AS diuers seruants in the fame Shop, in­tending their Mai­sters gaine, though one, as the Fore-man, may shewe the Commodity, and set [Page 2] the price, yet the rest will fur­ther the bargaine, either by commending the goodnesse of the ware, or shewing o­thers that is worse, yea, naught and counterfeit, and perswa­ding the Customer to straine to buy it: So is it my desire, this day,Coloss. 4.7. to be a fellow-seruant to helpe to strike vp the best bargaine, lately offered in the eminent'st place in this King­dome,O. Hall, to the Court at The­ [...]balds, on [...]unday, Sept. [...]. 16 [...]3. by a Reuerend & wor­thy Diuine, mine ancient Col­league [...] & Contemporane­us: to whom I ioyfully giue the right-hand of fellowship Gal. 2.9.; wee workers together; be­seech you, receiue not the grace of God in vaine 2 Cor. 6.1.. In Court and Countrey, the true [Page 3] Ministers of Christ sing but one Song; aime at one Marke, to make their hearers rich in Luk. 12.21.God, and wise vnto 2 Tim. 3.15▪ sal­uatiō, by the purchase of truth. We are not like the Priests and Iesuits, who are brethren in e­uill, though looking diuers wayes, according to their seue­rall Aduersis vultibus et coniun­ctis caudis. D▪ King, Serm. a [...] White-Hall, Nouemb. 5. 1608. p. 11. interests, yet, like Sam­sons Foxes, tyed by the tayles, to carry Firebrands, to set Gods Field on fire, & his vine­yard in a general combustion: but, as the Cherubims looked face to face, and both vpon the Exod. 25.20. Arke; so, one preach­eth out of the old Testament, another out of the New, both looke vpon Christ, who is the Creator of the Creed, and cir­cumference [Page 4] of all holy Scrip­tures. Solomon biddeth vs, buy the truth, but at no hand, sell Prou. 23.23. it. A greater then Mat. 12.42. Solo­mon biddeth vs buy it, though we sell all we haue for it: the one biddeth vs, buy and not sell; the other biddeth vs, sell that wee may buy▪ both of them intend mens happinesse, by purchasing one & the same truth: that was a precept, this is the practice: that wee must obey, and this imitate.

My Text is part of a Parable, without which, CHRIST spake Mar. 4.34. [...].nothing; most pow­erfull, to command attention; Parabola, Heb. Mashal. a [...]adi­ce Mashul, re­gere cum impe­rio. Buxtorf. Plus mouent fi­gurate dicta. Aug. Epist. 119 ad lanuar. and effectuall, to moue deuo­tion. A rich Parable; rich in the historie, but richer in the [Page 5] mistery. Nitet in cor­tice dulcior in medull. I [...]ron. Paulin. It proponeth, a Pearle of great price; for pur­chase wherof, all must be sold: but, it supponeth, a Iewell of inestimable pryce, in compa­rison whereof, S. Paul estee­med all goodly things to bee but drosse and Philip. 3.8. dung.

Parables are truely called sa­cred vailes. Sacra vela­mina. Dion. Areopag. Myster. giue me leaue to draw away the vaile, and let you looke into the holiest of all. This Pearle is, the Truth; in Hebrew, Margerah; in the Greeke, [...]; in Latine, Vnio: for, there is but one truth in the world: and this Pearle is called, a goodly Pearle, a faire Margarite: [...]. For, euen the na­ked truth of God, without welt or guard, or any entising [Page 6] words of mans wisdome, [...]. Iakar. Heb. is most louely, and beautifull, yea, it is a Pearle of great price: Dauid esteemes it dearer then thousands of gold and Psal. 119.72. sil­uer: so did Salomon esteeme it, all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared vnto Pro. 3.15. it: This goodly precious pearle is (hid) hid from the wisdome and search of flesh and blood; CHRIST told Peter when he had found it; Flesh and blood hath not reuea­led this vnto Mat. 16.17. thee. And a­gaine; I thanke thee Lord of heauen and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast reuealed them to Mat. 11.25. babes. Yea, so hid, as there is no finding it with­out [Page 7] a guid: the Eunuch knew, he was in the field where the Pearle was, & wanted not for paines taking, yet, Philip as­king him if hee had found it, he answered; How can I with­out a Act. 8.31. guide? And, there is but one Field in all the world, wherin this Pearle is hid, viz. the Word of God, which is therefore called the Word of 2 Cor. 6.7. Truth: which precious Pearle is hid so deepe in the field of the sacred Scripture, that there is no finding of it, without much search, and dig­ing: therefore Christ biddeth vs; Search the Ioh. 5.39. Scriptures. And Solomon biddeth: Seeke for wisdome, as for siluer, and search for her as for hidden [Page 8] treasure; Prou. 2.4. but as the wise Mer­chant, that after great search, findeth a precious Pearle, hid in a field, will sell all hee hath to purchase that field, & pearle in it: so a wise Christian, by great study and meditation, hearing, reading, and praying, hauing found in the field of holy Scriptures, the hid­den wisdome of God, for the saluation of man, by IESVS CHRIST, it is a knowledge so sweet and deare vnto him, as hee will easily part with all earthly things, that he may en­ioy the blessing of the Word, and thereby encrease in the sa­uing knowledge of GOD's Truth. So much for the mi­stery.

