Heart Treasure, Chapter 22
CHAP. XXII.
Some Objections anſwered, and the Exhortation urged.
BUt here come in many doubting ſouls with their ſeveral ſad complaints and ſelfpuzzling Objections.
1. Alas, ſaith one, I fear I have no ſuch treaſure as here is deſcribed, for I have a very ignorant head, and therfore an empty heart, theſe treaſures enter in by the door and window of knowledge, but I know nothing yet as I ought to know; I canot conceive aright of one truth, & how I ſhould I then have a treaſure of truths?
I anſwer, 'Tis well thou art complaining; Unſanctified knowledge puffeth up with conceits of imaginary attainments, gracious ſouls are ſenſible of defects and lament their ignorance: David was a Saint wel-treaſured, yet cals himſelf a beaſt; Agur was a wiſe and holy man, yet profeſſeth that hee was more bruitiſh than any man: nay, he ſaith, he had not the underſtanding of a man, Pro. 30.2. 'Tis an hopeful ſign to hear Chriſtians bewail their ignorance, but it doth not become any man to brag of his Knowledge: the loweſt humility is the higheſt attainment: ſelf-denial is a ſign of, and means to ſpiritual Riches: 'tis a ſign thou haſt profited when thou diſcerneſt and bewaileſt thy non-proficiency: Beſides, you muſt know, that you are not to determine of your treaſure of truths, by the number of truths known, but by the manner of your knowing them, and your eſtimation of them; do you value the truth ſo, as to buy the truth at any rate, and to ſell it at no rate? nay, are you not willing to part with your lives rather than truth? Hath not truth had efficacy in your hearts, authority over your conſciences, and prevalency in your converſations? Do you give up your ſelves to the truths you do know? and, walk with God according to light received? if ſo, then you have a treaſure both of truths and graces: 'tis a wonder to conſider how little light, and how much heat Chriſts own Diſciples, and zealous Martyrs have gone ſtraight to Heaven with: I ſpeak not this to ſooth up any in ignorance, or to patronize negligence, but to quiet the poor doubting diſconſolate conſcience, that's affected with a ſenſe of its ignorance.
2. Ah, ſaith another, Is it poſſible that I ſhould have a treaſure of grace that have ſuch a treaſure of ſin; the Lord knows, my heart is even ſtuffed full of corruption, there is ſuch a huge fardel on my back, ſuch a monſtrous body of death, that I much fear whether I have any grace at all in my heart or no, my ſin bears me down like a violent torrent, luſt is predominant, and can grace be prevalent?
I anſwer, I am glad to hear theſe Complaints from thee, it is no new thing for a Paul to cry out of a body of death: living men feel the weight of a burden, but dead men are not hurt: Doſt thou really complain of the power of ſin! then 'tis a Tyrant, not a King in thy heart? Doſt thou ſigh and fight againſt ſin?Deut. 22.25. bleſſe God for that Light to ſee it, and Life to oppoſe it: the forced Damſel cleared her innocency by crying out, ſo doth the vanquiſhed ſoul evidence integrigrity by zealous groans to God; 'tis but a Rape not a compleat Conqueſt, while the ſoul is ſtrugling with its enemy, and gives not up the Fort of the heart: But know this, that a Chriſtian may have a large treaſure of grace in his heart, and yet feel violent workings of luſt, grace may be ſtrong, yet corruption impetuous; God may give it a commiſſion to make violent incurſions upon the wel-furniſhed ſoul, for wiſe and gracious ends: only conſider whether thy prayers be ardent, conteſts vehement, and mournings for it bitter and more than ordinary; if it be thus with thee, thou mayſt have a treaſure for all that, not only a principle of grace, but a large meaſure thereof, for oppoſites illuſtrate one another, and though there be ſtrong luſtings of the fleſh againſt the Spirit, yet if there be alſo proportionable ſtruglings of the Spirit againſt the fleſh, the ſouls condition may be ſafe, and for ought I know, it may be rich in Grace; That's for the ſecond Object.
