A Pearl in an Oyster Shell, Sermon 1
SERMON I.
2 COR. 4. 7.
But we have this Treaſure in Earthen Veſſels.
THe great Apoſtle of the Gentiles, begins the Chapter withv. 1. a Remonſtrance of Gods meer Mercy in calling him to the Miniſtry; in the faithful diſcharge of which, though afflicted, he will go forward without fear or fainting; and in this Caſe he commends himſelf and his Colleagues to the Corinthians Conſcience; and hereby takes away all ſuſpicionv. 2. of arrogancy, in that they ſought not their own Gain, their own Glory, butv. 5. 2 Cor. 1. 24.Chriſts; not to rule over their Faith, but to relieve their Joy.
And here he ſeems to wipe off an Aſperſion of the falſe Teachers, tending to the contempt of his Perſon, and the diſcredit of his Preaching: They ſeem charge him as if he had not light and 2 Cor. 10. 10.ſight to fit and qualifie him for the diſpenſation of the Goſpel. To this St. Paul anſwers;
1. By way of Aſſertion; God hathv. 6. ſhined into our hearts, and given us out of his rich Treaſure, Wiſdom and Knowledg.
2. By a Conceſſion; he yields, that foreign.he, and others, who were authorized by Chriſt to preach the Goſpel, and to repreſent his Perſon, were Earthen Veſſels.
In the words you have theſe Parts:
1. A Precious Pearl diſpenſed, viz. The Goſpel.
2. The Stewards intruſted with it; The Apoſtles and all Faithful Paſtors. We have it.
3. The great Proprietor that communicates it; God who cauſeth Light to ſhine out of Darkneſs.
4. The Pots or Pipes wherein this Pearl is put; foreign, in Earthen Veſſels.
5. The End intended in it; that the Excellency of the Power may be of God, and not of us.
Herein the Apoſtle alludes to earthly Calvin in loc.Pearls which uſually are not put into a coſtly Cabinet, but into a vile Veſſel: ſo the Lord is pleaſed to make uſe of frail miſerable men to be his Miniſters to bring their brethren to Chriſt, that his Power hereby may be the more apparent.
As the Text hath reference to the foregoing Verſe, it ſeems to be a Metaphor taken from Lanthorns; and ſo the Apoſtles did not hide their Light, that ſhined into them, but let it out to enlighten others: but according to the Original Word, it may be rendred Veſſels made of Oyſter-Shells, by an alluſion foreign.to the Precious Pearl that is found in Shell-fiſh.
Hence you may obſerve:
Doct. That the Goſpel is a Pearl of Price, a choice Treaſure.
2. Chriſt Embaſſadours are Earthen Veſſels intruſted with this Treaſure.
3. The Goſpel ſhould not be in leſs eſteem with you, becauſe it is diſpenſed from, or in Earthen Veſſels.
In the handling the firſt Point, I ſhall ſhew what a Treaſure is, what kinds of Treaſures there are; What a Treaſure the Goſpel is; the Reaſons why it is ſo; and the Cauſes why worldly men do not ſo account it.
1. A Treaſure is ſomething of Price, and of account, laid up cloſely and charily, for future uſe in Cheſts or Cabinets, in peace, from the pilfering of Thieves, and in War, from the plundering of Souldiers.
And it is either,
1. An Earthly Treaſure, as Gold and Silver, Pearls, and precious Stones, Jam. 5. 3.which worldly men heap up for the laſt day, wherein they place their chief happineſs; yet which ſhall be as fewel to put on fire the Wrath of God againſt them. Theſe have their Names written Jer. 17.13. c. 41. 8.in the Earth, and their Converſation; only their Treaſure is in the Field.
2. A Heavenly Treaſure, viz. Chriſt; the Graces of the Spirit and the Goſpel, which Believers hide and hoard up in their hearts, and lay out as the Merchant Luk. 12.33upon Exchange doth his Money that he may receive it with advantage in another Country; ſo Chriſtians that are trading in, and travelling towards Phil. 1.27. c. 3.20.another Country, are laying up and laying out for that, where they have foreign their Burgeſs-ſhip, they live by the Laws of that Country which is Pſal. 119. 11.Heavenly, and hide them in their hearts; Thy Word (ſaith the Prophet) have I hid in my heart. This is the Treaſure I am now to treat of. More to be deſired Pſal. 19.10than gold, yea than much fine gold. More precious than jewels; the price of it is Job 28.16, 17, 18.above rubies.
