grace, that ſhould paſs by ſo many parts of the World, and pitch on this little ſpot of ground? O wonderful Mercy indeed! That theſe ſwarms of Mellefluous dews and priviledges ſhould light on your branches: That the Cloud by day and a Pillar of Fire by night ſhould come, and ſtand over you. O little do you know what it is to lye in darkneſs, and in the Region and ſhadow of Death: O! this ſhould cauſe you to value the Goſpel: who can tell but they that feel it, what it is to be ſhut up in the Region of death, and be bound in chains of darkneſs; to lye in a waſt howling Wilderneſs, where there is none to guide their feet in the way of peace: O what a ſad judgment is this! O Souls! If ever you live to ſee, the light put out, and the Miniſtery of the Goſpel gone from England, then you will know what doleful miſeries are; and will you not prize the Goſpel then, that is ſuch a wonderful mercy, beyond all your Eſtates, and all the enjoyments of the whole world? How will ſome men value thoſe Sciences that feed their natural minds with knowledge, and feaſt their Rational deſires with diſcoveries of ſome unknown Notions: And will not you love the Goſpel, that brings to light the glorious truths of Chriſt? How will Tradeſmen prize the Rules of their Arts, that make them skilful! How will the Worldlings hug thoſe Counſels that help to make them rich! And ſhould not you prize the Goſpel, that comes to make you wiſe to Salvation? Shall men prize inſtructions about the obtaining of periſhing things? And ſhall the Counſel God gives you about the Food that endureth, be ſlighted? O Souls! what ſhall I ſay? O labour to know the worth of the Goſpel, before you feel the want of the Goſpel: O prize it, prize it indeed. The Goſpel is the beſt Treaſure, the beſt Comforter, the beſt Friend that is in the World: 'Tis the beſt Counſeller in all ſinners difficulties; it ſhews you the ſafeſt, and beſt way out of all your Clouds and darkneſs, Pro. 8. 14. Counſel is mine, and ſound Wiſdom. It is meant of Chriſt; In his word is the beſt Counſel to make men wiſe to Salvation, 1 Tim. 3. 15. There's the beſt Counſel to make you happy, Rev. 3. 18. 'Tis the beſt Interpreter in all the World to reſolve your dark caſes, and there's no ſuch way to get ſolution in all your doubts, and greateſt troubles: The Pſalmiſt found it ſo, when he went into the Sanctuary, Pſ. 73. 17. Chriſtians, the Goſpel and Word of God tells you, what you ſhould do in all your difficulties, Acts 9. 6. The Goſpel is the chiefeſt comforter: O what happy Meſſenger the miniſtery of the Goſpel is, it brings the beſt Balm to heal your wounds: Balm of Gilead to heal your ſoul wounds, it affords the ſweeteſt Conſolations, Rom. 15. 4. That we through Patience and Comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Ah! There's no ſuch pure Elixir drops to any, as the Goſpel drops: 'Tis the moſt reviving Spirits imaginable: the water of Life that come through the Goſpel: O how reviving how chearing are theſe to drooping Souls! The Goſpel is the power of God to Salvation, Rom. 1. 16. 'Tis the arm of God to ſtay up the poor ſinking Soul: 'Tis the Weapons of our Warfare which are mighty through God to the pulling down of ſtrong holds, 2 Cor. 10. 4. O Souls! what cauſe have you then to be much affected with the Love of God in giving the Goſpel? get your hearts warm'd with the ſenſe of this mercy; and more appreciative thoughts of theſe priviledges: O, I know not how to commend it to you: O Souls prize the Goſpel, rate it in your eſteem above the whole World, Pſa. 119. 167. My Soul hath kept thy Teſtimonies, and I love them exceedingly. O reſt not till you can ſay ſo, I love the Goſpel exceedingly; I prize it above gold, above tryed gold: 'Tis better than all treaſures, ver. 72. Sweeter, (ſays David) than Hony, and the Hony Comb, Pſa. 19. 10. If the Goſpel be ſtuff'd with ſuch Riches, who would not prize the Goſpel? 'Tis a rich Cabinet, beſpangled with beauty in every letter: 'Tis a diſcovery of the manifold Wiſdom of God, and ſhould not you be affected with the Goſpel? O teſtifie your valuation of the Goſpel by all poſſible demonſtrations.
