Heart Treasure, Chapter 4
CHAP. IV.
How the Treaſure of holy Thoughts thus laid in, is to be laid out.
HItherto of the laying up of a Treaſure of good Thoughts by the acceſſion of Truths, Graces, Experiences and Comforts, the third head propounded, is how this Treaſure is expended, brought forth, and improved, for that treaſure is (in a ſort) uſeleſs, that is not made uſe of. Now this Treaſure is exerted four waies, viz.
| By the | 1. Heart | in | Meditating. | 2. Lips | Speaking. | 3. Hands | Doing. | 4. Back | Enduring. |
1. By the heart in Divine Soliloquies, and heavenly Meditations, in warming Notions and elevating Motions, theſe keep the Chriſtian good company, ſo that hee is never leſs alone than when alone; As a very Heathen could ſay: Nunquam minus ſo lus, quam cum ſolus.Scripture-Truths are ſweet and ſatisfying Companions in all conditions, places, ſtations; When thou goeſt, it ſhall lead thee; when thou ſleepeſt, it ſhall keep thee; and when thou awakeſt, it ſhall talk with thee, Prov. 6.22. And what can we deſire more than a Guide in our way, a Guard in our beds, and a ſweet Companion in our ſolitudes, and ſerious retirements? Such are Divine Truths. A Chriſtian may live upon this Treaſure in a Wilderneſs, in Priſon, [etiam in Inferne] even in Hell it ſelf (ſaith Luther.) Gods Statutes were Davids Songs in the houſe of his Pilgrimage; Pſal. 119.54.Iſaac went out into the fields for Recreation, and took his treaſure along with him, getting a ſolitary and ſavoury repaſt, of Meditation, Gen. 24.63. When a man is ſhut out from Ordinances, his ſoul may bee ſatisfied with Marrow and Fatneſs, Pſal. 63.5, 6.when it meditates of God in the night-watches: Yea, when dull or diſcouraging thoughts diſcompoſe the ſpirit: This treaſure helps to an holy ſpell to raiſe the ſpirit of the Believer, Pſal. 39.3 Pſal. 42.5and drive away the evil ſpirit of deadneſs, and diſtraction. Meditation is a kinde of deliberate Extaſie; The harmonious melody of the ſouls faculties within it ſelf by a mutual and muſical conſort; it is the ſouls ſelf-conference heard only by it ſelf: It is a fetching up meat formerly taken down, and diffuſing it into the ſeveral Veins and Arteries of the ſoul; Meditation (in a word) is an holy concoction and digeſtion of Divine Truths, which fattens and ripens the ſoul for Heaven. O the raviſhing nature of a cloſe and fixed Meditation. 'Tisa God-injoying, and ſelf-profiting exerciſe; the devout ſoul, that's thus furniſh'd with a Treaſure, can expatiate upon all things, and like the laborious Bee, fetch the honey of ſome comfort out of every object and ſubject: When Grace is in the heart, knowledge in the head, and Truths in the memory; the Chriſtian through Divine Aſſiſtance will make good work of every condition and diſpenſation: Pſal. 1.2.'Tis both the character and the honour of a Chriſtian to meditate of Gods Law day and night; he that talks much with his own heart by meditation, and takes frequent turns in Paradiſe by contemplation; doth far tranſcend the rate and pace of ordinary Chriſtians: Dr. Hall Solil. 3. p. 8, 9.For (ſaith a great Divine) commonly we are transformed into the diſpoſitions and manners of thoſe, whoſe company we frequent. And if we keep company with an holy God, by-meditation, wee ſhall be more exactly holy in all manner of Converſation.