3. But, ſaith the Chriſtian, you talk much of a treaſure of comforts, but alas I know not what that means, alas comfort is far away; ſurely if I had had any grace I ſhould have had peace, but I have been long under ſadneſs and in many diſconſolate fears, I fear I have no treaſure of grace.
Anſw. Grace and Peace are not inſeparable, they may be diſ-joined, as Scripture and Experience teſtifie, many a gracious ſoul hath been in deep ſorrows, a ſoul may have a Hell within it, and yet at laſt go to Heaven; a Chriſtian may ſail thorow a tempeſtuous Sea to a quiet Haven; Yea, further obſerve, that a Chriſtian may have a treaſure of grace, yet want a treaſure of joy and comfort; the reaſon is, becauſe comfort is an effect of Gods Spirit, which acts arbitrarily, and not by neceſſity, for if the Spirit ſhine not upon the graces of the Spirit in the ſoul, it ſhal have no comfort, though it be full of grace; Now God doth ſometimes ſuſpend the comforting preſence of his Spirit from the beſt of his ſervants for righteous and gracious ends: hence we finde eminent ſervants of God (that feared God above many) complaining of the want of comfort, as Job, and David, and Heman; yea, ſometimes we finde our dear Redeemer (who had a treaſure of grace, and the Spirit above meaſure) complaining of Gods forſaking him, and conſequently of the abſence of joy and comfort: Poor ſoul, do not murmure that God doth not alwayes feed thee with theſe Sweet-meats, which are are the fare of the Upper-Table, and reſerved for an heavenly Banquet: what though thou haſt not always actual poſſeſſion of comfort, yet thou haſt a ſolid Foundation for it: what if thou be not continually dandled on thy Fathers lap, and kiſſed with the kiſſes of his mouth, yet thou art a childe ſtil, and thou canſt not deny but ſometimes he doth viſit thy ſoul with heart-ſolacing conſolations, and thou mighteſt have a treaſure of them if thou couldeſt be ready for them, or rightly improve them.
4. Alas, ſaith the troubled heart, if I knew my ſtate were ſafe, I could be better ſatisfied in the want of comfort, but I have cauſe to cal all into queſtion, I have been ſo barren and unprofitable under meanes of grace, ordinances and providences, I may crie out my leanneſs, my leanneſs, woe unto me, if there had been any real good in my ſoul, it would have been more increaſed under my long-enjoyed helps.
I anſwer, there is never a ſoul under Heaven, but hath ſad cauſe to complain under ordinances and enjoyments; where is the man that can ſtand forth, and ſay he hath gathered in harveſt as much as he might have done? but there is a profiting to grace, and in grace, haſt thou experiences of the former? haſt thou been waſted over by the boat of ordinances into Jeſus Chriſt, unto a ſtate of grace, I hope thou canſt not denie this; wel then, thou haſt attained to the main proficiencie, bleſs God for that, and for a progreſs in grace, examine thy ſelf a little more ſtrictlie, is not Jeſus Chriſt more endeared to thee? do not the things of God reliſh better with thee? doſt thou not more ſcorn the World, and all preferments that it offers to thee? is not thy prevailing purpoſe to cleave to God, notwithſtanding oppoſitions, more fixed and ſetled in thy heart, upon long experience of the waies of God? doſt thou not every day ſee more demonſtrative reaſons to confirm thee in thy choice of this better part? and let me ask thee, whether thou haſt not grown downwards in humilitie, ſelf-denial, hatred of ſin, love to the Saints? though thou canſt not ſay thou haſt grown upwards in joy, faith, heavenly-mindedneſs, and communion with God? do not think thou art above complaint and proficiencie in this life; none have attained to a perfect treaſure in this vally of teares, and ſhadow of death; you wil have cauſe to complain of defects and imperfections, which in your perfect Saviours compleat righteouſneſs, your God wil graciouſlie cover and cure.