The Goſpel is that Treaſure hid in the Field, which cannot be too far Mat. 13, 44fetcht, or too dear bought.
1. It is a precious Treaſure to be preferred before thouſands of gold and ſilver; Pſal. 119. 72.it's better than precious Stones; Prov. 8.11. M. Bolton Job 28. 15, 16.all the Pleaſures, nay all the Treaſures in the world are not to be compared to it, though the Mountains were Pearl, and the whole Globe a ſhining Chryſolite.
2. It is a heaped Treaſure, containing Multum in minimo, in parvulo; I will not compare it to Homers Iliads in a Nut-ſhel, but prefer it before all other Books, Humane or Divine: ſince it Eph. 3.10. foreign.comprehends totum hominis & bonum hominis; it contains in it abundance of curious variety of the manifold Wiſdom of God; as a Ring that hath many Jewels in it, and a Treaſure that is compacted of many precious Things; for commonly a ſingle Commodity doth doth not make a Treaſure but Many.
3. The Goſpel is a hoarded and hidden Treaſure; for it contains in it thoſe Col 2. 3.Treaſures of Wiſdom and Knowledg which are hidden from the wiſe and prudent men of the world, who have principium laeſum, a crackt brain, that they cannot perceive things ſpiritual. 1 Co. 2.14.Jewels are not uſed to be put in places where they may be ſeen of every eye. What Job ſpeaks concerning Wiſdom is true of the Myſteries of wiſdom and knowledg in the Goſpel; The Depth Job 28. 12, 14.ſaith, it is not in me, the Sea it is not in me. Such who are able to ſearch into the ſecrets of nature, and can fathom the depth of Arts and Sciences, yet are many times meer ſtrangers to it, they know not how to dig for, or to draw out this Treaſure.
4. The Goſpel hath an attractive vertue in it, when preached in the power of the Holy Ghoſt, to penetrate the heart, and to draw it after Chriſt: As the Loadſtone hath a natural force to draw Iron, and the Sun to draw up Vapours; ſo the Sun of the Goſpel by the agency of the Spirit to attract the Heart. As the men of the world who have Treaſures hid in the Earth, they count them their chief happineſs, and their hearts are drawn after them; ſo the godly, who make the Goſpel their Treaſure, and their hearts are fixed to it, they will forſake all to follow it. Where your Treaſure is there will your hearts be alſo. Veniat Verbum Domini Mat. 6.21.& ſubmittemus ſexcenta ſi nobis fuiſſent Colla, ſaid a Dutch Divine.
Reaſ. 1. Becauſe the Goſpel reveals the unſearchable Riches of the Grace of God in Chriſt, in whom are hid all the Treaſures of Wiſdom and Knowledg, whereby the Saints are inabled to lay up 1 Tim. 6. 19.a good Foundation for themſelves, to lay up their Treaſure in Heaven, and to Phil. 2.16.lay hold of eternal Life.1 Tim. 3.9 Tit. 1. 9.
2. All things or perſons that excel others in their kind, and are of greateſt rate for their rarity or preciouſneſs, theſe are counted Treaſures; but ſuch is the Goſpel: as amongſt Fiſhes, The Leviathan; and in Birds, the Eagle; and a mongſt Beaſts, the Lion; and Princes and Potentates among Men, they are valued of more worth than thouſands of an inferiour rank: So in Books, thoſe which are rare and fetcht from far; As 2 Sam. 18. 3.it is ſaid, That Plato gave for three choice Books 30000 Florens; How much more is the Goſpel to be prized ſince it came from Heaven, in whoſe ſacred Leaves the Myſteries of Heaven in Treaſures lie!Dr. Prideaux.
The Object and the Subject of each Chriſtian eye;
Who lives by this, by death ſhall never die.
3. All other Creatures, how excellent ſoever, conſume in time. Gold and Silver is ſubject to the ruſt and Jam. 5. 3.canker; the moſt princely Ornaments, even Crowns beſet with Pearls, and precious Diamonds, periſh in time; the beſt Books are worm-eaten; But the Word of our God, ſhall ſtand for ever.Iſa. 40. 8.
