Expositions Upon Matthew 1-10, Treatise · Chapter 6 · Section 11 – Section 12
Grounds why we ſhould not lay up treaſure on earth.
1 Thoſe that have had the moſt of them have confeſt a vanity in them, Eccleſ. 2.8. Solomon gathered Silver and Gold, and had peculiar Treaſures, yea v. 9. he was increaſed more than all that were before him in Jeruſalem, yet v. 11. he ſaith, All was vanity and vexation of ſpirit.
2 Earthly Treaſures are liable to conſume and periſh, Thieves, Moth, Ruſt conſume them. It is not our calling them Fee-ſimples, Inheritances, Perpetuities, or the Conveyance of them to us and our heirs for ever that will make them durable. They are like fugitive Servants which oft run from one Maſter to another. For all the Babylonians had Gates of Braſs and Bars of Iron, to defend their Treaſures, yet ſays the Lord to Cyrus, I will break in pieces theſe Gates, and cut aſunder theſe Bars, and I will give thee the Treaſures of darkneſs, and hidden riches of ſecret places. Iſai 45.2, 3. If your treaſure be in Silver and Gold, Thieves may ſpoil them, if in Garments Moths may eat them, if in Ships Sea may ſwallow them, if in Cattel Rot may ſeize them, if in Buildings and Furniture Fire may burn them, if in Lands War may diſpoſſeſs them, when a War comes if you fall not on the right ſide your Lands are gone; beſides crackt Titles, Inundations of Waters ſpoil ſome men of their Lands. Job ſaith of goods in the general, that they flow away in the day of Gods wrath, Job 20.28.
3 From the inability of earthly things, as, 1 They cannot bring us ſundry goods, not pardon to the ſoul, nor health to the body, nor a good nights reſt, not a good repute in the hearts of good men, they cannot redeem a ſoul, nor give to God a ranſom for it. Pſalm 49.7. A man may gain the whole world and yet loſe his ſoul, Matth. 16.26.
2 There are many evils they cannot remove. Earthly treaſure can neither drive away diſeaſes from the body, nor diſquiet from the conſcience, nor can they ſecure againſt poverty, as appears in Adoni-bezek, and other Princes, who have come to poverty before they died: yea, when not ſanctified, earthly treaſures drown the ſoul in perdition, as the Ship when it's overladen ſinks, unleſs unburdened of ſome of its lading.
3 Uſe. Exhortation to lay up treaſure in Heaven. Conſider, 1 The excellency of the object. As it's a mans miſery to have his treaſure here below, to be like Eels mudling in mud, ſo it's the ſouls happineſs to mount up to have his treaſure in Heaven; as the Sun draws up the vapours, ſo ſhould the glorious things of Heaven draw up our hearts. We ſhould be like thoſe fiſhes that having fins ſwim above the water. Amor meus pondus meum, illuc feror, quocunque feror. My love is my weight, thither I am carried where ever I am carried.
2 The unchangeableneſs of it; neither Moth nor Ruſt corrupts it. Grace is incorruptible, the hidden man of the heart is incorruptible, 1 Peter 3.4. and ſo is the Kingdom of Heaven, 1 Peter 1.4. and ſo much more is God himſelf, Heb. 1.12. They ſhall wax old as doth a Garment, but thou art the ſame.
3 The eternal wofulneſs to be miſtaken in the chief treaſures. Perſons reflect upon their folly when they have been cheated to think they have had treaſure from Witches, and it hath proved nothing but Leaves and Chips: what will it be then to be miſtaken in this treaſure? yet it's the miſery of all worldly men. See Pſalm 4.6. Who will ſhew us any good?
4 The exceeding happineſs of having God for our treaſure. When Friends fails, life fails, he knows where to go for comfort, and he being our treaſure can make up all our wants.
V. 20. For where your treaſure is, there will your heart be alſo.
Heart is taken, 1 For the deſire of the heart, Deut. 24.25. The hireling ſets his heart upon his hire, that is, his deſire.
2 Heart is taken for the affections of the heart, as love, joy, delight, and ſo here, Pſalm 57.1.
3 Heart is taken for the light of the underſtanding and conſent of the will, Joel 2.12. Turn to me with all your heart, that is, not onelyonly that you underſtand what is your duty, but that you conſent to give your wills to me.
4 For the devices of the heart, Iſai 32.6. the Prophet ſaith, A wicked mans heart worketh wickedneſs, that is, the devices of the heart are for it.
