The Best Treasure, Chapter 30

The Best Treasure · Chapter 30

p. 401CHAP. XXX.

Containing a Ʋſe of Exhortion, preſſing Believers to ſeveral duties.

HAving already diſpatch'd Motives, Counſels, and Directions to Sinners, about their coming to this Chriſt, I ſhall only apply this laſt uſe of Exhortation to thoſe who are intereſted in this rich, and glorious Jeſus. Chriſtians, you that are made happy in your Relation to Chriſt, and inveſted with a Title to theſe glorious Treaſures, of all perſons; you are moſt obliged to duty; Chriſtians, be you advis'd and exhorted to theſe ſeveral duties.

1 Duty.

Firſt, Be exhorted to Thankfulneſs to the rich Grace of God, for giving ſuch a Treaſure and Treaſury as Chriſt is; be continually offering up Praiſes and Thanſgivings to God, Flames of holy Affection, be admiring the Grace of God, as the Fountain and Spring of theſe waters of Life, as the deep Mine of thoſe glorious Treaſures: now to ſcrue up your Affections, and wind up your Hearts to make way for holy Melody, admiring, triumphing, and bleſſing God for giving Chriſt, conſider theſe following Particulars, as motives to this choice duty.

Firſt, Conſider what you were without Chriſt, O! Chriſtians, look back, and ſee what once you were, Eph. 2. 11. Remembring that in times paſt, you were Gentiles in the Fleſh. The worſt of men, p. 402an idolatrous ſort of men, Worſhippers of Devils, you were wild Olives, Enemies to God in your minds, Col. 1. 21. hateful, and hateing one another, Tit. 3. 3. Lying in your blood to the loathing of your perſons, Ezek. 16. 4, 5, 6. dead in Treſpaſſes and Sins, wretched, miſerable, poor, blind, naked, Rev. 3, 17. Children of Wrath, heirs of Hell, born to Wrath, Eph. 2. 1, 2, 3. under the Curſe and Condemnation of the whole Law, Gal. 3. 10. O lamentable ſtate! Obnoxious to Death, liable to everlaſting Deſtruction, every moment, no guard about you, open to Devils, liable to the pourings out of divine Fury, and the openings of the deep Treaſures of infinite Vengeance, to have no ſecurity from the greateſt Evils, nor capacity ever to be deliver'd out of them; obnoxious every minute to a fearful looking of a fiery Wrath and Indignation, which ſhall devour the Adverſary, Heb. 10. 27. This was once your ſtate Believers, you were ſtubble, ready for everlaſting Burnings, Fuel for that Fire that can never be quenched, and Food for the Worm that never dyeth, O! ſad caſe indeed, and was not freedom and deliverance from ſuch a ſtate, a Mercy worth your higheſt Thanks? Had you but lookt into the place of Torment, and dipt your Finger into that lake of Fire and Brimſtone, you would have wonder'd at Redemption-mercy, and adored that Grace of God that pluckt you out of it: and is not your acknowledgment of preventing Grace, as due now as it would have been to an actual deliverance out of theſe Miſeries?

Secondly, Conſider what you are by Grace, if you are related to Chriſt, you are brands pluckt out of the Fire, Zach. 3. 2. Bond-ſlaves redeemed p. 403from the Pit, Zach. 9. 11. Condemned Wretches ſav'd from Wrath to come, 1 Theſ. 1. 10. Tranſlated from Darkneſs to Light, and from the Power of Satan into the Kindgdom of God, Acts 26. 18. Col. 1. 13. Made Sons and Daughters to God, called to his Kingdom and Glory, 1 Theſ. 2. 12. Gal. 4. 6. Crown'd and inveſted with a Right to his Preſence and moſt glorious Priviledges, Eph. 2. 18. 19. Under the Eye of God, under divine Care; infinite Grace is an Undertaker for you, 1 Pet. 5. 7. O glorious State! Conſider further, how you lye upon the Heart of God, as a Seal and Signet there, Cant. 8. 6. Reckoned amongſt his Jewels accounted his peculiar Treaſure, Exod. 19. 5. Mal. 3. 17. Partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light, Col. 1. 12. Sitting in heavenly places in Chriſt Jeſus, made Veſſels, …itted for Mercy, fill'd with Mercy, devoted to Mercy, Rom. 9. 23. And Heirs of Glory, Jam. 2. 5. O wonderful, wonderful Grace; this is matter of Praiſes to God to all Eternity: Time would fail to read over your Inventory, and to look through your Treaſury, 'tis Work for an Eternity to do: O believe what you cannot ſee, and admire what you cannot know, and ſtudy out what you yet underſtand not of your bleſſed ſtate, both privatively, and poſitively conſider'd, and when you have found out a little of your Happineſs, then look on thoſe beneath you, put your Mercies into the ſcale with the World's Miſeries, rate your Redemption-intereſt with the lot of Chriſtleſs Souls, matter of the ſame Lump with you, think on your Acquaintance, Friends, Relations, Neighbours, that have enjoyed the ſame Goſpel-Priviledges with you, and yet theſe are left to their Blindneſs, to periſh in the Error of their ways, and muſt down into p. 404the deep for ever, but you are exalted, and lifted up to Glory. O! What cauſe is here for Praiſes bleſſings, Thanſgivings, and Hallejuahs to him that ſits upon the Throne, and to the Lamb for evermore.

Thirdly, Conſider the greatneſs of that Grace which hath made you to differ; Ah! Believers, Redemption-grace ſaw nothing more in you than in Judas, Demas, and thoſe that periſh; you were of the ſame Lump, cut out of the ſame piece, there was not a Jot of Difference between you and the damned, but only the good pleaſure of Grace, only divine Mercy laid it's hand upon you: O that aſtoniſhing word, becauſe it pleaſed him to make you his people, 1 Sam. 12. 22. It was only the free grace of God that choſe Jacob, and left Eſau, Rom. 9. 13. It was not for your ſakes Chriſtians, that the Lot was caſt ſo well for you: No, Be it known to you O houſe of Iſrael, be aſhamed and confounded for ever in your own Eyes, Ezek. 36. 32. The moving Cauſe, the Wheel within the Wheel, that made you adopted, and others rejected, was only the good Pleaſure of his Will, Eph. 1. 5. 7. It was from hence, God ſo loved the World, out of this Womb ſprung all your Mercies, it was Height of Grace, Length, Breadth, Depth, Love paſſing Knowledge, Eph. 3. 18. 19. O ye heirs of Glory, be affected, aſtoniſhed, raviſhed with the ſenſe of this rich grace of God towards you, in giving Chriſt not only for you, but to you, and revealing him in you, and uniting him to you by the Spirit, from the ſame Maſs of fallen man, to ſingle out ſome for pardon, and leave others for Puniſhment: O wonderful! The Senſe of this made the Apoſtle break out in p. 405ſuch a holy Extaſie, Rom. 11. 33. O the Depth of the Riches both of the Wiſdom and Knowledge of God, O the depth! A note of Exclamation, and ſilencing wonder. O conſider this Love of God to your Souls, 'tis free Love without any Influences from the Creature, full Love without Circumference or Bounds, eternal Love without Beginning and without end. Fruitful Love, abounding in the rich Gifts and Procurements of it, O the Gifts and Tokens God ſends to you now, and O the large ſtore he lays up for ever for you: 'tis ſympathyzing Love, full of Bowels, delighting Love, full of pleaſure in you, 'tis reſting Love: He will reſt over them in his Love; 'tis immutable Love without Changes, giving Love, forgiving Love, caring Love, ſecuring Love, returning Love, overcoming Love. O! where ſhall I make an end? How can you come to the bottom of this Deep, wade a little further, till you have loſt your ſelves in holy wonder: Can you ſee your brave houſes, fine Cloaths, comfortable Relations, and have ſuch high Regards, for theſe, and no more for this Grace of God: O wonder more at this Love.