5. But, ſaith the poor ſoul, methinks I fall very far ſhort, not onlie of what I might have attained to, but what others (under the ſame enjoyments) have arrived to, I am out-ſtripped by ſuch as ſet out long after me, they that were converted ſome years after me have attained to more treaſures of gifts, graces, and abilities for edification, and I lag behinde, what ſhall I think of my ſelf?
I anſwer, thou haſt cauſe to lament thy non-proficiencie, and bewaile that thou haſt not kept pace with others, there ſhould be an holie emulation amongſt Chriſtians, and a ſtriving which ſhal be richeſt in theſe good things of Heaven; but withal, comparing your ſelves with others, is no good rule, (except it be to ſhame your negligent hearts, and excite diligent endeavours) becauſe ſome have better parts, and may ſooner attaine to higher degrees of knowledge, and ſome God intends to cal out to extraordinarie ſervice or ſuffering, others God deſigns to pluck away ſooner by death, and ſo layes up much in a ſhorter time.— Beſides, though they may ſeem to have a larger treaſure, yet you do not know what they may have to do with it, they may be put to it, and all they have little enough, they may have ſuch corruptions, temptations, afflictions, deſertions, as may exhauſt a great treaſure, poſſiblie they put the beſt ſide out, and you ſee the bright ſide, and not the black ſide of the Cloud; you hear their prayers, diſcourſes, exerciſes amongſt others, but you know not the dolorous griefs, and bitter complaints before the Lord in ſecret; could you lay your eares to their Cloſets, you would over-hear their ſad ſighs for their fulneſs of ſin, emptineſs of grace, and naughty frame of heart; it may be your treaſure is more ſetled, and theirs more floating, and you ſee it when the tide is high; you ſhould take in all before you judge your ſelves by others, and indeed no Man is a competent judge of anothers frame of ſpirit, you may even fall below hypocrites themſelves in ſeeming inlargements.
6. Yea,1 Cor. 12.4, 6. ſaith the ſoul, but I fall below others in real uſefulneſs, if there were a treaſure within,Rom. 12.4. me thinks it would appear more to the glory of God and good of others, but I do no good in my place, I cumber the ground, and bring not forth fruit as others do, that do God a great deal more ſervice, than I do.
I anſwer, the Apoſtle ſaith, there are diverſities of gifts, and operations, ſo alſo, all members have not the ſame office, and conſequentlie not the ſame uſefulneſs, ſome move in an higher ſphear, and ſome in a lower, but if thou be ſet in this heavenlie orbe of the Church, thou haſt ſome influence, there is not a Finger or Toe in this bodie of Chriſt, but 'tis of ſome uſe, and cannot be ſpared, but it wil be lame and defective, not a loop or pin in this Tabernacle of the Church, but as it fils up a room, ſo it bears up ſome weight: the body of Chriſt hath need of thee, nay, there's not the choiceſt members that can ſay to the meaneſt in the Church, I have no need of thee, Paul, though a great Apoſtle, ſtood in need of the prayers of the meaneſt Chriſtian: an Iron Key may ſometimes open that Lock, that a ſilver one cannot effect; there's never a Saint in the World, that knows the good that he doth, nor ſhal it be known to others the uſe he is of, til he be taken away, and then the place ſhal feel a loſs of him, a City, a Country, and Kingdome may be ſpared upon the prayers and uprightneſs of one righteous perſon: Let not more worthy members deſpiſe the ignoble, ſince they cannot be without them, and let not inferiour members envy the more honourable, becauſe God appointeth every one his ſtation, and accepteth the meaneſt members faithful ſervice, a ſweeper of Chimneys may honour God in his place, as wel as a Paſtor of ſouls in his: a plain Chriſtian in a leathern Coat may (if faithful in his ſtation) do God as much ſervice, as a great Doctor in his purple Robes: if thou be ſerious in the work of God, thou mayeſt promote the cauſe of God in thy Family, which may reflect a luſtre to the whole Church.
7. But alas, ſaith the Soul, I am ſo far from encreaſing into a treaſure, that I fear I am on the loſing hand; I am in ſpending, waſting, decreaſing by ſinful practices, what I gain in a Duty or Ordinance, I loſe by an act of ſinning, and have much ado to recover my ſelf, o… this inconſtant, unſtable ſpirit! what ſhal become of me?
