The Best Treasure, Chapter 28
CHAP. XXVIII.
Containing an uſe of reprehenſion to ſeveral ſorts of Perſons, with conſolation to all ſound Believers.
IF there be ſuch vaſt and glorious Treaſures in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, opened and tendered in the Goſpel. Then this reprooves ſuch as have or profeſs to have an intereſt in theſe vaſt and boundleſs Treaſures, and yet are ſo little affected with them, and have a low eſtimation of them; O ſad indeed! That the choiceſt ſubſtance that ever was; boundleſs treaſure, ſhould be eſteemed no more then periſhing traſh. 'Tis a lamentable thing indeed to ſee how moſt Profeſſors value periſhing treaſures ſo much, and Jeſus Chriſt ſo little: Did perſons prize thoſe Heavenly Treaſures, they would have a leſſe eſteem of Earthly; they would be more reſtleſs till they ſaw their Intereſt in them: Purſue more after them; be at more pains and coſt to ſecure them: Be more in the commendation of them, and highly eſteem thoſe that have them.
Secondly, It reproves thoſe that have or ſeem to have a title to this glorious Treaſure, and yet are not contented with it: O Souls, will a few handfuls of duſt pleaſe you, and will not a Kingdom, Crown, and Glory? Will a little Cottage in the world take up your delight, and will not a Manſion and dwelling-place in Heaven ſatisfie you? O Believer, hath God made over himſelf, Father, Son, and Spirit to be thine eternal Treaſure, and is not he rich enough to fill all thy heart, and all thy deſires? ſit down and conſider how groundleſs are all thy mournings, how unreaſonable are all thy frettings and diſcontent, who canſt ſay of Heaven, This is mine; and of God, and Chriſt, He is mine.
Thirdly, It reproves thoſe that have or ſeem to have a Title to thoſe treaſures, and yet look after others treaſures, and eagerly purſue a portion in this World. O unexcuſable! Like Dinah they wander after the things of this World, as ſhe did after the people of the Land, till they deflower their Souls: O Chriſtians, have you choſen God, and will you back to the World again? Hath God deliver'd you from this preſent World, and will you yield up your ſelves to it again! Hath grace opened your Priſon Doors, and will you enter in again? Have you taſted God to be gracious, and yet long after the worldlings bottle, to drink of theſe Waters of Marah? O unreaſonable Souls: How unſutable is this to your ſtate and condition! if you are Saints indeed you are not of this World, Joh. 15. 19. Are you the Citizens of Heaven, Eph. 2. 19. And would Saints and Angels ſo dig after the World if they come down from Heaven? 'Tis contrary to your promiſes and engagements. You go againſt your convictions, and experiences, and by your inordinate love to, and purſuit of the World you are Enemies to God your own and others Souls.
Fourthly, This reproves thoſe of the People of God, who have an intereſt in theſe vaſt Treaſures of Chriſt, and yet are miſerably poor in their own Souls: Many complain Times be hard, Eſtates waſt, Trades decay, but the greateſt Poverty lies in Spirituals: Faith, Love, Humility, ſelfe denyal, Mortifiedneſs to the World, perſons are deſtitute of theſe things chiefly; little grace laid out, little grace laid up: Few workings of Spirit in duty, and few works of grace in Mens lives; this argues wonderful Poverty in mens Souls: 'Tis not Poverty in Spirit, but poverty in Spirituals, Profeſſours are ſo guilty of this day; few acts of Piety towards God, few works of charity towards Men: How lean, and ilfavoured are moſt under the Goſpel: Many are learning, and never come to the knowledge of the truth; a ſtrange vail lyes yet upon the minds of many: Little right-kind of knowledge, few know the meaning of the Spirit, few are led into the myſteries of the Goſpel: Others profeſs themſelves wiſe, and to know God, but by works deny him, and their Poverty lies here, They are ful of notions, but empty of holineſs, Earthly and vain in their Spirit: Moſt mens Religion this day lies in the head; little-heart-godlineſs, little life-holineſs: Little love to God, and Saints: Little fruits brought forth for God, this ſhews the Poverty of the times we live in: Again, the difficultneſs of maintaining Spiritual life; hard to get to a life of faith, and love, hard to keep up hope, this comes from Soul Poverty: Hard for Perſons to live from one Ordinance to another: Spiritual life decays, waſts, languiſhes; 'tis with too many Profeſſours as it is with ancient weak Perſons, that are grown ſo cold, Nature ſo decay'd, that they can hardly keep themſelves warm, longer then by the fire: So tis with many Chriſtians, no longer then under a warming Sermon, but cold preſently; nay 'tis not ordinary Sermons will heat them: The richeſt feedings, the choiceſt Cordials, ſcarce keep up faith, love, and delight in God one moment, and are not theſe poor men? Corruptions grow, a light, vain, Eearthy, frothy Spirit abounds; but meekneſs, ſavourineſs, humility, gravity, livelyneſs decays: Little ſtrength for duty, hard to hear, pray, or to manage one duty aright; little Spirit and Truth in moſt duties, and ſervices: Unable to conflict with temtations, corruptions, oppoſitions: Hard to live up to light, convictions, reſolutions: How do Souls make ſhipwrack of faith, and conſcience! How eaſily are they overcome by their hearts luſt, pride, paſſion, Earthyneſs preſently carries them aſide. Unable to bear the leaſt ſufferings: The very ſhaking of the rod will drive ſome from duty: Perſons cannot yet digeſt difficulties, and endurings for the Goſpels ſake: How ſoon are many worn out by the afflictions, and perſecutions of this day: This deſerves ſharp reproof.