Firſt, Shew your valuation of the Goſpel, by bleſſing God for it: O ſend Clouds of Incenſe to Heaven, full of praiſes and Hoſannahs to God for the Goſpel: Paul bleſſeth God that the Phillippians had the Goſpel, Phil. 1. 3, 5. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, for your fellowſhip in the Goſpel, from the firſt day until now. As much as to ſay, that you have enjoy'd the Goſpel a great while. O from your whole hearts bleſs God for the Goſpel, 1 Theſ. 1. 2, 5. O I am afraid Chriſtians are not enough in this duty of praiſing God for the Goſpel: It deſerves ſolemn days of Thankſgiving.
Secondly, Teſtifie your valuation of the Goſpel; by doing all you can to keep it with you: A perſon that prizeth a Jewel or piece of Gold in his hand will hold it faſt: O Chriſtians! if you prize the Goſpel, you will do all you can to keep the Goſpel, Pro. 23. 23. Buy the Truth, and ſell it not: Lay out any thing to enjoy the Goſpel; part with your Luſts, part with your Treaſures; let all go, ſo you may keep the Goſpel: But then do not ſell it: O the Goſpel is Treaſure enough, count nothing too dear for it.
Thirdly, Teſtifie your valuation of the Goſpel: By your willingneſs to part with all, or any thing, if God call you to it for the Goſpel: Doth God bid you pluck out a right eye, cut off a right hand, let it go if God call for it: Doth he call for your liberty, your lives for the Goſpels ſake, let them go, Acts 21. 13. O Souls! be not like the Gadarens to value your Swine above the Goſpel, and rather let the Goſpel go, than part with a little of your Eſtates, Luke, 8. 37.
Fourthly, Chriſtians, ſhew your high eſteem of the Goſpel, by your readineſs to attend it at all times: To run at every call of the Goſpel, with Mary to ſit at Chriſts feet, though other things be out of order, Luke 10. 39, 40. Will not you part with a little of your buſineſs, and let your Plow ſtand ſtill awhile, to attend upon the Miniſtry of the Goſpel? O Chriſtians! ſhew your prizings of the Goſpel, by your willingneſs to ſit down under it at all times.
Fifthly, Shew your high eſteem of the Goſpel, by the greateſt improvements of it while you have it; Sirs, you cannot tell how ſoon it may be taken from you, or you from it; you ſee what attempts are made againſt the Goſpel, you have reaſon then to make the moſt of it while you have it: Chriſt gives this argument to his hearers to prize it, Joh. 12. 35. Yet a little while is the light with you, walk while you have the light, leſt darkneſs come upon you: Be ſure at the beſt, 'tis but a little time you ſhall have it, if you live out all your time under the Goſpel, till your glaſs be run every duſt, 'tis but a little while you ſhall ſit under the dews of this Hermon hill; the time of your life is but a little while; the time of your digging in this Mine is but a little while, Death will draw the Curtain, and ſet you beyond the droppings of theſe dews and golden Oyls: O then improve the Goſpel while you have it; make the moſt of it, get all the good you can from it, by way of illumination, inſtruction, Correction, Faith and Conſolation: Chriſtians, get your heads and hearts fill'd with this precious ſubſtance what you can; this will be your wiſdom, you will find it ſo when you come to reckoning: O fill theſe Chambers of your Souls with precious treaſures; lay up thoſe choice fruits that may laſt you in your Winter Days: Get the kowledge of Chriſt, and the unſearchable Riches of Chriſt more and more, while you may come under the news of it: O draw hard at theſe breaſts, that you may get much food and nouriſhment for your Souls, that may ſerve you many a day.
