Heart Treasure, Chapter 17
CHAP. XVII. How a Chriſtian is to maintain and encreaſe his Treaſure.
THus I have largely handled Directions for obtaining a Treaſure, and particular inſtructions about particular Treaſures to furniſh the poor ſoul. Now 'tis alſo neceſſary to take heed of loſing or diminiſhing this Treaſure,Non minor eſt virtus quam quaerere parta tueri. 'tis a piece of wiſdome to keep as well as get, to maintain as well as obtain a Treaſure: a little negligence loſeth that ſuddenly which had been got with much diligence: Salomon ſaith, there's a time to caſt away stones, and a time to gather ſtones together, but there's no time to caſt away theſe precious Treaſures, you muſt keep what you have and ſtil be gathering more: Now to help you herein, take theſe ten practical Directions:
1. Let not Satan rob or circumvent you: he is that evil One that envies a Saints treaſure, he ſteals away the ſeed of the Word, leſt it become a treaſure of divine Truths; He it is that moſt grudgeth our growth in Grace, the better the ſoul is treaſured, the more aſſaults muſt he ſuffer from the evil one, a Pirate makes moſt at a rich laden Ship, a Thief breaks not into the Beggars Cottage; the Devil lets his ſworn Vaſſals live in peace, but raiſeth an hurry in the Believers heart: This Juggler will transform himſelf into an Angel of light, that like a Famili… he may pick our pockets with more eaſe and leſs ſuſpition; as he foiſts in dangerous Errours under the notion of truth, ſo he allures to damnable ſins under the paintings of Vertue: take heed of both, obſerve it, new Notions may eat out the heart-root of Religion as well as corrupt practices: Satan may rob us of our treaſure by ſubtile inſinuations of new light as well as groſſer temptations to apparent works of darkneſſe: for theſe drink up the marrow of thoſe ſpirits that ſhould be laid out otherwaies: therefore take Pauls advice, refuſe prophane and old wives fables, and exerciſe your ſelves rather to godlineſs, 1 Tim. 4.7. Strivings, though they ſhould be even about Scriptures and the Law, may come to bee unprofitable and vain, Tit. 3.9. Great Triflers are no good treaſurers, and many great Diſputers have argued away much of their Religion; or at leaſt have filled their heads with Notions rather than their hearts with ſaving truths or ſavoury affections: Precious Saints have complained that even neceſſary Diſputes have put their ſpirits out of tune: You have zeal little enough for the vitals of Religion, let none run in by-channels: the Lord help you to prize more a fundamental truth, and a degree of ſaving grace, than a fine Notion or victorie over an Antagoniſt: take heed leſt Satan caſt into you a ſpark of falſe zeal and blow it up to an eager diſpute for an opinion, to divert or excuſe you from medling with the more weighty matters of Chriſtianitie.2 Cor. 2.11. chap. 11.2, 14. O Chriſtians, be not ignorant of Satans various methods to get an advantage againſt you, that he may rob you of your treaſure: you know the old Serpent when he was young out-witted our firſt Parents in their beſt eſtate: now he is grown more cunning by almoſt ſix thouſand yeares experience, and we more fooliſh in this dotage of the world, we are in great danger of undoing: O lets watch and pray that we enter not into temptation, keep out of Satans Road, hold him at ſtaves-end, ſuſpect his wiles, reſiſt his power, that neither his ſeven heads by plotting, nor his ten horns by puſhing, may deprive our ſouls of our precious treaſure.