4. The Saints have ever eſteemed it ſo; for they have been content to part with all for it.
That's a mans Treaſure, which he prefers before all other things, and will part with all rather than this; As a man will part with all he hath to ſave his life: Job 2. 4.He counts Life his chief Treaſure.
Alphonſus King of Arragon profeſſed, he would loſe his Jewels, rather than his Books; So a Child of God will part with all, rather than the Goſpel; as that Dutch Divine ſaid, as before.
5. That is a mans Treaſure, which he counts he cannot live without. Some count Riches their Treaſure; for if they are robbed of them, their life is unravelled, their heart and their hopes break at once, they die in the neſt as did Nabal. Some count Pleaſures their Treaſure; for if they be deprived once of them, they cry out with Adrian, They ſhall never be merry more. Some count Children their Treaſure; and therefore cry out with Rachel, Give me Children or elſe I die. But a Child Gen. 30.1.of God makes the Goſpel his Treaſure, for he thinks he cannot live comfortably without it. It was a remarkable Paſſage of Luther, who ſaid, He could not live without the Word in Paradiſe, but with it, he could, even in Hell it ſelf.
Object. But if the Word be ſo choice a Treaſure, What may be the Reaſon why the World doth not ſo eſteem it?
Anſw. The Cauſes of this I conceive may be either in reſpect of the Organ, or of the Object.
1. In reſpect of the Organ: The Prince of the World hath caſt a miſt before the eyes of theſe men, that the light of the glorious Goſpel of Chriſt, who is the Image of God, ſhineth not in their 2 Cor. 4. 4.hearts: As for Example, The Sun is a glorious Body, full of light and luſtre, yet blind eyes perceive it not; So the Goſpel is a Light ſhining in darkneſs, but the blind and bruitiſh world diſcern it not, but prefer with the Cock in the Fable, a Corn of Barley before it. As one that looked intently on a curious Picture, was asked the cauſe why he did ſo? anſwered, If thou hadſt my Nicoſtrates.eye thou wouldſt no leſs admire it than I do; So had the world but an illuminated eye, they would judg of the Word as the Saints do.
2. In reſpect of the Object. They make not the Word of GOD, but the World the matter of their choice; Their Treaſures are in their Fields and in their Flocks and Herds; And thus they heap up Treaſures for the Jam. 5.3.laſt day. He that holds the World his Portion, will prefer it before any other. A godly Man eſteems the Word of God as his Heritage for ever; and Pſal. 119. 11.therefore takes it for a greater Treaſure than Chains of Pearl and Mines of Gold.
Ʋſe 1. Serves to refute the folly of a generation of Men, who are wiſer for Luk. 16.8.the World than for Heaven, and hoard up Treaſures for themſelves here in the place of their pilgrimage, and are not rich towards God: Is the Word ſuch a Luk. 12.21.Treaſure? Why do you prefer the dirt and dung of this World? The Pleaſures of Sin, and the Profits that reſult from your Purchaſes and Poſſeſſions before this Pearl of Price? Could I but acquaint theſe men where they might buy a cheap Piece of Ground, or where Gold and Silver, and precious Jewels lay hid in the Earth, though it were a great way off, and hard to get, Would they not hearken to me? Oh how would they run or ride, dig and delve in the bowels of the Earth to get them! Bu… I acquaint you with a more precious Purchaſe, with a far more enduring Subſtance, and tell you it is nigh unto you, where it is hid, and how eaſie Rom. 10. 8it is to be had, yet I cannot prevail with you for my life, to take a little pains to get it, or to part with a little of that which you cannot long keep, though it were to gain that you can never loſe. Well, your Treaſure you are for, and your Treaſure (without true repentance) you will have, ſuch Pſal. 140. 10.as it is, ſuch as you have laid in, and laid up for your ſelves, even Treaſures of Wrath againſt the day of Wrath, and the Revelation of the righteous Judgment of Rom. 2. 5.God.