I anſwer, the caſe is ſad, and much to be lamented, but ſo it is with the beſt of Gods Children, David ſaith, thou haſt lifted me up, and caſt me down, while we are toſſed upon the fluctuating Waves of the Sea, we muſt expect Mariners motion, Pſal. 107.26.to mount up to Heaven, and go down to the depths, to have rich enjoyments, and ſadder abatements, that we may know both how to want, and how to abound in point of inlargement: ſometimes our hearts are opened, as the heart of Lidia, to receive of that grace which becomes our treaſure, then again our hearts are ſhut up, and we are in danger to ſhut out divine incomes; ſometimes the Sailes of our ſouls are ſpread, to entertain the livelie gueſts of the holy ſpirit, but how often are they contracted, and we then reſiſt the bleſſed motions thereof? lets complain of this, as our ſin and ſhame: but thus it muſt be in this ſublunary ſtate, to diſtinguiſh betwixt this Vale of mutabilitie, and the heavenlie Mount of unchangable felicity: yet take notice, that the ſouls treaſure may be maintained, and even increaſed by this variety of conditions; by ſtanding ſtil, or falling back, he may grow more ſelf-ſuſpicious, penitent, vigilant, and diligent, and make the more haſt after his God, to redeem the time that he hath loſt, and pick up his ſcattered crumbs: when a covetous Man hath waſted any thing; or miſt a good bargain, he wil ſeek to make amends, by future diligence: thus wil the gracious ſoul, ſo that God may improve ſlips, to ſtanding faſter, ſtumblings to a ſpeedy motion forwards, and fals to a greater heedfulneſs and ſenſibleneſs: Haſt thou not found it thus? poor ſoul, haſt thou not been a gainer by thy loſſes? have not theſe ſpiritual Egyptians (of raging corruptions) paid tribute to thy ſoul, to increaſe thy ſpiritual ſtock? have not theſe Gibeonites been hewers of Wood, and drawers of Water, to help thee in the Service of the Sanctuarie? I queſtion not, but thou haſt found theſe bitter Enemies, as occaſions at leaſt to put thee on to watch thy treaſure better;Num. 33.55. the Canaanites were to be to Iſrael, as pricks in their eyes, and thorns in their ſides, juſt ſo are ſins to the Saints, theſe pricks in their eyes, make them …eep more for ſin, and theſe thorns in their …ides, ſpur them more towards the City of …efuge: there are different ſorts of Chriſtians, ſome are ſolid, ſober, and more ſetled in their motion, that keep on a good, eaven pace in …e ways of God, others are more uncertain, ſometimes puſh forwards, and draw back again, yet theſe may be Gods Children, as wel as the former, and ſometimes it is occaſioned by the natural levity, and fickleneſs of their ſpirits, or other cauſes, yet ſtil the almighty Arme of Jehovah is under them, and all his Saints are in his hand, and though theſe unſtable ſouls may not excel, yet they ſhal keep their hold, and every leap they take ſhal ſet them nearer to Heaven, and lead them to that immutable ſtate, where there is fulneſs of joy, and Rivers of pleaſure for ever more.
Thus much for anſwer to ſome Objections: I ſhal now conclude all with a brief and ſerious exhortation, and oh that I could perſwade and prevaile with all to look after their ſhare in the treaſure, ſo largely opened to you, methinks it ſhould be an eaſie thing to perſwade Men to embrace a treaſure, but oh how hard is it to ingage Men to look after a treaſure for their ſouls! I ſee what a wretched thing a carnal heart is, and poor ſouls fight againſt their own intereſt, and forſake their own mercy.
