Heart Treasure, Chapter 9
CHAP. IX. Ʋnprofitable Chriſtians reproved.
THe fourth and laſt ſort of perſons, that fall under the laſh of a ſharp and juſt reproof, is, unprofitable Chriſtians, who, though they be ſincere for the main, and have the root of the matter, yet have not yet arrived to this treaſure: Alas, Sirs, there's none of us, but we have too much bad, and too little good treaſure in our hearts. We cannot but know all the wickedneſs that our hearts are privy to, and cannot our conſciences diſcover an emptineſs & vacuity of good? Oh what a Chaos and confuſion is in our hearts! and whence comes this? Have we not had meanes of gathering a large treaſure? What have we done with all our Ordinances, Sermons, Sacraments, Mercies, Afflictions? If we had been diligent, we might have furniſhed our ſoules with truths, graces, comforts, and experiences: What could have been done more for us? And have we a treaſure proportionable to our enjoyments? whence then are we ſo unfit for, and untoward in duties? ſo flight, dead, and trifling in performances? ſo unprepared for, and unprofitable under Ordinances? ſo unthankful for mercies, diſcontented under croſſes? ſo weak in reſiſting temptations, ſubduing corruptions? ſo unwilling of, and unſuitable to communion of Saints? Oh whence is it, that we are ſo apt to ſit looſe from God? ſo little fit for fellowſhip with him, and ſo much at a diſtance from him? certainly the reaſon is obvious, we have not ſuch a treaſure as becomes Saints: Eſpecially, the great reaſon why we are ſo little skilful in the heavenly duty of meditation, is the want of a treaſure of holy thoughts, when we are alone, we cannot fix our mindes upon an heart-affecting ſubject, or at leaſt cannot purſue it, til our hearts be deeply affected, but our thoughts are off and on, very inconſiſtent, incoherent, independent, like the rambling diſcourſes of a Mad-man, or the ranging motions of a Spaniel, or like the eyes of a fool, Pro. 17.24that are in the ends of the Earth: We run from object to object in a moment, and one thought looks like a meer ſtranger on another, ſhould our thoughts be patent, or an inviſible notary that's acquainted with them, write them down, and repeat them to us, how ſhould we bluſh and be confounded in the rehearſal? M. Clark's life of Dr. Potter p. 393.as it's recorded of Dr. Petter, that hearing the fellowes of the Colledge talk of trivial things, ſaid nothing, but after they had done talking, he thus beſpake them. And now my Maſters, will you hear all your extravagant diſcourſes, for I have ſtrictly obſerved and marked what you ſaid, and he told them every whit: So ſuppoſe ſome ſhould preſent to our cares or eyes a relation of our wilde imaginations in one hours time, what a ſtrange medley of non-ſenſe would there be? we may ſay the Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity, Pſal. 94.11. When we have ſum'd up all the traverſes, reaſonings, and diſcourſes of the minde, we may write this at the bottome, as the total ſumme, All is vanity: nothing but vanity, yea vanity in the abſtract. And what is the reaſon of all this, but a want of the forementioned treaſure, a ſtock of truths, graces, comforts, experiences.
I ſhall propound theſe four conſiderations, briefly for the Saints conviction and humiliation: 1. Are not theſe ſpiritual things worth hoarding up? look about you, through the whole Creation, and ſee if you can finde any thing better to make a treaſure of; David ſaith, I have ſeen an end of all perfection, Pſal. 119.96. All outward enjoyments are a ſcant Garment that cannot cover us, or rotten rags, and are ſoon worn out; but one part of this treaſure, i. e. Gods Commandements, is of a large extent, hence ſaith that good Man; thy Commandements are exceeding broad, they reach from Heaven to Earth, from great to ſmal, to all ſorts of ſinners, to all the faculties of the ſoul, to and through all eternity, thus long and broad is the Chriſtians treaſure, where then can you mend your ſelves for a treaſure? ſpiritual bleſſings have all dimenſions of perfection, theſe are the cream and flower of all bleſſings, no other treaſures avail in the day of wrath; if heavenly things be not worth looking after, what are? ſhould not ſpiritual perſons ſet their hearts on ſpiritual riches? Are not theſe moſt ſuitable to your immortal ſouls, and ſpiritual principles? Have not you been married to Chriſt, Rom. 7.4.and can you be content to be without any part of your dowry? Are not you riſen with Chriſt, and ſhould you not then ſeek after things above? Col. 3.1, 2.Are not the things of God Magnalia, great things of eternal concernment? and did you not prize them at an high rate at your firſt conviction? And was not that your Motto [non eſt mortale quod opto] I ſeek not, I purſue not mortal things, temporary, fading enjoyments? And are not theſe as much worth enquiring after now, as formerly? Yes certainly, theſe do not decay through age. Heb. 8.13.It was the matters belonging to the old Covenant, or Legal-diſpenſation that decayed and waxed old, and ſo by degrees did vaniſh away. New-covenant mercies, are the ſure mercies of David, Iſa. 55.3.and they are alwaies freſh and green. Hence ſaith the Church in Cant. 1.16.—Alſo our bed is green, i. e. Our mutual delights in each other are lively, ſweet and ſatisfying, never glutting, as earthly delights are; Joh. 4.14.He that drinks of theſe living waters ſhall never thirſt, i. e. After muddie waters of earthly comforts, but ſhal more ardently thirſt and pant after the living God; Well ſirs, look to it, there's nothing worth deſiring, but theſe heavenly Treaſures: if you can finde any better, take it, much good may it do you, yet brag not of your bargain, til you ſee the iſſue.