Ʋſe 2. Which that you may avoid, let me prevail with you to make the Goſpel your Choice; count it your chief Good below God and Chriſt. It is a Legacy left you by your deareſt Lord, ſealed with his precious blood; herein you have a promiſe of the Pardon of Sins, of Adoption of Sons, whereby (if you are not wanting to your ſelves) you may become Heirs of God, and Joint-heirs with Chriſt, and Partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints; And will you not read it? Will you not heed it? at leaſt, with as much care as a Child would his Fathers Will, to know what he hath left him; to ſee whether ſome one or other have not a Title before him to the chief Treaſure. Alas beloved, Do we ſee it, and is it not our ſhame, that thoſe Terrae-Filii Sons of the Earth, can even ſweat for Silver, forbear Pleaſures that they may get Profit, dig deep in Mines for Precious Mettle, and choice Jewels, ſtorm dangers and difficulties by Land Omnis cupiditas in illum tendatur.and Sea; The Merchant, the Mariner, the Mathematician, the Mechanick, the Souldier, and he that ſtudies the Philoſophers-ſtone? And will you not take as much care, be at as much coſt, uſe as much courage in Chriſtianity at leaſt, in ſearching into thoſe golden Mines of the Goſpel wherein are diſcovered Joh. 5.39.thoſe hidden Treaſures of Wiſdom and Knowledg in Chriſt.
St. Chryſoſtom ſaith to this purpoſe, In his Homil. Super Orat. Annae.Such as dig Treaſures out of the Earth, though they get infinite Wealth, yet give not over till they have drawn the Mine dry; for this is their chief care, not to get out much, but to leave none behind. How much more ſhould we endeavour to know the Read the Lady Jane Grays Letter written to her Siſter.whole mind of Chriſt contained in the Goſpel, lay out our ſelves about it, and labour in it day and night.
The Goſpel is a pure Treaſure, very pure, purity it ſelf, free from all droſs. Such as dig in Mines for Gold and other Pſal. 119. 140.precious Mettals are willing to work hard, though the Oar hath much droſs and dirt that cleaves to it, till it be refined; but this is a pure and proved Word, pure as Silver, tried in a Furnace of Earth fined ſeven-fold.Pſal. 12.6.
2. It is a perfect Treaſure in all parts without mixture of any other alloy: nothing muſt be put to it or ought be taken from it. Thoſe precious things that are taken out of the Deut. 12. 32.Earth, even all Mettals have their mixture, which doth ſomewhat debaſe them; but the Word of Chriſt is perfect Pſal. 19.7.of it ſelf, and compleat without the additions or traditions of men; He that addeth to, or diminiſheth any thing Rev. 22. 18, 19.from it, ſhall have no part in the Book o… life, but ſhall partake of the plagues that are written it. Oh how inexcuſable are the Papiſts, who count it imperfect, and pollute it with the mud and Mine of their vain inventions; and carnal-Goſpellers, who profane it, who take not pains to read it, who heed it not, neither hoard it in their hearts!
3. It is a precious Treaſure; Gold, Silver and Jewels, are precious things, and yet they are but as the Offal and Excrements of the Earth; a man may have much of them, and yet be miſerable, and ſay with Caeſar, Omnia fui & nihil profuit; I have been all things and never the better; but the price of Job 28. Pſal. 119. 72, 127.this is above rubies, to be eſteemed as gold, nay, above fine gold, even above thouſands of gold and ſilver. Had the Lord thought theſe things a fit portion for his people, he would not have given them to his enemies; the barbarous Indians have much more of theſe than you.
4. It is a profitable Treaſure; to teach, to convince; profitable for all 2 Tim. 3. 16.things, to correct, and to inſtruct in righteouſneſs. Gregory calls it the heart and ſoul of God. Athanaſius, the food of the Soul. St. Auguſtine, the Fortreſs foreign.againſt Errors. Irenaeus, the invariable Rule of Truth. In a few words, it teacheth true godlineſs, which is profitable for all things, 1 Tim. 4. 8. for all perſons whether in a publick or private capacity.2 Tim. 3. 17.
It is profitable for men in all Duties, in all Eſtates and Conditions, which reſpect their active or paſſive obedience: It teacheth men what they ought, and what they ought not do; how to live, and how to die; and how to ſuffer, and how to carry themſelves in proſperity and adverſity. The Apoſtle had never taken out that Leſſon, had he not learnt it here, viz. to be content in every eſtate, to know how Phil. 4. 11.to want, and how to abound; and as one that had nothing, yet poſſeſſing all 2 Cor. 6. 10.things. A ſtrange hyperbolical Speech, a Riddle to the world.