[Page 9]The parts of this Parable are two, viz. Diuision.

First, the finding of this Pearle.

Secondly, the procuring of it, that it may be his owne that findeth it.

I purpose by GOD's grace to handle the second part, it being to no purpose to find it, vnlesse wee make it our owne,Non minor est virtus, quam quaerere. that we may be enriched by it. The manner how to compasse it, our Sauiour expresseth figu­ratiuely, by a bargain, in which bargaine, there are two things done;

First, Selling.Subdiuision.

And secondly, Buying; (He sold all that he had, and bought it. The difference betwixt hea­uenly & earth­ly purchases.)

In this world, Kings, Prin­ces, [Page 10] and great rich men, are a­ble to buy goodly precious Pearles, and not sell any thing, the ouerplus of their great re­uenues will compasse them; but, in the spirituall bargaine for this Pearle, there is no buy­ing of it, but we must first sell; it is sometimes so deare, as the richest man must in action sell all: and it is neuer cheaper, but he that will haue it, must in af­fection, sell all that he hath for it: CHRIST our Master, hath himselfe in writing set the price, and we his Seruants can­not a bate an haire; If any man come to me, and hate not his fa­ther and his mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters; yea, and his owne life also, he can­not [Page 11] be my Luk. 14.2 Disciple: A great price, I confesse; yet, lest any should either stick at it, & goe away shucking the shoulders, as the rich man, that went a­way sorrowfull, for hee had great Mat. 19.22 possessions: or, re­pent of their bargaine, Christ hath assured, of all purchases, it is the best bargaine, and the onely way to bee rich: Euery one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my names sake, and the Gospels, he shall receiue an hun­dred-fold now in this time, and in the world to come eternal Mat. 19. penult. Mat. 10.30. life. Oh, suffer me then to prouoke you in this dead time,Conclusion the Preface. wherein though truth was neuer chea­per, [Page 12] it is generally thought to be too deare amongst many cheapners, but few buyers: GOD's seruants haue but cold takings, it is much to bee fea­red, if the market mend not, Christ will shut vp his shop­windows, and offer his Pearle to such as will more esteem of it: Oh, buy the truth whilst you may buy it, lest it prooue so scanty and deare, that it can­not be had at any rate: And that you may buy, first sell: that is the thing I purpose to presse at this time.

First part.In Parables, the letter hath the least part: if other haue any▪ this passage needeth none, I neede not prouoke men to sell that they haue, too many [Page 13] haue done so, in these late and deare yeares, to buy bread for them & their families▪ others, in this prodigall and luxuri­ous age, sell more then they haue, both present and reuer­sion, inheritance, and offices; and run in debt to buy wine, drinke, Tobacco, & spend vp­on their lusts▪ we had need to read lectures of good husban­drie to such, and pray them to keepe that which they haue, & let nothing be lost, lest they pinch with the Prodigall▪ in the end to sell all is the high­way to misery.

This sale, is to enable a man to buy CHRIST, yea, and heauen it selfe good husbands may thus sell; yea, thus to sell [Page 14] is the way to bee rich; this is godliness, which hath the pro­mise of this life, and of that which is to 1 Tim. 4.8 come: all good things of this life are in God's will and Testament, entituled to such Prodigals; Hee that will sell all for Christ, shall en­ioy all with 1 Cor. 3. pe­nult. [...]: vendidit. Christ. Marke then the words;

This wise-man proposed for patterne, doth not lay vp, or lend, or morgage, retayning propriety, but doth (Sell) not superfluities, and such things as he can spare, or hath no pre­sent vse of, but, (All that hee hath [...]: [...]nui [...] quae ha­buit..)