Fourthly, Conſider how this is the great Deſign of God in this grace, that you ſhould be to his praiſe Eph. 1. 12. That is the end which God aimed at in Prediſtinating you to Glory, that you might be to the Praiſe of his grace, that his Grace might procure the Manifeſtation of his Praiſe; 'tis not for an Enlargement of his Revenue, or Advancement of his Profit; for man cannot be profitable to God, Job 22. 22. or for any addition to his Honour being above all Praiſe, but that he might receive the Tribute of his own Glory, and the returns of his p. 406outgoing Goodneſs: Now if this be the very end why God ſets his love upon you Chriſtians, then you have reaſon to glorifie his Grace, leſt you endeavour to overturn the whole Proj…cts of Salvation-kindneſs.

Fifthly, Think how delightful Praiſe is to God, Pſal. 69. 31. This alſo ſhall pleaſe the Lord better than an Oxe or a Bullock that hath Horns and Hoofs. That is, an Adult, and full grown Beaſt, which is more fit for Sacrifice; as Rabbi D. Kimohy notes, a Beaſt was not fit for Sacrifice under two years old; ſo that Praiſe is preferred here above all Sacrifice, as that which God takes moſt delight in of any thing, becauſe this doth moſt honour him to acknowledge him the Author of all Mercy, and God of all Grace, Pſal. 50. 23. Whoſo offereth Praiſe, glorifieth me, That is, He doth in a ſingular manner ſhew forth mine Honour, and this is pleaſing to him.

Sixthly, This brings Profit to your own Souls, Pſal. 50. 23. For 'tis the means and way to obtain the Salvation of God; Ponit viam aut praeparat viam, (ſaith one) it opens the way for Salvation to go out to that Soul; this duty of Praiſe will bring you Gain, becauſe it engageth God to give out more Mercy, and it leaves Influences of ſpiritual Good on your own Souls; it puts the heart into a good Frame to love God, and delight in him, and leaves more obligedneſs on the Soul to fear and ſerve God: ſo David after that Pſalm of Praiſe to God, 2 Sam. 7. was wonderfully influenced to duty to God, as you may ſee, chap. 8. 11. and had his Spirit abundantly ſweetned to men, chap. 9. 1.

Laſtly, Conſider alſo, how pleaſant this duty of Praiſe is to the Soul it ſelf, it is wonderfully delightful, p. 407and abundantly affects, and raviſhes the Heart, to have the ſenſe of divine Mercy in it, Pſal. 147. 1. Praiſe ye the Lord, for it is pleaſam, and Praiſe is comely. O Believers! let me effectually perſwade you then to the higheſt Acknowledgments of Redemption-grace, and to the utmoſt Praiſes for this rich Jeſus, who hath bleſſed you with all ſpiritual Bleſſings, Eph. 1. 3.

2 Duty.

Secondly, You that have an Intereſt in this glorious Redeemer, labour to keep up a high valuation of him in your Hearts; if he be ſo rich as the Goſpel reports of him, O then prize him acoording to his excellent worth: Great men are highly eſteemed, the Cap, the Knee, the beſt Room, the chiefeſt Seat are theirs, Jam. 3. 3. And how much more worthy is Chriſt of your account, 1 Pet. 2. 7. To you that believe he is precious. foreign it ſignifies an high Eſtimation of anothers Worth and Excellency, ready to be atteſted by all poſſible and due Demonſtrations: four things ſhould oblige Believers to a high Eſteem of Chriſt.

Firſt, His own tranſcendent Excellency which ſingularly reſides in him, and eminently ſhines out from him, ten thouſand times brighter than the Beams of the Sun, which in their own nature challenge the higheſt Adoration of men and Angels, eſpecially of ſaved Souls, to whom he is moſt endeared and moſt nearly related. As the Apple-tree excells the meaneſt and moſt uſeleſs Shrub, infinitely more doth the Lord Jeſus over top all the Glory of the world as Mediator, Cant. 2. 3. He is the chiefeſt of ten thouſands, Cant. 5. 10. He is before p. 408all things, Col. 1. 17. Both in dignity and time, he precedes all Creatures, he is the Fountain of all Excellencies; his divine and perſonal Perfections make him the glory of Heaven, the adoration of Angels, the admiration of Saints, and the object of all Obſervance and holy Wonder, 2 Theſ. 1. 10.

Secondly, The high honour the Father puts upon him; He is his Well-beloved, Matth. 3. 17. The object of his Delight, the Exaltation of his right-hand, who hath put all things under his Feet, Heb. 2. 8. Set over the works of his hands, crowned with Glory and Honour, verſ. 7. Worſhipped by all the Angels, by the Fathers Appointment, and ſet down at the right hand of the Majeſty on high, Heb. 1. 3. 6. entruſted with all the Concerns and Intereſts of God, in the World, made his pleni-potentiary, to compoſe all Differences betwixt himſelf and fall'n man: now, hath the Father ſuch a high Valuation of Chriſt? then ſurely 'tis an unworthy thing in you, to detract from his Honour.

3dly, The Lord Jeſus Chriſt deſerves your high Eſtimation, becauſe he is the Fountain of all thoſe Streams that do make glad your Souls, the Sun of all thoſe Beams, that warm your Hearts, the Author of all thoſe Mercies that do ſupply and delight you; all your Excellencies and the things you moſtly value, are Derivations from his glory; things are ratable as they come from Chriſt, he turns your Water into Wine, ſweetens your bitter Cups, and makes them to overflow, all your graces come from his Fullneſs, he is your Friend, your beſt Friend, your old Friend, your none-ſuch in Heaven and Earth, Pſal. 73. 25. The Procurer of all your Mercies, p. 409the ſweetneſs of all your Comforts, the crown of all your Glory, and doth he not deſerve your Eſtimation? If he hide his Face all Light goes with him, if he ſuſpends the Communications of his Favour, nothing is comfortable to you, if he lock up his Treaſures, nothing b…t Poverty and waſting covers your Souls, every thing without him is nothing, and with him, any little thing is enough; Bread and Water is rich cheer with Chriſt, Diſgrace and Reproach is Honour with Chriſt; Poverty is Riches with Chriſt; O prize Chriſt then, for he puts a worth upon all things that you can enjoy.

Fourthly, Conſider the wonderful value the Lord Jeſus Chriſt puts upon you, and let this perſwade you to a due valuation of him, Gal. 2. 20. Who loved me, and gave himſelf for me, Joh. 15. 16. O amazing, wonderful, ſovereign Grace! That the Son of God ſhould ſet his higheſt Regards upon loathſome Dung, ſwept out of door by divine Juſtice, caſt out into the open Field, pityful, loathſome, undone Creatures, that he ſhould account you (Believers) as the Apple of his Eye, who have been as Thorns in his ſide, that he ſhould account you as a Seal on his Heart, who have been ſpears to pierce through his Bowels, that he ſhould value you as the travel of his Soul, the Jewels of his Crown, the Inhabitants of his glorious Preſence to all Eternity, that he ſhould account ſuch ſpotty Worms as you worthy of his Love, his Blood, and his Mediation, deſerving his Boſom, his Kingdom and his Throne: O what ſtrange aſtoniſhing Grace is this! and will you prefer Creatures, and place Relations in your Boſom, and let Chriſt lye out of p. 410door, O unworthy act indeed! Surely he deſerves your higheſt Eſtimation, O prize Chriſt! prize Chriſt! value him.