2. Fill not your hearts with the world: Carnal men have the world ſet in their hearts, and are therefore called,Eccl. 3.11. Pſalm 17.14. the men of this world; that have their portion therein, and that is totally inconſiſtent with this heavenly Treaſure: and the more you admit the world into your hearts, the more you thruſt out divine things: As the ſhining Sun eats out the burning fire, or as the abundance of weeds ſucks up the vertue of the earth that ſhould nouriſh the herbs and fruit-trees, juſt ſo do Riches choak the Word by a wicked encroachment they have upon the heart: the love of the world juſtles out the love of God,Religio p… perit divitias ſed filia devoravit matiem: 1 John 2.15. Love and Royaltie can endure no Corrivals: 'Tis true, Religion begot wealth, but the daughter devoures the mother, as the Proverb hath it, worldly-mindedneſs is directly oppoſite to heavenly treaſures: O let not your hearts be in the world, though your heads and hands be in it: the heart is to be reſerved for God; if Riches be placed in that Cloſet, Chriſt muſt be thruſt into the Stable:Pſal. 62.10. Acts 4.35. if Riches encreaſe ſet not your hearts thereon; in the Apoſtles times, the Saints caſt their money and eſtates at the Apostles feet, thereby ſignifying, ſaith an Ancient, that they were fitter to be trodden upon, than doted upon, or rather to be a ſtep-ſtone to divine things, than a burden on our backs: but the truth is, theſe outward things are too many, rather a ſtumbling block to caſt them down, than a foot-ſtool to lift them up: it is better bee without great Eſtates, then to have them for a ſnare: tremble leſt you bee over-charged with the cares of the world, or be bewitched with the delights here below: Be not like that carnal Cardinal, that preferred his part in Paris to his part in Paradiſe: But ſay, as that noble Commander to a common Souldier, Thou art not Themistocles, take this traſh to thee, for ſo he called and accounted the Perſian ſpoils, of richeſt Jewels and goodlieſt Ornaments: So do thou ſcorn to load thy noble ſoul with ſuch unworthie baggage, caſt out thoſe wares that will ſink the ſhip of your ſouls: One ſtaffe will help in your journey, but a bundle will be burdenſome carriage; a garment fit for the body is nimble and uſeful, but one that's too wide, or with a long train, is in danger to be troubleſome to the party that wears it and others: not that I would have you to caſt away the good mercies of God (though you muſt cast your bread on the waters) but caſt the world out of your hearts; Let not your precious ſouls be like the Serpents belly, joined to the duſt: if you poſſeſs much of the world, let it not poſſeſs you, fear your ſelves in this moſt: How many Demas's are hereby ſhip-wrackt? How many Sampſons have loſt their beſt ſtrength by the embraces of this Dalilah? Alaſs, thouſands have been cheated of their ſpiritual Riches by its Syren Songs, and bewitching charmes: And therefore let our ſouls ſtand at a diſtance from it, make no friendſhip with it, let us more ſuſpect its fawnings, then fear its frowns, a falſe Friend will prejudice us more than an open Foe, let no earthly treaſure take off our ſpirits from an heavenly treaſure, leſt we abate of the divine ſtock that our precious ſouls are furniſht with:
3. Mortifie the corruption of your hearts: caſt out inteſtine enemies, carnal affections. Sin & Grace are like two Scales, as one goeth up, the other goeth down, or like two Buckets, as the one mounts up full, ſo the other falls down empty: the more full the heart is of ſin, the more emptie it is of goodneſſe: Sin is the thief in the Candle that dims our light and comfort, it is as dirt in the channel that ſtops the Current of Grace: Sin is a great Prodigal that waſtes a fair Revenue; Adam by one fall loſt all: Sin is the Canker and Moth that marrs all our enjoyments, it is a Pul-back to high attainments, 'tis the only Make-bait betwixt God and the ſoul,Iſa. 59 2. which hinders communion with God and communications from God: The Devil, the World, and the fleſh are the ſouls mortal and miſchievous enemies, but the fleſh is neareſt and worſt,1 Pet. 2.11. Mr Herl in Treat. of Polit. p. 11. therefore theſe fleſhly luſts are ſaid peculiarly to fight againſt the ſoul: Divines diſtinguiſh of three ſorts of temptations, Aſcendent, Objected, and Injected: Aſcendent temptations are ſuch as fume up from ſome ſtirred humour or lower facultie within us, that borders next upon the ſenſe or affection. Objected, are ſuch as reflect from ſome outward object, baited and ſuited to the Organ: Injected, are ſuch as the Tempter immediately affects the facultie it ſelf with, this laſt proceeds from Satan, the ſecond from the World, but the firſt from our own hearts, which is of all others moſt dangerous:Joh. 14.30. Except the wicked one finde ſomething in us he can have no advantage againſt us; Our baſe hearts entertain little Thieves within, which open the door to Satan without, that comes to ſpoil us of our treaſure: Therefore take heed of this wilie beguiling thing, touch not the forbidden fruit, admit no parly with luſt, commit no ſin, though never ſo ſecretly, a ſecret way of ſpending hath exhauſted large Eſtates; Heart-ſins dallied with, delighted in, will do your ſouls a deadly miſchief: a privie ſtab may let out your Heart-blood: an unſuſpected leak may ſink a well-laden Ship: And therefore let a Chriſtian ſay as good Joſeph, who might have committed filthineſſe with his Miſtreſs ſecretly and ſafely as to man, yet cries out, How ſhall I do this wickedneſſe and ſin againſt God? O Sirs, conſider how unſuitable and incongruous it is for a Veſſel of Mercy to admit iniquitie, it is as if a Cup of gold were filled with mens Excrements: O let not your precious ſouls be filled with the loathſome excrements of ſin, remember your dignity and Dutie, and keep your ſelves from an evil matter: Eph. 5.11. Col. 3.5. 1 Theſ. 4.4. 2 Cor. 7.1.have not any fellowſhip with the unfruitful works of darkneſſe, mortifie earthly members, poſſeſſe your Veſſel in ſanctification and honour, purge out filthineſs of fleſh and ſpirit, and thereby you will not only maintain, but encreaſe your ſouls treaſure.
