THE PEARLE OF the Gospell.

OVr Lord Iesus com­ming from the bosome of the Father, to re­ueale the mysterie hid from the beginning of [Page 2]the world, spent the whole time of his mi­nisterie in discouering to the Church, the ex­cellencie, the vtilitie, and the necessitie of that blessed and sauing truth, the daughter of eternitie, without which the whole world had lien in perpetuall death and darknesse.

This parable among many,The scope of this Parable. and aboue ma­ny, manifests, that how base soeuer and vile the things of God seeme to naturall men, yet there is such worth, vertue, price and beau­tie [Page 3]in them, as the god­ly man who only can discerne them, will ex­change all he hath with them, yea & part with all the world before he will part with them.

In which Parable consider foure things.Foure parts of the Text.

• 1. What is this kingdome of heauen.
• 2. What is this pearle, and the good­nesse of it.
• 3. Who is this Merchant man.
• 4. What are his actions, namely three.

• 1. He seeketh good pearles.
• [Page 4]2. Hee findeth a pearle of great price.
• 3. Hee sold all to buy it.

I For the first.

By the kingdome of heauen,What the kingdome of heauen is not. is not meant the blessed estate of the Church triumphant in heauen: as in Matth. 5.10. Yours is the king­dome of heauen.

Nor the Church mi­litant and visible: as in Matth. 13.47. which is like a net cast into the Sea.

Nor the time of grace vnder Christ ex­hibited to preach in his [Page 5]owne person: Mat. 3.3. For the kingdome of God is at hand.

Nor the estate of grace, wherin the elect be iustified by faith, and are lead forward by grace, toward the king­dome of heauen: as Matth. 13.51. The king­dome of heauen is like a graine of mustard seed.

Nor the kingdome of power, by which God in heauen as a King gouerneth all the world, and euery parti­cular creature in it.What it is.

But by it is meant the preaching & pub­lishing [Page 6]of the Gospell, called here,

• 1. A Kingdome.
• 2. A Kingdome of Heauen.

A Kingdome,1. Why a king­dome, 3. Reasons. for three reasons.

1 1. Because the do­ctrine of the Gospell bringeth vs to Christ, that he as a King may reigne in vs: hence it is called the Gospell of the kingdome, Matt. 4.23.

2 2. Because it is a powerfull meanes or­dained by God, to pull vs out of the kingdome of darknesse, and trans­late vs to the kingdome [Page 7]of his deare Sonne, Co­loss. 1.13. and the Apo­stle calleth it the power of God to saluation, Rom. 1.16.

3 3. Because God hath set it apart, not only to erect vp the kingdome of God within vs, which standeth in in­ward righteousnesse, peace of conscience, the ioy of the Holy Ghost, Rom. 14.17. but also to leade vs thorow to the participation of that kingdome of glory re­serued in heauen for vs.

Secondly, of heauen.Why of hea­uen.

1. Because of distin­ction [Page 8]from earthly kingdomes: it preach­eth Christ a King; but withall, that his king­dome is not of this world: hee ruleth not after a temporall man­ner, but sitteth as King in the spirits of his sub­iects, and ruleth the conscience, and hol­deth vp this scepter of his kingdome in the hearts of men, so as this kingdome is hea­uenly and spirituall.

2. For exaltation and aduancement, lifting it vp aboue al that earth­ly kingdomes can af­ford, [Page 9]for worth and ex­cellencie: and so to stirre vp our affections, and pull our eyes to­ward it; the very name of it should rauish vs, and commend the pri­uileges of the Gospell vnto vs.

3 3. For admonition and caution, that the subiects of this king­dome should receiue their lawes from hea­uen, and contemning earth & earthly things, should aspire, meditate and frame themselues to heauenly conuersa­tion: this very title of [Page 10]the Gospell should be of power to lift vs a­boue the earth.

II Now what is meant by this pearle? What is meant by the Pearle. By the pearle is meant,

• 1. The happy estate of grace here.
• 2. The happy estate of glory hereafter.

Of which latter, see Reuel. 21.21. the foun­dations of the new Ie­rusalem were garnished with all manner of pretious stones; Iasper, Saphir, Chalcedon, and the twelue gates were twelue pearles, &c.

But here it signifieth [Page 11]the happy estate of grace, in which wee are still seeking, and purchasing the pearle, and the good things of the Gospell, as namely, the glad tidings of it; the offer of Christ with his merits; the gift of faith, iustification, san­ctification;Good things of the Gospell resemble a Pearle in fiue things.san­ctification; and these are called a pearle for sundry reasons.

1. For the value and worth of them,1. In value and worth. which passe all other treasures in excellencie and esti­mation. As siluer is be­yond brasse, and gold beyond siluer, so pearls [Page 12]are beyond gold, and the good things of the Gospell beyond the most precious pearles: so saith Salomon, Pro. 3.14, 15. The merchandise of wisdome is better than the merchandise of siluer; the reuenue of it is better than that of gold: it is more pretiou than pearles, and all thou canst desire are not comparable to it. What a world of wealth both spirituall and heauen­ly, is manifested by the Gospell, which exhi­biteth Christ, in whom are al treasures of grace [Page 13]and glory? What a rich store-house is Christ himselfe? the least drop of whose bloud was more preci­ous than al the world? How precious are all his merits, and plenti­full for redemption? What a good thing, and precious grace is faith, which storeth a man with all the good things of heauen? How precious is the do­ctrine of saluation, which must not be cast to swine; as Matt. 7.6? Well doth our Sauiour therefore call this a [Page 14]pearl of great price for the most precious pearles in regard o [...] these good things o [...] the Gospell, are but dust and clay.

2.2. In rarenesse. For the rarenesse. Pearles are not so com­mon as pibles, nor in the hands of common and ordinary men; but fit for Princes & great personages; common men know them not, nor the price, nor the vse of them: Euen so the good things of the Gospell are not known or obuious to euery one, but hidden myste­ries, [Page 15]vnknowne to the most part of the world, and a wisdome reuea­led to Babes. And as Pearles are easily con­temned of vnskilfull persons, who are igno­rant of their price and vse: so the mysteries of the Gospell; offer them to the Gentiles, they esteeme them foolish­nesse: 1 Cor. 1.23.to the Iewes they are as a scandall: Christ crucified is the very scorne of the world; onely a few beleeuers aduanced to be Kings and Priests to God,Reu. 1.5.know the price of this [Page 16]commoditie, and lay out for it.

