Heart Treasure, Chapter 1
CHAPTER I. The Introduction, containing the occaſion, diviſion, and expoſition of the Text, and Obſervations from it.
OUr Bleſſed Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt (like a skilful Alchymiſt) extracts the pure gold of wholeſome Doctrine, from common objects and occurrences: as from natural water, Joh. 4.10he diſcourſeth of ſpiritual water of life; from common bread, Joh. 6.27he aſcends to ſoul-nouriſhing conferences of his own fleſh and blood, that living bread that came down from Heaven: As he paſſed thorow the Vineyards, Joh. 15.1 Aſſembl. An. in lot.he takes occaſion to ſpeak of the true Vine himſelf, and of thoſe Saints that are really planted into him, and bring forth proportionable fruit: Chriſt could preach an excellent Sermon from any Text: But here he takes an occaſion of uttering precious medicinal Truths, from the poyſonful blaſphemies of the Scribes and Phariſees; diſtinguiſhing the fruit of the lips into good and bad word, which evidence the nature of the root to be either good or bad: The occaſion of the words, is this, when our ſoul-ſaving, and body-healing Redeemer had caſt out a blinde and dumb Devil; that glorious miracle had various effects, upon the poſſeſſed perſon, it wrought ſoundneſs, verſ. 22. upon the people amazement, verſ. 23. upon the Phariſees madneſs and blaſphemy (though that was only accidental) whereby they charge God himſelf with impoſture, verſ. 24. to theſe laſt Chriſt ſpeaks by way of Apology for himſelf, and confutation of their impudent ſlander, his anſwer conſiſts of three members.
1. He refutes the calumny by clear Arguments demonſtrating his Divine Power in the Miracle, Vid. Pareum in cap.from verſ. 25, to verſ. 31.
2. He detects the heinouſneſs of the ſtander, calling it an irremiſſible blaſphemy, to v. 33.
3. He exhorts them to repentance, by a ſevere and ſerious challenge, urging them to conceive more ſoundly and ſoberly of divine works; and to ſpeak more ſpiritually and profitably, ſince they muſt give an account of every idle (much more blaſphemous) expreſſion; from whence there will be drawn ſufficient matter of their condemnation: This exhortation he directs in hypotheſi to the Phariſees, v. 33, 34. in theſi to all, v. 35, 36, 37. to the former parabolically, to the latter properly and doctrinally.
Or our Lord Jeſus ſhews, that thoughts are the firſt-born of the heart, the fountain of expreſſions, words are the eccho of heart-language; much may be in the heart that's not vented with the lips, but theres nothing comes out, but what was firſt within; for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth ſpeaks, verſ. 34. This is illuſtrated by two ſimilitudes, Viz.
1. Of a Tree, verſ. 33.
2. Of a Treaſure, verſ. 35.
There's much ado amongſt Expoſitors, to determine what is meant by Tree; but its clear, by Tree is meant a man or woman, who muſt be good, before they can do good: But the latter reſemblance of a Treaſure, is our preſent ſubject, which is bimembris, or conſiſting of two parts; The
1. Relates to good men.Bonus eſt, non qui talis videtur, ſed qui intus cor habet bonum, h.c. … matitiâ naturali. Spirit. Dei, repurgatum & regeneratum. Par. in locum.
2. Unto bad men.
In both which are
1. Layings up, called a Treaſure.
2. Layings out, expreſſed by bringing forth.
A few words for explication.
A good man] there's good, 1. Abſolutely; ſo there's none good but God, i.e. eſſentially, perfectly, originally, independently. 2. Comparatively, ſo godly men are truly good, i. e. ſincerely, if compared with prophane men, or Hypocrites: It's ſaid of Barnabas, that he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghoſt, and Faith, Act. 11.24. There's alſo good men, as compared with froward, 1 Pet. 2.18. or choice inſtruments, compared with perſons of an inferiour rank, Rom. 5.7. as David was worth ten thouſand of the people: This good man in the Text is to be taken in the former ſenſe, in oppoſition to wicked men.
Good Treaſure] it is a metaphor, foreign. quod in craſtinum reponitur.and alludeth to the Husbandman and Trades-man laying up in ſtore what muſt be uſed in aftertimes; or an Huſwives proviſion laid up for all the year: This croſſeth not Chriſts prohibition, Mat. 6.19. Lay not up for your ſelves treaſures upon earth, for that is in oppoſition, this in ſubordination to the true Treaſure, and Divine Providence, as Joſeph's hoarding Corn was; and its called a good Treaſure in oppoſition to treaſures of wickedneſs, Prov. 10.2.