The words being opened, hence we learne,Doct. that whoso­euer will attaine to the sauing [Page 15] knowledge of Christ, & him crucified, must euer part with all hee hath.

For the Illustration wher­of, let it be noted,Illustration. that euery godly Christian must sel these three things.

• First, himselfe.
  1. himselfe.
• Secondly, his sinne.
• Thirdly, his substance.

Hee that maketh this sale, selleth all, and is able to buy the Pearle. For the first:

Hee must sell himselfe;Confirmation. What? to become a Bond-slaue? No, no, but his owne natural wisdome, reason, will affections, desires: yea, & con­fidence in his owne righteous­nesse.

This CHRIST expresseth, [Page 16] saying; He that will be my Dis­ciple, let him denie Mat. 16.24 himselfe. And S. Paul; If anie man seeme to be wise in this world, let him be­come a foole, that he may be wise, for the wisdome of this world is foolishnesse with 1 Cor. 3.18.19. God. Yea, the carnall mind is enmity a­gainst GOD, it is not subiect to the Law of GOD, neither indeede, can Rom. 8.7. bee: euery imagination, and high thing that exalteth it selfe against the knowledge of GOD, must be cast downe, & euery thought brought into captiuity, to the obedience of 2 Cor. 10.5. Christ; and then appeareth Faith, which bringeth forth most excellent obedience, though most ridi­culous in the eies of the world­ly [Page 17] wise. Thus Abraham;Good Exam­ples. being called of God out of Caldeah, hauing sold himselfe, hee fol­lowed God, he knew not whi­ther Gen. 12.1.: Againe, when the Lord promised him a Son by Sarah his wife, it was much a­gainst his naturall reason, hee being an hundred yeares old, and Sarah Gen. 17.17. ninety; but Abra­ham had sold himselfe, and therefore neither considered his owne body, nor Sarah's wombe, which were both as Rom. 4.17.dead, but gaue glory to God being fully perswaded, that what the Lord had promised he was also able to Rom. 4 19. perform: when also the Lord com­manded him, to take his be­loued and onely Sonne Isaac, [Page 18] and sacrifice him, how contra­ry was that to his naturall rea­son and affection, for a Father to lay violent hāds on his son, and neither spare him liuing, nor dead, till hee was burned into ashes? Yea, what a shake was this to his Faith, that hee should kill him, in whom he had receiued the promise, that hee and his should be blessed? But, hauing sold himselfe, hee rose vp early to doe it; for, he knew, that GOD was able to raise him vp from the Gen. 2 [...].3. Heb. [...]1.19. dead; wherefore, being thus prepa­red, he made an happy market; he beleeued, & it was imputed to him for righteousnesse; he became the friēd of God, & fa­ther of all thē that Rom. 4.3.beleeue.

[Page 19]But, the Philosophers are no good Chapmen; for,Euill Examples whereas Christ hath pronounced; Bles­sed are they that see not, and Ioh. 20.29. be­leeue. And S. Paul saith; We liue by faith, & not by 2 Cor. 5.7. fight. They seek after1 Cor. 1.22 wisdom, and will beleeue no more thē they can see, or comprehēd by reason, & therefore the misteries of the Gospel are foolish & ridiculous vnto thē: when S. Paul offered this Pearl to the wise Philoso­phers at Athens, preaching Christ, and his resurrection, they called him babler, and mocked Act. 17.18.32. him neither are the Philosophying Schoolmen, good Chapmen, because they haue not sold themselues, but turn Theology into witty que­stions, and bring the hidden [Page 18] [...] [Page 19] [...] [Page 20] Mysteries of God within the compasse of reason, by their subtle quiddities, and distin­ctions.

