Heart Treasure, Chapter 19
CHAP. XIX.
A fourth Head of Directions, inſtructing the Chriſtian in bringing forth good things out of this good Treaſure.
THere remains yet another part of this Directorie. How a good Man is to bring forth good things out of the good treaſure of the heart: in the Explication, this hath been largelie inſiſted upon, that a Chriſtian muſt lay out, and make uſe of his treaſure in the great duties of meditation, religious performances, ſpiritual conferences, and in doing, and enduring much for God: no more of them: I ſhal onlie add ſomething of the manner of improving this treaſure, in the fore-mentioned duties.
A Chriſtians treaſure muſt be drawn out—
1. Speedilie.
2. Seaſonablie.
3. Sincerelie.
4. Suitablie.
1. The Chriſtian is to bring forth things new, as wel as old; latelie obtained, as wel as long ſince hoarded: you are to improve truths at the firſt rebound: many good convictions, conceptions, impreſſions are loſt for want of ſpeedie uſe; and many ſouls are undone by neglect and delay: Pro. 12.27. The ſlothful Man roſteth not that which he took in hun…ing, i.e. he lets it lie by, and marre upon his hands, he takes pains to hunt for it, but wil not take pains to roſt it, that meat is beſt, that's freſh and new, and quicklie uſed, 'tis but a follie to keep it til it be old and good for nothing: O how many ſuch ſluggards are there in ſpirituals! how many have I ſeen travel far to hear a Sermon, and be affected under it, yet loſe all before they come home, for want of following it home! many hunt after the meanes of grace, and take abundance of pains to run to Ordinances, (which is to be commended) but alas, make little improvement thereof, to their preſent advantage: their hearts were ful of deſires before, and of delight under the droppings of the Sanctuary, but in a little time, theſe things grow ſtale, and by degrees wear out, for want of a ſudden improvement: the Jews were not to keep any of the Manna, til the morrow, if they did, it ſtank, and Gods people muſt not ſo lay up the Word, as to neglect the preſent uſe thereof, for that wil hinder the Operation thereof; many a choice notion is loſt for want of rubbing it up in a ſpeedie recognition: many a powerful conviction of ſin and duty dies, for want of ſpeedy obſervation and application: the Preacher layes on the Plaiſter, but the wound is not cured, except it be kept on by the ſouls voluntarie conſideration; when bloſſomes are knit, though the flouriſh be gone, yet they are more ſecured from injury, by froſts, and winds, than before, good motions ſpeedilie brought into act, are knit, and have a due conſiſtencie, and ſetled continuance: O Sirs, your work is not done, when publick Ordinances are at an end, you muſt (as the welbred Beraeans) trie by Scripture what you hear, and ſee how it ſuits your caſe; a Man wil trie a pair of Gloves or Shooes, how they fit him, when he firſt receives them, and uſe them afterwards, as he hath occaſion: and wil not Chriſtians honour the Word ſo far? David can do nothing with the Armour that he had not proved, nor can you manage that Word that doth not fit you, therefore you muſt firſt prove, than approve, and then improve truths, as you have occaſion: yea, you muſt take the firſt ſeaſon you can for it, as ſoon as you come home, draw out this treaſure, leaſt a dayes neglect wear it out,1 Cor. 15… and ſo you have heard and believed in vain, as the Apoſtles hearers, who was like him,Jam. …. that lookt his natural face in a Glaſs, and then quite forgets his own Phyſiognomie, and then the Word is as Water ſpilt upon the ground: Remembrance hath in it apprehenſion, repoſition, retention, and production; as a Man takes a ſhaft in his hand, puts it in his quiver, retains it there a ſeaſon, and when he would recreate himſelf, draws it out again, juſt ſo is treaſuring any thing in the memory; the end of laying up is laying out,Heb. 2.… only let not our hearts be as leaking Veſſels to let ſlip what we hear, but let us lay hold on, lay up, and lay out for our own and others good: the beſt help to preſerve, is to improve truths: ſpeedy exerciſe helps to ſpiritual dexterity: Speculation wil never make a Man an Artiſt, a few hours practiſe, wil do more than many dayes contemplation, and ſet on the work betimes, the next opportunity make it appear what you got from God the laſt ſeaſon of grace: let your deeds ſpeak what David in words profeſſeth, Pſal. 119.56. This I had becauſe I kept thy precepts, ſo in ſuch a conflict, let your practiſe and ſucceſs ſay, this I got from God in ſuch a duty, this I had in ſuch an Ordinance, this is by the ſweet help I had in ſuch a performance, methinks I feel the vertue of that repaſt: O what good wil this do you? it wil excite thankfulneſs, ingage you to the like performance, accuſtome you to this divine trade of fetching from God and acting for God: this is the firſt direction, make ſpeedy uſe of ſpiritua profit, draw out the treaſure ſpeedily.
