The Best Treasure, Title page – To the reader
THE BEST TREASURE, Or, THE WAY to be Truly Rich.
BEING A Diſcourſe on EPHES. 3. 8.
Wherein is opened and commended to Saints and Sinners the Perſonal and Purchaſed Riches of Chriſt, as the beſt Treaſure, to be purſu'd, and enſur'd by all that would be happy here and hereafter.
By Bartholomew Aſhwood, Late Miniſter of the Goſpel; Author of The Heavenly Trade.
Riches and Honour are with me, yea, durable Riches and Righteouſneſs. Prov. 8. 18.
For ye know the Grace of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that though he was Rich, yet for your ſakes he became Poor; that ye through his Poverty might be Rich. 2 Cor. 8. 9.
In Chriſto igitur ſitae ſunt omnes noſtrae Divitiae.
In Chriſto ſita ſpes noſtrae gloriae. Daven.
LONDON, Printed for William Marſhal, at the Bible in Newgate-Street, at the corner of Ivy Lane. 1681.
TO THE READER.
THE Wiſdom and Grace of God in Chriſt Jeſus, are frequently in the Scripture expreſſed by the name of Riches and Treaſures. Theſe it is the duty of Believers in all Ages, diligently to ſearch after, to enquire into and poſſeſs for themſelves. And it may be, more Diligence or with more Succeſs, as unto the doctrinal Revelation of them, hath not been uſed in this Enquiry in any Age, than in that wherein we live. But ſtill they continue Unſearchable, though not abſolutely as unto their Truth, Reality and Subſtance, or ſuch a poſſeſſion of them as may enrich us unto a Meetneſs for the Inheritance of the Saints in Light; but as unto their unmeaſurable Dimenſions, their Breadth, and Length, and Depth, and Height in Degrees of Fullneſs. Wherefore, after the utmoſt and moſt diligent ſearch made into theſe things by the beſt and wiſeſt of the Sons of men, there is ſtill and ever will be, new work for the Church whilſt it is in this world, to enquire farther after and into theſe Treaſures. Nothing but the ſight of Chriſt himſelf in Glory, can give us a full comprehenſion of them. Whilſt we are here below, no man can exerciſe his ſpiritual Wiſdom and Faith, about a more noble, a more uſeful, and beneficial object. They do beſt for themſelves who are moſt converſant herein, and will be ſound to be the moſt ſpiritual and thriving Chriſtians. And therefore thoſe who are not only wiſe for themſelves herein, but do moreover communicate unto others the knowledge that they have obtained of theſe unſearchable Treaſures, and their inſight into them, that they alſo may be made Partakers of them, do deſerve well in an eminent manner of all that do believe. Among theſe, the reverend Author of the enſuing Diſcourſe (if I miſtake not) doth deſerve our Praiſe and our Thanks to God for him and his Labours. For as he hath given Evidence, that he was himſelf in a good meaſure, admitted into the enjoyment of theſe unſearchable Riches; ſo he hath with great skill and ſpiritual wiſdom, unfolded and laid them open unto the view of others. And this he hath done ſo briefly, plainly, and practically, that the moſt learned will find nothing in his Diſcourſe to be deſpiſed, and the generality of Believers, whoſe Edification he deſigned, will meet with that which will be to their Ʋſe and Advantage. The times alſo wherein we live, do render this and diſcourſes of the like Nature exceeding ſeaſonable. For the Ʋncertainty of the continuance of all other Riches, ſhould ſtir us up to look with diligence after an indefeaſible Intereſt in the certain and unſearchable Riches of Chriſt. For as theſe alone are ſufficient for us in every Condition, ſo we know not but that e're long, they alone will be left unto us; bleſſed are all they who are poſſeſſed of them. Beſides, the Oppoſition that hath been made of late by ſome unto theſe and the like Myſteries of the Goſpel, doth give a value unto a ſober Teſtimony given unto them. Of this Nature is the enſuing Diſcourſe, which that it may be uſeful to the Reader, unto all the ends whereunto it was deſigned by it's worthy Author, ſhall be the Prayer of his Servant in the work of the Goſpel.
John Owen.
THE BEST TREASURE;
From EPHESIANS 3. 8. Ʋnto me who am leſs than the leaſt of all Saints is this grace given, that I ſhould preach among the Gentiles the unſearchable riches of Chriſt.