3.3. For hidden vertue. In regard of the hidden vertue and se­cret excellencie of them. The body and quantitie of a Pearle is small, but the vertue and power of it great: so the Gospell seemeth small, and contempti­ble,Rom. 1.16.but it is the power of God to saluation: and faith in the Gospell draweth vertue from Christ to open blinde eyes; to cure all spiri­tuall diseases, to raise from death in sinne; to driue away deuils, [Page 17]and breake the force of temptation: all the Pearles betwixt heauen & earth haue not such power; onely faith as small as a graine of mustard seed, draweth vertue from Christ: and grace though it bee neuer so little (if sound) it is of power to open blinde eyes, and to carry the Saints along vnto their salua­tion.

4. In regard of their excellent qualities,Foure quali­ties of a rich Pearle. as puritie, and cleerenesse:1. Brightnesse. 2. Famnesse. 3. Greatnesse. 4. Roundnesseand orient brightnesse: so the law of the Lord is [Page 18]pure, Psal. 19. The do­ctrine of grace, for the brightnesse and perspi­cuitie of it, is as a re­splendent gem, which draweth all eyes to it. Secondly, in Pearles is firmnesse and strength; so hard and firme are some of them, as fire consumeth them not, nor much strength can breake them: euen so firme and sure are the promises of the Gos­pell; all of them are Yea and amen: 2 Cor. 1.20. fire nor water, prosperitie nor aduersitie can conquer them: so firme is sauing [Page 19]grace, which can neuer bee shaken out of the heart. Thirdly,2 Tim. 3. last. their magnitude and great­nesse; so great is the mysterie of godlinesse; amongst all Gods se­crets, there is none so great, as this of mans redemption: In the be­holding of which, the Angels cannot yet sa­tisfie themselues, 1 Pet. 1.12. Fourthly, equali­tie & roundnesse much commend pearles. The Gospell is offered to all alike, to beleeuers and vnbeleeuers; to masters and seruants, [Page 20]rich and poore: it is no fault of the Gospell, if thou beest not saued by it.

5.5. For the ef­fects, which are three. 1. To inrich. In regard of their effects. Pearles supplie our needs at al seasons; and therefore Nonius a Senator of Rome, per­secuted by M. Antoni­us, prouided only for himselfe an Vnion of inestimable price, to carry with him in his flight, by which alone bee was rich enough: So the Gospell suppli­eth all our wants; Christ in the Gospell supplieth vs all things, [Page 21]prouideth for vs bread of life, and water of life, and garments of his owne righteous­nesse; hee payeth all our debts, inricheth vs with inestimable trea­sures, and naked Christ is wealth enough.

Secondly,2. To adorne. Pearles serue for ornament, and honour, and shew a man to be in dignity: some hang them in their eares; some hang them in golden chains vpon their brests; some set them in gold, and weare them on their singers: So the Gospell [Page 22]is the honour and or­nament of a Christian, and maketh vp all his indignities & wrongs: while he hangeth it on his eare, by diligent and carefull hearing: while he fastneth this Vnion, and Pearle, and maketh it shine by faith in his heart: and while he weareth it as a ring on his finger, by conscionable practise of the commande­ments of the Gospell; which is, to beleeue in the Sonne of God, and loue one another; this man is honoured of [Page 23]God and all his Saints.Thirdly, to cure and comfort.

Thirdly, many Pearles are of great vse, and effect, to preuent poison, to preserue naturall strength, and recouer it decaied: many of them great Cordials, and others great comforters of the principall vitall parts of man.

So the Gospell and good of it preserue the soule from the poison of sinne, preserueth su­pernaturall strength, restoreth and reneweth strength of grace de­caied; is the only hea­uenly [Page 24]Cordial to com­fort the heart in gripes of temptation, and ac­cusation: it is the com­forter in all afflictions; that a Christian may say of it as Dauid of the Law,Psal. 119.92. Had not my com­fort beene in thy law; I had perished long agoe in my trouble.

Vse 1 Labour then to see the worth and price of the Gospell, that with Christ thou maist pre­ferre this Pearle of the Kingdome, aboue all Pearles & Kingdomes, and value this Pearle of grace aboue al naturall Pearles.

Our Sauiour would haue vs see how carnall we are, while such su­pernaturall treasures are so slightly accoun­ted, and at so little and low a rate with vs. How carnall is it to preferre other Pearles which are from earth, or sea, before this Pearle which onely is from heauen? How vnwise are we, so high­ly to value the Pearles whose matter is dust and slime, and whose beautie is by the Sun beames included: and contemne the Pearle, [Page 26]the matter of which is the eternall loue of God by Iesus Christ: and the beautie the light & grace of Christ the Sunne of righte­ousnesse, which for the orient brightnesse ex­celleth the Sunne shi­ning in his strength.

Beside, neuer shall this Pearle be purcha­sed before it be prized; nor euer be of vse to vs vntill we haue purcha­sed it: as a Pearle kee­peth it shine, beautie, and vertue, wrapped vp in the darknesse and bowels of the earth; [Page 27]but no whit enricheth him that findeth it not.

Vse 2 Also let vs place our riches in the Gospell, Place our ri­ches in this Pearle.which is so farre aboue Pearles as the sub­stance is aboue the sha­dow: Pearles here doe but shadow forth the worth of grace, but there is no proportion betweene them in shi­ning, vse, or beautie.

First, because opi­nion setteth the price of the one;1. The excel­lencie of this Pearle aboue all other in fiue things. but worth on the other: the true worth of the grace of the Gospell, heighte­neth it to him that [Page 28]can truly esteeme it.

Secondly, no Pearle can buy a graine of grace; but grace may bring riches & Pearles; hauing the promise of this life as well as of that which is to come.

Thirdly, no Pearle can auaile in the day of wrath: only grace op­posed to Gods dis­pleasure stinteth it, Prou. 11.4.

Fourthly, Pearles and treasures can no way further a mans sal­uation; many wayes doe and may binder it: many for gaping [Page 29]after the world lose their owne soules: but the wealth of the Gos­pell only saueth soules, and there is no other meanes besides it.

Fiftly, Pearles may make a man rich in this world, and adorne the outward man; but not the inward: nei­ther will they goe with vs hence to doe vs any good; here we finde them, and here wee leaue them. But the rich Pearle of the Gospel is indeed ours; and maketh vs richest in heauen: content [Page 30]thy selfe therefore with it as the blessed Disci­ple Peter saying,Ioh. 6.68. Ma­ster, thou hast the words of eternall life, and whi­ther shall we goe? How haue the Saints estee­med and made grace their only iewell and treasure? Ps. 119.111. Dauid made the testi­monie of God his he­ritage, yea the ioy of his heart. Ephes. 1.7. The Apostle calleth it a rich grace, and Chap. 2.7. the exceeding riches of his grace: and Col. 1.17. which riches is Christ in you.