2. Seaſonably,S…nt aliqui quorum fructus q…a nimis properè. minus pr…ſperè oriuntur. Bern. de ſanct. Ben. Ser. 1. All things are beautiful in their ſeaſon, though you muſt draw out of your treaſure ſpeedily, yet not unſeaſonably you muſt not be ſo haſty as to be prepoſterous let your Summer fruits be alſo ripe Grapes: A Chriſtian muſt learn to time all his actions and expreſſions, circumſtances much vary caſes, that may be a duty at one time, that is not ſo at another: Divines lay down this rule in expounding the Commandments. Negatives binde at all times, and to all times. Affirmatives binde at all times, yet not to all times, Brotherly admonition is a Chriſtian duty, yet its not a duty to reprove a Man, when he is drunk, or in a paſſion: Here Chriſtian prudence interpoſeth, and is of ſingular uſe: though David was ful of a treaſure of holy thoughts, yet he knew there was as wel a time to keep ſilence, as a time to ſpeak, therefore he kept his lips with a Bridle, while the wicked were preſent, Pſal. 39.1. David here did not binde himſelf to perpetual ſilence but to a conſtant watch: ſo we muſt conſider, when ſpeaking may do good, and when hurt:Iſal. 50.4 Our Lord Jeſus knew how to ſpeak a word in ſeaſon, and though he was alwaies ful of an heavenlie treaſure,Mat. 27.14 Joh. 11.16 yet ſometimes he anſwered not a word, and waved doing a good work, until he ſaw a fitter ſeaſon; that God might be more glorified, ſouls edified, and his deſigns furthered: ſome Companies at ſome times may not be fit for holie diſcourſes, and we muſt not caſt Pearls before Swine, leſt in ſtead of receiving them,Mat. 7.6. Prov. 8.5. Pſal. 1.3, they rent us, a wiſe Mans heart diſcerneth time, and judgment, ſaith Solomon, and a godlie Man brings forth fruit in due ſeaſon, ſaith David: Prov. 25.11. A word fitlie ſpoken, is like Apples of Gold in pictures of Silver; in Heb. 'tis a word ſpoken upon its wheeles, fit times are wheeles to carry words at greater advantage: there is a nick of time, into which, if a word or work fall, it becomes ſweet and ſucceſsful, and becauſe moſt Men miſs of this, their miſery is great upon them:Amb. Christi offic. … Lib. 1. …ur: Cap. 2, 3 fol. Ambroſe obſerves that very many by ſpeaking, ſcarce any by keeping ſilence fall into ſin,— and quotes the Son of Syrach, ſaying, a wiſe man wil firſt ſpie his opportunity before he opens his mouth— and concludes, let thy words be under the yoke and ballance, i. e. in humility and meaſure, and ſo thy tongue ſhal be ſubject to thy minde: thus he, ſo alſo for ſelf-conference, as wel as diſcourſe with others, you ſhould draw out truths, and preſs them ſeaſonably upon your own conſciences, threatnings, and promiſes, precepts and propheſies. Oh what ſtead may theſe ſtand you in? to check for ſin, or to chear your hearts in the waies of God, to curb or conduct you in your motion, they may come in opportunely, as Abigail to David to prevent a raſh attempt, to rouze up your drouzie or drooping ſpirits, calme your quarrelſome or troubled hearts: how ſeaſonable was Auſtin's, take up and read, putting into his hands a pat and pertinent Scripture, and effecting his ends thereby? Do you awaken your own ſpirits, call to remembrance your experiences and comforts at a dead lift,Pſal. 77. Joh. 14.26. as David did in a like caſe, and the ſpirit of God wil bring truths alſo to your remembrance, in a fit juncture of time; and certainly, in thoſe dubious workings and ambiguous debates, betwixt the carnal and ſpiritual part; ſeaſonable thoughts carry it and caſt the ſcales for God: a ſmal grain may help to preponderate in an equal poiſe; Chriſtians know what this means. O what good hath a ſeaſonable thought done many a ſinking ſoul? On the contrary, unſeaſonable thoughts (though good in their own nature) have much prejudiced and diſtracted the ſoul, as when a Chriſtian is at Prayer, to have a motion to read or meditate, when hearing to confer, &c. See Mr. Cobbet, of Prayer, part 3. chap. 3. pag. 416. how to diſcern them, pag. 423.this is to make religious duties to interfere, Gods Spirit is a Spirit of Order, and this is not a Methodical, or ſeaſonable, bringing forth, or laying out of this Treaſure: All Divines conclude, that thoughts, though about good Objects, if they be impertiment do become vain thoughts, and weaken the worſhip of God: Take heed of thoſe, but nouriſh pertinent thoughts, and make ſeaſonable uſe of this Heart-treaſure: That's the ſecond:
