Precious Treasure in Earthen Vessels, Doctrine 1
I. DOCT. It hath pleaſed God to put the Goſpel Treaſure in Earthen Veſſels.
In this Doctrine there are theſe Two Propoſitions.
PROP. I. The Goſpel is a Treaſure.
PROP. II. It hath pleaſed God to put this Treaſure in Earthen Veſſels.
PROP. I. The Goſpel is a Treaſure. Such is the External Revelation of the Holy Scriptures; Much more ſo, is the Internal Knowledge of the Glorious Truths and Myſteries of the Goſpel. Nothing doth ſo much improve and enrich the mind, as the Truth of the Goſpel, when received in the Love of it. For the Proof and Illuſtration of this Propoſition.
1. The Goſpel is a Treaſure, inaſmuch as in the Goſpel there's a Plenty, a Fulneſs of what is moſt Precious and Excellent. There is a Treaſure wherein is an abundance of what is valuable. Now in the Goſpel we have the moſt needful, moſt uſeful, Diſcoveries made unto us: Wiſdom ſays, Prov. 8.6. Hear, I will ſpeak of Excellent things, and the opening of my lips ſhall be right things. In the Goſpel we have the Revelation of the Glory of God in the Face of Jeſus Chriſt. Now to know God and Chriſt, is Life Eternal. The Excellency of this knowlege is, that it gives Life to the Soul. God is the firſt Truth, and the chief Good. How Precious and Excellent then muſt the knowlege of Him be? We may better want the light of the Sun, then the light of the Goſpel. In the Scriptures we have the Revelation of One GOD in Three Perſons; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghoſt. In the Scriptures we have the Revelation of that great Myſtery of Godlineſs, God manifeſt in the Fleſh. By the Scriptures God gives the knowlege of Salvation through a Redeemer to ſuch periſhing Sinners as we are, who naturally ſit in Darkneſs and the ſhadow of Death. O Low invaluably precious is this Diſcovery of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, which is made in the Goſpel. We are by Nature guilty Sinners, deeply in Debt to Divine Juſtice, and have nothing to pay: Certainly then, the Goſpel is a Rich Treaſure: For in this we have Chriſt reveal'd, and offered to us; in whom there is a compleat Righteouſneſs, and an inexhauſtable Stock of Merit; the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, the Blood of whoſe Sacrifice being the Blood of Him that is God, is infinitely precious, of value ſufficient to be a Redemption-Price for the chief of Sinners. We are by Nature altogether without ſtrength; empty of Grace, and full of Sin; Certainly then the Goſpel is an ineſtimable Treaſure, in which Chriſt is reveal'd and offer'd to us, of whoſe fulneſs we may receive, and grace for grace. Chriſt who is the Lord in whom we have Righteouſneſs and Strength, Iſai. 45.24. The Graces and Conſolations of the Spirit are convey'd to Believers by the Miniſtry of the Word. It is particularly ſaid of Faith, Rom. 10.17. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word. 1 Cor. 4.15. In Chriſt Jeſus I have begotten you through the Goſpel. In the Scriptures the Treaſures of Wiſdom and Knowlege which are hid in Chriſt are manifeſt and laid open. Agreably we have that Expreſſion, Eph. 3 8 Unto me who am leſs then the leaſt of all Saints, is this grace given, that I ſhould Preach among the Gentiles the unſearchable Riches of Chriſt. In and by the Goſpel God makes known what is the Riches of the glory of this Myſtery among the Gentiles which is Chriſt in you the hope of Glory. The Apoſtle Paul aſſureth us that what things were gain to him, he accounted loſs for Chriſt: yea, ſays he, I count all things but loſs for the Excellency of the Knowledge of Jeſus Chriſt my Lord. Now we have this knowledge in the Scriptures; The Goſpel is the Goſpel of Chriſt; and the great Scope and Deſign of it is to give us the light of the knowlege of the Glory of God in the Face, in the Perſon of Jeſus Chriſt. Undoubtedly then the Word of God by which we are taught and inſtructed in this knowlege, is to be eſteemed an invaluable Treaſure. The manifold Wiſdom of God made known in the Scriptures is the Principal thing. It is Better than Rubies, and all the things that may be deſired, are not to be compared with it. Pſal. 19. The Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the Soul.