Aggrauation.Yea, we must not onely sell our naturall and vnregenerate wills, and reason, but also all confidence in our own works, and righteousnesse; so our Sa­uiour hath taught vs, when we haue done all wee can, to say, Wee are vnprofitable Luk. 17.10. Seruants:Good Exam­ple. thus S. Paul became a blessed Merchant, who, ha­uing so much to be proud of, and to glory in, and concer­ning the righteousnesse of the Law being vnrebukeable, yet, for this Pearl's sake, euen the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Iesus, he accounted [Page 21] it losse, and Phil. 3.8. dung; & ther­fore made a good market, say­ing; I liue by faith in the Sonne of God, who hath loued mee, and giuen himselfe for Gal. 2.20. me, And againe; To me to liue, is Christ, and to dye is Phil. 1.21. gaine. But the Iewes are no Chapmen for this market, for,Euill examples. they going about to establish their owne righteousnesse, haue not sub­mitted themselues to the righ­teousnes of Rom. 10.3. GOD; in which condition were the Pharises, and are the Papists, who trust­ing in the merit of their owne Workes, and going about to establish their owne inherent, home-made righteousnesse, cannot submit themselues to the righteousnesse of God: no [Page 22] welcome Chapmen to God's shop, but such as are humble, poore, and beggerly, that haue sold themselues, their reason, and righteousnesse, workes, and wisdome; and doe alto­gether hunger & thirst after, reioyce and glory in Christ, and saluation by him.

2. His sinnes.Secondly, he that will buy the truth, must sell; and sell all his sinnes: whereas there are many poore and simple peo­ple in the world, that haue but a small share, either in the gifts of nature, or good things 1 of fortune: all men are excee­dingly fraught with sinne; & nothing may more properly 2 be called a mans owne, then his sin; a man would thinke [Page 23] he might wel call such lands and inheritance his owne, as hee can shew good euidence for, and is come vnto him by diuers de­scents, and he hath legal writings to shew for it, made in such and such a kings raigne, hundreds of yeares agoe. But no man can shew such euidence for his lands, as a man may for his sins: The one can hardly goe so far as Wil­liam the Conqueror, not much a­boue 500. yeares: but the other hath his sin by inheritance from Adam, almost 5550 years since

Thirdly, there is nothing doth more beset a man, or cleaue more fast to a Heb. 12.5 [...]. man, or man can hard­ly be drawne to leaue, then his sinne; the leauing of some sins, is as the pulling out of the right [Page 34] eye, & the cutting off of the right Mat. 18.8.hand: But, righteousnesse, & vnrighteousnesse cannot dwell 2 Cor. 6.24 together, there is no remedy, hee shall neuer haue the Pearle doth not first sell all his sins. A­las,Obiection. who can doe so? Are we not all sinners? Was there euer any so righteous on earth, as sinned not? I answer;Solu. It is one thing to haue sin dwelling,Sense. & another to haue it raigning in vs: this is meant of raigning sinnes: according to which sence, I will lay downe the doctrine in plaine tearmes, and prooue it; for, in this the very life of religion, and power of godlines doth consist.

Doct.Whosoeuer will enioy the sa­uing truth, with the comforts & benefits of the Gospell, must [Page 35] haue no raigning sin; but, for euer renounce and forsake both inward delight, and outward practise of euery knowne sinne. Oh, this is a hard taske: and as it keepeth a great many from mar­ket; so others that seeme faire Chapmen, either to goe away of­fended; or deceiue themselues with cunning trickes and shifts: Verie few but faile in one point or other of this lesson: but,Confirma [...] let vs hearken to God's owne precept; Thou shalt loue the Lord thy God with all thy soule, strength, and Deut. might: Hee that doth so, can­not loue any sin; for, the loue of God, is the fulfilling of theRom. 1 law, whereof sin is the 1 Ioh. 3 transgres­sion. S. Paul biddeth all Christi­ans to glorifie God in their souls, [Page 36] and in their Cor. 6. vlt. bodies; & to clense themselues from all filthinesse of the flesh, and of the Cor. 7.1. spirit. And what hee commandeth, hee else­where praieth for; The very God of peace sanctifie you throughout: and I pray God that your soule, and spirit, and body may be kept blame­lesse, vnto the comming of our Lord Iesus Thes. 5.23. Christ. S. Iames also bid­deth all Christians, Cleanse their hands, and purge their [...]m. 4.8. hearts. Yea, euery page in holy writ is ful of such precepts, though not such full precepts. As, Let your light shine before [...]at. 5.16. men. Let not sin raigne in your mortall [...]om. 6.12 bodies: Let your conuersation be such as be­commeth the [...]hilip. [...].27. Gospell. The Grace of God, which bringeth saluati­on to all men, hath appeared, and [Page 37] teacheth vs to denye all vngodli­nesse, and worldly Lusts, and to liue righteously, godly, and so­berly in this present Tit. 2.1 world. Be yee holy in all manner of 1 Pet. 1. con­uersation. Yea, what is true Repen­tance, but the conuersion of the whole man, from all sinne, vnto GOD? He felleth all his sinnes.