Firſt, Above all things in Heaven and Earth, count nothing like him, much leſs above him; ſet him in the uppermoſt Seat, enthrone him in your Heart; Let him ride in that Chariot of yours that is pav'd with Love; Eſteem his Perſon above all Perſons, his Purchaſe above all Purchaſe: his Love above all Affections; his help above all Aſſiſtance: Value him above Father, Mother, Husband, Wife, Friends, Pleaſures, Credit, Riches, or whatever is deareſt to you: Say as Moſes did, Who is like to thee? Exod. 15. 11. Thy Name alone is excellent, thy Glory above the Heavens. Eſteem his Precepts above all the Commands of men; His Promiſes, his Priviledges, his Comforts, his Ordinances, his People above all: Chriſt, in conjunction with other things, accounts himſelf ſlighted; He muſt be Aut Caeſar, aut nullus.

Secondly, Prize Chriſt in all; in all Perſons and things, make him the Standard to meaſure the worth of all created Beings by; Reckon things as they carry Chriſt in them: when Satan or Corruption tempt you to a high eſteem of any, Ask them, as Chriſt did, whoſe Superſcription and Image they bear? Matth. 22. 20. As the Talent of the Temple was of greateſt value, ſo let thy Account be of thoſe things that have the Temple ſtamp upon them, in a Sacred Reflection of Jeſus Chriſt. Reckon not much of any thing that hath not Aliquid Chriſti, ſomething of Chriſt in it.

Thirdly, Prize Chriſt at all times; not only by fits and ſtarts; not when he brings thee Loaves, p. 411and loads thee with his Favours onelyonly, but alſo when he hides his Face, and holds his Hand, when he ſeems to take no notice of thee: Let Chriſt be thy Sun in the Day-time; let him be thy Diamond in the Night, when all other Lights are gone, and ſhadows of Darkneſs are over thee; let him be alwayes uppermoſt in thy Account; Think meanly of him at no time; let him lye between thy Breaſts, to ſatiate thee at all times, Cant. 1. 13.

3. Duty.

Thirdly, Believers, (Have all your expectations from Chriſt, Pſal. 62. 5. My Soul waiteth only upon God, for my expectation is from him. If the Lord Jeſus be ſo rich, then he is able to maintain you, and ſupply all your wants: There's Bread enough in his houſe to feed you; Light enough in him to guide you; Comfort enough to cheer you: Blood enough to pardon you; Righteouſneſs enough to juſtifie you: Grace enough to ſanctifie you: Strength enough to bear and ſupport you; Treaſures enough to ſatisfie and requite you. Hence 'tis he calls his People to look to him, and be ſaved, Iſa. 45. 22. And on this Belief the Saints reſolved to wait and look for him, Iſa. 8. 17. O Chriſtians! expect all you need from Chriſt: His ſufficiency to help you, and his willingneſs to ſupply you, are Arguments enough for your Expectation: why ſhould you look to Creatures more than to the Creator? to the Clay, more than to the Potter? to broken Pits, more than to the Fountain? to the Phyſician, more than unto God? Is there not a God in Iſrael? why then are your eyes, Chriſtians, after empty Ciſterns, and things that cannot profit you? Have you choſen Chriſt to be your p. 412Rock, your Fountain, Life, Sufficiency, and Fulneſs, to fill all in all; and yet run to other things for your Relief, as if he were not able to ſupply you? O Souls! faſten your eyes on Chriſt; expect all you want from him, as the impotent man did on John and Peter, Acts 3. 5. Look not ſo much on Creatures and Relations, Friends, Riches, and Wiſdom, &c. leſt you be aſhamed; but wait for the Viſion, for it will ſpeak, Hab. 2. 3. Expect all you need from Chriſt, for the expectation of the poor ſhall not periſh.

4. Duty.

Fourthly, Be contented with Chriſt alone, whatever is wanting; and truly, 'tis ſtrange indeed, that an infinite Portion cannot ſatisfie a finite Being, and a whole Ocean fill a little Veſſel; Believer, Thou haſt the perſon of Chriſt, who is the wonder of Angels, the Satisfaction, and the Heaven of glorified Saints, the deſire of all Nations, the longed-for Joy of all that truly know and taſt him, and will not this content you? Paul could leave all the World to go after Chriſt, and art not thou ſatisfyed with Chriſt, without the World? This (ſaith Agnes the Roman Martyr) Even this is he, I now confeſs that I do love, I will make haſte to meet him. The naked preſence of Chriſt hath been a Heaven to ſuffering Saints under the want of all things: I have found a neſt of Honey (ſaith Algerius) in the Entrals of a Lyon, in a deep dark Dungeon, I have found a paradiſe of Pleaſure, &c. And if ſome glimpſes of the preſence, ſome Illapſes of the love of Chriſt, were enough to theſe Sufferers in the want of all things, O unreaſonable Soul, that thou ſhouldeſt complain, and be diſſatisfyed, who haſt an Intereſt p. 413in Chriſt, and ſo much of other things too. O Chriſtian! If Chriſt be thine, let it content thee, for all is thine; his Heart is upon thee, and will not that content thee? He loves thee more than all the World, he will not leave thee, and will not this pleaſe thee? Heb. 13. 5. He will care for thee, 1 Pet. 5. 7. Thou ſhalt want no good thing, he will make up the want of creatures with himſelf, he will ſweeten bitter cups; 'tis but a little while, and he will take thee to himſelf, where Wants, Sufferings, Shame, Reproaches, Griefs, and Sin ſhall trouble thee no more: O then be ſatisfyed with a ſingle Chriſt, in Heaven he muſt be thy alone Happineſs; there's no Houſe, Land, Husband, Wife, Parent, Children, to make up thy Fullneſs and Bleſſedneſs, there God will be all in all, and is not this God in Chriſt enough now?

5 Duty.

Fifthly, Take up your Delights in this rich and glorious Chriſt, he is the Treaſure, and his ſhould be the heart alſo, Math. 6. 21. There is all that in Chriſt, which thy Heart can deſire, ſtretch thy Longings to the utmoſt, and he is infinitely beyond them; and if he deſerves to be the object of thy Deſires, then of thy Delight, for what is Delight but Deſire in Fruition? He is the only adequate object of Delight: other things are unſutable to a ſpiritual Heart, and cannot pleaſe; empty; and cannot ſatisfie; fading, and cannot laſt; cloying, and ſoon become burdenſome; but God in Chriſt is an eternal Excellency: thoſe things that ſeem moſt delectable in Creatures, are but Derivations from his Excellency, Drops of his Fullneſs, Sips of his Sweetneſs, the impreſs of his Fingers: The precious p. 414Ordinances of Chriſt, are but the Galleries in which he walks, the Chariot in which he rides, the Cabinet wherein his Jewels lye, the Ciſterns through which Waters of Life paſs to ſaved ones; and if theſe be ſo pleaſant, O what then is himſelf, and ſhould not Believers then delight themſelves in him.

Queſt. But how ſhall I do to get my Heart to this delight in Chriſt? I find my Affections cold, and my Spirits dead, that I cannot taſte that Sweetneſs in Chriſt, nor take that Pleaſure in the Almighty as I would.

Anſw. Firſt, withdraw your Hearts from all other Delights, this courſe doth the Lord ſet Iſrael to get up to a delight in himſelf, Iſa. 58. 13, 14. There is no greater Enemy to true delight in God, than a perſons own carnal Pleaſure, and delight in things below God, Whoredom and new Wine take away the Heart, Hoſ. 4. 11. 'Tis impoſſible a Soul can take pleaſure in Chriſt and Sin together, Mat. 6. 24. For carnal Pleaſures withdraw the Affections from God, Job 21. ver. 12. to 15. 1 Joh. 2. 15.