Laſtly, It reproves thoſe who partake of thoſe riches of Chriſt, and yet are reſerved to others: O how unlike are theſe to Chriſt! He opens his Treaſures to you, but you ſhut yours from others; he hands out his bounty to you, but you ſhut your eyes from others: His ſtreams make glad the City of God; your narrow heartedneſs makes ſad the Sons of men: His bowels are enlarged, yours ſttaitned; Milk and Honey are under his tongue, emptineſs and vanity under yours; his ſteps drop fatneſs, your hands cauſe leanneſs: O Chriſtians! ſee your unſutableneſs to Chriſt, and be aſhamed of your ſtraitned bowels, and ſhut hands, towards your poor Brethren, whether as to outward or ſpiritual ſupplies! How few are the better for you in ſoul or body, whoſe lips bleſs God for your bounty? Deut. 14. 13. A cloſe-handed Profeſſor is a Paradox in nature, and differs from God and the whole Creation: The Lord is good and doth good: Jeſus Chriſt aſcended on high, and gives gifts to men, Eph. 4. 8. He is always doing good. The Sun diffuſeth freely of his light, and heat: The clouds drop fatneſs: The Earth brings forth her increaſe; the Trees yield their fruit, and when fit for the uſe of man, lets them fall into their boſomes; the air communicates its refreſhing; the fire its heat, the Sea its ſtore, only man is ſelfiſh and with the unprofitable Servant hides his talent in a Napkin: Chriſtians be humbled for your non-conformity to Chriſt, and the little uſe you have made of your Talents, and graces for the good of thoſe you live with.
Note That this uſe of Reprehenſion was more fully and largely compos'd by the Author. but the ſubſtance of it is contain'd in that excellent Treatiſe of the Author, call'd The Heavenly Trade; to which the Reader is refer'd.
Third Ʋſe of Conſolation.
If there be ſuch unſearchable riches in C…riſt for his people: Then here's wonderful Comfort to thoſe that are in Chriſt; ſuch have cauſe to rejoyce and be exceeding glad: For,
Firſt, In your intereſt in Chriſt lies your right to all thoſe great and glorious treaſures of Chriſt: He that hath Chriſt, all that is Chriſt's is his: All things are yours, and you are Chriſts, and Chriſt is Gods, 1 Cor. 3. 21. Such are Joynt-Heirs with Chriſt put down in the ſame everlaſting Covenant: adopted to the ſame inheritance, Rom. 8. 27. They have a Title to all that Chriſt hath as Mediatour, and that by donation and purchaſe: A title that cannot be forfeited nor waſted: A Title to the whole inheritance of God. Ah Believer if Chriſt be thine then 'tis no preſumtion to lay claim to any thing that is his: All that have been treated of him as God-Man Mediatour, his glorious endowments, his perſonal diſpoſitions, and excellent perfections are all thine. 1 Cor. 1. 30. Is not this comfort indeed to believers, that have ſuch a Beloved in Heaven, that is altogether lovely? 'Tis wonderful reviving when a Perſon can ſee ſome excellency he is related to beyond what is in himſelf: What comfort will a Mother take in a beautiful Child, though her ſelf be deformed? What delight will the faithful Wife take in the excellencies of her Husband, and glory in them as her own: Such pleaſure doth the Spouſe take in the beauty of Chriſt. Cant. 5. 10. And reckons them as her comlineſs though ſhe was black. Cant. 1. 5. I am black but comely: What conſolation is this to a child of God to be intitled to ſuch a glorious Jeſus? Though thou art poor yet thy beloved is rich: Though thou art unlovely he is fair, though thou art obſcure and vile, yet he is honourable; and his riches, beauty, and honour are thine; and thy reputation with God, Saints, and Angels ſhall be in him, and as he is. Cant. 6. 10. Who is ſhe that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the Moon, clear as the Sun. The Lord Jeſus hath a high account of the Spouſes beauty; ſhe is bright, fair, clear, but it is as the Morning, or Moon, who borrow their beauty from the Sun: Comfort thy Heart, O drooping Believer, though thou canſt ſee no worth in thy ſelf, yet thou haſt enough in Chriſt for thee. Again, what wonderful Comfort may a Child of God gather from a ſeen Title to all the purchaſe of Chriſt, his Righteouſneſs, Graces, Priviledges, ſure Covenant, and Salvation, when he can upon warrantable grounds lay claim to all this? but ſo the Believer may, 1 Cor. 1. 30.
