Heart Treasure, Chapter 7
CHAP. VII. The firſt liſe is for Examination, whither we have this Treaſure.
NOw for a more cloſe application of this to our own ſoules: is it ſo, that a good treaſure in the heart, is neceſſary to good expences in the life? then
1. It ſtands us all in hand to try our ſelves, and dig into our own hearts to ſee if we can finde a treaſure there, both in reſpect of ſincerity and degree of grace: Know it, You are beggarly ſoules unleſſe you have truth of grace; graceleſſe ſoules are the onelyonly treaſureleſſe ſoules, and I fear there is more than a good many, that could never experimentally diſtinguiſh betwixt Nature and Grace, and therefore are encreaſing guilt, and treaſuring up wrath: O Chriſtians! See whither you have the true Riches, try what proficiency you have made to grace, and in grace; you have long had a day of grace, and you muſt be accountable for all opportunities. Cheat not your ſelves with Counters inſtead of Gold; Briſtol-ſtones may make as fair a ſhew as Pearls; true grace is a rare and rich Commodity. Thouſands conceit to themſelves a treaſure, that are empty; Proud, conceited Profeſſors are apt to boaſt of their attainments, whileſt ſome ſelf-denying humble ſoules, are apt to bear falſe-witneſſe againſt themſelves, by denying what they have: Salomon ſaith, There is that maketh himſelf rich, yet hath nothing; there is that maketh himſelf poor, yet hath great riches, Prov. 13.7. Sounding Veſſels are often empty, and ſtil-running waters are uſually deep: Vapouring Tradeſmen jingle their money in their hands, whileſt ſober Chapmen keep it in their Cheſts: You ſhal finde more of a Merchants goods in his Ware-houſe, than in his Shop-window. So it is with a ſober, ſerious and judicious Chriſtian: his glory and treaſure is moſt within, whileſt vain-glorious Mountebanks in Religion ſet all upon the Stage. I intreat you read thoſe Books, that lay down marks of true grace, hear and attend the moſt heart-ſearching Miniſtry, take much pains in deſcending frequently into your own hearts, and the God of Heaven make you ſerious in a through ſearch.
More particularly, that I may help you in a diſcovery whether you have laid up a treaſure of holy thoughts; flowing from truths, graces comforts, experiences. Ask, I beſeech you your own hearts theſe four queſtions.
1. How came you by it?
2. How do you value it?
3. How do you uſe it?
4. How do you increaſe it?
1. Let me ask you, and do you ask your ſelves if you pretend to ſuch a treaſure, how you came by it? Men uſually know how they get a treaſure, the hand of the diligent maketh rich. Prov. 10.4. i.e. the bleſſing of the Lord upon diligent endeavours, verſ. 22. men that would be rich ply the oares, run to markets and faires, Jam. 4.13.travel from City to City, to buy and ſel and get gain, they travel by Sea and by Land, compaſſing the World to poſſeſs a ſmal portion of it: Why now, what do you in ſpirituals? Where are your thoughtful cares and painful hands? though labour wil not get this treaſure ('tis a free gift) vet it will not be had without labour. Gods Ordinance muſt be honoured; 'tis the immtitable decree of Heaven ſince the fall: In the ſweat of thy face ſhalt thou eat thy bread, G…. 19.yea this holds good for the Soul. Joh. 6.27. Labour —for that meat which endureth to everlaſting life, which the Son of Man ſhall give unto you: mark it, Mans endeavours are very conſiſtent with Gods free-grace, and Chriſts dear purchaſe. God will be found in his own way, he ordinarily conveys the firſt grace, in and by his own inſtitutions, but ſeldome ſhall a ſoul grow up to a treaſure without a long trading in the royal exchange of holy duties, and diligence hath the promiſe of increaſe. Mark 4.24.—And unto you that hear, ſhall more be given: Well ſirs, hath the care of your hearts put labour into your hands, and travel into your feet, to repair to the Markets and Faires of publick, private and ſecret performances, to get a ſolid treaſure? have you both digged and begged for it? where is your ſweat and ageny? hath Jeſus Chriſt ſweat blood to fit you for Heaven, and have not you gone through a bloody ſweat to get intereſt in him? and poſſeſſion of his grace? Oh the pangs of conſcience, and ſad pantings of a convinced ſinner to obtain a portion in theſe riches of grace! foreign Proprie eſt ſanguis, fed apud Chald. notat petuniam, quta ſa…guine at ſurore pauperum parain. Bith.never did a poor labourer royle ſo hard for his days wages as an humbled ſoul to be f…ed with Chriſt: a treaſure of money is got with ſweat and blood; or to be obtained of almes with weary ſteps, and l…ud cries: but if thou beeſt too idle to dig, and too proud to beg, thou art without a treaſure, and maiſt pine away in everlaſting poverty.