Sixthly, Shew your high valuation of the Goſpel, by your believing in it, by your loving and obeying of it: Joh. 12. 36. While you have the light believe in the light: Thoſe friends we value much, we truſt much. Souls if you value the Goſpel, you will believe it: The Goſpel tells you; He that hath the Son hath life; he that hath not the Son hath not life: It tells you, he that lives after the fleſh ſhall dye: O believe it! the Goſpel ſaies, If you forſake your evil ways, you ſhall have mercy; if you hold faſt your ſins you ſhall dye: It tells you, you cannot come at Salvation, but in Salvations wayes: O believe the Goſpel; they that know thy Name will put their truſt in thee, Pſa. 9. 10. If you did but know the worth and truth of it, you would believe it, you may hang all the weight of your Souls upon the Line of the Goſpel, you may adventure your immortal Souls upon the promiſes of the Goſpel: It will bear all your weights, then love the Goſpel: Love the truth and peace, Zach. 8. 19. Is the Goſpel ſuch a good Meſſenger that brings you ſuch good news, and will you not love it? O Souls! love the Miniſtrations of the Goſpel. And then obey the Goſpel: If you love Chriſt indeed you will keep his Commandements, Joh. 14. 23. you will obey his voice. This argues your eſteem of the Goſpel, when you follow the inſtructions it gives you. Doth God bid you forſake your evil wayes? Come and cloſe with Chriſt? O! obey thoſe Counſels he gives you in his Goſpel.
Laſtly, Shew your high valuation of the Goſpel, by holding forth a Converſation ſutable to it, Only let your Converſation be as becometh the Goſpel of Chriſt, Phil. 1. 27. As if he ſhould ſay, chiefly, this is the main and ſum of all O! live worthy of the Goſpel.
Firſt, Then is your Converſation as becometh the Goſpel, when you live as becomes the grace of God diſcover'd in the Goſpel: 'Tis infinite grace is revealed in it; you ſhould walk ſo as to honour grace; you ſhould preſs after more grace in your Converſations, there ſhould be grace in every ſtep of your lives, Tit. 2. 1, 12.
Secondly, Then you live ſutable to the Goſpel, when you live up to thoſe great and Glorious things held out in it: When the Goſpel is opened there are choice Jewels brought forth to ſale: O moſt excellent things produc'd by it, and you ſhould live up ſutable to theſe.
There's the manifold Wiſdom of God held forth in the Goſpel, Eph. 3. 10. Treaſures of wonderful wiſdom are opened in the Goſpel: O live up to theſe myſteries: O Chriſtians, let your lives be exact, for you have curious eyes to look upon you, labour to hold forth much wiſdom and much light in your Converſations.
In the Goſpel is held forth the myſtery of Godlineſs, 1 Tim. 3. 16. Great is the myſtery of godlineſs. O what myſteries are here! God Manifeſted in the fleſh; God, and yet cloath'd in fleſh: Condemn'd for ſin, and yet juſtified in the Spirit; ſeen of Angels: Preached to the Geutiles, the worſt of Sinners in the World: Now live ſutable to the myſteries of Godlineſs.
Again, the Goſpel opens the glorious priviledges of Saints, of every ſaved Soul: O wonderful priviledges! That Enemies ſhould be reconciled, and ſtrangers made nigh, that Rebels ſhould be adopted Sons and Daughters, made the Children of God by Chriſt, Rom. 8. 16, 17. O what a glorious priviledge is this Believing Souls are brought into by the Goſpel! to a ſtate of Adoption, Gal. 4. 6. A ſtate of glorious liberty, Eph. 5. 1. Gal. 5. 1. O live up to theſe glorious priviledges: You are Children of the light, walk as Children of the light, Eph. 5. 8. The Goſpel ſhews you the the things freely given of God, the infinite love of God, the wonderful Salvation-Grace of God: O then you live ſutable to the Goſpel, when you live up to thoſe great and glorious things held forth in it.