2. Are you in any danger of having too much of theſe things? Surely there's no [nimium or] ſuperfluities in the internals of religion: in the outward part too much may be done (though not if a man keep to the Rule) ſo that in ſome reſpects one may be righteous over-much, Eccl. 7.16.i. e. in either a ſelf-willed ſuperſtitious way, or elſe in an unſeaſonable or unmeaſurable performance of religious duties, to tire out a tempted ſoul, and run the Chriſtian off his legs: But for inward Graces, ſanctified Knowledge, and real Holineſs, there can never be an over-plus, or exceſſe… whiles you are on this ſide the Line, you'l be ſhort of perfection; Acts 26.24.Let Feſtus-like ſots ſay, that much learning makes profeſſors mad; let us ſtudy to encreaſe and abound more and more in knowledge, faith, love, humility, experience; as Paul preſſed forward, if by any meanes he might attain to the reſurrection of the dead, forgetting what was behind, Phil. 7.11, 12, 13, 14.and reaching forth to what was before. Moſes's Ark had ſtaves for removing further. Jacob's Ladder had ſtaires for aſcending higher. Chriſtians muſt ſing the Song of degrees in this world, and ſhould ſeek to be renewed day by day. …We muſt not ſit upon and be ſatisfied with our meaſure, but work hard to make it a Treaſure: We muſt ſtrive both for fulneſſe of grace, and fulneſſe of joy. Its poſſible a Chriſtian may attain to a full aſſurance: yea, that joy unſpeakable, and peace that paſſeth all underſtanding, that be may think he hath enough, as I have heard of a good ſ…ul that enjoyed ſuch abundant ſide of comfort, that he deſired the Lord to ſtay his hand, leaſt the Veſſel ſhould … (though this is …or ordinary for every Believer, not at a… times for any) ſo that ſome may poſſibly have as much comfort as they can deſire. But I never read, or heard of that Saint that had too much grace, or ſo much as they deſire: All have bewailed their defects, living and dying: and the beſt men have been moſt coverous of divine things, young and old; 'Tis ſaid of good Mr. Herbert Palmer, when he was of the age of four or five yeares, that he would cry to go to his Lady-mother, that he might hear ſomething of God. And of old Grynaeus (that ſavourie Germane Divine) 'Tis recorded, that when ſome perſons were diſcourſing by his Deathbed, he lift up himſelf, ſaying, I ſhall dye with more comfort, if I may dye, learning ſomething for the good of my ſoule. Now Sirs, who, or what are you? Are you wiſe enough, good enough? Are you affraid of being too like God? or of having too much of God in and with your ſoules? Are you loath to get too ready for, or too readily into Heaven? S…dixiſti ſatis eſt, …ri…sti:Alas, alas, You may call your eſtate into queſtion, if you ſay you have grace enough, or are good enough, or if you ſlacken your endeavours to get more grace upon a conceit you have enough: 'tis as natural for a living Saint to call for grace, as for a livelie Childe to cry for food; inſatiable deſire after grace, is a clear teſt of the truth of grace; Oh ſhame thy ſelfe then for thy neglect, and humble thy ſoule for thy non-proficiencie.