Ob. But men that seeke after grace are the poo­rest men, meane, and vnprosperous in the world.

Sol. No, they are the ri­chest men, though ne­uer so meane in the world, they haue many waies to be rich, which the worldling wan­teth. They haue a rich knowledge, 1 Cor. 1.27. they haue faith a rich commoditie, more pre­cious than gold that pe­risheth, 1 Pet. 1.7. they haue Christ liuing in them, and dwelling in them; they haue praier [Page 32]a rich storehouse; they naue title, and are in­deed heires of the Kingdome of heauen. And suppose they be afflicted, reiected, and scorned amongst men; yet can they with Mo­ses, account the re­bukes of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, Heb. 11.46. On what a world of sweet content lodgeth in the heart with Christ? in want of all things hee hath all things. It one aske a Christian, What is thy Country? he may an­swer, [Page 33]Christ and his Country. What is thy kindred? Ans. Christ is my kindred. Matth. 12.50. Behold my mo­ther, and my brethren, and my sisters. What is thy wealth and honor? Answer, Gods King­dome is mine, yea God himselfe: he is all things to mee, here and here­after.

Men cast vp their heads, and looke aloft, if they be Lords of some small Manour, or possession: but to be a King or Prince of a peece of earth, lifteth [Page 34]them in their conceits aboue the tops of the clouds: But a poore Christian is better con­tented with poore and naked Christ, than with all such high and state­ly vanitie.

Vse 3 Wee must also doe for the Gospell as men will doe for pearles and treasures, Doe for the Gospell as men doe for Pearles. take paines to purchase and obtaine it.

1.1. Painfulnes to procure it. What a deale of paines and trauell doe men take to Faires and Markets, in hope of a little profit, of which yet they may be disap­pointed: [Page 35]but refuse all cost, and trauell for the Gospell? Oh that men would heare the call of the Gospell, and seeke for faith aboue siluer, and for grace aboue fine gold; happy is the man that findeth the merchandise of grace, and the commoditie of faith, which is aboue all commodities: alas that such precious wares should lie negle­cted, and neuer asked after, nay refused and thrust off, when God maketh offer to thrust the same vpon vs; while [Page 36]for euery trifle wee want, for euery shooe­string, we can inquire, aske, and pray for: but content our selues with goods wanting good­nesse, and with a full chest of siluer, or gold; and a heart emptie of God and his grace: woe to so rich a beg­ger; and vnhappy is that man that hath on­ly not purchased what was only worth pur­chasing.

2.2. Carefully locke it vp in thy surest thest. Locke vp the do­ctrine and promises of the Gospell in faith full hearts and memories. [Page 37]A man that hath a Iewell of inestimable price, will bee sure to locke it vp in the surest chest hee hath; How careful then should we be of safe keeping the instructions of Gods word? which wee can lightly reiect; and will bee more carefull to keepe the least peece of siluer that euer we saw coined, than the most inualuable treasures of Gods word that euer we heard preached? But Mary pondred Christs words, and laid them vp in the closet of her heart.

Vse 4 Againe, Comfort to poore Chri­stians. this tends to comfort poore Christians. Thou art poore and despised in the world; but God hath honoured thee with a Pearle, worth all the Kings ransomes in the world. Thou art a loser in the world, the profits of it flie from thee, into other mens hands; But 2 Cor. 6.10. as poore, and yet making many rich; as hauing no­thing, and yet possessing all things. Thou losest thy name, goods, and libertie; but this Pearle remaineth with thee in [Page 39]all estates; thou art ne­uer so poore as thou seemest, nor such a lo­ser as the world takes thee for: Dauid found the word his comfort in trouble, and that kept him from perish­ing: yea the statutes were his songs in the time of his pilgrimage, Psal. 119.50.54.

This of the second thing.

3 3. Who is the Mer­chant? Who the Merchant is. Answ. Euery Christian man and woman, who are in the way to heauen; and in respect of their trade [Page 40]of Christianitie are compared to the Mer­chant. Prou. 3.14. for the merchandise of wis­dome is better than the merchandise of siluer, and the gaine thereof is better than gold. Luke 19.13. And hee called his ten seruants, and de­liuered them ten pecces of money, and said vnto them, Occupie this till I come. Christianitie is a spirituall merchandi­sing: I say spirituall, to distinguish it from ci­uill; neither is it alto­gether so like, but that there is much diffe­rence [Page 41]and dissimilitude betweene them:Seuen diffe­rences be­tweene ciuill and spirituall merchandi­sing. and the difference is in se­uen things.

1. In respect of per­sons:1. Persons.in ciuill societie, all must not bee Mer­chants. The Polititians call Merchants, Pedes corpor is politici, that is, the feet of the body politicke; both to car­ry out needlesse com­modities into forraine parts, and by exchange to bring in more and other necessaries for them: Now all the bo­dy must not be a foot; nor all the members of [Page 42]a naturall body haue the same function. But in this mysticall body it is farre otherwayes: For here euery Chri­stian ought to bee a Merchant, Luk. 19.13. seeing euery Christian man hath receiued some talents of his Lord to trafficke with; & charge also to trade, and occupie with them till hee come: And whereas in ciuill dea­lings Ministers are ex­cepted, and prohibited, that they must neither make merchandise of the word, nor intangle [Page 43]themselues with the affaires of this life: 2 Tim. 2.4. No man that warreth intangleth him­selfe with the affaires of this life, because hee should please him that hath chosen him to be a souldier; These are in this supernaturall tra­ding the chiefe Mer­chants, of whom men must expect, & inquire of these chiefe and hea­uenly commodities.

Secondly,2. Commodi­ties. in respect of the commodities; Ciuill Merchants doe only deale in profits from earth, and for [Page 44]earth: in earth are they gotten, and in the earth are they left; but these spirituall Merchants deale in commodities farther fetcht, namely from heauen, and for heauen; not left by vs, nor leauing vs, till wee get into heauen; the Apostle calleth them heauenly things in Christ.

Thirdly, in regard of the manner of obtai­ning them, they doe much differ: these are often gotten by indi­rect meanes; as by false weights, measures, counterfet money, lies, [Page 45]and oathes; and this ciuill merchandising is one of the Arts or Trades, that may bee well or ill vsed: But in spirituall & supernatu­rall trading, the Mer­chant aduanceth his estate by true and iust meanes onely: euery thing is weighed out, and taken in by the weights of the Sanctu­arie, sealed by God himselfe for true and iust; they are people of a pure language; cast­ing deceit out of their mouthes: here they are not craftie Merchants [Page 46]to deceiue their bre­thren,Iohn 1.but true Natha­niels in whom there is no guile.