2. How do you value this treaſure? Where the treaſure is, there will the heart be alſo. Mat. 6.21. The thoughts, cares, affections will center upon a Mans treaſure, for he accounts his treaſure the beſt thing he hath; yea worth all his other poſſeſſions; no Man would willingly part with his treaſure. As Naboth did tenaciouſly adhere to his haereditary poſſeſſion: Mat. 13.44 Phil. 3.7.the wiſe Merchant parts with all to purchaſe this: Paul accounted his gain to be no better than loſs for Chriſt, nay it ſtunk like dung and Dogſ-meat in compariſon of his ſweet and ſatisfying Saviour: all the World is a Chriſtians prejudice, when it obſtructs or obſcures the grace of Chriſt: Is it thus with your ſouls? do you account your ſpiritual portion your only riches? the truth is, the riches of the ſoul, and the riches in the ſoul, are the very ſoul of riches: Meretricius eſt amor, plus annulum, quam ſponſum amare.I confeſs that's a meretricious love, that prizeth receits from Chriſt more than the Perſon of Chriſt! but here I underſtand Jeſus Chriſt to be the marrow and treaſure of this treaſure, and all theſe as inſuring evidences of intereſt in him: for all that the ſoul hath is wrapt up in him, well then, let me poſe the moſt dark and doubting (if ſincere) Chriſtian, what faiſt thou, poor ſoul, wouldſt thou quit thy ſhare in Chriſt and ſpiritual treaſures, for a Crown and Kingdome? wouldſt thou not anſwer, no? wouldſt thou caſt away thy trembling hopes of acceptance with God, to be delivered from the infamy, poverty and perſecution that attends the powerful profeſſion of Chriſtianity, that thou maiſt live in honour, pleaſure, & worldly delights? ſurely thou wouldeſt anſwer, no: wouldeſt thou change thy preſent, low, afflicted, and conflicting ſtate with thy former carnal but confident condition, or with the pompous, proſperous ſtate of graceleſs ſinners? I dare ſay thou wilt anſwer, negatively; yet again, art thou not willing to part with thy deareſt boſome-luſt, and earthly enjoyment, for a true immortal treaſure in Heaven, and in thy heart? I am confident an upright heart will anſwer, yes: And if I miſtake not, this (if not only, yet chiefly this) is the very parting point betwixt a ſound Chriſtian, and a rotten-hearted hypocrite, the one chooſeth Martha's many things, the other Mary's one thing needful: this is indeed a diſcriminating note, for a gracious ſoul will cry out, none but Chriſt, none but Chriſt, give me Chriſt, Chriſtus meus eſt omnia.or elſe I die, give me Chriſt, and I ſhall live: Chriſt is my life, my crown, my joy, my all, if I may have him I have enough, without him I have nothing: when one asked Alexander where his treaſure was, he anſwered, where Hepheſtion my faithful friend is, juſt ſo wil a good ſoul ſay: Song 5.10.Chriſt is the chiefeſt of ten thouſands. I prize him above my life, who loved me unto the death; I account that of great value that doth evidence my intereſt in him: As the Mari-gold opens to the Sun in the Firmament, ſo doth the heart of a ſincere Chriſtian to the Sun of Righteouſneſs; take an inſtance of Moſes, who choſe the bittereſt Cup of affliction, rather than the ſugared cup of ſenſual pleaſures, that he might enjoy Jeſus Chriſt: ſee Heb. 11.25, 26. Obſerve the ſtrange diſparity that appeares to carnal reaſon in that choice: on the one ſide there was ſuffering, on the other injoying, affliction on the one hand, pleaſures on the other, the deſpiſed people of God were companions on one ſide, ruffling Gallants in Pharaoh's Court on the other, yet on the one ſide it was for a ſeaſon, on the other but for a ſeaſon, and that But, caſt the ſcales in his choice: thoſe were pleaſures, but treaſures may prevail; the laſt yet not the leaſt of Satans aſſaults of Chriſt, Mat. 4.8, 9.no, good Moſes eſteemed the reproach of Chriſt greater riches than the treaſures of Aegypt: the worſt of Chriſt is better than the beſt of the World: the noble Marqueſs Galeacius Caracciolus, in imitation of him, being tempted with large offers to depart from Zion to Babylon, reſolutely replyed, Let their money periſh with them that account all the treaſures of the World worth one houres communion with Jeſus Chriſt: if all the Mountains were gold, the Rocks Pearles, and the whole World ſtuffed with the ſweeteſt delights of the Sons of Men, and theſe offered to the Chriſtian to be his proper inheritance for ever, he would with an holy ſcorn trample upon them, and look on them as not worth one glance of his eye, in compariſon of one taſte of the love of Chriſt, and a grain of ſaving grace in his Heaven-born ſoul: But a carnal heart ſees no ſuch beauty in Chriſt, wherefore he ſhould be ſo deſired, nor is he taken with the comelineſs and excellency of grace, a ſad yet lively embleme whereof we have in the hopeful young Gentleman that bade fair for Heaven, yet when he ſaw it would coſt him ſo dear, Mat. 19.21, 22.as to part with all, he would rather go without it, than foregoe his eſtate for it: O ſirs, this is a pinching point, look to it, this one mark wil diſcern betwixt joynt and marrow, and a day of tryal wil diſcover what you account a treaſure.