Such a sale holy Dauid made,Example who had respect to all Psal 119 God's commandements; restrained his feet from euery euill way, and vt­terly abhorred all false Psal 119.104. waies: And Iosiah turned to the Lord, with all his heart, & all his soule according to all the commande­ments of 2 King 25. God. And Zacharie and Elizabeth walked in all the commandements and ordinan­ces of God, without Lu. 1.6 rebuke. [Page 38] Zacheus, hauing found the Pearl, sold all his sinnes, hee stood and said; Lord, the halfe of my goods I giue to the poore, and if I haue ta­ken anything from any man, by false accusation, I restore it Luk. 19.8. foure-fold. Marie, who had beene a notori­ous and infamous sinner, hauing found this Pearle, shee sold all her sinnes, both for delight and practise, vtterly forsooke, and detested her former, sinful, & vn­chast life; her eies, which had beene full of adultery, became as riuers of teares to wash Christs feete; her haire, which doubtless had beene plaited, and laide a­broad, an entisement to sin, was made a to well to wipe his feete; her face, which had beene impu­dent, was filled with shamefast­nesse, [Page 39] and modesty, she came be­hinde Luk. 7. Christ: The poore Theefe, finding this Pearl on the Crosse, how did he sell all? What a change was there wrought? that little time he had to liue, how well and godly did hee spend it, in rebukes, confessions, and prai­ers Luk. 23.? The Iaylor, who doubt­lesse had beene the instrument of cruelty in punishing the Apo­stles, hauing found this Pearle, hee sold all his sinnes, brought them forth of prison, washed their stripes, set meat before them, and reioyced, that hee & his hou­should beleeued in Act. 16 God. Yea, such as had vsed curious arts, fin­ding this pearl, sold all their sins, and in detestation thereof burnt their bookes, though worth fifty [Page 40] thousand peeces of [...]ct. 19.19 siluer.

Oh, these were Merchants, and made an happie market indeede! Yea, true repentance worketh such shame and Dan. 9 7. confusion; such zeale, indignation, and Cor. 7.11. re­uenge; such beating on the breast, with the Luk 18.13. Publican; such smi­ting on the thigh, with [...]erom, 1.19 the Prophet; such a change, that their old companions take notice thereof, that they will no longer run into the same excesse of riot with Pet. 4.4 them. But no maruell; for they haue sold all their sinnes, & are become new Cor. 5.17 Creatures. So must all doe that will buy the Pearle.

[...]plication.But now, alas, how fearefull will the condition of many bee found, if we make application? [Page 41] Many seek for this goodly Pearl seeme very desirous to haue it, commend it, and the sellers of it; but, will not sell all they haue. They come to the Church, heare the word diligently, respect the Ministers of the Gospel reuerent­ly, cheapen faire, and stand at of­fer, and proffer; but they would haue the Pearle, and their sinnes too; they will by no meanes bee drawne to sell all them. If you doe remember, there were foure things laid downe in the Do­ctrine. First, they doe sell. Second­ly, all sinnes. Thirdly, in regard of inward delight, and outward practise. Fourthly, for euer.

Against which,Examination foure sorts of Chapmen doe offend, who (if they reforme not) shall neuer [Page 42] enioy the Pearle.

Sorte.First, are such as leaue one sin, and take vp another; and com­monly, that they take, is worse then that they left; so, some leaue prodigality, and become coue­tous: luke-warme Protestants, become Idolatrous Papists: some superstitious, become prophain: and many Atheists, turne Here­tikes▪ In a word; a great many thinke, they haue made a faire market, when they consider what they haue beene, but neuer consider, what they are: what they haue lost, but not what they haue taken vp; wheras in truth, they haue only made an exchang, and that for the worse; whereas my Text saith; They must sell and deliuer seison.