Fourthly,Fourthly, effects. in regard of the effects; Ciuill tra­ding oft times calleth men from the worship of God, and hindreth it: Luk. 14.18.19. wee may read of three sorts that refused to come to the supper, two of them were Merchants; the one had bought a farme, and the other fiue yoake of oxen, and these must be excused: But this euer further­eth it; for no man can [Page 47]attaine to the meanes of saluation (which is this supernaturall mer­chandising) but by such parts of Gods worship, & mans duty, as the Lord hath ap­pointed in his word.

Fiftly,Fiftly, meanes in respect of necessary meanes to vphold and driue the trade withall: In ciuill trading money is ne­cessarium subsidium; for when men needed not the commodities ex­changeable, mony was inuented to preserue contracts; without which the Merchant [Page 48]cannot compasse his commodities. But in supernaturall trafficke, the Merchant buyeth without money or mo­ney worth. Esa. 55.1. Hoe, euery one that thir­steth, come yee to the waters, and ye that haue no siluer, come buy and eat: come (I say) and buy wine and milke without siluer and without mo­ney: Not the least of these commodities are to be valued by money, gold, pearles, and the desirable things of this life, Prou. 3.14.15. for the merchandise there­of [Page 49]is better than siluer, or whatsoeuer men can deuise or desire be­sides it.

Sixtly,6. Circum­stances. 1. Of time. in regard of circumstances of time and place.

For the time: Ciuill merchandising is to be exercised on the six dayes, not on the Sab­bath day. 13. Neh. 19, 20. And when the gates of Ierusalem began to be darke, before the Sabbath I commanded to shut the gates, and charged, that they should not be opened till after the Sabbath: and some of my seruants [Page 50]set I at the gates, that there should be no bur­den brought in on the Sabbath day: So the chapmen and Merchants of all merchandise re­mained once or twise without Ierusalem.

But for supernatural and spirituall trading, as all the six dayes are fit; so the seuenth espe­cially is the Lords mart or market, to fur­nish all his people with prouision for the whole weeke following.

And for the place: All places are not fit for ciuill marts & Mer­chants; [Page 51]but the princi­pall prohibited place is the Church the house of God: Matth. 21.12. Iesus went into the Tem­ple of God, and cast out all them that bought and sold in the Temple, and ouerthrew the tables of the money changers, and the seats of them that sold Doues: Christ would not endure his Fathers house of praier to be made a house of merchandise. But in spirituall trading, for heauen, all places are fit for Christian Mer­chants, who should [Page 52]goe no where but still be trading for grace: and continually either be doing of good, or taking of good: But especially the house of God is the most pro­per place appointed, for the inriching of the heart, and increasing of the stocke of faith and knowledge, and of all graces.

So much for the dis­similitude betweene them:The simili­tude and re­semblance be­tween earthly and heauenly trading stan­deth in fiue things. Now the simili­tude and reason of this resemblance standeth in fiue things.

1. A Merchant man [Page 53]is a man that dealeth in great and precious commodities; The Greeke word is [...], not [...], the Mer­chant is no pedler, nor chapman of small wares, nor taken vp in selling pins, or points, and toyes for babes: but tradeth for great things, for great bulks, & quantities,1. In greatnes of the com­modities. for great summes, and dealeth in most rich commo­dities.

So the Christian Merchant carefull for heauen, aimeth not at the base profits of this [Page 54]life; as siluer, gold, and such corruptible things: for these things are but small in his eye and contemptible, in respect of the businesse of iustification, of holi­nesse, grace, and glory. These are that one thing needfull,Luke 10.42. and that better part that taketh vp his thoughts and desires: such a rich Merchant was Dauid, Psal. 4.7. Thou hast gi­uen me more ioy of heart than they haue had when their wheat and their oile did abound. Let other men peddle and [Page 55]barter for corne, wine, and oile, the Christian Merchant hath a com­moditie beyond all this, in his eye:Psal. 4.6. Lord lift vpon me the light of thy countenance; Such a Merchant was Zacheus, Luke 18.8.when saluation was come to his house; he cast away these ped­ling profits, faster than he gat them; halfe hee gaue to the poore, and the rest he reserued to restore fourefold.

Such a one was Paul, Phil. 3.8.who counted all things losse and dung in com­parison of Christ; and [Page 56]to know the vertue of his death and resurre­ction. Such rich Mer­chants were the Mar­tyrs; who hauing hea­uen in their eye, estee­med their goods, liber­tie, yea life it selfe not worth hauing in com­parison thereof. For as a man if hee were as high as the Moone, would see the earth but as a pricke: so hee whose thoughts are in heauen, and his eye on things that are aboue, within the veile, estee­meth the earth but small, and despicable. [Page 57]For euen as the great light drowneth the les­ser; so the bright shi­ning of the Sunne of righteousnesse, drow­neth all the lesser can­dles and comforts of this present world.

Secondly,2. In the skill of the com­moditie. there is likenesse in the skill of the commoditie hee dealeth in: For as a Merchant greatly ad­uanceth his estate, if he haue skill, and in­sight, what commodi­ties are like to be of the quickest returne: if he know and lay out for the best conditio­ned [Page 58]commodities of euery kinde: So the Christian Merchant la­bouring for Skill, knowledge, and sound iudgement in the mat­ter of Religion, where­by he may be able to iudge aright of Do­ctrines deliuered, shall grow rich in know­ledge, and to a great measure of faith, and full of Christian wis­dome; whence the A­postle (Phil. 1.10.) praieth, that they may abound in all knowledge and iudgement to discern things that differ: and [Page 59]thus they shall be rich, and filled with fruits of righteousnesse, vers. 11.

And contrariwise, for want of this skill, a Merchant dealing for great bulkes, soone fal­leth into great losses: but especially the Iew­eller or Lapidarie by ignorance may soone ouerthrow his whole estate, in respect of ma­ny cheaters and couse­ners, who can notably counterfeit Pearles, and make them seeme very orient by false arts, and so put away at a great price a peece of a fish [Page 60]bone or shell, or some peece of painted glasse for rich Pearles and precious stones.