5 For the thoughts of the heart, Pſalm 139.23. Try me, and know my heart, ſearch me and know my thoughts. Sampſon told Dalilah all his heart, that is, all his thoughts, Judges 16.17. Pſalm 45.1. My heart is inditing a good matter, that is, the thoughts of my heart are inditing.
6 Heart is taken for the purpoſes of the heart, 1 Kings 8.17. It was in the heart of my father David to build a houſe for the Name of God, that is, it was in the purpoſes of my heart.
The meaning is, if God and Chriſt be our Treaſure, then our deſires, yea the whole ſtream of affections will be for him, as our love, joy, yea our underſtandings to conceive, and our wills to make choice of him as the chiefeſt good, yea the contrivances of the heart will run Heaven-ward, yea the thoughts of the heart will be often with God, and the purpoſes of the heart always with him.
But if the World, or ſome darling luſt be our chief Treaſure, the ſtream of the will and affections, devices, thoughts and purpoſes will go after that.
V. 22, 23. The light of the body is the eye, if thine eye be ſingle thy whole body ſhall be full of light;
But, if thine eye be evil, thy whole body ſhall be full of darkneſs. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkneſs, how great is that darkneſs?
The words are an Allegory.
Queſt. What is meant by the light of the body.
Anſw. Some by eye underſtand the light of reaſon, and by the body all the actions of the body, then the ſenſe will be that we ſhould not in a blinde courſe follow onelyonly our ſenſe but act according to right reaſon.
Others by eye underſtand a ſincere intention eying God, and ſingling out God from all other objects, if that be right the whole body will be full of light, but if thy intention be hypocritical and wicked, thy whole body ſhall be full of darkneſs.
Others by eye underſtand an enlightened underſtanding. Look as the body is guided by the eye, ſo are all the actions of the ſoul by an enlightened underſtanding, but where the underſtanding is vicious, all a mans practiſe is corrupt; a corrupt underſtanding is as a falſe Looking-glaſs. If the minde be blinded with earthly things, as Gold, Silver, treaſures, &c. to think them the chief good, then will men think that to be lawfull which is unlawfull, and that to be profitable which is hurtfull.
Others by eye underſtand the judgment, and by the body underſtand the minde, if this Light be dark, blinde affections, and unbridled paſſions, and corrupt actions muſt needs follow ſuch a judgment. I take it the two laſt are here meant, where the underſtanding is enlightened to diſcern aright of heavenly treaſure, that it's the onelyonly precious and incorruptible treaſure, and the judgment determines and gives ſentence herein, there follows an holy and heavenly converſation, but where the underſtanding is clouded, and the judgment miſguided, all our actions are full of darkneſs. We ſhould have no leſs care to have a clear diſcerning underſtanding and judgment, than to have our natural eys kept clear, for as we cannot go without ſtumbling, if we want bodily ſight, no more can we go in the way of ſalvation unleſs our underſtandings be enlightened.
Obſ. An enlightened underſtanding, and a ſanctified judgment are of abſolute neceſſity to guide us in an holy practiſe, without theſe we cannot diſcern the excellency of heavenly treaſure above earthly treaſure, without theſe we ſhall make Martha's choice and not Maries, Luke 10.41. Mary hath choſen that good part.
Reaſ. The Reaſon is, 1 Becauſe without theſe we can neither ſee ſin nor grace in their right colours, we ſhall be ready to call evil good and good evil, we ſhall put darkneſs for light and light for darkneſs, bitter for ſweet and ſweet for bitter, Iſai 5.20. we ſhall be ready to call ſanctification ſingularity, zeal preciſeneſs, holineſs hypocriſie, ſincerity ſcrupulouſneſs.
2 Becauſe an enlightened underſtanding and a ſanctified judgment do not onelyonly propoſe unto us duty, but alſo direct us to the practiſe thereof; hence it's compared to the guidance of the eye to the body, and without theſe we know not whither we go, John 12.35.
Uſe 1 Pitty thoſe who want both an inlightened underſtanding and a ſanctified judgement; ſo Chriſt was moved herein, Matth. 9.37.