5. It is a pleaſant Treaſure, ſweeter than Honey, yea, than the droppings Pſal. 19. 10 Pſal. 119. 103. Hoſ. 13.15.of the Honey-combs. Ephraim who was a pleaſant Child in Gods account, Jer. 31. 20. yet he had the Treaſure of all his pleaſant things ſpoiled: but here is a ſweetneſs, wherewith, as the Soul of man ſhall never be ſatiated, ſo neither ſhall it ever be ſatisfied till it come to Heaven.
It is a laſting Treaſure, an everlaſting Sweetneſs: I might add, what I before ſaid, The Goſpel is a heaped, a hoarded, a hidden and a heavenly Treaſure.
Ʋſe 3. And now you Sons of Pleaſure, and Daughters of the Horſleach, who are ſo ready to cry, Give, and are never ſatisfied; Tell me what you would have? And where you are like to mend your ſelves? You are for Profit, here is Gold for you; you are for Pleaſure, and here's Honey for you. Oh how well might you be without theſe Earthly-ſweets! Would you but drink of this Well of living Waters, where only it is the deeper the ſweeter. I cannot but wonder that Men that have Reaſon, and are in their right wits can hear theſe things, and not be (at the leaſt) convinced, if not converted. Oh that the god of this World [the Devil] ſhould be able, in things ſo clear and perſpicuous, to put a Blind upon your Underſtandings, and Bribe your Judgments! Truly, if the Goſpel in theſe Halcyon-days, be a hidden Treaſure to you, it is ſo only to ſuch as are loſt, &c.2 Cor. 4.4
3. Beg of God by frequent and fervent Prayer, that he would give you inlightned underſtanding, ſo as you Pſal. 119. 18.may ſee a ſingular vertue in, and may ſet a ſuperlative value upon this excellent Treaſure, the Goſpel; which is a manifeſtation of Gods Mind, the myſtery of his Will and Wiſdom, a Copy of his Truth, a tranſcript of Heaven, and Happineſs to the Heirs of Glory. What Aeneas Sylvius ſaith of Moral Vertue, may much more truly be ſaid of the Goſpel; If moral Vertue could Aeneas Sylv. in his Epiſt. to Sigiſmond.be beheld with mortal eyes, it would work a ſtrange admiration in the Beholders. But behold here you have Divine Vertue pointed out to the life Majeſty and Mercy, Vertue and Verity, Righteouſneſs and Peace kiſſing each other; a far greater Treaſure than the Iſhmaelitiſh Merchants had of Joſeph Pſal. 85. 10who became Lord-Treaſurer of Egypt; and bleſſed be the Lord that we ſhould be born to behold with our eyes the things that many Prophets and Mat. 13 17.righteous men deſired to ſee, and have not ſeen them; Paulum in Ore, Chriſtum in Carne revelatum, were two of St. Auguſtin's great wiſhes: To ſee Paul in the Pulpit and Chriſt Incarnate, &c. The Queen of Sheba came from far to ſee Solomon and to hear his Wiſdom, and parted with much precious Treaſure for this: But behold a greater than Solomon; the great Lord-Treaſurer of the whole world hath ſent his Embaſſadours to publiſh the glad-tidings of Peace, and to ſing that Evangelical Hymn, Glory to God in the higheſt, on Earth Peace, good will towards Luk. 2.14.Men. And yet this Treaſure ſticks upon our hand, and is vilely valued by the blind world, who ſee not their want, and know not the worth of a Chriſt.
Wiſdom uttereth her Voice, and proclaims her precious Wares, and ſaith, How long ye ſimple ones, will you Prov. 1. 21▪love ſimplicity, and ye ſcorners delight in ſcorning! &c. yet the Staple-treaſure of the Goſpel will not off; Men make light of it, who have their Treaſures Mat. 22. 5.in the Fields, and will hardly ſtep over their threſholds to gather this Mannah.
Could we but once perſwade you to get inlightned underſtandings, you would ſee with other eyes, and hear with other ears than you now do, and walk with other feet, and work with other hands; you would no longer lie down with the ſluggard, and ſay, O utinam boc eſſet laborare! Oh that this were to labour! you would not with the hungry man barely long for this food, but labour for it; you would not only thirſt as the Covetous Man doth after Wealth, but you would work to get it; you would wait at the Pool, and at the beautiful Gates Acts 3. 2, 10.of the Temple, and your main requeſt to Chriſt would be that of the blind Man, Lord, only that mine eyes might be Mark 10. 51.opened, ſaith he.