Secondly, Reſt not till you have cleared up your Intereſt in Chriſt, and can upon good grounds apprehend him as your peculiar and chief Treaſure better than all the World beſides, and appropiate it to your own Souls, Cant. 2. 3. 5. This drew the Spouſes Heart to ſo much longing after and ſolace in the Lord Jeſus, even the ſight of his tranſcendent Worth beyond all others, and her title to all thoſe Excellencies; 'tis ſeen Intereſt in Chriſt that draws out the Heart after him, Cant. 7. 10. Doubts of Relation to Chriſt, and Fears of laying a claim to theſe precious Treaſures, damps the Soul pleaſure in Chriſt.

p. 415Thirdly, Be ſatisfy'd about Chriſt's ſpecial love to you, and delight in you, 1 Joh. 4. 19. Jealouſies about an Intereſt in this love of God, did ſo cool the Jews Hearts towards him, Iſa. 49. 14. But Zion ſaith, the Lord hath forſaken me, and my God hath forgotten me: From hence they began to ſlack their pace after God, and cryed out, behold what a wearineſs is it, and ſnuffed at it, Mal. 1. 13. chap. 3. 14. Suſpition of Chriſts Heart towards you will ſtraiten yours towards him: think well of Chriſt's Heart to you, cheriſh daily a good Opinion of his Nature, Affection, and Faithfulneſs.

Fourthly, Beg hard for heart-affecting fights of Chriſt; This ſo enamoured the Spouſes Heart, ſhe ſaw the beauties of her beloved, Cant. 2. 1. She beheld him to be the roſe of Sharon, and Lilly of the Vallies, the powrings out of his Name drew her affections to him, Cant. 1. 3. The Eye affects the Heart, Lam. 3. 51. As with Sorrow ſo with Joy; 'Twas David's Sight of God in the outgoings of his Love and Glory, that made his Soul thirſt after him, Pſal. 63. 1. 2.

Fifthly, Be much in the conſideration of what Chriſt hath done for you, and beſtowed upon you; this ſo engaged Hezekiah's Heart to God, Iſa. 38. 17. and filled David's heart wiih ſuch an Extaſy of Joy in God, 2 Sam. 7. 19, 20. Pſal. 8.

Sixthly, Get a nature and Spirit ſutable to Chriſt, Similo Simili gaudet, Pſal. 17. 15. I ſhall be ſatisfied when I awake with thy Likeneſs. This made the Image of Chriſt glorious in the Souls eye alſo, when once it becomes changed into it's Likeneſs, 2 Cor. 3. 18. Therefore did Paul delight in the Law of God after the inner man, Rom. 7. 22. Becauſe p. 416he had his inner parts changed into the Image of it; what pleaſure will wicked men take in a wicked Cauſe, from the ſimilitude it hath to their own Nature? So will the Soul in Chriſt, when once brought into a ſutableneſs to him.

Laſtly, Be much in Communion with Chriſt, and this will beget wonderful Joy in him, Pſal. 119. 167. David's being much converſant in God's Laws, begat and ſtrengthen'd his delight in it. So verſ. 14. 'Tis Intimacy breeds Delight, whereas Strangeneſs leſſens all that Familiarity and Pleaſure we elſe might take in Perſons, Pſal. 14. 10. A Stranger intermeddles not with his Joy. Be not contented to keep to duty, but preſs after Communion with Chriſt therein.

6 Duty.

Sixthly, Be not troubled at your Wants, Loſſes and Sufferings, you undergoe in this World; Conſider theſe four things.

Firſt, You can want no good thing, the God of Glory ſtands bound for your Supplies, Pſal. 34. 10. They that ſeek the Lord ſhall want no good thing, Pſal. 23. 1. The Lord is my Shepheard, I ſhall not want. It cannot be, that thoſe who are ſo much intereſted in the Heart, Care, Perſon, and Treaſure of the Lord Chriſt, can be deſtitute; what can you want who are entitled to all good things? 1 Cor. 3. 22, 23. Who are Heirs of the Promiſes, Promiſes that concern the Life that now is, and that which is to come, 1 Tim. 4. 8. You have a ſurer Title to your Supplies, than they that have moſt of the World in their hands; for God hath laid up, in the hands of Jeſus Chriſt, a full Allowance for you, how ſhort ſoever he may ſeem to keep you p. 417for a while: the Earth is your Lords, and the Fullneſs thereof, and the Cattel on a thouſand Hills, Pſal. 50. 10. 12. Pſal. 24. 1. Heaven, and Earth and all things therein, are made over in the everlaſting Covenant for your uſe.

Secondly, You ſhall want or ſuffer no more than infinite Wiſdom, and fatherly Love ſees beſt for you; 'tis impoſſible that divine Purpoſes ſhould be fruſtrated towards you; he that will work will work, and nothing ſhall let, 'tis not Men nor Devils, nor the greateſt injury of time, can deprive you of your Fathers Allowance, and that is upon infinite Wiſdom and good Pleaſure. The Wings and Wheels of Gods Providence over his people, and for them, are full of Eyes within and without, to ſhew the wiſe Care and Providence of God over his, in the worſt of times, and hardeſt condition; and theſe Wheels are moving for your Good, Chriſtians, and God ſees in the darkeſt Providence, what is beſt for you; all his Dealings with his people, are the Fruits of everlaſting Love, Jer. 31. 3. God doth in infinite Wiſdom manage all your Concerns; 'tis not by Chance, or through any inadvertency, any Croſſes or Loſſes befall you, but all is done in wiſe Counſel.

3dly, The leſs you have of Creatures, the more will God give you of himſelf, if you be looking to him, and by Faith live upon him. God will admit of no Vacuums towards his people, they can want no good thing; therefore if creature-ſupplies be remov'd, Grace comes in the room; as they ſay, Water will aſcend to prevent a Vacuum, and Grace will deſcend to prevent Emptineſs in Believers; God comes in the room of creature-comforts: p. 418when Job was ſtript of all, he had more of the viſions of God, Job 42. 5. John had never more Intimacy with Jeſus Chriſt, than when he was in the barren Iſland of Patmos, ſtript of the Confluence of earthly Comforts; Elijah never made a better Meal, than when he was driven into the Wilderneſs, and the Angel was his Cook, 1 Kin. 19. 8. Ah Believers! you have never better Allowance of God, than when you are cut ſhort in outward things, if you be faithful; therefore you ſhould be quiet under all Straits and Neceſſities in the world. The day we live in is full of Tryals to many a gracious Soul, the wants of many may be more than many think of, and 'tis now a time to expect more Maintainings from the hand of God, and from the Spirit of Grace, when outward things are removed; when Iſrael was brought into the Wilderneſs where was no ſowing nor reaping, they had their Bread from Heaven, and 'tis God's uſual way, to ſend Meat from his own Table, when the Tables of his Children are empty, I mean, more ſpiritual Communications from himſelf, if they murmur not, but patiently and quietly wait for God's Salvation.