3. Sincerely,Jer. 23. Arbores a…m qu… fructum faciun… ſed non ſuum hypocriae ſunt, cum Simone Syrenzaeo crueem portantes non ſuam: qui religioſa intentione carentes angariantur; & qua non amant, am… re gloriae quam deſiderans, facere compelluntur: Bern. Serm. fol. 1…. be upright in your layings out, my meaning is, make ſhew of no more than indeed you have, profeſs not to have that to which you never attained: take …eed of Hypocriſie, there are many forth-putting Profeſſors, that talk of many things they underſtand not, that brag of many truths, graces, comforts and experiences, which they never felt in their own hearts, like the falſe Prophets, that are ſaid to ſteal the word every one from his neighbour: So, many ſteal Phraſes, Paſſages, and obſervations, that they glean up from other Chriſtians, which they know nothing of, but learn them by rote, and ſpeak them like a Parrot: theſe are juſt like ſome Scholars that pretend to much learning, and acquaintance with many books, which they never ſaw, and though they talk much, yet if they be well-ſounded, are found very ſhallow: Herein appears a great difference betwixt a childe of God, and an hypocrite, the latter cares not how good he makes men believe he is: the former is jealous, leſt others ſhould think too well of him, and is affraid he ſhall fail their expectation: his heart is broken with this one thought, that he is not ſuch a one as Chriſtians account him to be, he hath not ſuch a treaſure as men think he hath: O thinks the poor ſoul, by my Diſcourſes, Prayers, Carriage, I have given occaſion to my dear Friends to imagine that there is more good in me than indeed there is, they ſee the better ſide, but God and my conſcience know much rottenneſſe in theſe garniſhed Tombs: this made Mr. Bradford ſubſcribe his name with the Epithe of a very painted Hypocrite: Nay, this is it that layes many a good ſoul under a temptation, not to appear well to others, leſt his treaſure within him ſhould not anſwer, or bear out his prayers or profeſſions: though that may be a temptation, yet 'tis a good token of ſinceritie, when a good report even of the truth it ſelf, doth promote ſelf-abaſing humilitie: But that I urge to, is uprightneſs in words and works, let your heart and tongue be tied together, rather be good than ſeem good, approve your heart to God, that your praiſe may not be of men, but of God, profeſs to be what you are, and be what you profeſs: be ſure you have that within you, which you pretend unto: Uprightneſs is a good means to Evidence and encreaſe your Treaſure, Pro. 28.10. The upright ſhall have good things in poſſeſſion: Alas Sirs, what will fair words, and a falſe heart advantage you? fine flouriſhes and a ſilthie Inſide will render you odious: groundleſs brags end in woful diſgrace; God knows what you have, and men ſhal know in time: Prov. 29.23. Bur…ing lips and a wicked heart, are like a Po… …heard covered with Silver-droſs: this guilded earth makes a fair ſhew of ſeeming zeal, but a…as, he ſhall be detected, his wickedneſs ſhall be ſhewed before the Congregation, verſ. 26. Some mens Religion is like Pepper, hot in the mouth, but cold in the ſtomach: or like a man in a Feaver, whoſe face and outward parts burn, but his heart ſhakes and quivers for cold: and oh what zeal have ſome in external profeſſion? but alas, want either