Of the heart] the heart in man is the firſt mover of the actions of man, even as the firſt mover carrieth all the ſphears of Heaven about with it; ſo doth this little thing in the little world of man, animate all his operations: by heart I underſtand the rational ſoul, with all its faculties of underſtanding, memory, will, and affections, the chief part of man. The Jews compare the heart, Weems his Pourtrait. pag. 26.1. To the Holy of Holies, or Oracle, whence the Lord gives his anſwers. 2. To. Solomon's Throne, as the ſtatelieſt place where the King of Heaven ſits, as his Throne of Reſidence. 3. To the two Tables of Stone in Moſes's hands, in which the Lord writes the Law of Wiſdome: and I may add, 4. The heart of a Chriſtian is the ſtore-houſe of the choiceſt Treaſures, and Cabinet of the moſt precious Jewels.
Bringeth forth] emits or ſends out ſuitable emanations, for his own ſouls comfort, and the ſupply or profit of others: This is a drawing of the Fountain into ſeveral Channels, an educing the habits of grace into various acts, the exerciſe and improvement of what was laid up, a ſtirring up the gift of God, a trading with the talent, required of every Soul that hopes to give a good account at the laſt day.
Good things] there are ſome things good only materially, good civilly, but theſe are good things ſpiritually, both as to matter, manner, and end, pleaſing to God, profitable to man, and comfortable to him that brings them forth; theſe are as ſtreams flowing from the ſpring of true grace in the heart, by the banks and bounds of a divine command to the infinite Ocean of Gods glory.
The ſumme of all is this, every man is, Bona opera non facere bonos, ſed prius oportere bonos eſſe, quam faciamus bona: ſic propriae mala opera non facere malos, ſed malos facere mala.and acts as principles are ſtated in his heart; we judge of the heart by outward acts, but God judgeth of outward acts by the inward frame of the heart: and hence that of Luther is a great truth, that good works do not make good men, but firſt they muſt be made good men, before they can do good works: for habits muſt be before acts; yet good acts make good men better, as evil actions make bad men worſe; for acts ſtrengthen habits, as we ſee by experience.
The Doctrines are theſe:
1. Mens layings out are according to their layings up: That in general.
2. Every ſincere Chriſtian is truly good.
3. Every gracious ſoul hath a good Treaſure.
4. True grace is a Chriſtians Treaſure.
5. A Saints Treaſure is in Heaven, and in his heart.
6. A Treaſure in the heart vents it ſelf in the life.
7. A Treaſure truly good, will ſend forth good things: the heart, ſo far as its ſanctified, and doth act like it ſelf, produceth gracious acts and exerciſes.
But I ſhall comprize all in this one Obſervation.
Doct. That a good Treaſure in the heart, is neceſſary to good expences in the life. No man can do good, except he firſt be good: there muſt be firſt a laying in, before there can be a laying out.
The Dutch have a Proverb, Bonus Servatius facit bonum Bonifacium.That a good ſaver, makes a well-doer; I am ſure 'tis ſo in a ſpiritual ſenſe; he that layes in ſpiritual proviſion, is only fit to lay out in the exerciſes of Religion.
I ſhall but give this one proof for the general, Mat. 13.52.—A Scribe [i. e. a Miniſter] inſtructed unto the Kingdome of Heaven [i.e. prepared to declare the myſteries of the Goſpel] is like an houſholder [or Steward, for ſo Miniſters are called, 1 Cor. 4.1.] which bringeth forth out of his Treaſure things new and old [a plain alluſion to an houſe-keepers old ſtore, which makes a daily ſtanding diſh, and new ſupply from the market upon ſpecial occaſions, Old and New Teſtament-dainties:] This Scripture clearly holds forth, that he had laid up what he now laies out. Joſeph laies up abundance of Corn in the ſeven years of plenty, elſe there could not have been ſupply in time of ſcarcity, Gen. 41.47, 48, 49.
This only for a hint in general, for more clear explication and confirmation of this Truth. I ſhall endeavour to diſcover,
1. What laying up a Treaſure is.
2. What this Treaſure in the Text is.
3. What this laying out implies.
4. Why laying up is thus neceſſary.