Laſtly, Conſider, Believers, 'Tis not long you ſhall be in the way of Wants, or Sufferings: the time is haſtning that will ſet you beyond the reach of offending Providences, nothing ſhall offend you when you get home to your own Country. O! the time is haſtning, when Moth and Ruſt cannot conſume, nor Thieves break thorough and ſteal, Matth. 6. 20. And when afflictive Providences cannot injure your Treaſure, if the Lord be your Treaſure, 'tis not long you will be open to the Injury p. 419of time, and to thoſe Caſualties that paſs upon your Comforts; every day (Chriſtians) brings you farther through the Briars, and Thickets of this World, and through the barren Wilderneſs, that leads to your Canaan; you are travelling apace towards a period of all your Tryals, every new hour brings you a ſtep nearer to the Sight, and Fruition of your bleſſed Inheritance. Chriſtian, Think every Evening, now I have a day leſs to wade through the deep Troubles, and Red-ſea of this World, and to be kept at ſuch ſtrait Allowances and Supplies in this Life: O a real Faith of this, how ſhould it patient and quiet Believers, under preſent Straits and ſhort Allowances here? O! Think upon the coming of the Lord, Jam. 5. 7. Be patien… therefore Brethren unto the coming of the Lord behold the Husband-man, waiteth for a precious Fruit of the Earth, and hath long patience for it: He waits a long time before Harveſt comes, and bears many a wet-day, and ſhall not a Believer wait with more Quietneſs, and hope for a far better Treaſure? O! Chriſtians, if you feel ſome Difficulties and Straits through want of Supplies, Comfort, Credit, Strength, Eaſe, Peace, Reſt, for a little time, know, Eternity is coming, that will make amends for all.

7 Duty.

Seaventhly, Live upon your Treaſure, theſe unſearchable Riches in Chriſt; for this end hath the Father provided thoſe rich Treaſures, to ſatisfie you here, and to ſolace you hereafter, 'tis laid up in Chriſt for you, not lockt up from you. Chriſtians, the Lord Jeſus is a Fountain ſealed to, not from you, there's no Bolt between you and your Treaſures, you may go and fetch ſupply at all times p. 420of need, Heb. 4. 16. It hath pleaſed the Father that in Chriſt ſhould all Fullneſs dwell, Col. 1. 19. For the uſe of Believers, that he might give eternal Life to all that come to him, and be the head of the Body, the Fullneſs that filleth all in all, Eph. 1. 23. This is the work he hath undertaken to do, and invited all his people to come to him, that they might have Life, and have it more abundantly, he bids them ask and ask again, that their Joy might be full, Joh. 16. 23, 24, 26. This is the Will of God, that Believers ſhould eat their own Bread with Quietneſs, 2 Theſ. 3. 12. And make uſe of this Inheritance for all their Supply and Comfort: Chriſtians, you cannot make too bold with your own, Chriſt and all his Fullneſs is your Intereſt: you may wear out your Welcome with men, and beg too often at fellow-Creatures doors, but you cannot ask too often of free Grace, or take too much of Redemption-treaſures, if you be ſure to refer the Meaſures and time to divine pleaſure. In all your need come to Chriſt for whatever you want, for the Life that now is, and that which is to come; this anſwers the end of the everlaſting Covenant, and the Fathers placing this ſtore in Chriſt, and Chriſt's undertaking the Care, Conduct, and Salvation of all that come to him, and this wonderfully pleaſeth Chriſt, and advanceth his mediatory Glory: this alſo keeps up the credit and Reputation of the ways of God in the World, when Strangers ſee Believers rich fare, and what a Sufficiency is laid up in Chriſt for them, that Chriſt maintains his own poor, that they need not go a begging; this commends that State and Government, where care is taken to prevent wandring p. 421Beggers: Beſides, otherwiſe the Promiſes are uſeleſs if you come not to Chriſt for all your Supplies. Theſe full Breaſts will be injured if you milk them not out, Promiſes are the Bags in which this Treaſure is carried out to believers, which will wax old if you uſe them not. Chriſt gets nothing (Chriſtians) by your Savingneſs this way, the more he lays out upon you, the more he lays up for you.

8 Duty.

Eighthly, Improve your Intereſt in theſe vaſt Treaſures, to the enriching of your own Souls; are there ſuch Riches in Chriſt, and is this Jeſus yours? O then labour to be rich alſo. There are two things which I ſhould preſs you to be rich in, 1. In Grace, 2. In good Works.

Firſt, You that have Intereſt in theſe Treaſures of Chriſt, labour to be rich in Grace, be not content with the Truth of Grace, with little Meaſures of Grace, but ſtrive to abound in Grace, 1 Theſ. 3. 12. For,

Firſt, Grace is the beſt Treaſure, and moſt rationally deſirable for it's ſelf. All other created Beings are conditionally good, ſo far as God ſees them beſt for us, and ſo far as they conduce to the great end of Gods Glory, and our Salvation; but Grace is abſolutely good, becauſe 'tis part of the divine Nature and Image of God, 2 Pet. 1. 4. Which divine Nature he tells us, ver. 5. 6. Lies in Faith, Vertue, Knowledge, Temperance, Patience, Godlineſs, and Charity. 'Tis abſolutely neceſſary to the glorifying of God, and being glorified with God, Heb. 11. 6. Without Faith 'tis impoſſible to pleaſe God, and without Holineſs no man can ſee God, p. 422Heb. 12. 14. Grace is the beſt Treaſure, becauſe the moſt enduring Treaſure, the moſt potent Treaſure, it can procure more than all the World can, Mark 9. 23. All things are poſſible to him that believeth. Indeed created grace cannot, by way of Merit or Purchaſe, procure any thing but by way of Appropriation and Meekneſs, it brings that which all the World cannot: Grace is Gods high way to Mercy and Peace, being under a Promiſe of Peace; Grace and Peace are uſually twins in gracious Souls, 2 Pet. 1. 2. Grace can quiet you under Troubles, ſtrengthen you under Weakneſs, guide you under Darkneſs, cheer you under Sufferings, enrich you under Loſſes, and fill you under Wants; again, Gaace is the pureſt Treaſure, earthly Treaſures are as thoſe Cities Solomon gave to Hiram, a mere Cabal and dirty things, defiling the Souls of thoſe that have them, and uſe not them aright; Grace is the moſt pleaſant Treaſure, it doth not burthen thoſe that have it, as earthly things do with waſting Cares and tormenting Fears. Further, Grace is the beſt Treaſure, in that it will go with the Soul into the other World; all the Riches of this World muſt be left behind, Death puts the Owner and his Intereſt into a winding Sheet; no man's Propriety to theſe out-lives himſelf, the Grave buries all his Relation to theſe things, but Grace never dies, true Holineſs goes with the Soul to glory.

Secondly, Labour to be rich in Grace, becauſe if you have but little grace, you will hardly prove the truth of grace, though the leaſt grace is grace, as a drop of Wat…r is Water, yet a little grace doth not ſo capacitate a Soul to ſee it, 2 Pet. 1. 9. He p. 423that wants this thriving Grace, forgets that he was purged from his old Sins, he cannot remember or make out his ſaving Change, or putting off his old ſtate; little Grace is ever ſceptical, and ſubject to Doubtings, Matth. 14. 31, O thou of little Faith, wherefore didſt thou doubt.

Thirdly, Becauſe little grace will hardly carry a Soul through the Temptations, Duties, and Sufferings of the day we live in; theſe are ſome of the laſt times we are fall'n upon, and the laſt times are perillous times, 2 Tim. 3. 1. This is the Character of theſe times, Abounding Iniquity, and Decay of Love, Matth. 24. 12. And therefore a little Grace will not carry a Soul through ſtrong Corruptions; where Sin abounds, Grace muſt abound much more, or elſe the Soul will looſe ground, Rom. 6. 1. What the Apoſtle ſpeaks there of grace in God, 'tis as true of grace in Saints that muſt abound more than their Sin, or elſe Sin will be too hard for them; Judgment muſt be brought forth to Victory, or elſe the bruiſed Reed will break, Matth. 12. 20. For this end the Apoſtle adviſeth the Epheſians, in his time, which were leſs liable to ſuch Temptations, they ſhould put on the whole Armor of God, and having done all, to ſtand, Eph. 6. 13.