Euen so, many spiri­tuall Merchants decay, and breake for want of this skill, by meanes of many imposters and deceiuers, heretickes, false teachers, Apo­states, Libertine Prea­chers, and the Popish guides, furnished with all arts to deceiue, as with wit and speech, and other insinuatiue faculties, that make of­fer of pibles for Pearls, and thrust vpon men [Page 61]for the true Pearle of Gods word, the glassie, and brickle conceits of mans braines: which because they haue made to glister, and haue set a good colour on them, they hold at as high a rate, as any Pearle can be valued; and now many incon­siderate persons are ta­ken with the beautie, profit, or some seeming pleasure, and so rob­bed and gulled of their soundnesse, for the pre­sent; and of their ex­pectations and hopes hereafter. Now that we [Page 62]may not be thus abu­sed, let vs listen to those Apostolicall precepts: Ephes. 4.14. Not to be children, wauering and carried about with euery wind of Doctrine, by the deceit of men, and crafti­nesse whereby they lie in wait to deceiue: and in 1 Ioh. 4.1. Beleeue not euery spirit, but trie the spirits whether they are of God: and 1 Thess. 5.21. Trie all things, and keepe that which is good

Thirdly,3. In confer­ring of their commodities. the simili­tude is in their conuer­sing and conferring one with another: Euery [Page 63]Merchant will be spea­king of his commodi­ties; he will make of­fer of his pearles, and wares of price, that he may put them off into other mens hands for his owne aduantage. So the Christian Mer­chant will bee talking and conferring of this Pearle of the Gospell; as in Cant. 5.6. The Spouse spendeth her dayes in breathing out the praises of Christ. A faithfull Christian can­not hide grace in a nap­kin, nor hold it so close to himselfe, but hee [Page 64]must communicate it and make offers of it to others: Such good Merchants were the two Disciples going to Emmaus, conferring of Christ, whom Christ ioyned himselfe with, Luk. 24.19. Such a one was Paul offering the Pearle to Agrippa, and wishing all the people were such as he was, ex­cept his bonds, Act. 26.29. And the reason is, whatsoeuer hee can communicate to ano­ther, is his owne cleere gaine: For this is the difference between the [Page 65]secular riches and spiri­tuall: A worldly rich man is rich for himselfe only, and the more he imparteth to others, the lesse is lest for him­selfe; But hee that is rich in God, is not only rich in & for himselfe; but these riches doe more inrich him by in­riching others, than holding them to him­selfe: and the more he communicateth, the more remaineth; as the oyle in the cruse and the meale in the barrell, were not wasted with spending, but rather in­creased.

Fourthly,4. The earnest desire of in­creasing their estate of both. in the ear­nest desire, & endeuour of increasing wealth, they may be fitly com­pared. The Merchant refuseth no paines or perill, no labour or dan­ger, no cost or charge, no hazard by Sea or Land to purchase such commodities, as may yeeld him returne of profit and aduantage: But especially Lapida­ries and Merchants for Pearls, toile themselues by many weary iour­nies, and voyages, into all lands and countries; and haue their factors [Page 67]lying abroad euery where to meet with Pearles and precious stones which are of greatest gaine and ad­uantage.

So the Christian Merchant hath an in­satiable thirst and hun­ger after the good things of the Gospell; and with vnweariable study and desire he tra­uelleth to euery Mart, where this Pearle may be met withall: he ap­prehendeth all oppor­tunities, frequenteth euery Sermon, waiteth at the gates of Wisdome: Pro. 8.34. [Page 68]hee swalloweth easily matter of labour and charge, to become ow­ner of the Pearle, and hee is instant in this painfull endeuour: for here it is not as in ciuill trading, wherein many Merchants hauing got­ten money enough, giue vp their trade, and take their ease in the Country: but so long as there is any good comming in, he will be ready for it: and as the labour of the body bringeth thirst, so the labour of the soule in­creaseth thirst after [Page 69]grace. Besides that, grace is so sweet to a godly heart, as a Chri­stian Merchant can ne­uer bee satisfied, nor euer giue vp as hauing enough; and as hee knoweth the streame from whence hee suc­keth, can neuer bee drawne drie: so him­selfe is euer in want of some good things, or at the least of some measure of it; and is euer seeking the sup­plie of the same.

Fiftly,5. They agree in care to pre­serue their estate. they agree in the care of preseruing, and safe keeping the [Page 70]Pearles, and wealth gotten: the Merchant doth know hee is in continuall danger of theeues and robbers; and that the more pre­cious the commodities be, the more eagerly they are assaulted: and himselfe for them of­ten set vpon; some­times with hazard, sometimes with losse of goods, & life it selfe: now hee is so much the more carefull and watchfull to barre, and locke vp in the surest and strongest places his richest commodities.

So the Christian Merchants are in con­tinuall chase and pur­suit by Satan, seducers, heretickes, false tea­chers, tyrants, and all prophane ones in the world; Besides their owne inbred rebellion and lufts, which fight against their owne soules.

Now then all these lie in wait so much more diligently, as the wealth is more preci­ous than any other, to rob these Merchants, not of siluer or gold, but of faith and hope, [Page 72]and all their graces, the least of which is much more precious than gold, or the most pre­cious Pearles that euer lay hid in the bowels of the earth: Yea them­selues are so furiously assaulted, as hardly they may escape with goods or life, as wee may see in Christ him­selfe, and in the Mar­tyrs, who for his sake were bereaued, and stripped of all out­ward comforts of life, and life it selfe.

Hence the wise Christian Merchant [Page 73]carefully fenceth him­selfe with Gods feare: Secondly, standeth on his ground and guard of faith: Thirdly, loc­keth vp his graces and the word in his heart: Fourthly, keepeth wat­ches with God mor­ning and euening in holy praier and praises: Fiftly, with Christian fortitude and armour, hee maintaineth the measure of grace recei­ued: By all which meanes hee not onely disappointeth the ene­mie of his prey, but al­so sheweth his owne [Page 74]valour & vertue which is no lesse in keeping and retaining the good things of the Gospell,Non minor est virtus, quam quaerere, parta tueri.than in getting and at­taining them.