Ʋſe 4. With what Joy ſhould we embrace the Goſpel? Men uſe to rejoice when they get Treaſures. The Marriage-day upon this account, is called a Merry-day, becauſe the Man expects a Treaſure; for on what he ſets his heart and affections, that's his Treaſure: Shall carnal Men rejoice when they find Jewels? And ſhall not Chriſtians, who have a Treaſure made up Pſal. 119. 14.of Jewels in the Goſpel rejoice even more than in all riches? We read in the Occurrences of the Low-Countries, That a day of Feſtivity was kept ſome time for joy, that the Scriptures. were tranſlated. But this joy laſted but for a ſeaſon, like unto that of John Baptiſt John 5. 35.his Hearers. And indeed, what Reverend Moulin ſaith of his Countrymen, we have cauſe to ſay of ours; Time was Moul. Theoph. 2. 278.(ſaith he) That whiles they burnt us for reading the Scriptures, we burnt with zeal to be reading of them. Now with our liberty is b…ed a neglect of the Word of God; and ſo it is with us as in ſome parts of the World, where there are great ſtore of Pearls and other precious Things, the people will part with them, for ſuch things that we here count trifles; So the Goſpel is looked upon by many, as Mannah was with the Iſraelites but common Meat. Surely, were it to be ſent to ſuch as have not heard it, they would hear it more, believe it more, rejoice in it more than we do. Alas for this poor Nation, it ſurfeits upon the glorious Goſpel! And hence it is, ſo few with Joy receive it, with Faith believe it, with their Heart embrace it. But let all that are Gods Jewels rejoice in it more than in Corn and Wine, and all earthly Comforts.
Ʋſe 5. Let us come to the Preaching of the Goſpel as unto a Treaſury and Store-houſe of all good things, Iſa. 55. 1.the Common Mart and Market of all ſpiritual Proviſion, even Treaſures of Wiſdom and Knowledg; Here is Bread for the hungry, Water for the thirſty, Milk for Babes, ſtrong Meat for 1 Cor. 3.2. Pſal. 104. 15.Men, Wine to make glad the Heart and Oyl to make his face ſhine: Her… you may have Gold to enrich you, … Rev. 3.18.Garment to cloath you; here are Ornaments for your head, Bracelets fo… your neck and arms, Pendents for you… ears, Eye-ſalve for your eyes, a Gird… for your loins, Breſt-plates for you… hearts, and Signets for your hand… You have here a Cornucopia for Plenty a Catholicon for Cures; an Armory fo… Weapons againſt ſpiritual Wickedneſſes; a Library for Books, and Treaſury for Jewels. What woul… you have? What are your Wants▪ Here you may have a Supply from Jeſus Chriſt, In whom doth all fulneſs dwell; and from whoſe fulneſs we receive Grace for Col. 1.19. Joh. 1.14.Grace.
Are you poor in ſpirit? here are durable Prov. 8.10.Riches for you; ſick? here is Phyſick for you; ſorrowful? here's Comfort for you; tempted? here's ſufficient Strength for you; Are you in 2 Cor. 12. 9.Bonds? here's Bale for you: Are you broken for ſin? here's a precious Balm for you: Have you a hard heart? here's a ſuppling and a ſoftning Oyl for you: Are you ſubject to fears and doubts? here Faith is begotten for you: Are you ſullen or ſilent, and cannot pray? here you have the Spirits Promiſe to help your Infirmities: Would you Rom. 8.26. Eph. 6. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.know how to behave your ſelves in the Houſe of God? in your own Houſes, as Husbands and Wives, Parents and Children, Maſters and Servants? Come Iſa. 55. 1.…o this publick Treaſury where theſe …hings are to be had: but you muſt know this, that theſe Treaſures are not to be attained without digging and Chriſtian Diligence in the uſe of means. It is a hard work to dig for Gold, and you muſt make heart-work of it. The Job 3. 21.Apoſtle minds young Timothy of this, Eccleſ. 1. 13.who had made it his trade from his youth, Meditate of theſe things, and give thy 1 Tim. 4. 15.ſelf wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear. And Solomon ſaith, If thou ſeekeſt her as Silver, and ſearcheſt for her as for hid Treaſure; Then ſhalt thou underſtand Prov. 2.4, 5.the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledg of God.