Fourthly, Elſe you cannot anſwer the ends of grace, and all the Coſt of God about you; the deſign of grace in all the means and helps to his people, is to further their growth in grace, and to make them abound to all well-pleaſing before God, Iſa. 5. 2. 4. Joh. 15. 2. Pſal. 92. 13, 14. To whom much is given of them much is required, Luke 12. 48.

p. 424Fifthly, That ſo you may be more like to God, who is rich to all that call upon him, Rom. 10. 12. He is rich in Mercy, he hath abounded in the Riches of grace towards all his People, Eph. 1. 7, 8. Chriſtians ſhould be Epitomies of Chriſt, and Reſemblers of his Excellency, holding forth his Vertues in the World, 1 Pet. 2, 9. There can be no greater glory to a Child of God in this World, than to be like to Chriſt, who is the glory of the Father; but by being rich in Grace, you will much manifeſt the Excellency of Chriſt in the World.

Sixthly, By being rich in grace, you will become more ſerviceable to God and others in your Generation, you will be able to do more work for God than others. Grace is a Talent, and the more Talents you have, the more Incomes hath God from you, Matth. 25. 16, 17. Rich men have larger Capacities to honour God in the World than others have, they can do more, and lay out more for God, and be more ſerviceable for God than others; they can feed the Hungry, and cloath the Naked, and take Out-caſts into their houſes; they can do more to ſupport the intereſt of God, than the poor, and have more Subſtance to honour God with; ſo Souls rich in grace, have larger Abilities to ſerve and honour God with: the more Grace the more acceptably can they ſerve God, Heb. 12. 28. The more ſpiritual Services are the more acceptable to God by Chriſt, 1 Pet. 2. 5. For ſuch the Father chuſeth to ſerve him, who ſerve him in Spirit and Truth, Joh. 4. 23. Pſal. 45. 12. And the Daughter of Tyre ſhall be there with a Gift, even the rich among the People ſhall entreat thy Favour. Tyre was a rich place as well as vitious, and yet, there would God have a p. 425People, which ſhould honour him with their gifts and large expences for him, and the richer the People, the greater will their gifts be; The rich, or richeſt, for 'tis the ſuperlative in the Hebrew, Shall bring Gifts, and entreat thy Favour: noting, that thoſe who are more ſpiritually rich, are more ſerviceable for, and potent with God through Chriſt: theſe can do more with God, as Noah, Daniel, and Job were mentioned above others for their Potency with God, Ezek. 14. 14. And Moſes and Samuel, Jer. 15. 1. As men who had larger faith and grace, and ſo greater Intimacy with God than others, and ſuch as could do more. O Chriſtians, labour after more grace, becauſe hereby you may become more ſerviceable for God and others, you may more prevail with God through Chriſt for Mercies for the Nation, and can be more helpful for others to teach, counſel, and comfort them, and have more Gold, Myrrhe and Frankincenſe in your Treaſures to offer to, and for Chriſt.

Seaventhly, The more rich you are in grace, the more rich you will be in glory; the more grace you improve for God, the more glory ſhall you receive from God, Luke 19. 17. 19. This is the rule of the Lords Procedure in the day of Judgment, he will render to every man according to his work, 2 Cor. 5. 10. Though glorified Souls receive not for their grace, yet they ſhall have according to the Meaſure of their graces, for grace widens the Veſſels of Mercy for glory. The more Liquor the Veſſel hath, the larger it is; ſo the more grace, the larger is that Soul, and the more capable to take in glory, when grace ſhall be turn'd into glory.

Queſt. But ſome may ſay, How may we get more of this ſpiritual Treaſure?

p. 426Anſw. Firſt, Get your Hearts more engaged to it, Deſires are the Souls Wings, that carry it over all difficulties, to it's beloved Object; this is one Character the Apoſtle gives of rich men, 1 Tim. 6. 9. They are ſuch as will be rich: They have an earneſt mind, an ardent Deſire to be rich, 'tis a Will and Purpoſe grounded on Counſel and Conſideration; Chriſtians, this will much further your obtaining theſe riches of grace, if you once get your Hearts reſolved for them.

Secondly, Labour for a holy skill in managing Chriſtianity to the greateſt Advantage; this makes men thrive when they have the Myſtery of their Art, and are their Crafts Maſters, and underſtand the Rules of their Trade; unskillful perſons are not like to thrive whatever their Employment be, Prov. 4. 7, 8. Prov. 3. 13. 14. Prov. 24. 3.

Thirdly, Be diligent in the uſe of all your helps and advantages to Soul-profit, Prov. 10. 4. chap. 13. 4. 2 Pet. 1. 5. Take all Opportunities of waiting at the Pools ſide, Iſa. 55. 1. They that will be rich in the World, take all Opportunities of getting, and ply Markets and Fairs, and Seaſons of Advantage for their Intereſt, and ſo do Souls that thrive in Spirituals, they are much in waiting on God, they loſe no Seaſons that will bring them in ſome Soul-advantage, Prov. 23. 23.

Fourthly, Be ſtill getting in more and more grace from Chriſt, 'tis Chriſt's Treaſures that enriches the Soul, he that will be rich muſt buy tryed gold of Chriſt, Rev. 3. 18. The graces of Chriſt are true gold, they will bear the Fire, and hold out in greateſt Tryals: counterfeit grace will be as reprobate Silver when it comes to melting, it will p. 427be as Hay and Stubble that periſh in the Fire, but true grace will hold in time of Tryal, 1 Pet. 1. 7. In this, Gold differs from all other Mettals in that it loſeth nothing by the Fire, but comes forth the more pure; ſo is the grace of Chriſt, 'tis as tryed Gold, that doth not looſe, but get in the Fire of Affliction and Temptation. Naturaliſts ſay, that Gold is more warm in the night than in the day, ſo true grace cheers the Heart more in the night of Tribulation, than in the day of Proſperity. O Chriſtians! if you will be rich, get in grace from Chriſt, every day, for that is the true Cornucopia, or the Souls plenty, Joh. 1. 16. Of his Fullneſs have we received Grace for Grace. Make ſome new Additions to your graces every day, 2 Pet. 1. 5. What the Heathen ſaid concerning Learning, Nulla dies ſine Linea, Let the Chriſtian ſay concerning Grace, Nulla dies ſine Gratia. This would be a notable way to Soul-proſperity, to be getting from Chriſt ſome more grace in every Approach to him: as are your Receivings from Chriſt, ſo will your Thrivings be; put often the hand of Faith into Chriſts Treaſury, and graſp large Portions of Grace for thy Soul: Faith is the only receiving grace, Joh. 1. 12. To as many as received him, to them gave he Power to become the Sons of God, Joh. 7. 39. Therefore 'tis called the Subſtance of things hoped for, Heb. 11. 1. Faith appropriates to the Believer, the Overtures and Promiſes of grace, and by a ſecret magnetick Vertue derives in from the Fullneſs of grace needed Supplies, Faith dips into the Fountain, and fills the Soul with what it needs.