2. This Treaſure of the Heart vents it ſelf by the Lips in heavenly Communications; and that two waies,
1. Conferences, diſcourſing with Men.
2. Performances, diſcourſing with God.
1. A treaſured ſoul doth diſcourſe profitably with men: This, I think, is the chief deſign of this Text; a bringing forth good things in talking to mens Edification. A gracious heart freely pours out holy Expreſſions; Salomon ſaith, Prov. 16.23.the Heart of the Wiſe teacheth his Mouth: That inward ſpring feeds theſe ſweet ſtreams; and tipps the tongue with Divine Rhetorick. So Cant. 4.11. Thy Lips, O my Spouſe, drop as the Hony-comb, Hony and Milk are under thy Tongue; not like vain-glorious empty Scholars, or conceited formal Profeſſors, that have got ſome ſcraps of confuſed Notions, then fet open the Pack, and expoſe all to open view, but are quickly drawn dry: No, no, theſe well-furniſht ſouls have an overflowing treaſure of holy Matter, to produce upon occaſion, and can ſpeak a word in ſeaſon upon any ſubject, to any ſoul. 'Tis ſaid of Plato and Ambroſe, that Bees ſwarmed in their Cradles, as preſages of their future Eloquence: So the Honey-comb of Scripture-Truths drops at the Chriſtians tongues end; his ſpeech is ſeaſoned with ſalt, Col. 4.6. Eph. 4.29becauſe his heart is ſeaſoned with Grace; his diſcourſes (like Hony) at once both purge and pleaſe the Sanctified Auditor: Prov. 16.24.When the well-guided tongue is an Interpreter of a cleanſed heart, 'tis food and phyſick to him that improves it: For the tongue of the Wiſe is health, Prov. 12.18. The ſame word in the Heb. foreign Joſh. 7.21. Lingua auri.that ſignifies tongue, is alſo uſed (joyned with another word) for a wedge of Gold: The truth is, a Treaſured Heart findes a precious golden Tongue; and nothing more cordial to the fainting heart, than the fruit of thoſe choice Lips.
2. This Treaſure is exerciſed in Religious Dutys, and Holy Performances: The root of Grace in the heart, Heb. 13.15. Zech. 12.10.brings forth theſe Fruits of the Lips in Prayer and Praiſe. The ſpirit of Prayer fumes up to Heaven this Divine Incenſe: Such a ſoul needs not to be prompted by men, that hath this lively Liturgy in his heart; Rom. 8.26the Spirit can help both to affections and expreſſions. A treaſured ſoul hath a ſtock of prayers, as an able Miniſter hath a ſtock for Sermons (though he may be without a ſtock of written notes;) I mean, the body of Divinity in his head; which makes a ready Scribe: The more treaſure a ſoul hath within, the more ready will it bee to every good work; yea, and the more raiſed to God in the work: Such a one is help'd very much againſt Diſtractions, the great complaint of good ſouls. It is a notable expreſſion of a good Authour; Cobbet of… prayer.(ſaith he) He that hath ſtore of Gold and Silver in his pocket, and but a few braſſe Farthings, will more readily upon every draught, come out with Gold and Silver, than with braſſe Farthings. So he whoſe heart is ſtocked with holy thoughts, will not finde carnal cogitations ſo rife and frequent. If the heart have indited a good matter, Pſal. 45.1 Col. 3.16 Eph. 5.19the tongue will be as the pen of a ready Writer; If the heart be filled with Grace, it will make melody to the Lord, and muſick to Good men. A treaſured Soul is ready to trade with God in Duty. Yet take this Caution: A true Chriſtian having a large meaſure of habitual Grace, is not alwaies in an equal actual capacity for Duty: David's heart may need tuning as wel as his Harp. The key of this treaſure may be loſt or ruſted: So that the treaſure of that man after Gods own heart, was lock'd up in great meaſure, for the ſpace of nine months, til God ſent the key by Nathan to open the Sluce of Repentance, and draw out the Seeds of Grace.