a principle at all, or at leaſt want that treaſure or meaſure of grace they pretend to;Dr. Hall in Medit. & Vows. cent. 1. pag. 77. Dr. Hall tels of one, that ſaid, it's good to inure the mouth to ſpeak well, for good ſpeech is many times drawn into affection: But, ſaith he, I would fear that ſpeaking well without feeling,Ex duobus imperfectle multo est m…lius babere ruſticitatem ſanctam, quàm eloqueatiā peccatricem: m…gis ven…rand… eſt ſanctae ruſti…as, quam verboſa loquasitas: Soror in Christo dilecta, ſi noſtra intentio eſt ſimple… apud Deum, in judicio ejus nostra operatio tenebroſa non erit: qui caſt… eſſe per j…ſtitiam neſciunt, nequaquam eſſe innocentes per ſimplicitat… poſſant. Dr. Bern. Serm. 56. fol. 1299. were the next way to draw a man to habitual hypocriſie: thus he. But let me earneſtly perſwade all to ſinceritie and ſimplicitie, for as Bernard ſaith, of two imperfect things, its better to have an holy ruſticity, than an offending eloquence,—If our intention be upright to God-wards, our work will not be dark and dangerous in Gods account; but they that are not chaſt by Righteouſneſſe, cannot be innocent by Simplicitie.
4. Draw out of your treaſure ſuitablie that is, not only acting anſwerably to what you have within,Ne promus fit fortior condo: that your layings out be not more than your layings up, which was the laſt Head. But you muſt produce holie Actions, Expreſſions in ſome degree proportionable— unto Gods—
1. Vouch-ſafed Meanes,
2. Appointed Ends:
1. Let your treaſure within, and performances without be ſuitable to your Receits and advantages: where God laies out much, he looks for much, the more pains he takes, the more fruit he expects: You muſt bring forth good fruit, John 15.5, 8.and much fruit that you may glorifie God, and edifie others; wicked men expreſs a prodigious contrarietie to the Lords Tillage, but Godly men ſhould not expreſs any diſparitie betwixt their Receits and returns: Incloſed grounds muſt not be like the barren Wilderneſſe; Gods Garden ſhould be more fruitful than the common Field: Trees of Gods planting and watering, are not to be like the trees of the Forreſt: well-tilled ſouls ſhould abound in fruits of Righteouſneſs: the Scripture compares the Church to a Vineyard, and particular ſouls to Vine-trees that muſt bring forth grapes: Ezek 15.3.and indeed a Vine is good for nothing if it be not fruitful: not ſo much as to make a Pin of, to hang a Veſſel upon: Now let us conſider, if God have not done as much for his Vineyard amongſt us as for that in Iſa. 5. and have not our returns been parallel to theirs? the moſt part have brought forth wild grapes, the beſt have not brought forth full grapes, ripe grapes, at leaſt not ſweet grapes, but legal acts of too too conſtrained obedience: Have not Gods Children often rather acted from a ſpirit of bondage, than of liberty? Well now, God hath a controverſie with his Vine, juſtly may he command the Clouds to rain no more upon it, nay, he wil caſt the wild Vines into eternal fire, and his own own choſen Vines into the fiery Furnace of ſharp affliction: therefore be fruitful, bring forth abundantly, anſwer Gods Call and coſt, as the Heavens hear the Earth in ſending down fructifying ſhowrs, and the Earth hears the Inhabitants in bringing forth abundant fruits, ſo let us bring forth much fruit, hear we the Lords Summons, and eccho back anſwerable fruitfulneſſe to the droppings of the Sanctuary and the ſweet ſhowrs of divine grace: Fructus isti, profectus noſtri,— & noſtros pr… fectus ſuos fructus de putat. Bern. Su… Cant. Serm. 63.the fruits you are to bring forth are thoſe fruits of the Spirit, mentioned in Gal. 5.22. Love, Joy, Peace, long-ſuffering, gentleneſſe, goodneſſe, faith, meekneſſe, temperance, theſe fruits are our proficiency, as Bernard ſpeaks, and God accounts our proficiency to be as his own fruits: that's the former, Anſwer the means.