Vse 1 Now if Christians be Merchants, then not Monkes nor eremits;Merchants & Monks very different.not a cloistred people who liue alone; and not to any other. Ci­uill Merchants must trade and conuerse to­gether for the good one of another; and Chri­stian Merchants much more: I would these bellies had eares, and that these drones [Page 75]would consider; First, how vnnaturall this course of life is, con­demned by the hea­thens themselues. Ari­stotle could say that Ho­mo est natura animal gre­gabile, Politie. 1.a man is natu­rally sociable: and Ci­cero, that no man is borne for himselfe,Offic. 1. Non nobis nati sumus, sid par­tem patria, par­tem parentes, &c. but his Country, kindred and his neighbours, yea euery man hath a part in euery man se­condly [...] other more essentiall effe­rence is there, between the life of man & brute beasts; but the beasts [Page 76]life is a kind of fingle life for it selfe: but mans life is a life communi­catiue? Thirdly, these droues of idle cattle are the vnprofitable bur­thens of the earth; for, what gift soeuer they haue, all is lost; what profit is there in a hid­den treasure?Paulum sepultae distat incrtiae Celata virtus. so wis­dome and gifts denied to the Church and Common-wealth, to what are they profita­ble? God hath not gi­uen all gifts to one; but varietie of gifts to di­uers; Vt ego tuis, tu meis indigeres: God will [Page 77]haue men taught, edi­fied, gouerned, by men, not by Angels: How then can he set vp the duties of pietie, pro­mote the good of his neighbour, or edifie the Church by precept or example, which flieth societie, and imprison­eth himselfe in wilfull fetters; vnnaturally putting off manhood, and blessing himselfe in a fearfull curse, as any tēporall almost can be?

Vse 2 Let all of vs there­fore carry our selues like wise Merchants.Imitate wise Merchants in three things.

1. A wise Merchant [Page 78]will know what stocke he putteth into trade: so must we take notice what talent or talents we haue receiued of the Lord to trafficke with­all; what portion or proportion of gifts we haue in our hands: and esteeme our selues worth so much, as we haue receiued of grace, and no more.

Secondly, the Mer­chant will not lay out his money but for a hopefull bargaine. Esay 55.2. Wherefore doe you lay out siluer and not for bread, and your la­bour [Page 79]without being satis­fied? Hearken diligently vnto me, and eat that which is good, and let your soule delight in fat­nesse; taxing the folly of such as labour and dearely buy externall food, and prouision: with neglect of the wholesome bread and water of life.

So a wise Christian Merchant will spend his time and labour on that, which when hee hath gotten, will satis­fie him; which if hee bestow in outward things, (suppose hee [Page 80]doth gaine them) they cannot satisfie him.Eccles. 5.9. He that loueth siluer shall not bee satisfied, and hee that loueth riches shall be without the fruit there of: And of all earthly things may be said that of Salomon. The eye is neuer satisfied with see­ing, nor the eare with hearing: onely godli­nessE bringeth with it contentment.

Thirdly, the Mer­chant will often cast his estate, his bookes, his shops, and his rec­konings to see whe­ther his stocke increa­seth [Page 81]or decayeth: If he finde himselfe a gainer, then he is glad; if the contrary, he is heartles and sorrowfull.

So the Christian Merchant is much and often in trying his estate and standing in grace; and is most glad when hee findeth in himselfe increase of grace, knowledge, hu­mility, faith, loue, &c. but it is a death to him to goe backward, and to see his estate of grace rather to decrease than increase: hee hath no comfort in his present [Page 82]vnfruitfulnesse; much lesse in Apostacy, and backe-slicing: but his comfort and account to the Lord is onely when hee can say, Luke 19.13. Lord, thy talent hath increased ten ta­lents.

Vse 3 Let this considerati­on also comfort godly poore men despised in the world:The poorest Christian is a very rich Merchant. thou that art a poore Christian, in a low estate in the world, labour busily for grace: and thou maist bee as rich a Merchant, haue as rich a stocke, and deale in as great and [Page 83]rich commodities (if poore in spirit) as the richest. Thou that hast no money, and but lit­tle credit in the world, maist heere make as good a bargaine and as gainfull returne for thy selfe, as he that hath thousands of money beyond thee. The poore receiue the Go­spell, saith our Sauiour, that is, few but the poore in estate, none but the poore in spirit; for this trading is with­out money, like the poore womans curing, who spent all her mo­ney [Page 84]on the Physitians, and yet was not cured; but Christ commeth and cureth her freely. Againe, art thou a poore man, hast thou a great charge of chil­dren, and no meanes to put them forth to trades? here is a rich trade: make Mer­chants of them, teach them and binde them to this trade of godli­nesse: this is the way to make them prosperous in earth, and bring them happily towards heauen, Prou. 14.26. The feare of the Lord is [Page 85]an assured strength, and his children shall haue hope.

Vse 4 Haue likewise a care, that hauing bought and purchased the Pearle,Part not from the Pearle once gotten.thou doest not fell it againe. Pro. 23.23. Buy the truth, but sell it not: likewise wisdome and in­struction, and vnder­standing, for what wee sell, we esteeme it lesse worth than that we sel it for: but we must va­lue this Pearle aboue riches, glory, libertie, Pearles, and life it selfe: by no meanes part from wisdome, neither [Page 86]by our forgetfulnesse, security or ouer-sight any way: Besides, we can sell it for nothing which is not vncer­taine gaine, but this is most certaine and most lasting; and therefore not to bee exchanged with any other.

This of the third ge­nerall.

The Merchant mans actions are three:Three maine actions of a wise Mer­chant.

• 1. He seeketh a good Pearle.
• 2. Findeth an excel­lent one.
• 3. Selleth all he hath to buy it.

Euery man natural­ly will be seeking some thing to make him happy: the naturall man hath some natu­rall Pearle or other, on which hee setteth his affection, and in which bee taketh greatest de­light. Some Merchants esteeme pleasure their best Pearle, some ho­nour, some riches, and the most of the world seeking some Pearle, light vpon some coun­terfeit or other; where­in they content them­selues, and blinde both themselues and others: [Page 88]which made an ancient Father cry out:Foelix negotia­tor qui nouit qua rerenon necina vt am­bitiosi, nen inuti­ [...]a vt curiosi, sed salubria vt sancti. Happy is that Merchant that knoweth to seeke not hurtfull things as the ambitious doe, nor vn­profitable things as the curious doe; but the most wholesome things as doe the Saints: but this a su­pernaturall both seeker and seeking and things sought: The thing sought is the grace of the Gospell: a good Pearle indeed as before the seeker was, the wise Merchant.

Quest. But how can any man seeke grace, seeing [Page 89] Psal. 14. and Rom. 3. no man seeketh after God?

Sol. Answ. No man by nature can seeke after grace, nor of himselfe once aske after it be­cause he is destitute of the spirit of God, no more than the lost groat can aske after her that lost it, or a wan­dring sheepe after the Shepherd, or a dead man after life: So as those places are meant of men before conuer­sion and calling: for the elect seeke not God till God first seeke them, [Page 90]and findeth them. But this is to be vnderstood of men called, conuer­ted, already found of God, and mooued by the Spirit of God: who mooued by God can now moue themselues, and sought by him now can seeke him. Which both setteth out our infinite miserie, who of our selues ne­uer minde the meanes of happinesse; and also magnifieth Gods mer­cie which is infinite: who offering vnto vs a free grace, doth truly say, I was found of them [Page 91]that sought me not; and giueth him also the ho­nour of goodnesse, and of our seeking of him.