One would think that they, that are poor in the World, would be induced to conſider of ſome treaſure at laſt; I beſeech you, let reaſon be heard, argue rationally, and let your ſouls be working in ſuch thoughts as theſe, God hath caſt my lot to be in a mean eſtate, and I work hard for a bare living, I toile and travel night and day, and I can ſcarce get courſe Cloaths for my back, and food for my ſelf and my Family, I would have got ſomething before-hand, but I ſee it wil not do, Times are hard, Trading dead, I deſpair of growing rich, the world is like a ſhadow, the more I purſue it, the further it flees from me, and have I been purſuing after that which I cannot overtake? and if I ſhould overtake it, can do me no good, may do me much hurt, and in the mean time have I neglected my immortal ſoul, and getting a treaſure in it to make it rich and happy? Theſe ſpiritual goods are the beſt that can be got, and theſe only may be got, and nothing elſe: O my ſoul, ſhal I be poor in this world and poor to all eternity? muſt I live in miſery here, and be in greater torment hereafter, oh why ſhould I be ſuch a perfect beggar? doubly poor, of a poor eſtate and of a poor low degenerate ſpirit? Oh rather let me be poor in ſpirit that I may be an Heir of a Kingdom, a better than this Dung-hil world can afford. If I want bread for my body, Lord evermore give me the bread of Life for my poor ſoul, the garments of Chriſts Righteouſneſſe to cover my nakedneſs, Fine gold that I may be rich, though I be ſeparated from my neighbour let me be united to the Lord, though I be deſpiſed by men, yet let my ſoul be owned by the Lord, although I have not a foot of Land, or houſe of mine own in this world, yet, Oh that I may have a right to Manſions above, and may take poſſeſſion at death of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light: Thus do you that are poor argue the caſe, and reſt not ſatisfied without the true Riches; if you cannot get Earth, make ſure of Heaven, and then you make no bad bargain: keep up this Trade of Religion, when other Trades decay, live above the world, learn to act Faith, put the Bond in ſuit, make a vertue of neceſſity, and if you cannot get left-hand mercies, be ſure of right-hand mercies, and then you are happy for ever.
Let rich men alſo look after a treaſure above, I know its a hard thing to perſwade ſuch as have treaſures on earth, to look after treaſures of Heaven, and in Heaven: it is impoſſible for them that truſt in riches to be ſaved, and moſt men do ſo; Oh how apt are men of great Eſtates to pleaſe and applaud themſelves in their large poſſeſſions, eſpecially after the malicious revilings of the poor, or the awakening convictions of Gods Spirit by ſome heart-ſhaking Boanerges, they go home and thus beſpeak themſelves, what need I regard the vain calumnies of the ſons of Belial, Populus me ſibilat at mihi plaudo, ipſe domi ſimul ac nummos contemplor in arcá, Horat.or the furious invectives of theſe bawling Prieſts, I've need of none, and I fear no man, I am able to live of my ſelf, let every man look to himſelf, its an hard world, and we muſt look to our ſelves, God hath bleſſed me with an eſtate, and I truſt he loves me, and I ſhall do as well as others: Such workings are in rich mens breſts, the God of Heaven knows your ſecret ſelf-flattering thoughts, but they ſhall be found to be vain another day, when you lie upon a death-bed, ready to breath out your deſpairing ſouls, what will money do in the Cheſt without grace in the Heart? what art thou better for hundreds and thouſands a year? what art thou the better for the honourable or worſhipful titles of Lord, Knight, Eſquire or Gentleman? I have heard of a Perſon of quality that cryed out upon his ſick-bed, ten thouſand pounds for a good conſcience, but alas, pardon and Heaven cannot be bought with money, purity and peace of conſcience are at a higher rate, they coſt the precious blood of Jeſus Chriſt, and are not bought but given in Gods way and in Gods time: hee was a Fool that pleaſed himſelf with conceits of filling his ſoul with his full bags and furniſhed houſes, or fruitfull Fields, what are theſe to the immortal ſoul, that is of a ſpiritual nature? No no, Riches profit not in a day of wrath, you cannot ſtop the mouth of conſcience in the pangs of death with a little worldly traſh:Non domus & fundus, non aris acervus & auri, agrote Domine deducunt corpore febres: Horat. try this in leſſer things, and ſee whether money, which anſwereth all things wil fill your hungry bellies, cure the head-ach, or tooth-ach, or remove Feavers, alas it cannot, you know it cannot, how then can