4. Obſerve the Spirits Pulſes and impulſes: yield to the genuine motions of Gods bleſſed Spirit,Eph. 4.30. grieve it not, leſt it grieve or leave you, its a delicate thing, and will deal with you as you deal with it; Chriſt Jeſus hath left the Holy Ghoſt to ſupply his place, and now the Spirit is Gods great Factor in the World, if it knock at your doors it hath a good bargain for you; O ſlight not ſuch a Chap-man leſt you dally away your market: the Spirit never puts you upon Duty, but it calls you to ſome profit, now its good making Hay when the Sun ſhines, and ſailing when you have wind and tyde to help you: take this advantage leſt if you miſs it, you be left to your own ſtrength, and then what can you do?Rom. 8.26. foreign. the Spirit is that gentle Nurſe, and ſtrengthening Hand that helps the infirmities of the dead or daunted childe of God in Prayer, O refuſe not its aſſiſtance: the Spirit is that holy Fire, 1 Theſ. 5.19.that ſets the ſoul in a flame for God, O do not quench it: This Holy Spirit is a Queen that comes attended with a goodlie train of graces and comforts,Gal. 5.22. Eph. 5.18. called the fruits of the ſpirit; and therefore labour you to be filled with the ſpirit, and then you have this bleſſed treaſure: 'tis true you cannot expect it as Chriſt had it,Joh. 3.34. beyond meaſure, yet your larger meaſure wil be a treaſure, and help you to maintain and increaſe that heavenlie treaſure in the heart: the incomes of the ſpirit promote renewed acts of grace: as the Sea ebbs and flows according to the influence of the heavenlie bodies, ſo doth grace in the heart move, according to the operations of the ſpirit: the more you yield up your ſelves to the guidance of the ſpirit, the more you ſhal feel the aſſiſtance of the ſpirit: this wil be a preſervative from ſin,See Gal. 5.5. ver. 16, 18. a preparative to dutie, an evidence of your ſtate, and an entrance into glorie: yea, then the peace of God aswel as the God of peace, ſhal keep your hearts & minds through Chriſt Ieſus, Phil. 4.7. foreign ſhal keep as with a guard in a Gariſon, i. e. ſhal ſtand centinel for you to prevent the furious aſſaults of your ſpiritual enemies, and be a ſafe convoy to the ſhip of your ſouls againſt Rocks and Sands, Storms and Pirates, til you come to the haven of Heaven: therefore O yee Chriſtians, make much of the ſpirit, maintain familiarity with it, and it ſhal maintain your treaſure, keep up intercourſe with it, and it ſhal keep its intereſt in you, allies and confederates have the ſame friends and foes, and if you have the Holy Ghoſt to take your part, you ſhal be kept by the power of God, through faith unto ſalvation, if received faith cannot keep you, yet ſupporting power is able, never did any fal out of the hands of God; therefore I beſeech you give up your ſelves to the Spirits guidance, and governance, and it ſhal be your guard and defence: that God that preſerves his peoples bones, wil preſerve their ſouls, and he that keepeth the feet of his Saints, wil alſo keep the fruits of his love, in the ſouls of his ſervants: and if you thus do, he that is able to keep you from falling, wil preſent you faultleſs before … preſence of his glory with exceeding joy. Jude 24.