Only the godly and all they are seekers of the good Pearle: Doct. they seeke after God in Christ, and the grace of the Gos­pell;Only the god­ly and all they are seekers of the Pearle.euery where the godly are called seekers of God, and seekers of wisdome, Prou. 2. and seekers of the kingdome, Matt. 6.33. and wicked men are described to be such as seeke not af­ter God, Psalm. 14.4. And why?

Reas. 1 1. These onely doe [Page 92]see their owne want and beggerie, which is implied in seeking. No man seeketh that hee wanteth not, or that first findeth not in him­selfe a want of grace.Psal 143.6. Dauid desired grace as the thirstie ground, and grace is not promised, nor giuen to any but the thirstie. Isa. 55.1. Euery one that thirsteth, come yee to the waters. Psalm. 14.2. First they must vnderstand (name­ly their estate) and then seeke after God.

Reas. 2 2. All these, and they alone doe see the ex­cellencie, [Page 93]as well as the need of this Pearle, and God hath let them see, in some measure, the worth of it. Why are men so earnestly ca­ried to seeke Pearles, farre and neere swal­lowing insensibly all toiles, dangers, and charges, but because they know their worth and price, and that if they can light on them they shall be well paid for all their labour.

Euen so, such as to whom God hath made knowne in some mea­sure, the worth of this [Page 94]inestimable lewell, are quickned daily to the vnweariable inquisiti­on after it. Paul knew that one graine of grace would weigh downe all the world; and therefore would procure it through all perils and dangers, through good reports or euill, through wants and losses, euen of the dearest things, and most desirous in all the world; whereas Ignoti nulla cupido, none will seeke that he knoweth not, or not any good­nesse in it.

Reas. 3 3. They only know, that without painfull seeking, they shall ne­uer attaine the Pearle: for as Pearles doe not lie on the face of the ground, but are hid in the bowels of the earth, or in the sands; so the mysteries of the Kingdome lie not a­broad for euery one to stumble vpon vna­wares; but they are a hidden treasure, not discerned by the natu­rall man; nay hated by the wisdome of the flesh, and scorned by the wisest of the world.

Besides, that this is the condition vpon which the Lord be­stoweth his best bles­sings:Pro. 2.4.if we dig for wis­dome as for treasures; which words implie, that it is not easie to come by; he knoweth our nature, that wee lightly set by what wee lightly come by: and if Pearles were as com­mon as pibbles, wee should as lightly set by them as we doe by the other.

Reas. 4 4. The godly alone see, that without the Pearle, they cannot by [Page 97]any thing else be satis­fied: for so seeking, implieth a discontent in the want of the thing sought for. Common men, if they finde health, wealth, friends, pleasures, and the like outward things, are well contented; corne, wine, & oile, to cheere their hearts: But these wise Merchants see­king grace, no other thing contenteth them but grace; one glimpse of Gods countenance through Iesus Christ, is sweet aboue all. And as hee that seeketh a [Page 96] [...] [Page 97] [...] [Page 98]Iewell, doth looke still after it, (a thousand things come in his way and eye, but he passeth slightly ouer them, and seeth them not, nor see­keth hee them) euen so doth the Christian Merchant; and as the ciuill Merchant attai­ning Pearles, doth rest ioyfull in them as in such commodities as will helpe his happi­nesse in the world: So the godly Merchant finding this one Pearle of the Gospel, which is the grace of life, goeth away reioycing, and [Page 99]resteth well appaid for all his labours and suf­ferings. He was before hee light vpon this Pearle, the most vnhap­pie man in the world; but now hee cannot hide his ioy: but as the poore widow, which called in her neighbors to reioyce with her, be­cause she had found the lost groat, Luk. 15.9. so can he neither wholly hide, nor yet expresse halfe the ioy hee con­ceiueth in his new commoditie and pur­chase.

Ob. But many seeke, and [Page 100]that with reares, that faile of grace, as Esan, and many shall striue to enter (saith Christ) and shall not bee able: and Rom. 9.31, 32. Israel sought right nusnesse, but obtained it not.

Sol. Answ. Many seeke, but amisse,Fiue conditi­ons of right seeking the Pearle. and there­fore faile: so Israel sought, but not by faith. Now the true condition of seeking as the wise Merchant, and as the word directeth, standeth in fiue things.

1.1. Affectio­nately. With an earnest and true loue, desire, and estimation of the thing [Page 101]sought; this will make a man seeke diligently, and as a thirsty person, not coldly, carelesly, remisly, slightly, or negligently; for such seeking shall neuer finde: for why did the Church seeke Christ so laboriously, till she found him, but because it was hee whom her soule loued? Cant. 3.3. The watchmen that went about the Citie, found mee, to whom I said, Haue yee seene him whom my soule loueth? And why did Mary seeke Christ, ha­uing [Page 102]lost him three dayes? Because she lo­ued him and reioyced in his person and pre­sence; which made her heart so heauie in his absence, Luk. 2.42. Behold, thy father and I haue sought thee with heauie hearts. The Merchant, because hee loueth and esteemeth of siluer, doth seeke it carefully and earnestly, Pro. 2.4. and the hea­uenly Merchant shall finde grace vndoub­tedly, if he seeke it as the other doth siluer. Loue is laborious; he [Page 103]that loueth Christ and his grace, will neuer cease to seeke him, nor faile to finde him. See the promise in Ier. 29.12, 13. Then shall you crie vnto mee, and you shall goe and pray vnto me, and I will heare you: and you shall seeke mee and finde mee, because you shall seeke mee with all your heart: Whoso­euer then euer meaneth to finde God and his sauing grace, must vn­fainedly and heartily seeke after him.2. Wisely in the likely place of fin­ding.

Secondly, it must be sought in the likely [Page 104]place and meanes of fin­ding: the ordinary place where this Pearle is to be found, is, the assemblies of the Saints: there God hol­deth forth his scepter, and maketh offer of the grace of life.Cant 1.7. Where was the Church to find Christ with his graces at noone, in her thirst, but in the steps of the shepherds? And these assemblies are the Sub­urbs of heauen, called therfore the Kingdome of grace: and hee that refuseth the good of­fers of grace, in the [Page 105]word, sacraments, prai­er, hearing, reading, conferring, & the like, shall neuer finde it. No wise Merchant will slacke any good op­portunity of aduancing his estate; now the like­ly meanes in wise seek­ing are diligently to be vsed, as

1. To search the eui­dence of the Pearle, & this euidence is contai­ned in the Scriptures. Iohn 5. Search the Scrip­tures, for they witnesse of me.