3. The Treaſure in the heart is alſo drawn out with the hands, in the works of piety towards God, charity to men, and ſobriety with reſpect to our ſelves: So the Apoſtle diſtributeth good works, Tit. 2.12. 'Tis not enough for the ſoul to have the Axe laid to the root of the tree, in ſound Conviction and Goſpel-Humiliation, Math. 3.8but he is to bring forth Fruits meet for ſuch Repentance, Rom. 10.10. Gal. 5.6.in a Goſpel-Converſation; we muſt not onelyonly believe with the heart, Gal. 5.6.and confeſs with the mouth; but Faith muſt work by Love; upwards to God, by the Obedience of Faith; inwards to the Heart, by purifying it; and downwards to men, by doing good unto all: But eſpecially to the houſhold of Faith. Here is a large field of matter for my pen, and the Chriſtians hand; but the furniſhed Chriſtian is univerſal in Obedience, baulks not the hardeſt and moſt hazardous Duties; will not ſerve God with that which coſts him nothing: And this is a grand diſcriminating note betwixt a treaſured Saint, and a treaſureleſs Hypocrite: The carnal perſon loves a cheap Religion, and is loath to bee at any coſt or pains for God, in a way of commanded Duty; but to a Childe of God the more ſpiritual a Duty is, and the more oppoſite 'tis to carnal eaſe and profit, the more freely doth the ſoul cloſe with it: He is willing to cut off a right hand of a beloved Luſt, pray for enemies, forgive wrongs, give to the poor; as knowing that all theſe (yea, Jam. 1.27even the laſt) are eſſential parts of our religion; therefore when the heart is full of grace the hands Dorcas-like, Phil. 1.11.wil be full of good works; which are called fruits of righteouſneſs. Col. 1.10'Tis the Chriſtians duty and dignity to be fruitful in every good work; which cannot proceed from any other root than this Hearttreaſure. A willing heart wil finde a liberal hand to relieve the poor;… the Merchandiſe of penitent-Tyre is treaſured up in the bellys, Iſa. 23.18. ch. 32.7, 8.and upon the backs of Gods holy ones: This liberal ſoul deviſeth liberal things, and wil not make uſe of carnal reaſonings; as danger of poverty unworthineſs of the … times, and the … the inſtruments …, but the …ugeneſs of a … treaſure wil… make … carefully to …, and objects and occaſions of charity … ca…es, … power, … by the freeneſs of his heart, enhanceth the Mite into a pound in true worth, Of this ſubject of Alms-giving, See morning Exerciſe at Cripple-Gate. Serm. 11. pag. 240 to p. 278.and Gods account: Thus the readineſs of the heart compenſates the weakneſs of the hand.
But I muſt fixe bounds to this diſcourſe; Yet a treaſured Saint hath no ſtint of deſires and endeavours to be acting for God, and the good-will of his heart adds new vigour to his fainting hand. Naturaliſts obſerve, that when the heart more inclineth to the right ſide, the ſpirits are more lively and apt for Contemplation and Action; Eccle. 10.2hence that of Salomons, A Wiſe-mans heart is at his right hand: I am ſure when a Chriſtians heart boweth Godwards, his hand is full of activity in the ways of God, and works of godlineſs; When the ſoul is filled with Grace, the hand is fitted for acts of Religion.
4. This inward Heart-Treaſure helps the back and ſhoulders to bear the Chriſtians burthens: The time of affliction is a ſpending time; Rom. 5.3.if there be any Grace within, tribulation wil draw it out. Hence it is ſaid to work patience; not that it creates what was not in the ſoul before; but educeth and evidenceth that which before lay hid in the heart: The fiery Furnace wil prove and improve the ſouls ſpiritual ſtrength; for if it faint in the day of adverſity, its ſtrength is ſmal, and treaſure poor. Now, ſhal it be clearly known, whether the Conſcience be ſound or foundred, if it wil pace wel in rough waies: Twice is it repeated in Revelations, Rev. 13.10 & 14.12.when mention is made of Anti-chriſt's tyranny and ruine; Here is the patience, here is the patience, and faith of Saints: q. d. Here's the tryal of it, here's room for it, here's the root and fruit of it, even Antichriſts deſolation, which they have been ſo long waiting and praying for; ſurely a glorious