2 Beware you follow not in your practice falſe guides, the light that leads moſt men is meer darkneſs: in their religion they are led by the examples of others, Joh. 7.48. Have any of the Rulers or Phariſees believed on him? Or by the laws of the land and command of the Prince, Dan. 3.7. As ſoon as the King commanded they all fell down to worſhip, in their eating and drinking they are led by their cheer, in buying and ſelling led by their gain, others are led by their good meanings, Joh. 16.2. They meant to do good ſervice when they killed his Saints, ſometimes by opinion, 1 King. 18.21. Paul meant well when he compelled perſons to blaſpheme Chriſt, Act, 26.9. Oh then get an inlightened underſtanding, and in order to it ſtudy the Word, which when thou goeſt it ſhall lead thee, when thou awakeſt it ſhall talk with thee, Prov. 6.22, 23. Its reſembled to a lantern which ſhows us the way, Pſal. 119.105. and to a counſellor, Pſal. 119.24.
3 Follow after an inlightened underſtanding and a ſanctified judgement, without theſe we can no more guide our courſe towards heaven then the ſea travailer can guide his courſe without his compaſs, or the land travailer without ſun or moon. For want of theſe many men are like a Millhorſe that goes round round, thinking he is in the rode way when he is but where he was: without this illumination we are ready to think all things alike lawful, as in the King of Moab who ſacrificed his Son, and in Manaſſes who built altars to all the hoſt of heaven, 2 King. 3.26. 2 Chron. 33.5, 6. Its the wiſdom of the prudent to underſtand his way. Prov. 14.8.
4 Ceaſe to wonder why ſo few wiſe and learned men ſeek after heavenly things, 1 Cor. 1.26, 27. They want an inlightened underſtanding and a ſanctified judgement. As the bruit beaſts knowing no higher then things ſutable to their own nature and ſo ſavour onelyonly ſuch, ſo do Carnal men, they ſavour onelyonly the things of the fleſh, becauſe they know no higher, Rom. 8.5.
5 Learn a rule how to lay up your treaſure aright, both here and hereafter, get an inlightened underſtanding and a ſanctified judgement, Pſal. 4.6, 7. without this we ſhall be ready upon pretence of lawful cares to be ſwallowed up of the world.
6 Joyn to an inlightened minde a diſcerning judgement, in order to a regular government of your converſations. Job. 6.30. Cannot my taſte diſcerne perverſe things? that is godly men have an ability to diſcern holy actions from perverſe and crooked actions. A wiſe mans heart diſcerneth both time and judgement, Eccleſ. 8.5. without this ſanctified judgement, notwithſtanding all brain knowledge, we ſhall never be able to diſcerne ſpiritual things, 1 Cor. 2.14. for want of theſe both Chriſt and his wayes are condemned of the world, Job, 21.13, 14. and by theſe choſen of Chriſtians, Phil. 3.7, 8.
Motives.
1 This inlightened underſtanding and ſanctified judgement will be as uſeful to thy practice as a bright ſhining light, whether torch or candle, will be to thy foot-ſteps, which keeps thee from ſtumbling, Luk. 11.36. If thy whole body be full of light having no part darke, the whole ſhall be full of light, as when the bright ſhining of a candle doth give thee light: for want of light we are apt to ſtumble, Joh. 11.9. but where we have this light there's none occaſion of ſtumbling becauſe we abide in the light, 1 Joh. 2.10. Wiſdom is rightly to underſtand the knowledge of faith and doctrine of Chriſt, underſtanding is to take heed of the ſnares of the devil, hereticks, &c. and all deceits propoſed under the name of the word, Luth. Tom. 4.324.
2 The woful falls we are expoſed unto; being without this light, we ſtand at the devils mercy. Judge what the great world would be were it deprived of the light of the ſun, ſo forlorne are our ſouls deprived of this ſpiritual light. Original ſin hath done with us as the Philiſtins with Sampſon, who put out his eyes, and then led him to the baſeſt drudgery, and this is the caſe of all till a new light be ſet up in their hearts.
3 The gradual proceedings both of light in the mind, and diſcerning in the judgement, alas they are at firſt very ſmall; we ſee the things of God, as the blind man, Mar. 8.24. who ſaw men like trees, hence the Apoſtle prayes for the Epheſians, who had theſe in ſome meaſure, that they might have more of them, Eph. 1.17, 18. ſo doth he for the Philippians, cap. 1.9, 10. the ſight of an infant is not ſo ſtrong as the ſight of a grown man, ſo the light in weak Chriſtians is not ſo ſtrong as in grown Chriſtians.