Fifthly, They that will be rich in grace, muſt be thrifty ſaving Souls, choice of their time, and p. 428careful that they do not waſt their graces, or looſe the things that they have wrought, 2 Joh. ve. 8. So perſons that are thriving in the World, are ſaving of every thing, that nothing be waſte; the ſame Care is needful to ſpiritual Enrichings; Prodigality will ſoon conſume great Eſtates, he that is not ſaving will never be wealthy: Chriſtians, do not conſume your days as a Tale that is told, Pſal. 90. 9. make the moſt of every hour, do your proper work every day; a wiſe and faithful Improvement of time, would tend much to Soul-flouriſhings, Eph. 5. 16. Spend no words in vain: put Time and Talents to the greateſt Advantage: they got moſt for God and themſelves, who were moſt in the Improvement of their Talents; hold faſt alſo the Truths you have received, Rev. 2. 25. That is, keep and retain the Doctrine, preſerve and maintain the practice of thoſe Truths you have received.

Sixthly, Be much in begging grace, be always asking ſome ſpiritual Bleſſing from God, as Caleb's Daughter Achſah, Judg. 1. 15. her Father had given her one Bleſſing, and ſhe asks another, and 'tis ſaid, he gave the upper and the nether Springs; ſo be not content with what you have, but ſtill be craving for more grace: like Princes Favourites who have their Lords Ear, will be often begging, now this place, then that Preferment; ſo Believers be ſuing hard for Grace, ply the Throne of Grace daily, looſe no Opportunity wherein you may further your ſpiritual Intereſt by Supplication; this is Gods appointed way to the obtaining of Mercy, Ezek. 36. 37. Follow your Sutes till you obtain, let your chiefeſt Requeſts be for Grace, and be reſtleſs till p. 429you prevail, like Jacob, who would not let God go till he had bleſt him, Iſa. 62. 7. Give him no reſt, till he eſtabliſh and make Jeruſalem the Praiſe of the Earth. Never leave begging till the Lord Jeſus hath left off giving, and that will not be whilſt he ſits upon the Throne, Eph. 4. 8.

Laſtly, Maintain conſtant, intimate, and univerſal walks with God: He is the moſt thriving Soul that keeps neareſt to God; as that is the fruitfulleſt ground that is neareſt the warm Sun, Iſa. 18. 4. Deut. 33. 14. ſo is it to keep near to God: This was that which exalted Iſrael above all Nations, they were a People near to God, Pſal. 148. 14. This made Enoch ſo ſoon ripe for Heaven, he was one that walkt with God, Gen. 5. 24. Chriſtians, 'tis not your ſitting under God's ſhadow, will make you thrive, till there be a dew on your Souls, Hoſ. 14. 5. 7. Keep much in his preſence, with him is the Fountain of Life, Pſal. 36. 9. Be alſo conſtant in thy walks with God, not by ſits and flaſhes, but drive a ſteady Trade of godlineſs: Let thy whole courſe of Life, both in thy Civil and Religious Duties be as one conſtant Walk with God, Gen. 17. 1. In your Callings, Relation-Duties, in every ſtate, change, and undertaking, keep cloſe to God; this is a notable way to ſpiritual proſperity, Deut. 5. 33. 2 Chro. 17. from verſ. 3. to 7.

Secondly, Improve your Intereſt in Chriſt, towards your inriching in good Works; Labour to be rich towards God, as well as in your own Souls, Luke 12. 21. 1 Timothy, 6. 18. Conſider, Chriſtians, the more you lay out for God, the more are you like to p. 431God, who giveth us richly all good things, 1 Tim. 6. 17. And in being rich towards God, you will inrich your own Souls alſo: for he that ſoweth bountifully, ſhall reap bountifully, 2 Cor. 9. 6. Acts of Mercy and Piety are as good Seed, that ſhall not miſcarry, but ſhall bring forth a ſure crop in glory, Gal. 6. 8, 9.

9. Duty.

Ninthly, Live up to your Treaſure, Walk as becomes ſo high a Dignity and Relation to ſo rich a Jeſus, 2 Theſ. 2. 12. This is but reaſonable, if God hath changed your State, that you ſhould change your Lives; If your Relation be new, then your Converſation ſhould be new alſo, Eph. 5. 8. 'Tis an unſutable thing, if God hath inveſted you with new Priviledges, to retain your old Practices: You were Slaves to Sin and Satan, but the Son hath made you free; how unbecoming a ſtate of Liberty are Bonds and Fetters? Grace hath given you Beauty, and, is it fit you ſhould lye in Aſhes, and wear your Sack-cloth ſtill? Chriſtians, you are arrived to your adult ſtate, and to your manly years, and will you be like Children, and Heirs under age? This is unſutable. How unbecoming is a carnal Heart to a Spiritual State? Works of Darkneſs to the Day-time? Rom. 13. 12, 13. You were poor, worth nothing, ſtript of all, deſtitute, afflicted, and naked; Redemption-Mercy hath inrich'd you, and once more intruſted you with a glorious Treaſure. O, how unmeet is a low Spirit and ſordid Life now! To live on beggatly Elements, to wear filthy Garments, to ſit in the duſt, and wallow in the mire of your Corruptions, this is moſt unworthy alſo of the p. 430Grace by which you are advanced. Hath the Lord advanced you to Dignity and Honour, and will you diſgrace the Throne of his Glory, and walk unbecoming his Highneſs and Majeſty? O Chriſtians, you bring Diſhonour on that King of Glory you are related to, to live like the Subjects of Satan, and Inhabitants of the lower World: you diſgrace his Family, into which you are adopted, to be heterogeneous to it in your Spirit and carriages: you diſparage the Table you are admitted to, and the Fare you live upon, to look ſo ill-favoured and lean in your Souls, as if the Lord Jeſus kept a bad Houſe, and did not allow meat enough to his Children: O Chriſtians! live as becomes your Riches, and glorious ſtate into which Free Grace hath put you. Now, 'tis becoming ſuch a change in your condition;

Firſt, Not to keep your old Company: Perſons advanced to high Honour, uſually caſt off their former and obſcure Companions, and converſe with Perſons ſutable to their Dignity: When David was advanced from the Sheepfold to a Crown, he leaves his fellow Shepherds, and converſes with Nobles: ſo ſhould you, Chriſtians, have no fellowſhip with the unfruitful works of Darkneſs, but rather reprove them, Eph. 5. 11. Ye are now fellow Citizens with the Saints, and of the Houſhold of God, and your Lives ſhould be like thoſe, and your intimate Converſes with them, Pſal. 119. 63. What, a Chriſtian, and yet help on the ungodly in their way, and love them that hate the Lord? ſit with vain Perſons, and maintain Confederacy with Rezin and Remalian's ſon? Iſa. 8. 6. What a Chriſtian, and look ſtrangely p. 432on thy Brethren, and become an Alien to thy Father's Houſe? O how unbecoming is this!

Secondly, Not to wear your old clothes: when Elijah was mounting to a new condition of Honour, he left his Mantle behind him, 2 Kin. 2. 13. When Joſhua was advanced to higher dignity, his filthy Garments were taken off, and he was clothed with change of Rayment, Zach. 3. 4, 5. O Chriſtians! caſt off your filthy garments, your old ſins, by Repentance, put off Pride, and be clothed with Humility, put off Guilt by Repentance, and put on Chriſt by Faith.

Thirdly, Live not on your old fare: When the three Children were brought to Nebuchadnezzar's Family, they were called to leave their old Pulſe and Water, and live on the King's Table, Dan. 1. 5. O Chriſtians! Are you taken from your Kindred and Father's Houſe, and brought into the Family of Chriſt; leave then your old Garlick and Onions, your ſtollen Waters and forbidden Fruit, and feed on the King's Table, eat and drink abundantly of his Proviſions, his fineſt Wheat, and Honey out of the Rock of Ages; feaſt on his Marrow and fat things, the Bread of his Table, his Word and Ordinances, his hidden Manna; let it be your meat and drink to do his Will.