ſight worth beholding; Rome flaming, Saints triumphing, yet in the mean time, they have need of Faith and patience: For immediately before both theſe paſſages, wee have a deſcription of Romes rage; the Devil wil come down with the greater wrath, Rev. 12.12. Morientium ferarum, violentiores ſunt morſus. Heb. 10.36. Eph. 6.13when hee hath a ſhorter time, and the laſt bitings of this dying Beaſt, wil be the fierceſt, which may bring forth all the Saints Graces, and all little enough in times of tryal; we have great need of patience after wee have done Gods wil, that we may alſo endure his wil, til promiſes be performed. We muſt buckle on the Armour of God, that we may be able to withſtand in an evil day; and having done and endured all, to ſtand on the Field as Conquerors. In perſonal conflicts all our ſtock of ſuffering Graces may be put too't; Poverty wil try our Faith; diſgrace our ſelf-denial; ſickneſs our patience; delay of return of prayers in a long expected Mercy, wil try our hope;—and all theſe Graces muſt have their perfect work, foreign ex foreign totu…, & foreign ſors, haereditas tota ſorte constans.that the Chriſtian alſo may be perfect and intire, wanting nothing, Jam. 1.4. He ſhould have the whole heritage of a Chriſtian, the compleat accompliſhment of a Saint; every Grace in its height and due proportion. Job, David, Eli, and Hezekiah had laid in a large ſtock of bearing Graces, and they found enough to do with them in affliction; they had no more than they needed. Love bears and breaks through all things; Faith holds up the head and heart above diſcouragements: Nature hath furniſhed the Camel with a bunched back, to bear huge burthens, and a tractable bowing of his knees to the ground, that he may be the better loaded: So wil the wel-taught and accompliſh'd Saint meekly ſtoop to take up, and chearfully carry Chriſts Croſs, during his pleaſure… That's a ſound-hearted Chriſtian indeed, that like the Nightingale can ſing moſt ſweetly when the thorn is at his breaſt; that like Spices, the more they are bruiſed, the better is the ſavour of their Graces. But a carnal man wanting this treaſure of Grace, kicks at, yea, kicks off his burthen; yet though it be poſſible that the Spirit of a man, (as a man of a maſculine temper naturally, or by acquired magnanimity) may poſſibly ſuſtain his infirmity, and not ſuccumb under outward burthens of ſorrow, yet there's a vaſt difference betwixt a gracious and graceleſs heart in enduring afflictions, both as to their carriage thereunder, and advantage thereby: Hear Auſtin elegantly diſcovering the difference; There is (ſaith he) a diſſimilitude of Sufferers in a ſimilitude of ſufferings, and though they bee under the ſame torment, yet is there not the ſame virtue and vice, as under one fire, gold brightneth, chaffe ſmoaketh; and under the ſame Flail ſtubble is cruſhed, Corn purged; Hence alſo the Lees mingle not with the Oyl, though preſſed together; ſo one and the ſame on-ſet proves, purifieth, and ſweetly melteth the good, condemneth, waſteth, rooteth out the bad: Hence in the ſame affliction the wicked hate and blaſpheme God, the Godly pray and praiſe: So great is the conſequence, not what things a man ſuffereth, but of what a Spirit is the Sufferer? For with the ſame motion may the channel ſtink abominably, and the oyntment ſmell moſt * Manet enim diſſimilitudo paſſorum in ſimilitudine paſſionum, & licet ſub …odem to mento, non eſt idem virtus & vitium, nam ſicut ſub uno igne, aurum rutilat, palea fumat, & ſub eadem tribuld ſtipulae cemminuuntur, frumenta purgantur, nec ideo cum olco, amurca confunditur, quia eadem praelii pondere ita una eadem… vis, irruens bones probat, purificat, eliquat; Malos damnat, vastat, exterminat. unde in eâdem afflictione mali Deum dereſtantur, atque blaſphemant; boni autem precantur, & laudant: tantum intereſt. Non qualia ſed qualis quiſ… patiatur: Nam pari motu exagitatum &, exhalat horribiliter coenum, & ſuaviter fragrat unguentum— Auguſt. De. civit. Dei. lib. 1. cap. 8 p. [mihi] 16.ſweetly: Thus he, with which I ſhal conclude this head: What are the ways of laying out this Treaſure.