3. How do you uſe and improve this treaſure? Habits of grace are no otherwiſe known but by their acts: what's a Man better for that he uſeth not? A talent of grace of the right ſtamp wil not be confined to a Napkin, though gifts may: exerciſing is as neceſſary and evidential, as having ſincere grace: things that are not, and things that appear not, De non entibus & non apparentibus eadem eſt ratio.are both alike: He is a wicked Man that boaſteth of his hearts deſire, and he is a fool that truſteth in his heart: yet many will ſay I have as good an heart as the beſt, though I do not talk ſo wel with my tongue, or work ſo much with my hand, I have as good a meaning as any of them all, though I cannot make ſo great a ſhew, I love to keep my religion to my ſelf, none knows how good I am: Let ſuch know (though I deny not but degrees of modeſty, fears of vain-glory, and jealouſies of apoſtacy, may reſtrain ſome Chriſtians profeſſion, yet there may be a temptation on that hand alſo yet) that where fire is, it wil bewray it ſelf by hear or ſmoak, Iſai. 42.3.'tis impoſſible grace ſhould be hid or ſtifled: though there be a ſmoaking flax (even the week of a Candle that affords little light, much offenſive ſmel) yet it wil appear: Truths and graces in the heart will be (as the word was to Jeremiah) as a burning fire ſhut up in the bones and boſome, that cannot be concealed. Jer. 20.9.He that is full of matter, is conſtrained by the internal workings of the Spirit to vent it, elſe it is like Elihu's new wine that hath no vent, Job 32.18, 19.it burſts the new bottles: the truth is, its as natural for a gracious heart to talk and walk holily, as for a living creature to breathe and move, ſo far as gracious: thus it cannot be otherwiſe, and alſo obſerve it, it muſt not be otherwiſe. Your treaſure within ought to be laid out, what have you it for elſe? Profeſſion with the mouth is as neceſſary in its kind, as believing with the heart, Rom. 10.10. Our Light muſt not be hid under a buſhel, but ſhine before men, that it may reflect comfort to our ſelves and influence to others, as wel as have approbation from the Lord: So then, if thou haſt a treaſure within, thou doſt witneſſe a good confeſſion, and thy converſation wil be ſuitable to thy profeſſion: Thy Trading wil anſwer thy ſtock. The Text tels you, a good man out of the good treaſure of his heart, bringeth forth good things: and I told you the manner of laying out was in holy meditations, ſavoury expreſſions, ſuitable actions, and comfortable bearing, and profitable improving of afflictions: Why now, Lay judgement to the Line, and compare your own courſe of life with theſe practiſes of Religion: How do you trade with heaven, and for heaven? What do you more than others? where's the life and power of Religion? Do you indeed exerciſe your ſelves to godlineſſe? What large expences do you lay out for that God from whom you have ſuch liberal incomes? When we ſee rich men lay out abundance of money in houſhold goods, houſekeeping, building, Recreations, we gueſſe, certainly ſuch have a good ſtock before-hand, a great yearly Revenue; Thus it is here, though many make a great ſhew of what they have not, yet a ready, real, uniform, and conſtant performance of duty. A ſerious, ſenſible courſe of walking with God, and exerciſe of grace in all conditions, do evidence a ſuitable inward Treaſure. What ſay you to theſe things? Can our hearts witneſſe with us that in ſimplicity and godly ſincerity,2 Cor. 1.12. by the aſſiſtance of grace we have had our converſation? Can our Relations & Neighbors witneſs for us, that we have ſerved the Lord with all humility of minde, with many teares and temptations? Can our Cloſets, Chambers, Shops, and Fields teſtifie our ſecret groans, meditations, ſelf-examinations? Have we performed our relative duties with all care and conſcience? As Magiſtrates puniſhing ſin, as Miniſters faithfully preaching at all ſeaſons, ſuitably to all perſons: as Houſholders inſtructing, correcting, and leading a good example; as Husbands, Wives, Parents, Children, Maſters, Servants, that man is not good at all, that's not good in all relations: Doth the treaſure of grace and truths prompt our tongues, act our hands, guide our feet? Do theſe principles in our head, and that principle in the heart dictate to us our duty, and aſſiſt us in doing of it? Are we fruitful in good works, words, and meditations? and are we uſeful in our generations? let's not deceive our ſelves, its not a conceit of ſome good meanings within that wil ſerve our turn; but the Apoſtle tels us roundly and plainly, He that doth righteouſneſſe, is righteous, 1 John 3.7. Acts do evidence the ſtate, and a man cannot be good unleſſe he do good: That's the third tryal.