[Page 43]Another sort there is, [...] Sort. that would sell, some, yea, many, but not all their sinnes: such a Chap­man was Herod, hee did many things, but notMar. 6. 2 [...]. all, his heart was still on Herodias; he had not gone so far as Dauid, to haue re­spect to all Psal. 119. [...] Gods commande­ments; Thou shalt not commit adul­tery, was cast behind his Psal. 50. [...] backe, hee could not abide to heare of Luk. 3.15 that: the young man such a­nother, hee offer'd faire, left but one Mat. 19. thing, but would not part with that, but fell off, and mist the happie bargaine.Applicatio

Alas, this is the wofull condi­tion of many, they will part with some sinnes, yea, not sticke to part with many, but retaine some one singular and beloued sinne, [Page 44] they will pare fingers and toes to the quicke; yea, launce some part till the blood gush out; but the right eie will not out, the right hand will not Mat. 5.29. off. Such Cu­stomers the Deuill liketh well enough, he careth not how ma­ny sins we part with, so hee hold vs fast but by one; hee knoweth well, that one raigning sinne o­uerthroweth all religion. One would thinke it but a smal sinne, the sinne of the tongue; yet S. Iames saith, If any man seeme religious, and refraine not his tongue, this mans religion is Iam. 1. penul. vaine.

Vse. [...]xhortation.Oh, remember this Text, hee that will haue this Pearle, must make a full sale of all. To retaine a part, is not to sell, but with Ana­nias [Page 45] to Act. 5.3. dissemble. He that kee­peth sinne, in any part, looseth Grace, in whole. To loath some sinne, and loue other, is but hal­ting. One Colloquintida spilt the whole messe of 2 King. 4.pottage. Is not a ship suncke by one leake; a be­siedged Citie lost, by one breach; a bird caught in the snare, by one foot, as well as the whole body? a man killed by one disease? Hee is no good Chapman in God's shop, that doth not, with Dauid, Vtterly abhorre all false waies; yea, those especially, wherein hee hath sometime walked with greatest delight.

Oh, let vs remember the Preface which Moses setteth before the Law; God spake (All) these words and saide; Hee spake not the first [Page 46] and second, no, nor all the com­mandements of the first Table onely, and there left, but he spake All; gaue as great a charge to keep euery one, as any one: And S. Iames saith; He that breaketh one, is guiltie of Iames 2.10. all. He, that wit­tingly, and willingly transgres­seth any one, will (if occasion serue) breake euery one: wee see that in Herod, though he did ma­ny things, yet he made no con­science to breake the seauenth command; he, hauing occasion, made no conscience of the third, but sware to a wanton Dancer to giue what shee should aske, though to the halfe of his king­dome: yea, made no conscience of the sixt command, but most cruelly, for his faithfull dealing, [Page 47] persecuted to the death Iohn the Baptist, A greater then whom was not borne of Mat. 11.11. women ▪ so dange­rous a thing it is, to liue in any knowne sinne; though a man part with neuer so many, yet that one remayning sinne will (as oc­casion serueth) bring all the rest againe; wherfore be sure ye make a thorough sale, sell all your sins, be faithfull with Moses, and leaue not an hoofe behinde, Exodus 10.26.

A third sort of Chapmen there are, that sell, and all,3 Sort. in regard of outward and customable pra­ctise; in the meane time, there is a secret inward pleasure and de­light; oh, there is still a good wil borne to such and such a sin, if ability, time, and occasions did [Page 48] serue: the heart wil not seale and confirme the bargaine and sale, but doth rather grudge at it, and seeke to picke holes in the eui­dence▪ but such as will buy the Pearle, must be sure the heart sell all; for, if lust and delight raign in the heart, the sale is nought: as Dauid saith; If I regard iniqui­tie in my heart, God will not heare Psal 66.18. Obiect. mee.

Oh Lord, will some say; Who can make such a sale? Who can say;Prou. 20. Solution. Mine heart is cleane? I answer, That, as the sale of all sinne, doth not import a not sinning at all, (for, if none but such, then none should buy the Pearle) but not an habituall & customable sinning which the Scriptures call; A com­mitting of Ioh. 8.34. sinne ▪ so neither doth [Page 49] this cleansing of the heart im­ports an vtter freedom from sin­full lusts, motions, and desires, but, a dislyking, resisting, and be­wailing of them with the Apo­stle, Oh, wretched man that I Rom. 7. nult. am! So that if thy soule and consci­ence can truely witnesse, there is nothing more grieuous, irke­some and displeasing vnto thee, then the corruptions of thine heart, which, as they doe appeare▪ thou dost checke, snub, and sup­presse, the sale is good, and thou shalt haue the Pearle.