3. Do you certainly know what treaſure you may need? When you go a journey, you take money enough, becauſe you cannot tell but you may be put to extraordinarie expences: and truly, in your journey to heaven, you may be put to unexpected charges: You little know what a day may bring forth: it may bring forth a burden for thy back; God may call you to ſharp ſervice in a way of dutie and difficultie: You are ſure to go through a Purgatorie to glorie; the way to Heaven is ſtrait and narrow, and you muſt croud hard to get in, and thruſt through: through manifold temptations, and tribulations you muſt enter into Heaven; Its an irrevocable Decree of Heaven, that he that will live godly in Chriſt Jeſus, muſt ſuffer perſecution. We have had fair weather hitherto, but the greater ſtorm is behind: we have not yet reſiſted to blood, Contra quos deinceps, bellum geretur, …odie que du…at, nec finictu…, don…c, Beſt…a in exitium i…rit: M…de, com. in Apoc, p. 198.but wee may be put to it: Be you ſure, as long as the Devil is in Hell, and Antichriſt on earth, there wil be perſecutions raiſed againſt the Church in ſome part of it or other, yea, and his dying blows may prove the heavieſt to the Reformed Churches: Woe to thoſe that are unprovided for that ſharp day; Oh, what piteous ſhirking wil there be to ſave the skin, and damn the ſoul? O Chriſtians, get furniſht for this Encounter, wee little know whom it may reach, or how long the ſtorm may laſt: You had need get ſtrengthened with all might—unto all patience and long ſuffering with joyfulneſſe, Col. 1.11.leaſt if your patience be ſhort, and ſufferings long, you fail in the way, and fall ſhort of your Crown; What a ſad plight are thoſe Seamen in that made but a ſcant proviſion, and meet with a long Voyage:Mr. Clark in his Life. It was a good ſaying of Reverend Mr. Dod; That this is the difference betwixt a Chriſtian thats provided for troubles, and one that is not; that the one are but blows on the Harneſſe, but the other are blows on Fleſh: Aelian ſaith, That in Lybia men ſlept with their Boots on becauſe of the Scorpions, that they might not sting them: We had need alſo be well ſhod, or booted with the preparation of the Goſpel of Peace, Eph, 6.15.i. e. with a diſpoſition and reſolution to walk in the moſt thornie way, and ſtinging company of wicked men, that wee may follow the Lamb which way ſoever hee goeth: We had need to count the coſt in the profeſſion of Religion, we do not know what God may call us to do, or to endure. Great ſervices require great ſtrength, that we may neither be weary of, nor weary in the Lords work, we muſt lay in much, that we may lay out much for God, we know not what God wil call us to uſe: When Iſrael was to goe out of Aegypt, Moſes would take the Cattel, and not leave an hoof behind: For, ſaith he, we know not with what we muſt ſerve the Lord till we come thither, Exod. 10.26. Therefore muſt they alſo borrow Jewels to be throughly furniſhed;Exod. 11.2. Dr. Lightfoot G…ean. on Exod. p. 24. and the Aegyptians were more willing to lend them, ſaith a Learned Man, becauſe themſelves were decked with Jewels, that they might be more acceptable to their fine-decked Deities; ſo you do not know with what ſort of graces, or truths you muſt ſerve the Lord: onelyonly let us get furniſhed with all inſtituted qualifications, that we may be ſo adorned and armed as the Lord may take pleaſure in us, and that wee may get through-ſervices and ſufferings with glorie to God, credit to Religion, and comfort to our own ſoules: Thoſe are unwiſe Chriſtians, that loſe their time, and are not furniſhed for the Tempeſts of a Sea-voyage; ſince no man knows what he muſt need.
4. Neglect herein is a diſhonour to God, and diſparagement to the Treaſures of Grace; Why art thou being the Kings Son, lean from day to day, ſaid Jonadab to Ammon, 2 Sam. 13 4. So ſay I, whence proceeds this leanneſſe? Is there not meat enough at your Fathers Table? Store ſufficient in your Maſters Treaſurie? Do not you diſparage the meanes of your ſupply? and bring an ill report on the good Land? God is not an hard Maſter, but diſtributes liberally an abundant dole of Grace: why then are your ſoules no better liking in Religion? the reaſon is not in God, but in your ſelves: You are not ſtraitened in him, but in your own bowels, 2 Cor. 6.12.as Paul in another caſe. Now, as a recompence of his Love and Munificence, be ye alſo inlarged: Indeed, it doth (as it were) eaſe Gods heart to be communicating,Prov ….3… of his goodneſſe; It did pleaſe him infinitely from Eternitie, to think of expending riches of grace upon Sinners in time: But he can be perfectly and perpetually happie without you, it doth chiefly concern you to fetch all from Him; that you alſo may be happie in the enjoyment of Him: Are you affraid of being happie? who,Jonah 2.8. out fooliſh man would forſake his own mercies? Shall God ſet up an office of Grace in Chriſt, and will indigent ſoules take no notice of it? You cannot grieve him worſe than to neglect his infinite condeſcention, and tender affection. If a mightie King ſhould open his Treaſure…, and bid men come, and bring their baggs, and take as much as they deſired, do you think they would neglect this occaſion of enriching themſelves? Surely no, they would rather fetch bag after bag, (for ſcarce is any weary of taking money) and with the poor woman in ſacred ſtory, borrow Veſſels that may contain larger Treaſures: The God of Heaven hath made a glorious Proclamation of ſcattering precious Treaſures; Do you queſtion, whether he intends as he ſpeaketh? God forbid; Or, do you fear being welcome? Why, you are moſt welcome when you come for the greateſt ſhare; Do you fear unworthineſs will hinder you? I ſay, ſenſe of unworthineſs will help you to be capable of greater Receits: Do you fear theſe Treaſures of Heaven will be exhauſted by the Myriads of ſoules that are ſupplyed therefrom? Know it Sirs, the Royal Exchequer is as rich this day, as it was when Chriſt was firſt promiſed, or the firſt man ſaved; theſe are riches of grace, an in-exhauſtible Spring: diſtribution doth not impair its fulneſſe, no more than the Suns ſhining doth rob it of its innate and native light; Oh then, why are our ſoules ſo poor and pining? The Lord humble us that we have no more, when there is ſo much to be had in our All-ſufficient Treaſurie.