Queſt. But what further means muſt we uſe to get this Treaſure?
Anſw. You muſt be ſure to ſeek it Nihil quaeritur niſi per viam ſuam.in Gods ways, and in the uſe of the good means he hath appointed. As,
1. You muſt mix the Word with Faith in your hearts when you read it or when you hear it; for ſuch as bring not Faith along with them, depart from the Word without Fruit; The Goſpel Heb. 4. 2.preached, profiteth not them that hear it, who mix it not with Faith. Faith in the heart is like the ſweet confection of Oyntment poured upon Chriſt his Head; it caſts a ſweet ſcent and ſavour into all the parts and powers of the Soul: it is Oyl to theſe wheels, and makes them go with agility in the ways of God.
2. Pray unto God that he would Pſal. 119. 18.pour upon you the eye-ſalve of the Spirit; for this Treaſure lyes deep, and our ſhallow capacities cannot comprehend it, our underſtandings being not only blind, but blindneſs it ſelf. Eph. 1.18. Domine velamen amove, Volumen evolve.Pray therefore that your underſtandings may be unvailed, that the Truths of Chriſt may be revealed, that neither the Organ may be dim, nor the Object dark; But of this I ſpake before.
3. Live under a godly Miniſtry, where the Word drops like pretious dew from Sion into the fertile vallies: This is the Indies where this Treaſure lies; Theſe Preachers lips preſerve knowledg, and you muſt ſeek the Law at Cant. 1.8.their mouths, feeding your kids beſides the ſhepherds Tents. Such who are uſed to dig in Mines, know by the colour of the Sands, and by the taſte of the Waters, that run from the Mountains where the true Treaſure lieth; So you may gueſs where, and from what ſort of Men, you may get the Pearl of Price, even from ſuch who wear the Breſtplate of Science and Conſcience, whoſe care is (as it was ſaid of Chryſoſtom) In vita Chriſt.Non aures titillare, ſed corda pungere; not to tickle the ears of the Hearers, but to prick and pierce their Hearts; into whoſe hearts the true Light hath ſhined.
4. Be diligent in ſeaſon and out of ſeaſon, and by frequent hearing of Sermons be ſearching for this hid Treaſure: This is the means that God hath promiſed to bleſs when we lie with the lame man waiting at the Pool. Men John 5. 3.uſe to omit no opportunity to get gain; the love of Gold makes many a man not mind his meat or his ſleep, but he will toil even and take pains when he ſhould reſt, and refreſh nature; So he that would get this Jewel, muſt with the Prophets bleſſed man, meditate in the Pſal. 1. 2.Law of God day and night.
5. Such who would get skill in ſearching for Earthly Treaſures, muſt confer with others to know where the right Vein for Silver is; what tedious Job 28. 1. Horace his Epiſtle.Travels have been undertaken for this, Impiger extremos currit Mercator ad Indos; So ſuch as would have this precious Pearl muſt read and run from one Dan. 12. 4. Amos 8. 12.Sermon to another, inquire and retire into themſelves and converſe with others, Luke 24. 17.
Laſtly, Learn from hence to prefer the Goſpel before the moſt pretious things in the world, ſince it affords a truer Pleaſure, a more induring Treaſure. Gold is got out of the baſeſt element the Earth, and admired only by men of earthy minds; who make it their God, and ſell their Souls to the Devil for it. Oh! the miſery, the miſchief that the Love of it hath wrought in the world: For this cauſe Crates the Philoſopher is ſaid to caſt his Gold into the Sea, with theſe words, Ego vos mergam, ne ipſe Solinus, c. 68.mergar a vobis: It was never true to any that truſted in it. But the Goſpel though it come from Earthen Veſſels, yet it is pure and moſt pretious, ſure and certain, eſtabliſhed for ever in Heaven: Pſal. 119. 89. Mat. 6. 19.Lay not up therefore for your ſelves a Treaſure on the Earth, where ruſt and canker do corrupt, but lay up for your ſelves a Treaſure in Heaven, &c.
But I proceed to the Pot into which this Treaſure is put; Earthen Veſſels.