4. How do you encreaſe this Treaſure? To him that hath ſhall be given; truth of grace is the Prologue to growth in grace: and growth in grace arrives at full ſtrength of grace; the Saints go from ſtrength to ſtrength, Pſalm 84 7. The true Chriſtian, like his Maſter, encreaſeth in wiſdome and ſtature, and in favour with God and man; Luk. 2.52.Theſe waters of the Sanctuary, riſe up to the ancles, knees, loines, neck, til the ſoul come to the Head Chriſt, and ſo be ſwallowed up in the unfathomable Ocean of Glory; ☞'Tis monſtrous in Grace as wel as Nature to grow none, but continue as a Dwarfe; 'Tis a ſad ſhrewd ſign you have no grace, if you think you have grace enough: Minime bonus eſt qui m…lior ſieri non vult Ber.he was never good that deſires not to be better: They are Hypocrites, and ſure to be Apoſtates that are contented with a taſte; The true Believer is unſatiable, ſtil hungring and thirſting after Righteouſneſſe, daily adding one cubite after another to his ſpiritual ſtature, that he may be a tall man in Chriſt; and at laſt attain to the meaſure of the stature of the fulneſs of Chriſt, Habet enim au… ment… ſua fides, habet ſuam infantiam, habet atatem viritem, habet Senectam. Mar …n loc.Eph. 4.13. That is, not ſo much with reſpect to the compleat ſtature of our bodies at the reſurrection, proportionable to Chriſts ful age upon Earth, as ſome expound it, though that may be true, but we muſt be increaſing, til Chriſt his myſtical body grow to ripeneſs and perſection, both in reſpect of all the members to be added thereunto, and alſo particular members growth in grace til they advance to a ful maturity in knowledge and holineſs: what ſay you to this? are you any better than you have been? are your laſt works more than your firſt? what light of knowledge in ſaving truths? what heat and warmth in ſanctifying graces? what heart-refreſhing-experiences and comforts have you laid up? are you grown more ſolid, humble, holy, watchful, faithful and fruitful? do you get more power againſt your luſts? more ability to walk with God? do you forget what is behinde, Phil. 3. Eph. 3.16.and preſs forwards to perfection? are you ſtirred up more to holineſs? and ſtrengthened with all might by his ſpirit in the inward man? are you ſtil ſenſible of defects, craving for more ſpiritual riches, as a beggar for almes? I confeſs I have ſometimes wondered at this ſtrange paradox in Chriſtianity, that there is nothing doth ſo fil the ſoul as grace, and yet nothing makes the ſoul ſo hungry for more grace as a principle of grace; nothing conten…s but a dram of grace, yet a dram of grace wil not content: more knowledge, more faith, more love, and accordingly a gracious ſoul is ſtil perfecting holineſs in the fear of God. 2 Cor. 7.1 2 Theſ. 1.3.So that, as the Apoſtle ſaith of ſome, their faith groweth exceedingly, and charity, aboundeth, even til it become a treaſure: for obſerve it, this ſpiritual treaſure is made up, and increaſed by accumulation, or by augmentation, by adding more graces, or ſtrengthning graces already conferred. See Symonds deſerred ſouls caſe and cure, page 416 to 421 Manton on Jude, v. 2. pag: 122. to 127. Barlow's Sermon 2 Pet. 3.18Several good Divines have done worthily in ſatisfying ſcrupulous ſoules in this great caſe about growth in grace: let ſuch as doubt of ſincerity, read them, it would be a digreſſion here to ſpeak fully to this point: only take this note, the more life you have added to your light, the more humility to your graces, the more watchfulneſs to your lives by your experiences; and the more tenderneſs of conſcience, and chearfulneſs in holy performances by your comforts, the more have you grown in grace, and increaſed your treaſure: and thereby have given a clear evidence that you have a ſpiritual treaſure in your hearts.