A fourth and last sort there are,4 Sort. who sell all, both for outward practise, and inward delight, but not for euer; like Lot's wife, they looke backe Gen. 19. [...] againe; with De­mas, they returne to the world a­gaine [Page 50] 2. Tim. 4.10.; and, hauing once esca­ped the filthinesse of the world, yet come to be entangled againe, and are like the Dog, returning to his vomite; and the washen Sowe, to wallowing in the mire 2 Pet. 2.20. againe: the consideration whereof maketh good what I said before; that, of many Chap­men, few buy this Pearle, because few make a perfect (All) of their sinnes, for such an one selleth All, both for outward practise, and inward delight, for euer: and yet the bargaine is not made, there is a further sale yet to be made, viz.

All his sub­ [...]nce.He that will buy this Pearle, must sell all his substance, and all his worldly goods, and tempo­rall estate he hath here.

Sometimes this Pearle is so [Page 51] deare, as it will cost all that a man hath; his houses, lands, goods, honour, peace, libertie, and life; as in the daies of the persecuting Emperors, and Princes, when goods, libertie, and all were con­fiscated, and they cried; Christi­anos ad Leones. So, truth was deare in this Land,Examples in the daies of Queene Marie; there was a great famine, in her daies, of corne, and they were glad to make breade of Oke cornes (saith the History) but, the word of God was dearer, and the Pearle of truth more pre­cious, so as many holy Martyrs sold all they had to buy it. Such good chapmen were the Christ▪ an Hebrews, who suffered with ioy the spoile of their Heb. 1 [...] goods. and those of whom the same A­postle [Page 52] also speaketh, who for the Gospel, and a good conscience, were tryed with cruell mockings and scornings, bonds and im­prisonment, they were stoned and sawen asunder, tempted and slaine with the sword, wandred about in Sheepe-skinnes, and Goat-skins, being destitute, af­flicted, and tormented; they wan­dred in deserts, and mountaines, & in dens Heb. 11.37. [...] 2.45. &c. And such chap­men were the beleuers in the pri­mitiue Church, who sold their possessions, and goods, and pau­ned them to all men, as they had neede. Such a Chapman was S. Paul, who professed, he was not moued to know, that bonds and afflictions did abide him; yea, he did not count his life deare, that [Page 53] he might finish his course vvith Act. 20 ioy. And thus rebuked such, as vvith teares besought him, not to goe vp to Ierusalem, What mean you to weepe, and to breake mine heart, for, I am readie, not to bee bound onely, but also to dye at Ierusa­lem, for the name of the Lord Act. 21. Ie­sus. Such a franke Chapman was Moses, who refused to bee called the sonne of Pharaoh's Daugh­ter, and chose rather to suffer af­flictions with the people of God, then to enioy the pleasures of sin for a Heb [...] season. Thus you see, the Pearle hath bin, and may bee so deare, that a man must indeed sel all that he hath in this world, to buy it.

But, blessed be God, in these happie daies, this Pearle is cheap;Applicatio [...] [Page 54] wee may buy it at an easie rate: now, if euer wee may say with the Prophet; Come buy without [...]a. 55.1. money: Come, take paines to fetch it, and haue it; you neede not sell all, nor any thing you haue for it, but keepe it, and all you haue: yea, many by this Pearle, haue beene enriched, and made happie in the world, many a man preferred to great dignity, honour, office, authority, wealth, in Church & Common-wealth, for his profession of Religion and godlinesse. Oh happy time! But, let me tell you; this Pearle neuer was, is, nor shall be chea­per, but he that will buy it, must in his affection, sell all that euer he hath. And God accepteth of affection for action, as God ac­cepted [Page 55] the full purpose and reso­lution of Abraham, to sacrifice his Sonne, as if he had Gen. 22. done it.

Oh, examine your soules,Examinatio [...] what is it you doe chiefly minde? Are your praires, & that in your beds by night, powred out vnto God with sighs and teares, when no eye seeth, no eare heareth you, for the preseruation of the Gospell, and truth of God to you and yours? Doe you esteeme it as the greatest blessing in this world, and so, as in comparison of it, you esteeme the whole world, with all the pleasures, profits, honor, and happinesse thereof, as most vile, base, and contemptible; and those many good things, which with it you enioy, and they are [Page 56] deare vnto you, yet, for it you would [...]ate and become prodi­gall of. Or, at least, art thou grie­ued and sorrie in thy soule, that thou discernest weakenesse, and fearefulnesse, and want of such resolution; and dost thou vnfai­nedly pray to God, to giue thee such loue, zeale, and courage. Oh, then, bee of good comfort, thou hast made a good market, thou hast gotten the Pearle, and the Deuill shall not bee able to rob thee of it. But, if thou bea­rest a faire face, makest profession of much loue to the Gospell, in times of peace, and so long as it may stand with thine honor, and wealth; but, God knoweth, thou mindest earthly things, thou lo­uest this world; if times of tryall [Page 57] should come, thou wilt shew thy selfe to be but an Huckster, a Bro­ker, a Mounte banke, and Quack-saluer.

