The Best Treasure, Chapter 22
CHAP. XXII.
The ſecond and third aſſertions proved: Shewing that thoſe vaſt treaſures of Chriſt are opened in and by the Goſpel, that 'tis the will of God they ſhould be tenderd to the chiefeſt of Sinners.
I Come now to demonſtrate the truth of the ſecond aſſertion, which is this, That thoſe vaſt and hidden Treaſures which are found in Jeſus Chriſt, are opened in and by the Goſpel.
For the proof of which I ſhall demonſtrate theſe three things.
Firſt, That thoſe treaſures of Grace and Glory, which are in and come by Chriſt, can no otherwiſe be known, than by the Goſpel, they are deeps that cannot be fathomed by all the greateſt lengths of mans wiſdom, 1 Cor. 2. 10. The Spirit ſearcheth all things, even the deep things of God: Things that lay deep in his breaſt, which none could know but himſelf, and his own Spirit. By theſe deep things the Apoſtle underſtands the hidden grace of God in Chriſt, with the fruits of it, called ver. 12. The things freely given us of God. Theſe are the Riches of Chriſt, or that come by Chriſt, called, Rom. 11. 33. The depth of the riches both of the wiſdom and knowledge of God: Theſe riches of grace that come by Chriſt are ſo deep, that none can know them except they be revealed: Therefore the wiſdom that makes wiſe to Salvation is called hidden wiſdom, 1 Cor: 2. 7. And Treaſures of wiſdom are ſaid to be hid in Chriſt, called the myſtery of Godlineſs, 1 Tim. 3. 16. foreign, from the Heb. word, Miſtar, or hidden, or ſecret things: Some derive it, foreign, from ſhutting the mouth up, becauſe ſuch things muſt be concealed, or as others think it foreign, Shutting up the ſenſes as well as the mouth, it being a thing hard to be known, ſuch a ſecret is the great Power of Salvation by Chriſt: A religious ſecret (ſaith one) that cannot be known without ſome extraodinary flatus, and ſuch are the riches of Chriſt, hidden things, hid in God, Eph. 3. 9. The fellowſhip of the Myſtery which from the beginning of the World have been hid in God, and therefore cannot be known by all the wiſdom of men without the revelation of the Spirit, Eph. 3. 3. 5. And therefore it was an unſound aſſertion of Mr. John Goodwin: That the Sun and Moon do Preach the Goſpel, ſeeing it cannot be known but by the revelation of the Spirit.
Secondly, Theſe Treaſures of Chriſt are Doctrinally contain'd in the word of the Goſpel, there's the only diſcovery of them Doctrinally, there's no other word can diſcover them, and thus they are ſet forth, and brought to light, 2 Tim. 1. 10. But now is made manifeſt by the appearing of our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, who hath aboliſhed death, and brought life and immortality to light by the Goſpel. There are actually exhibited to the view of Believers, all the myſteries of godlineſs, ſo the Goſpel is called the revelation of the myſtery which is kept ſecret ſince the World began, Rom. 16. 25. The Goſpel is the wiſdom of God that maketh wiſe to Salvation, 2 Tim. 3. 15. There are all things opened neceſſary to Salvation: There are words whereby we may be ſaved, Acts 11. 4. In the word of truth are all the Propheſies of Chriſt, and of thoſe great and glorious things that God would accompliſh upon and by him, Acts 3. 18. In the word are all the promiſes of grace and Glory, all things needful to life and godlineſs, and theſe promiſes are revealed in the word of God: All the promiſes ever God made to the Sons of Men are in the word, and therefore the promiſes are joyned with the Law, and the ſervice of God, the glory and the Covenant, and all thoſe royalties that in Scripture are made over to Believers, Rom. 9. 4. There's all that God hath ſpoken by the Prophets, Luke 24. 25. There's all diſcover'd that ever God Doctrinally revealed of his love to Sinners, and the things that are freely given to them, there's the whole Doctrine of Chriſt concerning his Perſon, Nature, Offices, Works, Excellencies, Promiſes, what he hath done for them, and procured for them; what is laid up in him, and ſhall be laid out by him to all that come to him; there are the openings of his heart, and the ſecrets of his love to them, Eph. 3. 18, 19. Therein the Righteouſneſs of God is revealed from faith to faith, Rom. 1. 17. The deep things of God 1 Cor. 2. 9, 10, 12, 16. Things that eye hath, not ſeen, nor ear heard.