— The Judgments of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be deſired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold, — Here are Golden Rules laid down for the government of our Lives. Here are Exceeding great and precious Promiſes that by them we might be made partakers of the Divine Nature; which is the chief excellency and glory of Man, 2 Pet. 1.4. In the Goſpel the Children of God have the promiſe of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. Men are wont to eſteem the Writings whereby they hold their Eſtates: Now in the Sacred Scriptures God makes over Himſelf to His People as their Everlaſting Portion; and with Himſelf all that they need for Soul and Body, Time and Eternity. The Riches of Grace and the Riches of Glory are made ſure to Believers in Gods Word. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt hath brought Life and Immortality to light by the Goſpel, 2 Tim. 1.10. The Treaſures which are reſerved in Heaven for Gods People, are diſcovered in the Goſpel, and ſecured to Believers. Now certainly, theſe Spiritual and Everlaſting Bleſſings are very Precious. They are a ſuitable and ſufficient ſupply for the Immortal Soul, which is our more noble part: they conſiſt of thoſe things which are in their own nature of ineſtimable value, and which are exactly ſuited to our wants and neceſſities. And then there is enough of them, an abundant plenty and fulneſs, every way ſufficient to fill all our wants, and ſatisfy all our deſires. Here's every good thing, and that in abundance. In the Goſpel there's an inexhauſtable Fountain Opened, at which we may be filled. A Fountain that can never be drawn dry, but is always full and flowing. Through the Goſpel God makes all Grace abound towards His People, that they always having alſufficiency in all things, may abound. Here then we ſee that the Goſpel is a Treaſure, in that in it is a plenty and fulneſs of what is moſt Excellent and Precious.
2. The Goſpel may be compared to a Treaſure, in that it hath been in all Ages preſerved and ſecured for the uſe and benefit of the Church, by the eſpecial care of Gods Providence. Treaſures are wont to be laid up in places of Strength and Safety; to be preſerved with great care and induſtry. The Promiſes of the Goſpel are made ſure; For in Chriſt they are Yea, and Amen. But what I deſign to conſider under this Head, is the wonderful care of God's Providence in preſerving the written Word from being loſt, or corrupted: To the Jewiſh Church of Old were committed the Oracles of God. And it is obſerved that the Ancient Jews preſerved the Letter of the Scripture entire. It is ſaid that the Men of the great Synagogue numbred the Verſes, Words, and Letters, of every Book, to prevent all poſſibility of corrupting the Text *Godwyn's Antiq. p. 279.in future times. So wonderfully did God Spirit them to preſerve the Scriptures pure, and tranſmit them entire to Poſterity. While Thouſand of other Writings have been loſt, and the memorial of them hath periſhed; the Book of God is ſtill preſerved, by the ſingular care of His watchful Providence, as a Sacred Treaſure for the uſe and benefit of the Church. There was a Roman Emperor that Publiſhed an Edict for the aboliſhing the Scriptures Fox Acts & Monuments. Vol. I. p. 85. Col. 2. & p. 91. Col. 2. Edit, Anno 1684., which was engraven in Braſs. Time hath caten up thoſe Brazen Pillars: Whereas the Law of God endureth for ever.
3. The Goſpel is a Treaſure, in that the Bleſſings and good things Exhibited and Offered in the Goſpel are incorruptible, and the Fulneſs of them is reſerved for the People of God in the Heavenly World. When Men would lay up a Treaſure, they are wont to chooſe the moſt durable things; not periſhable Commodities, as they ſpeak. Now the Goſpel doth in this reſpect reſemble a Treaſure. It is the Everlaſting Goſpel, 1 Pet. 23, to 25. — The Word of God liveth and abideth for ever. — All Fleſh is as graſs, — the graſs withereth and the flower thereof falleth away. But the Word of the Lord endureth for ever. — And this is the word which by the Goſpel is Preached unto you. The true and faithful Witneſs teſtifieth, Sooner may Heaven and Earth paſs away, then one jot or tittle of Gods Word fail.
And then as a Treaſure is ſomething in Reſerve for time to come, ſomething laid up for a time of need: So the fulneſs of the Bleſſing of the Goſpel of Chriſt is laid up in Heaven for God's People. The glorious things ſpoken concerning the People of God in the Scriptures, will not have their full Accompliſhment till theſe Heirs of Glory are received to the open Viſion and full Fruition of God in Heaven.