Riches ſatisfie, or ſanctifie, or ſave the immortal ſoul? A time is coming when the careleſſe and covetous Worlding would be glad to exchange earth for heaven, and would be willing to caſt all his Rare commodities over Ship-board to ſave his precious Veſſel of his never-dying ſoul, but he that eſteemed the world his God, ſhall have no God to relieve him when hee is leaving the world: He that ſpent his ſtrength and time to compaſſe his worldly ends, ſhal have nothing but his labour for his pains in the upſhot,Job 27.8 what hath he gained, (let him brag of his bargain) when God taketh away his ſoul? Nay, this very treaſure that he hath heaped up ſhal riſe up in judgment againſt him, foreign Heins Exercit. pag. 563.ſo Heinſius reads, James 5.3. as though their Gold and Silver ſhould become a treaſure of tormenting fire to the rich and wretched Miſers: and oh, what an aſtoniſhing conſideration is this, that a covetous man ſhould gather the fuel to that fire that ſhal torment him for ever, and that his beloved Minion the world, with which he hath committed adultery, ſhal be the inſtrument of his torment; yea, ſome think further, that this earth where wicked men have had their Heaven, ſhal be the place of hel-torments after the great day of Judgment: certainly this world which hath bewitched ſenſual ſouls ſhal be burnt with fire, and how juſt is it, that where men have acted their pleaſant Comedy, they ſhould ſuffer this laſt and everlaſting Tragedy? Oh Sirs, think of this betimes, do but in cold blood conſider whether your great Eſtates will ſkreen betwixt Gods flaming wrath and your ſinning ſouls another day: Bethink your ſelves betimes, whether you would have God or the world to ſtand your Friend at Death or Judgment, whether you would have a heart laden with this heavenly treaſure, or a conſcience loaden with guilt and filled with excruciating wormes, whether you would hear that ſad word, Wo unto you that are rich for ye have received your conſolation, or, come my Friends, enter into your Maſters joy: Remember you were fore-warned of theſe things, look about you betimes:
Here I might admoniſh all Ages and Sexes to get their hearts full of this treaſure, you young men begin the world with this ſtock, this alone wil fit you for all callings, places, Relations and Conditions; you are entring the world, and you know not what you may paſſe through betwixt this and the Grave, without this treaſure you are fit for nothing, this wil fit you for any thing: this wil render you well-accompliſht Gentlemen, Merchants, Miniſters; This wil carry you thorough all Companies with credit and profit: it wil be an excellent Guide and Guard in your Journeys; This wil ſeaſon your younger years with gravitie, policie and humilitie,Read … 1.4. c. 2.1. &c. 4.1. yea, read the firſt 9… Chapters in Prov. and ripe… your ſouls for Heaven as you are ripening for the Grave: Oh my Brethren, ſet up with this ſtock, begin in Grace and you ſhal end in Peace, begin with this treaſure, and you ſhal end in everlaſting pleaſures:
And you that are ancient, look after this treaſure, old men are addicted to hoarding, why here's work for you, be hoarding up in your hearts divine Truths, Graces, Comforts, and Experiences, in malice be you children, but in underſtanding be ye men; Give me leave to admoniſh old men, and Fathers, to labour to know him that is from the beginning, 1 Joh. 2.13.you delight much in Antiquity, here's an object for you to contemplate, even the Ancient of Dayes: Oh mind not toys and treaſures, even the beſt of treaſures, let your hoary heads be found in the way of Righteouſneſſe, and hearts filled with theſe Fruits of Righteouſneſs: Alas, ſhal you be full of days and empty of grace? Shall you be drawing to a period of your lives, and continue deſtitute of the end of your lives? Ah Sirs, that you ſhould be taking your leave of the world, and yet have laid … Foundation, made no preparation for a better life, alas what ſhal become of you? the Lord be merciful to you, and lay hands on you and pluck you as brands out of the fire: its a monſtrous ſight to ſee a wicked old man, how unbecoming is it to hear an old man ſwear, to ſe an old man drunk, or unclean, 'tis a prodigious ſight, ſuch are worſe becauſe they ſhould be better, every gray hair which ſhould be a crown of glory, is a teſtimony of ſloth, and monitor of approaching wrath: Ah Sirs, think not much, if at the great Day you be ſet on the left-hand, that have all your daies made choice of left-hand bleſſings: the God of Heaven awaken you to provide for Eternitie, before the flames of hell awake you, when there's no Remedie.