Thirdly, Thoſe great and glorious things contain'd in the Goſpel, are opened by the Spirits Miniſtration in the Goſpel: This is Gods appointed way to diſcover and bring to light thoſe glorious things. Tit. 1. 3. But hath in due time, manifeſted his word through Preaching, which is committed to me according to the Commandement of God our Saviour: This is Gods way to manifeſt the deep things of the Word by Preaching: This he hath appointed as a ſtanding Ordinance in his Church through all ages, that ſome ſhould be ſet apart for this work, to open and to diſcover the glorious ſecrets of the Goſpel, 1 Cor. 2. 12, 13. 2 Cor. 4. 2, 6, 7. To theſe the Lord Jeſus Chriſt reveals his truth, even the myſteries of it by his Spirit, Eph. 3. 5. That they might Preach, and open them to others: This way God is pleaſed to work▪ thus he taught the Eunuch by Philip, Acts 8. 26. and Paul by Ananias, Acts 9. 11. and Cornelius by Peter, Acts 10. 5.
3. Aſſertion. It is the will of God that thoſe great and glorious Treaſures of Chriſt in the Goſpel ſhould be opened and tendred to Sinners, yea to the chiefeſt of Sinners.
This is as certain, as choice a truth, and precious news to ſinners. For the demonſtration of which, I ſhall, 1. Prove foreign by four arguments. 2. The foreign by four reaſons.
Firſt, That it is really true, that the Lord Jeſus Chriſt is willing that all thoſe unſearchable Treaſures of his ſhould be tendred to Sinners, yea the chiefeſt of Sinners.
Firſt, Chriſt's willingneſs to ſhed his blood for Sinners, ſhews he is willing his Treaſures ſhould be opened and tendered to them: He that gives the cauſe, gives the effect, Cauſa Cauſae, eſt Cauſa Cauſati; Chriſts blood is the procuring cauſe of all thoſe Treaſures that are purchaſed for Believers; and that which gives a right to his perſonal riches too, Eph. 1. 7, 11. Now if Chriſt be willing to give his blood for believers to procure thoſe Treaſures, then ſurely he is willing to have them opened and tendered to them, he that wills the means to the end, wills the end too: Should not Chriſt be willing that his riches ſhould be opened and tenderd to Sinners, it would lay a great reflection on his intentions in dying for Sinners, and leave the charge of unfaithfulneſs on truth it ſelf; which how unjuſt it is let all that are rational judge; but it is for ſinners Chriſt hath ſhed his blood, yea for the chiefeſt of ſinners, 1 Tim. 1. 15. Rom. 5. 6. In due time Chriſt dyed for the ungodly: foreign, 'Tis the ſame word the Apoſtle uſeth to expreſs the people before the flood by, 2 Pet. 2. 5. Now what theſe were Moſes tells us, Gen. 6. 5. Ignorance, Prophaneſs, Contempt of God, and the vileſt abominations were committed by thoſe whom Chriſt came to redeem, yet to theſe would he have the Goſpel ſent, and his Treaſures opened and tendred.
Secondly, His appointing and ſending a Miniſtry on purpoſe to Preach the Goſpel to ſinners proves it: This was the firſt thing the Lord Jeſus Chriſt did when he aſcended on high, he gave gifts to Men, that of Apoſtles, Prophets, Evangeliſts, Paſtors, Teachers; and why was this? it was for the work of the Miniſtry, Eph. 4. 10, 11, 12. And what is the work of the Miniſtery? Why to open and Preach Chriſt Crucified to the World, to diſcover reconciliation-mercy, and all the Treaſures of Chriſt concern'd therein, 1 Cor. 5. 18, 19. Joh. 20. 21. As my Father hath ſent me ſo ſend I you: Now if the Lord Jeſus ſets apart a Miniſtery on purpoſe to attend this work, as Acts 6. 4. Then ſurely he is willing Sinners ſhould have thoſe riches opened and tender'd to them.
Thirdly, The choice annointings he gives them to this end, evidenceth his willingneſs the Goſpel ſhould be Preached, and his Treaſures opened to the World; as the Father hath annointed him, and given the Spirit without meaſure to him, ſo hath he annointed his Meſſengers with meaſures of the Spirit for this work, 1 Cor. 12. 7, 11. But the manifeſtation of the Spirit is given to every one to profit withal: That is the gifts of the Spirit by a Metonymy of the effect; and given to every one to whom it is given, for this end to profit withal (ſo Piſcator) ▪ The Apoſtle ſpeaks here of gifted Perſons in the Church of Corinth, whether they were ordinary or extraordinary Teachers, they had all choice gifts imparted to them by the Spirit to that end: All whom Chriſt ſends to Preach the Goſpel have the annointings of his Spirit to fit them for that work, Iſa. 50. 4. The Lord hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I ſhould know how to ſpeak a word in ſeaſon to him that is weary: The Prophet here (ſaith Calvin) doth perſonate all the Miniſters of Chriſt in all ages. And tells us that all thoſe Chriſt ſends to Preach the Goſpel, he doth give ſutable endowments to them for that end; he doth impart his truth to them by his Spirit that they might teach others: This is the Reaſon Chriſt gives the Spirit of his Father, Mat. 10. 20. He makes them teachable, that they might teach others: Hence Cyprian ſaith, Non bonus eſt Doctor qui non eſt docilis: Chriſt reveals thoſe treaſures of his to his Servants that they might open them to others, Mat. 10. 8. Freely ye have received freely give.