Secondly, The time is drawing near when they ſhall have a full poſſeſſion of all thoſe treaſures of Chriſt, Rev. 21. 7. He that overcometh ſhall inherit all things: All thoſe great and glorious things promiſed ſhall be his poſſeſſion, God ſhall be all in all to him, 1 Cor. 15. 28. Every tittle of his word ſhall be fulfilled, though Heaven and Earth paſs away, Math. 5. 18. Here Believers are rich Heirs under age, which differ nothing from a Servant, Gal. 4. 1. but the day haſtens when their great Eſtate will fall into their hands, and they ſhall live upon it to all Eternity; the expectation of which is cauſe of comfort; when veils ſhall be taken away, and thy ſoul ever with the Lord; when thy filthy Garments ſhall be taken off, and thy beautiful rayment for ever worn; when thou ſhalt live no more at ſmall allowances of Grace, but receive it without meaſure; thy Table ſpread, thy Cup overflow; thy feeding ſhall be no more on ſent portions from thy Fathers Table, but ſhalt ſit down in his preſence, and feaſt upon his fulneſs to all Eternity: Then ſhall all promiſes be turned into performances; all hopes ſhall end in fruition, and all deſires center in delights, then ſhall parts be turned into perfections, darkneſs into delight, changes into immutabilities, fears into joyes; wants into fulneſs; abſence into preſence: O bleſſed Eternity! When the Lord ſhall bring forth all his Treaſures, open his Ward-robe, and and pay off every ſaved Soul with an infinite fulneſs as much as he can receive, or deſire to have, treaſures of love in God the Father, Son, and Spirit; rivers of joy in the preſence of God; and fulneſs of grace in conformity to God. Things which eye cannot ſee, nor ear hear, nor the heart of man conceiue. 1 Cor. 2. 9. And is not a cerainty of theſe future treaſures ground enough for preſent comfort.
Thirdly, from an intereſt in this rich Jeſus, here's comfort to Saints under all their preſent wants whether outward or inward: In that.
Firſt, There's enough in Chriſt to ſupply them: In him dwells the fulneſs of the God-head, Col. 2. 9. Thy wants Believer are but finite, be they never ſo great; but Chriſts fulneſs is infinite: Thy neceſſities are the needs of a Creature, his abilitie is the power of a Creator: The Lord Jeſus Chriſt can more eaſily ſupply thy need, then a whole Ocean can fill one pitcher; for betwixt the Creatures there is ſome proportion, but betwixt God and the Creature none at all.
Secondly, As there is enough in Chriſt to fill all thy wants; ſo all the fulneſs that is in Chriſt is thy own, Believer, laid up in Chriſt for thee, made over to thee, 1 Cor. 1. 30. Deus mens & omnia mea. And therefore mayeſt boldly expect ſupplies according to the meaſure of Chriſt, 1 Cor. 12. 11. Dividing to every man ſeverally as he will. Thou mayeſt as boldly go to the treaſury of Chriſt, as a man doth to his Purſe for money, or to his Cupboard for Bread, and as a Child doth to his Father for neceſſary ſupplies, Math. 6. 32.
Laſtly, The Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſtands engaged to ſee the wants of his people ſupplied, Pſ. 34. 20. They that fear the Lord ſhall want no good thing, Phil. 4. 19. So that thou mayſt boldly ſay the Lord is my helper, Heb. 13. 6. Doſt thou want Food, Rayment, Health, &c. for thy Body, or doſt thou want Grace, Wiſdom, Faith, Love, Humility, Patience, Courage, Self-denial, Power over Corruptions, Succour under thy temptations, victory over thy luſt; thou mayſt go to Chriſt with expectations of all that God ſees beſt for thee: ſeeing there are ſuch treaſures of all Grace plac'd and entruſted in Chriſt for thee.
Fourthly, Comfort under all your loſſes for Chriſt; ſurely if Chriſt be yours, and ſuch vaſt treaſures are in him, he will not ſee you loſers for his ſake; he can and will ſave you harmleſs; nay, requite your expenſive love for him: all that ſtrength of affection, liberty, time, talents (Chriſtians) you lay out for him, ſhall be given in again: Jeſus Chriſt is that good Samaritane, who hath paſt his word to repay again whatever is laid out for him, or upon his, at his bidding, Luke 10. 35. If a tender hearted Paul would take the offences of an Oneſimus on his account, Philemon ver. 18. Much more will Chriſt take the expences for him on his account and repay it a hundred fold in this life, with Glory in that which is to come, Math. 19. 29.
Laſtly, Comfort under all your reproaches for Chriſt: 'Tis the lot of gracious Souls many times to be accounted vile, and the offſcouring of all things by the men of this world, 1 Cor. 4. 13. ſo ver. 10. We are Fools for Chriſts ſake, and deſpiſed: 'Tis part of the Croſs of Chriſt to be reproach'd for his ſake, 1 Pet. 4. 14. But here's Comfort in ſuch a caſe in the conſideration of thoſe treaſures of Chriſt: Chriſtians, your relation to ſuch a Jeſus who is the Heir of glory will wipe off all your diſgrace: Think on that account you have with God, and the glory you ſhall ſhortly have in your own Countrey, and that will ballance all troubles on the account of diſgrace for Chriſt.