Thirdly, Then are your lives according to the Goſpel, when they are ſuted to the Rules of the Goſpel, look what the Goſpel commands; and requires that you do, Gal. 6. 16. Math. 28. 20. Now the Goſpel requires not only Bodily, but Spiritual worſhip; to worſhip God in the Spirit: It requires not only external duties, but internal holineſs: It calls for Obedience flowing from love, and labours ſpringing from faith; well principled duties, when you endeavour the greateſt ſtrickneſs in your lives; That's ſutable to the Goſpel.
Fourthly, Then is your Converſation as becomes the Goſpel; when it is Subordinate to the ends of it.
One end of the Goſpel is to exalt the praiſe of the glory of grace, Eph. 1. 12. To make you veſſels of Mercy, for the glory of Mercy: O Chriſtians live ſo as you may moſt advance the glory of grace, live ſelf-denyingly and humbly, exclude boaſting, then you live as becomes the Goſpel.
Another great end of the Goſpel is the ſanctification of ſaved Souls, to make Souls holy, 2. Cor. 7. 1. Then you live as becometh the Goſpel, when you carry on Goſpel holineſs, inward Holineſs, outward Holineſs, 1 Theſ. 4. 3.
The Salvation of Souls, that's another great end of the Goſpel, that the Promiſe may be ſure to all the ſeed, 2 Theſ. 2. 10. That he that believes in Chriſt may have Everlaſting Life: O then live as you may be ſaved; you muſt tread upon the World you have ſo much doted upon; you muſt account all things loſs and dung for Chriſt, if ever you be ſaved: O Chriſtians, labour then to hold forth a Converſation ſutable to the Goſpel. So much for the firſt Inference.
Secondly, If ſuch great and unſearchable treaſures are opened and tendered to Sinners in the Goſpel: O then how great is their ſin that oppoſe and perſecute the Preaching of it: O this is a black ſin indeed; this activity comes from the Spirit of darkneſs. O 'tis a dreadful thing to oppoſe, reſiſt, and perſecute the Miniſtery of the Goſpel: For ſuch do all they can to hinder the tenders of unſearchable Riches to the World; they labour to keep the World poor, to hinder the Salvation of Souls: And is not this ſad work?
Again, ſuch as oppoſe and perſecute the Goſpel, are of the curſed brood and off-ſpring of the Phariſees, who do ſhut up the Kingdom of God, and neither enter in themſelves, nor ſuffer them that are entring to go in: So do thoſe that do oppoſe and perſecute the Goſpel, and would put out the light of the Goſpel; they are the Children of the Devil; the firſtborn of Hell; they do their Fathers work, Joh. 8. 41, 44. They that hate the light are the Children of the Devil; their deeds are evil, Joh. 3. 20. They carry the Devils mark upon their forehead; wherever they go up and down, to ſay there goes the Devils Children, there goes an Heir of Hell.
Again, They are Soul murtherers; they do hunt Souls, and ſhed the blood of Souls, Ezek. 13. 30. As well as they that hinder the Goſpel of Life, as they that bring in falſe Doctrines, and feed perſons with Lies, and occaſion death: They that ſtarve mens Souls as well as they that poyſon them, both are Soul murtherers. They ſight againſt Chriſt in Heaven: They go up and down with drawn Swords pointed againſt Chriſt in Heaven. O bloody wretches! that have murthered Chriſt on Earth, and now would kill him in Heaven too, Acts. 9. 4. Saul, Saul, Why perſecuteſt thou me? O Souls! 'tis a fearful thing to oppoſe and perſecute the Miniſtery of the Goſpel; for all the blood of all the Saints, from the beginning of the world to this day, ſhall be upon their heads, Math. 23. 35. O 'tis a ſad thing to lye under the blood of one perſon; but to have all the blood of all the Saints in the world to lye upon the head of a poor Creature: O what will that Soul do? That Soul will go to Hell with a vengeance, and lye tumbling under the wrath of God to all Eternity. Thus much of the Second Inference.