Oh, then, see there bee truth and sincerity in the heart,Exhortation reunite your languishing, drooping, and dying zeal to the Gospell; let your neuer contenting preferments; your neuer satisfying pleasures; your neuer filling profits; your momentany, and euer dying liues, bee esteemed as dung, in comparison of the euerlasting truth of God for the saluation of your soules.

Oh,Argument [...] that men knew how in­ualuable the truth of God is; one iot thereof more worth then hea­uen & earth! Oh, that men knew how happie they are that haue it! [Page 58] and how rich, though neuer so poore in the world, Reuel. 2.9. Happie is the man that findeth wis­dome, and getteth vnderstanding, Prou. 3.13. And how poore, and miserable, & wretched they are that want it, though know­ing no end of their worldly wealth? and so decked with Pearles, that they glister like the Sunne, and dazle mens eies to looke vpon them. Oh, that yee knew this acceptable time, and that God may offer this Pearle to others: Oh, then would you be­come franke Chapmen, and sell all yee haue to buy it.

[...]rouocation.And will you not doe so be­fore Market be done, and Shop-windowes shut vp? Looke vpon the Idolater, he is a franke Chap­man; [Page 59] he will not sticke to sell all hee hath, to satisfie his fleshly minde (for so S. Paul saith; Ido­latrie is a worke of the Gal. 5.20 flesh,) When the Childrē of Israel were so earnest with Aaron, to make them a God; to coole their de­sire, and preuent it (as some of the Fathers construe it) hee bad them bring, not ordinary gold,Difficilia pre cepil: vt isto modo, ab illa intentione reuocaret. Aug quaest. 141. [...] Exod. in wedge or coyne, but Rings, yea, their golden Eare-rings, that were in the eares of their wiues and children; but, did they stick at that? No, (saith the Text) They did breake them off, and bring Exod. 32. them. An Idolater thinketh nothing too deare for his Idol. Looke vpon the Epicure, he will spend all hee hath for his belly. Look vpon the proud person, he, [Page 60] or shee, will spend all they haue for their backes; to bee clothed gorgeously, and phantastically. These are frank chapmen indeed, and neuer sticke at the price. What, shall the Idolater sell all he hath for his Leuit. 17.7. 2 Cron. 11.15 Ezech. 22.3 Diuells, & dung­hill gods (as the Scriptures dis­gracefully call Idols.) Shall the Epicure sell all he hath, for the fat and sweat, to sacrifice to his bel­ly, his Philip. 3.19 god, which remaineth there but a while, and is purged into the Mat. 15.17. draught. Shall the proud person sell all hee hath for glorious colours, lost sometimes with shining of the Sunne, or a shower of raine; or, for fine ap­parell, which vsed, is quickly worne to rags; or, layde vp, is ea­ten of Moths, and shall we pinch [Page 63] to sell all wee haue to buy the truth of God, for the eternall sal­uation of our soules? Shall pro­digall sinners for vanity, errour, falshood, sell themselues, their states, bodyes, soules and all? and vvee pinch at the least price, for the eternall verity of God? God forbid; then most vnhappie we, that euer it vvas offred vnto vs.

Oh England,Conclusion. novv this pearle is offred vnto thee, take heed thou foreslowest not the Market, it is more worth then mountaines of Indian gold; if God in iustice take it away, if euery showre of raine, were a shower of gold; and euery stone in the Land, as preci­ous as the Rubie, Margarite, To­paz, or Carbuncle; or any other, by Gods appointment, set in the [Page 62] high Priests Exod. 28.17. Brest-plate, thou wilt be poore & beggerly; herein lyeth thy true wealth, for which thou art so renowned through the Christian, & heathen world. Oh, buy this Pearle, and weare it; vveare it in thine eare, heare the Word diligently, and reuerently, vveare it in thy forehead, be zealous in the profession of the truth; weare it in thy bosom sin­cerely, beleeue and loue the truth; weare it on thy fingers, obey and practise it in life and conuersati­on; be thou a righteous Nation, keeping the truth,Esay 26.2. and the GOD of truth will keep thee. AMEN.