Fourthly, The charge he lays upon his Meſſengers, demonſtrates this truth, he doth command them to go and preach the Goſpel to every Creature, Mark. 16. 15. 'Tis an Hyberbolical Synecdoche of the genus, Every Creature put for all Nations, ſaith Piſcator. The word of reconciliation is committed to them as to Ambaſſadours, faithfully to impart it to thoſe they are ſent to: There's a neceſſity laid upon them to preach the Goſpel, and a wo if they do not, 1 Cor. 9. 16. A neceſſity, not of Coaction, but Obligation, and divine command, ſaith Paraeus.
Secondly, The foreign, why Chriſt is ſo willing thoſe Treaſures ſhould be tender'd to Sinners.
Firſt, That ſo he might give the world a proof of the greatneſs of his Love to periſhing Sinners, and of the largeneſs of his bowels to poor mankind, Eph. 3. 9. To make all men ſee what is the Fellowſhip of the myſtery, &c. Now what was the fellowſhip of this myſtery? The Apoſtle tells us, ver. 6. That the Gentiles ſhould be Fellow-heirs, and of the ſame body, and partakers of his promiſe in Chriſt by the Goſpel. This ſets forth the wonderful love of God in Chriſt to fallen man; that God is willing the myſtery of Salvation ſhould be opened to ſuch vile Creatures as the Gentiles were; worſhippers of Idols and Devils, ſuch unclean and filthy Creatures, the chiefeſt of ſinners, Tit. 3. 3. Eph. 2. 2, 3. Such were all before Converſion, they had fellowſhip with Devils, 1 Cor. 10. 20. And this commends the love of God indeed, that he ſhould reveal Jeſus Chriſt to the vileſt ſinners, and tells the world it is by Grace any are ſaved, Eph. 2. 8. and of the riches of mercy, Tit. 3. 5, 6. It lets ſinners know that God is no reſpecter of perſons, he ſaves none for any worth in them, but for his great love in Chriſt, Eph. 3. 19.
Secondly, That the worſt of ſinners might be encouraged to come to Chriſt, and none be exempted from Salvation but thoſe that exclude themſelves, Joh. 7. 37. This is Chriſts deſign thereby to draw ſinners to himſelf by the ſavour of his Oyntments, Joh. 12. 32. O the precious diſcoveries of his excellencies are attractive; the riches of Chriſt, and the Glory of his Kingdom have a wonderful influence to perſwade ſinners to him, Gal. 4. 15. A ſeen and believed bleſſedneſs in the ways of Chriſt, will make the Soul part with all for him, and come on any terms to the enjoyment of it: Terrours contract the Souls affections to God, but mercy and the excellency of Chriſt doth conſtrain them; now Chriſt is willing that every loſt ſinner that ſees and believes in him ſhould be ſaved.
Thirdly, That ſo all his Elect that lye among the periſhing world might thereby be gathered in, Joh. 10. 16. The Election muſt obtain, though the reſt be blinded, Rom. 11. 7. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt cannot loſe one Soul the Father hath given him, they muſt come in firſt or laſt; and for their ſakes, as the evil-days are ſhortned, Math. 24. 22. ſo ſhall the Goſpel-days be continued till Chriſt hath gathered all his Elect into union with himſelf from the four winds, even as many as are ordained to Life: Now there's no ſuch way to fetch in Souls to Chriſt, as by opening thoſe Treaſures.
Laſtly, That they who periſh under the Goſpel might be left without excuſe, Joh. 15. 22. They have nothing to plead againſt damnation, who deſpiſe ſo great Salvation, Heb. 2. 3. And turn their backs on ſuch tendered bleſſedneſs: To leave tryed Gold for Counters, and Treaſures for Trifles, the portion of Saints for the pleaſures of ſin, is utterly inexcuſable; and this is one reaſon of Chriſts opening his Treaſures to the world, 'tis to juſtifie his ſeverity againſt unbelievers, that will not come to him that they may have life; he will have every mouth ſtopped, and the whole world of unbelieving ſinners become guilty before him, Rom. 3. 19. Thus have I diſpatch'd the third Aſſertion.
I now come to make Application of the whole.