Fourthly, Do not your old work, caſt off the works of Darkneſs, Rom. 13. 12. Leave off your old Trade of Sin; and ſerving your former Luſts in your Ignorance, 1 Pet. 1. 14. ch. 4. 2. but carry on a new Trade of Godlineſs, and Heavenly Converſation, Phil. 1. 27.

Fifthly, Leave your old Language; ſpeak no more the Language of Aſhdod, Neh. 13. 24. Let no p. 433filthy Communication drop from your Lips, nor vain Diſcourſes be found among you, but let your Communications be holy, Eph. 4. 29. Col. 4. 6. Perſons of Honour uſually have their Diſcourſes according to their Greatneſs; not ſo light and familiar, but more grave and ſtately. O Chriſtians! labour you to live ſo, that more gravity and ſeriouſneſs appear in your Language and Carriage.

Laſtly, Drive on new Thoughts and Deſigns: when Perſons are exalted from Obſcurity to Honour, they will not take up ſuch old Thoughts and Projects: So Chriſtians ſhould now have new Imaginations, 2 Cor. 10. 5. Grace ſhould bring into captivity every Thought to the Obedience of Chriſt. Vain thoughts muſt now lodge no more in you, Jer. 4. 14.

10 Duty.

Tenthly, If there be ſuch vaſt Treaſures in Chriſt, then you that are the Friends of Chriſt commend him unto others; ſo did the Spouſe, Cant. 5. 10, &c. ſo will the Bridegroom's Friends ſpeak for their Friend, Joh. 3. 29. compar'd with Pro. 9. 3. Wiſdom ſhould be juſtified of her Children, Matth. 11. 19. O Chriſtians! ſet forth the Praiſes of your Beloved, that others may be taken with him: Do all you can to further the Match between the Lord Jeſus and Sinners: Be adviſing your Neighbours to forſake their evil wayes, and come to Chriſt that they may be ſaved: Be calling upon, and ſtirring up your Chriſtleſs Friends, Relations, Children and Servants, to be looking after Chriſt, that they may be delivered from the wrath to come. You ſhould be publiſhing his Praiſes, and commend him to all the World: O, p. 434be ſpeaking of his Excellency, and the Glory of his Kingdom, Pſal. 145. 11.

11 Duty.

Eleventhly, You that are intereſted in this Rich Chriſt, be exhorted, above all Portions, to get Chriſt to be a Portion to your Children; you know what a Treaſure Chriſt is, you have found him inriching your Souls; when you were as a Syrian, ready to periſh, he came in, and took you up; he comforted you with the Wine of his Conſolation: O, that you would labour to provide this Treaſure for your Children! 'Tis ſtrange to ſee Chriſtians heap up Duſt for their Children, and be ſo careleſs to get Chriſt for them: What if you leave them Houſes and Lands when you are gone, and leave them not Chriſt, what doleful Creatures will they be to all Eternity? Time will conſume your Earthly Treaſures: your Children may out-live their Money and Lands that you may leave them: O, let your chiefeſt Proviſions be for their Souls, do what you can to get Chriſt for them: Some may be poor in the World, and have no Portions to leave them; O, how careful ſhould ſuch be to leave them a Treaſure in the Promiſes, a Portion that will not be ſpent. If you can ſay, as the Martyr, Mr. Saunders told his Wife, when he came to the Stake, he had no Portion to leave her, but a Portion in the Promiſes; and ſurely, if you can leave your Children an Intereſt in Chriſt, you leave them the beſt Portion.

But, you will ſay, How might we do this?

Firſt, Labour to Intereſt them in the Everlaſting Covenant: Get ſound and ſaving Faith your p. 435ſelves, and that will appropriate new Covenant-Mercies to your Seed, I will be a God to thee and to thy Seed, Gen. 17. 7. This is God's uſual way to the Heirs of Promiſe. 'Tis true, Gracious Perſons may have Carnal Children; but this is God's way; Labour to have ſincere Faith your ſelves, and then you will leave Covenant-Promiſes for your children.

Secondly, Get a Treaſure for your Children that will not waſte, by your ſtrong Cries to God for them: Improve the Spirit of Grace and Supplication for them: Pour out ſtrong cries and Tears. Few are like Auſtin's Mother, who did daily pour out Tears for the Converſion of her Son: 'Tis impoſſible (ſaid Ambroſe to her) that a Son of ſo many Prayers can be loſt. May be you pray too coldly for them. O follow God Day and Night, for your Children! O, skrew your Supplications higher! It may be you do not pray ſo fervently, ſo believingly as you ſhould for your Children.

Thirdly, Do all you can to convince them of their undone condition without Chriſt. Don't daub and flatter them with falſe Promiſes; they muſt be born again, or elſe they cannot enter into the Kingdom of God, Joh. 3. 3.

Fourthly, Inſtruct them in the knowledge of Chriſt: Be opening, and commending Chriſt to them: ſhew them the neceſſity of Faith, and what the Grace of Faith is: Watch over their Lives; be ſtrict and ſevere in reproving their Sins, that they may be ſound in the Faith.

Laſtly, Lead a holy Converſation before them, that by your Lives you may win them to Jeſus p. 436Chriſt; O your Pride, Paſſion, Carnallity, Vanity, may ſtumble them. Thus do all you can to get a Portion of upper Springs for your Children.

12 Duty.

Laſtly, you that have an Intereſt in theſe rich and glorious Treaſures of Chriſt, long to be with Chriſt, for then you ſhall partake of all his Riches; Here you have but a little to carry you in the way, you have but in part, but when you come home to him, then you ſhall have according to the meaſure he hath purchaſed for you, you ſhall ſee and know, as you are ſeen and known, 1 Cor. 13. 9, 10, 12. In heaven, there you will have a Treaſure without Meaſure, there you will ſee all his Riches and Glory, and be glorified with his glory, then you will live at the full, you will live upon himſelf, and God will be all in all to your Souls; O Chriſtians! long then to be with Chriſt, there's your Treaſure where your Lord is, your Inheritance is above with the Saints in Light; Chriſt is gone to Heaven, and there are all his Riches: O long then to be fit to go home, to be with Chriſt, that you may partake of all his glory.

And thus have I now come to the further ſide of this great deep, I mean to the Concluſion of this Subject; and O that what hath been opened of this glorious Chriſt, may not be in vain; you have heard much of this Tree of Life, God knows what Fruit hath been gathered: a glorious Treaſure hath been preſented to your View, and offered to you. O ſee what Advantage you have gained, how dreadful will it be, for any that have heard ſo much of this rich Chriſt, to be found poor at laſt? O it will be ſad for any to dye poor in a Loadicean p. 437State, Poor, Blind, and naked, and to be caſt away. O Sinners conſider this, you that have been woo'd and invited to get this choice, tryed Gold, Chriſt hath pleaded with you, to win your Hearts if poſſible; O take heed you dye not without an Intereſt in Jeſus Chriſt, you will hear all thoſe Truths brought over to you again at the Bar of Chriſt: and all the Counſels and Helps you have had to draw your Hearts to Chriſt, will be then as burning Fire in your Bones, and as boyling Lead in your Bowels, if you periſh without Chriſt; Therefore take heed, take heed, that this Chriſt become not a ſtumbling Stone, and a Rock of offence to your Souls. And ſuch as are Believers, mind your Duty which hath been opened to you; and O that theſe Truths might be profitable to all. And the Lord give a Bleſſing to it. Amen.

FINIS.