Let all and every one without fail, without dallying or delay, look after this Treaſure; Oh let your ſouls be furniſhed with a ſtore of holy Thoughts, you are alwaies thinking, your minds are active, never idle, alwaies in motion: O get it furniſhed for contemplation, bring ſome work to this Mil-ſtone, elſe as Luther ſaith, it will grinde it ſelf thinner, or as a Lamp that's ſoon extinct without a freſh ſupply of Oile: You can neither diſcourſe profitably in Companie, nor ſpend your time in ſolitarie Retirements without this Treaſure. But I have been too tedious, let not all theſe words be in vain to you, or riſe up in judgment againſt you:
A…w words to thoſe precious ſouls into whoſe boſome the Lord hath dropt this heavenly treaſure; theſe I might urge to bleſſe God for it, live up to it, make much of it, maintain and encreaſe it, and be ſure you do not part with it upon any terms. As to the laſt, I pray you to keep this treaſure, and let it not be in the leaſt impaired, waſted or prejudiced: I tell you its a greater loſſe to loſe one grain of grace than a Mine of gold, or both the Indies, the gaining of the world cannot countervail the loſſe of a ſoul, and if your treaſure be gone, your ſouls are gone: take faſt hold of Inſtruction, let her not go, for ſhe is thy life, Prov. 4.13. Let all go rather than part with your treaſure. Caeſar ſwimming through a River to eſcape his Enemies, carried his Books above Water with his hand, but loſt his Robe, ſo do you: though you ſhould ſwim through a Sea of ſorrows, yet before you keep faſt the Lords depoſitum, make not ſhipwrack of Faith and a good Conſcience, let neither the treaſures nor pleaſures of the world rob or couſen you of this glorious treaſure;Acts and Mon. par. 1. fol. 63. fol. 100. Take two famous inſtances of conſtancie in the Primitive times: the one is of a Souldier, whom the Praetor could not with torments remove from his Chriſtian profeſſion; at laſt he commanded him to be laid in a ſoft bed, in a pleaſant Garden among flouriſhing Lillies and red Roſes, and being left alone a beautiful Harlot came to him, and embracing him wantonly, ſollicited him to luſt, he reſolutely oppoſed, at laſt for very vexation, and to prevent by his pain th… danger of pleaſure, he bit off his Tongue and ſpit it in her Face, as ſhe kiſſed him, and ſo bravely overcame: This Valiant Souldier would not indanger his Treaſure for the enjoyment of a little pleaſure; The other Example is, of one Hormiſda, a great Noblemans Son, who, for Religion was condemned to keep the King of Perſia's Elephants, and to go naked. One day the King looking out, and ſeeing him tanned with the Sun, commanded a Shirt to be put upon him, and to bring him before him, whom the King asked if he would now deny Christ; Hormiſda tore off his Shirt, ſaying, if you think I will deny my faith for a Shirt, have here your gift again: See here a young man ſtript naked of an earthly treaſure, yea, will go ſtark naked, rather than loſe his inward treaſure: go you and do likewiſe, ſay as Job, Chap. 27.5, 6. Till I dye, I will not remove my integrity from me, my righteouſneſſe I hold fast and will not let it go; my heart ſhall not reproach me ſo long as I live: Live upon your ſtock, make uſe of it upon all occaſions, draw forth the ſeeds of grace, bring forth much fruits, improve your treaſure for maintaining conſtant intercourſe with God; Joſephus tels us that there was a tumult raiſed among the Jews, Joſeph. de Bello Jud. lib. 2. ca. 8.becauſe their holy treaſure was waſted upon a Conduit, reaching the ſpace of 300. furlongs, but if you ſpend your treaſure in maintaining wayes of