5. Carefully watch your hearts; though God hath undertaken to guard you, yet you are bound to watch your own hearts: that's the command,foreign Prov. 4.23. Keep thy heart with all diligence, in the Hebrew 'tis very ful and emphatical, in or above all keepings, take care of thy heart: thou maiſt and muſt look to other things, but above all, let thy eye be moſt intent upon, and ſtudy be moſt about the frame of thy heart, But why ſo? What great need of induſtrie about the heart? why he tels us, out of it are the iſſues of life, i. e. all our treaſure is there, our greateſt ſtock and ſtore, if that be neglected, our wealth is expoſed to apparent hazard; therefore keep thy heart with all diligence, lock up thy treaſure, and ſet a guard upon it, admit no ſtrangers into this Cloſet, let not other things make an inroad upon thee, or at leaſt a through-fare of thee: there's no keeping a treaſure in a common room, a Man that fears his Purſe in a ſtrange place, hath alwaies an eie upon it, dare not let it go out of his ſight, in a time of great robbing a ſtranger ſuſpects every one, and goeth not forth unarmed: O Sirs, conſider you are ſtrangers in this Earth, many Thieves are abroad, they aim at you, they have plundered many of their treaſures,… and caſt down manie ſtrong men wounded, therefore look about you, keep ſtrict watch, be not found aſleep on the Centinel, as the ten Virgins, or Chriſts own Diſciples, but gird up your loines, watch and be ſober, and if drouzineſs at any time ſeize on you, rub your eies, ſhake off ſloath, and awake out of ſleep, and when anie motions knock at your door; boldlie ask who is there? whence comeſt thou? art thou a Meſſenger ſent from God, or from Satan? art thou for me, or againſt me? what's thy end or errand? make your thoughts ſtand ſtil, and go no further til they have under-gone an impartial trial, whether they have a paſs and commiſſion under the great ſeal of Heaven, and be warranted by the Word, and tend unto the glorie of God, and the ſouls eternal good: and though vain thoughts may ſtep into thy heart, yet ſuffer them not to lodge there, for thy heart is not thine own, thou doſt but keep it for thy Lord and Maſter, there he hath laid up a treaſure, and if anie thing be wanting through thy default, thou canſt not give a good account, but be expoſed unto ſhame, and grief, and loſs: principallie and particularlie watch thy heart when thou art before God in dutie, take heed of diſtractions, diverſions, and excurſions of ſpirit from God!Quando animus dividitur ad multa fit minor ad fingula. theſe wil waſte and weaken thy treaſure, by running out in a wrong Channel, and ſpilling or ſpoiling the ſouls activitie, for the narrow ſhallow ſpirit cannot minde manie things at once; Beſides, wandering thoughts are as a dead flie to cauſe this box of precious ointment to ſtink,Ec…. 10.1. and putrifie; theſe vain cogitations obſtruct the operations of grace, and inſenſiblie ſteal away the affections from God; even duſt may hinder the Clock from going, as wel as dirt; raiſe up your affections Heaven-wards, center and ſettle your hearts upon God, ſay to diſtractions, as Nehemiah to his Enemies, I am doing a great work, and I cannot come down, or as 'tis ſtoried of John Baptiſt, who being asked of his companions to play with them, when he was a Childe, yet anſwered. I am not born for ſport; thus do you ſay to your trifling hearts, it is not fit that I ſhould leave the work of God, to attend upon toies; I muſt minde my buſineſs, or I ſhal go behinde in my ſpiritual trade; that Man is in danger to be on the loſing hand, that ſtands gazing at others, or runs playing at foot-ball on the Market-day, when others are buſie making bargains, and getting money; O Chriſtians you either gain ſomething, or loſe in everie performance, if the heart be not fixt on God, you are on the loſing hand: everie thing is beautiful in its ſeaſon, do what you do with all your might, pray when you pray, work when you work, but let not theſe things interfere; ſet not up anie Idols in your hearts, drive away that which may interpoſe betwixt God and thy ſoul, as Abraham drave away the Fowles that ſate upon the Carcaſſses:Lightfoots Miſcell. page 26. the Jewiſh Rabbins ſay, that if a Serpent bite a Man by the heel, while he is at his Devotions, he muſt not ſtop, nor ſtoop to ſhake her off: and Heathens have recorded inſtances of ſome that have rather ſuffered their Armes or Legs to be burnt, with a Coal from the Altar, than move whileſt ſacrificing: and do not Chriſtians bluſh upon conſideration of their ſlight occaſions of diverſion from God in dutie: O learn from hence to be more inſtant and intent in worſhiping God, whereby your treaſure wil be maintained and promoted: That's the fifth.