PROP. II. It hath pleaſed God to put this Treaſure in Earthen Veſſels. God hath committed the Diſpenſation of the Goſpel to Men fitly compar'd to Earthen Veſſels. Such as theſe are Commiſſion'd and Empowred to Teach and Preach in Chriſts Name. They are by their Office Stewards of the Myſteries of God. 1 Cor. 9.17. A diſpenſation of the Goſpel is committed to me. To them is given the Miniſtry of Reconciliation. Now the Character which is here given to the Miniſters of the Goſpel is this, They are Earthen Veſſels. They are mean, infirm, dying Creatures. They are indeed diſtinguiſhed from others in this, that they are betruſted with the Goſpel Treaſure, by vertue of their Office, as they are the Miniſters of CHRIST: but in other reſpects they are like other Men. Yea, many times more frail than their Brethren are.
1. The Miniſters of the Goſpel that have this Treaſure, are formed out of the Duſt, and muſt in a little time return to the Earth. They are of the ſame Original with other Men. They may well ſay with Elihu, Job. 33.6. Behold, I am according to thy wiſh in Gods ſtead: I alſo am formed out of the Clay. They who by their Commiſſion are the Miniſters of God, and ſo in Gods ſtead; are yet but as other Men in their Natural Structure and Conſtitution. Tho' they are of Eſpecial Uſe in the Temple of God, yet reſpecting their frailty, They are Veſſels of Earth, not of Gold.
Their Bodies are framed and faſhioned out of the ſame Courſe, Earthy Materials; in this regard they are upon a level with their Brethren. Therefore when Cornelius fell down at Peter's feet, Peter took him up, ſaying, Stand up, I my ſelf alſo am a Man, Acts 10.26. Theſe Meſſengers of God are Spirits in fleſh. They dwell in houſes of Clay, whoſe foundation is in the Duſt. The Goſpel Treaſure is from above, from Heaven, Heavenly: but theſe Veſſels wherein it is contained, are of the Earth, Earthly, Such was our Father Adam, as his Name Signifies. God formed Him out of the duſt of the ground, Gen. 2.7. And the Miniſters of the Goſpel, as well as others, are begotten in his likeneſs, and bear his Image. Their Bodies are Earthly Tabernacles, and will quickly Moulder down into Duſt, 2 Cor. 5.1. For we know, that if our Earthly houſe of this Tabernacle were diſſolved. They are Children of the firſt Adam, in whom we all die; they derive from him both Moral and Natural Corruption. They have the Seeds of Mortality and Corruption in their very Make and Conſtitution, as well as other Men. They are frail, brittle Ware, feeble, and ſoon broken. They may ſay with Job 1.12. Is my ſtreneth the strength of Stones? Or is my fleſh of Braſs? No, Miniſters are expos'd to the ſame Diſeaſes as other Men; To the ſame hurtful and painful impreſſions. Their Bodies are as vile as the Bodies of others; and many times more frail and crazy. 1 Tim. 5.23. — Thine often Infirmities. They ſpend and are ſpent in the work of the Miniſtry. The weight of their work helps many times to weaken and break their Conſtitution. The concern with which their Solemn Charge doth impreſs their Minds, oftentimes conſumes their Spirits. They are waſted and worn away with the diſticulties they meet with in their Employment. The Treaſure which they hold helps to ſhatter and break to pieces theſe Earthen Veſſels, As New Wine burſts Old Bottles; to allude to our Saviour's expreſſion.
In a little time they are broken to pieces by the ſtroke of Death. Zech. 1.5. Your Fathers, where are they? and the Prophets, do they live for ever? Peter knew that in a little time he muſt put off his Earthly Tabernacle, 2 Peter 1.14. Knowing that ſhortly I must put off this my Tabernacle. They are in Gods hand, as clay in the hand of the Potter; And when the work which he hath deſign'd for them is accompliſh'd, He takes away their Breath, they die, and return to their Earth. Their Bodies are Sown in diſhonour and corruption As the Prieſts under the Law, ſo Goſpel-Ministers are not ſuffered to continue, by reaſon of Death.
2. They are mean, and lightly Eſteemed in the World. And in this reſpect may be compared to Earthen Veſſels. They are not ordinarily Men of Name and Renown. They are often eſteemed as Earthen Pitchers, the work of the hands of the Potter. They are too often filled with contempt, and caſt out as Veſſels wherein there is no pleaſure. 1 Cor. 4.13. We are made as the filth of the World, and are the offſcouring of all things to this Day.
I might have conſidered their Moral defects, and infirmities. The Miniſters of the Goſpel are Sinful Men. The beſt of them groan under the remains of the body of Death. The Apoſtle Paul uttered that heavy complaint, Rom. 7.24. O wretched man that I am, who ſhall deliver me from the body of this Death?