conveyance betwixt God and your hearts, it wil increaſe your treaſure, and keep up peace with God, and peace of conſcience; communion with God wil compoſe all mutinous inſurrections in your own hearts; pay to God the conſtant tribute of duty and obedience, give him the glory of all, that he hath done for you; ſweep the Temple of your hearts, free it from all duſt and filth, prepare a cleanly lodging for this bleſſed gueſt; the holy ſpirit is compared to a Dove, and we know the Dove is a cleanly creature, and leaves its reſidence when it is defiled, ſo wil the ſpirit: be holy in all your conceptions, and in all manner of converſation, learn that bleſſed round, that En…ch took of walking with God, ſolace your ſouls in him, ſcorn any thing that the World can offer, as a temptation to divert your hearts into another Channel, ask the World what it can give, that may be a valuable conſideration, for the loſs of communion with God, make ſuch a challenge, as Saul did in another caſe, can the Son of Jeſſe give you fields and Vineyards? — ſo can the World give me pardon of ſin, peace of conſcience, grace here, and glory hereafter? if it ſay it can, believe it not, it's a vain brag and loud lie, like that of Satan's to Chriſt; if it cannot, (as certainly it cannot) why ſhouldeſt thou leave the ſubſtance, and embrace the ſhadow, oh make not ſo mad, ſo bad a bargain; I ſtand the more upon this, becauſe there is danger, leſt you ſhould be cheated out of your treaſure by the World, as Dalilah beguiled Sampſon, or as the Maid got the Apple out of the Giants hand by fair meanes, which the Champions could not wreſt out: Do not delight in the Creature, leſt it abate your content in God, be not afraid of afflictions that accompany godlineſs, you may get a larger increaſe of your treaſure by trouble, than by any other meanes, as 'tis ſtoried of Tiberius, paſſing by a Croſs that lay upon a Marble-ſtone, and cauſing the Croſs to be digged up, found a large treaſure under the Croſs, ſo may and do, gracious ſouls finde treaſures under their croſſes.
But to draw to an end, the Lord ingage all your hearts to make ſure of this treaſure, and to make much of this treaſure, lock it up in the in-moſt cloſet of your hearts, lay it out in waies of holineſs, as the Lord gives opportunity, raiſe up your hearts heavenwards, improve ſolitarineſs, do all the good you can in your places, ſanctifie the name of God in all things you do or receive, watch over your own ſpirits, be faithful unto death, and he wil give you a Crown of life: I ſhal conclude all with an elegant exhortation of Cyprian: thou only whom the heavenly warfare hath ſealed up in theſe ſpiritual Tents, keep incorrupt, keep ſober this bleſſed Diſcipline with religious vertues, be thou diligent either in praying or reading, ſometimes ſpeak thou to God, ſometimes hear God ſpeak to thee, let him inſtruct thee,Tu tantum quem jam ſpiritualibu… caſtri… caeleſtis militia ſignavit, tene incorruptam, tene ſobriam religioſis virtutibus diſciplinam, ſit tibi vel orati… aſſidu… vel lecti…: nunc cum des …oquere, nunc de…s tecum: ille te praceptis ſuis inſtruat, ille diſpenat: quem ille divitem fe…erit, nem… pauperem faciet: penuria eſſe nulla ja…s poterit, cum ſemel pectus cael…stis ſagina ſaturaverit: Videas plurae in Cyp. Epiſt. Lib. 2. Ep. 2. ad Donatum. diſpoſe of thee by his precepts, whom he hath made rich, let no Man make poor, thou canſt not now be ſubject to any penury, when thy breaſt is ſatiated with variety of all heavenly delicacies; thus he, Bleſſed is the ſoul that hath this bleſſed treaſure, and is mounting upwards to everlaſting pleaſures.
FINIS.