2. Anſwer Gods deſigned and appointed Ends: that is, Gods glorie, and the edification of your own and others ſouls: Bee not ſelf-ſeeking, but ſelf-denying in all your layings out, elſe 'tis a ſign you are barren, and you loſe your labour; Iſrael is but an empty Vine, if he bring forth fruit to himſelf, Hoſ. 10.1. The Vine of Eſheol will commend the land of Canaan; Cluſters of ripe grapes will glorifie God, the chief Husband-man, and evidence the fatneſſe of the ſoil, even the Courts of our God, Goſpel-Ordinances: God takes himſelf to be glorified by our bringing forth much fruit, Iohn 15.and is it not a bleſſed thing to be an Inſtrument to glorifie God? this was the end of our Creation, of our Redemption, of all the motions and operations of the ſanctifying Spirit; awake therefore to much fruit-bearing, and let Cods glorie be the main thing in your eye and aim: Let the obſervant Chriſtian that takes care of the Vineyard of his own ſoul reap ſome comfort, but let our Salomon (Jeſus Chriſt the Prince of peace) have the thouſand pieces of ſilver, all the glory to himſelf, to whom only it belongs:Pſal. 115.1. A Chriſtian muſt ſpeak the language of his Mother, not unto us, not unto us,Iſa. 42.8. Acts 12.23. but to thy Name be the praiſe, for God will not give his glory to another: Herod was eaten with worms, becauſe he made a fine Oration, and gave not God the glory; it's groſs ſacriledge to aſcribe any thing to our ſelves: let him that glorieth glory in the Lord; If you be called to make a confeſſion of your faith, and to produce your treaſure before Courts, and Judgement-ſeats, ſpeak out, be not affraid of men, or aſhamed of the Goſpel, yet take thoſe two Rules with you, 1 Pet. 3 15. In the middle of the Verſe you have a profeſſion required, in the beginning and the end, there's the diſpoſitions neceſſary. 1. Sanctifie the Lord God in your hearts, there's the Principle and End, ſee that you have grace, and do it to Gods glory. 2. Be ready to give an anſwer with meekneſſe and fear, there's the manner, Chearfulneſs, Humility, without vain-boaſting or oſtentation. Some may ſpeak confidently, and carry it highly, even to ſuffering for a good cauſe, and yet be the Devils Martyrs, by ſeeking to get a repute among men, or to bear up an opinion, or pleaſe a Faction, or gratifie an Humour, or merit ſomething at the hands of God; the end makes or marts the action:Vae portantibus crucem & non ſcquentibus Chriſtum. Bern. Vain-glory ſpoils great Atchievements: yet its a miſerable thing to bear the Croſs, and not to follow Christ. So I may ſay of Prayer, almſgiving, or mortifying acts, or any other excellent waies of laying out of a Treaſure, if they be only to be ſeen of men, the work is as if it were not done, and the doer in danger to be undone. Another ſubordinate end is, our own ſouls good, and the good of others, I do all things, ſaith Paul, for your edification, ſo muſt we. God hath inter-woven his glory and the good of ſouls, ſo nearly that they are both promoted together: You muſt make Gods glory the ultimate end of all your actions and expreſſions in all things natural, as eating, and drinking: Civil, in buying and ſelling, and ſpiritual in praying and confering. Take that notable Text in, 1 Pet 4.10, 11.— As every man hath received the gift, even ſo miniſter the ſame one to another, as good Stewards of the manifold grace of God—that God in all things may be glorified through Jeſus Chriſt to whom be praiſe and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.