6. Be moſt jealous after the ſweeteſt enlargements: there's greateſt danger after you have been with God, and loaded your ſouls with choiceſt treaſures of refreſhing incomes: I have obſerved almoſt a ſcore of Scripture-inſtances of Saints ſaddeſt fals, ſuddenlie after Gods doing ſome ſignal thing for them, or their doing ſome notable thing for God: and I appeal to experienced ſouls, if they have not ſuſtained ſaddeſt ſhakings and loſſes, after the ſweeteſt gains: dear Years uſuallie come after great plentie, a great ſpending follows a time of gaining, a long journey after a good bait, and a ſharp Winter after a pleaſant Summer; God in wiſdome uſuallie lets Satan looſe, upon ſuch as he hath armed to the combate: Paul muſt have Satans Meſſenger to buffet him after abundant revelations; Peter acts Satans part in diſſwading Chriſt from ſuffering, after he had acted an Angels part in acknowledging him for the Meſſias: the French often got that again by craft, that the Engliſh had obtained by Proweſs: and we know in all Wars, ſupine negligence hath undone many an Armie, after famous victories: this Pugna Oſ…ulana (as Hiſtorians call it) is when the conquered gathered ſtrength, and ſo returned upon the Conquerors, when they were dividing the ſpoils: juſt thus doth Satan with God's Children, when the ſoul hath been with God, and got its Veſſel wel fraught with ſpiritual riches, then it's in greateſt danger of Pirates: then Satan doth beſtir himſelf moſt, his malice and policy takes that as the fitteſt ſeaſon to foile and ſpoile the wel-laden ſoul: and then the ſoul is moſt apt to grow ſecure and carnallie confident, and ſo gives Satan greateſt advantage; as a man that hath run faſt, or workt hard, ſits down and cools ſuddenlie, after much ſweating doth thereby endanger his health, and life too, by a dangerous ſurfeit: ſo when the heart hath been ſweetlie warmed with the love of God, and is powerfullie chaffed in an holie dutie, it's then moſt in danger of a ſpiritual Ague, a chil fit of deadneſs; for ſuch an one bleſſeth himſelf, and thinks now he may ſit ſtil, and take his eaſe, and then comes a fall: this is the believers round, this is his wheeling condition in the World: Peter confeſſeth Chriſt graciouſly, then magnifies himſelf too confidentlie, then denies his Maſter ſhamefullie, and at laſt goeth out, and weeps bitterly, and ſo was kindly received by his loving Maſter: this, this is the Chriſtians round, ebbing and flowing ſtate, up-hil and down-hil condition in this howling Wilderneſs: But how ſad is it, that a Chriſtian ſhould ſo ſoon forget his inlargements? and ſo ſoon return into follie, after his heart is broken,Pſal. and peace is ſpoken to him? O why ſhould the ſoul ſo quicklie turn out of the way,Exod. 32.… wherein ſo latelie it had ſuch encouragements? why ſhould we give Satan ſuch occaſion to bid defiance to the God of Heaven, that his Servants wil not be hired to continue with him, for all his preſent rewards, and promiſes of future happineſs? Ah ſirs, is there not much reward in keeping Gods Commandments? is there not more pleaſure in holineſs, than any ſin? why ſhould you think to eke out your ſpiritual delights with ſenſual pleaſures? think ſeriouſly of it, be afraid to ſtain your milk-white ſouls, that are newly waſhed in the blood of the Lamb, by wallowing in the mud of ſin: be aſhamed to diſhonour God, torment your ſelves, gratifie your grand Enemie, and loſe that in an inſtant, that was ſo hardlie obtained: Be not high minded, but fear, be jealous over your ſelves with godlie jealouſie, rejoice with trembling, caſt not off fear, nor reſtrain prayer before God, keep conſcience tender, eies open and hearts reſolved for God: pray over David's prayer for the continued ſettlement of thoſe affectionate impreſſions upon your own hearts, in 1 Chron. 29.18. For alas, the beſt Man on Earth, is no more than the Lord makes him hourlie, we are like a ſtaff, that muſt fall, if the hand be removed, or a ſtone that deſcends, if not carried or caſt upwards,Nos nihil ſumus, Christus ſolus eſt omnia, qui ſi avertat faciem ſuam nos perimus & Satanas triumphat, etiamſi aut Petri aut Pauli ſimus: ſicut deo ſacrificium eſt ſpiritus contribulatus, ita haud dubiè Diaboli ſacrificium ſpiritus praefractus & ſecurus: Luth. Tom. 1. Lat. fol. 522. if we were as good as Paul or Peter, we ſhould fall foullie, without ſupporting grace: therefore be jealous of your ſelves, after inlargements, and take heed, leſt by ſecuritie, you become a ſacrifice to the Devil; as Luther ſpeaks.