Secondly, the grant of it is from heauen by [Page 106]prayer. Let vs there­fore goe boldly to the Throne of grace that we may find mercy and grace to helpe in time of need, Heb. 4.16.

Thirdly, the coue­nant is by the applica­tion of these meanes signed, and deliuered, yea and witnessed by the blessed Spirit of GOD, by a blessed change in the belee­uing heart; by mortifi­cation, and subduing the corruption of na­ture; by heauenly moti­ons, heauenly minded­nes, and gracious con­uersation, [Page 107]standing not in a shell, a forme or shew, but in the kernil, power, and substance of sound godlinesse.

Thirdly,3. Principally. it must be sought first and princi­pally, yea onely sought and that for it selfe: it must be sought first in time: As Psalme 63.3. Early in the morning wil I seeke thee. The Israe­lites must seeke Manna, the first thing they doe in the morning. Esau seeketh, but too late; the foolish Virgins doe knocke, but the doore is shut. 2. It must be [Page 108]sought in the first place. Matth. 6.33. Seeke yee first the kingdome of heauen, and the righte­ousnesse thereof: Seeke neither other things before it, as worldlings, nor other things with it, as prophane Epi­cures, who would graspe heauen and earth together; nor yet seeke it for other things, as Hypocrites, who professe the Gos­pell for fauour, credit, profit, or some other (in respect of that) base things. But seeke it a­lone for it selfe, and in [Page 109]sincerity; for only such seeking findeth it: Ne­uer will Christ bee sought for loaues, nor can the same eye looke to heauen and earth to­gether.

Fourthly,Fourthly, humbly. it must be sought humbly, that is, first out of thy selfe: a man that wanteth wa­ter, will go to the foun­taine; the waters of grace must flow from the fountaine, and well­head Christ Iesus: seeke it therefore in him and from him. The eye of faith spieth it in him, and the hand of faith [Page 110]doth take it vp from him.

Secondly, it must be sought with godly for­row and repentance for sinne. Isay 1.16. Wash you, make you cleane, take away the euill of your works, from before mine eyes; cease to doe euill.

Thirdly, with refor­mation of heart and life. Psal. 14.4. The wor­kers of iniquitie are vn­fit and vnworthy see­kers of grace.

Fiftly,5. Constantly. it must be sought constantly: Mary and Ioseph neuer gaue [Page 111]ouer seeking Christ vn­till they found him, nor the Church till shee found him: neither must we giue ouer see­king, hauing found grace, for it is not in this seeking, as in other things, where hauing found, we rest conten­ted, and seeke no more: but here hauing found the thing wee sought, we must seeke still: for a Christian is euer wanting of grace, if not in whole, yet in part, if not in substance, yet in some degree and measure of it: and [Page 112]therefore this worke (as the husband mans) is neuer at an end.

Vse 1 This must needes condemne many of vs, of extreame folly and sinne: how few of vs, haue sought after grace as after siluer? for siluer we will take great paines, rise early, goe to bed late, and eat the bread of carefulnesse: but when doe wee so for grace? for siluer we will trauell many miles on horse, and foot, to a market or faire, if wee can but gaine or re­turne halfe a handfull [Page 113]of siluer: but for grace we will hardly step out of doores or bestow the least paines, to frequent the places of Gods ex­change. In seeking sil­uer, euery man will seeke a good penny­worth; hee is carefull that none ouer-reach him: hee parteth with his money as warily as may be: and will be ready to lay hold on a good bargaine, when it is offered. In the matter of grace, how fearefully doe many thrust it away with both hands, wilfully forsa­king [Page 114]their own mercy? Iona. 2.8. They that wait vpon lying vanities, for­sake their owne mercy: that is, refuse the bar­gaine of eternall life offered, almost forced vpon them and others, that seemed to haue re­ceiued a good sum of grace, foolishly depart with it, and fall away either quite or wholly, or else from their mea­sure and their first loue; these men are farre from seeking grace, and farther from finding it.

Vse 2 This should stir vp our thirst after grace, to [Page 115]expresse our selues wise Merchants seazed on the Pearle, which that we may earnestly seeke after, let vs consider these fiue motiues.

1.5. Motiues to prouoke vs earnestly to seeke after grace. Christ seeketh vs, and desireth vs to seeke him; and shall Christ seek thee for thy good, and not thou seeke him for thine owne good? But Christ seek­eth vs, as a Hen that gathereth her chick­ins vnder her wings, Matth. 23.37. and woe vnto vs if we remaine vngathered. The father of the prodigall, goeth [Page 116]out to meet his sonne returning home, to in­courage vs to goe out of our solues to seeke him.

Secondly, the feare­full reuenge against such as seeke not, nor inquire after GOD, should mooue vs to seek him: as Zeph. 1.6. in the fourth Verse, I will cut off the remnant of Baal; & in the sixth, And them that turne backe from the Lord, and those that haue not sought the Lord nor inquired for him. And if they vnder the [Page 117]Law were so reuenged, how much more shall wee liuing vnder the Gospell,Heb. 2.3. if we neglect so great saluation? If the Gospel be now hid, it is hid to them that perish, 2 Corin. 4.3. Oh what a fearefull case is it, that the Gospell should serue for the conuiction of men, and not for their con­uersion? Oh thrice vn­happy man that shall peruert this so aboun­dant grace to his owne destruction: and yet the plenty of Gods grace in the Gospel shall con­demne [Page 118]thousands that neuer required or sought after it.

3. Thou shouldest seeke grace from God, but he seeketh to pin his grace on thy sleeue: God bringeth home the Gospell to thy house and doores; hee sendeth forth his ser­uants, he continueth to seeke thee by continu­ing the meanes and the season of grace: he see­keth thee daily by his word, his Ministers, his blessings, his correcti­ons, by the motions of the spirit, by the checks [Page 119]of thine owne consci­ence, and wilt thou not seeke being so sought vnto? darest thou re­ceiue such grace still in vaine? 2 Cor. 6.5. or turne it to wantonnes? Iud. 3.

Fourthly, of this sal­uation the Prophets search diligently, 1 Pet. 1.10. and shall wee to whom it more speci­ally belongeth, not so much as aske or in­quire after it? or shall we thrust it away as the Iewes did, Acts 13.46. but not without the most fearefull reuenge [Page 120]that euer hapned to any nation vnder the heauens, vnder which they lye at this day?

Fiftly, for a man to abide destitute of de­sire and indeuour after grace, sheweth that Sa­than the God of the world worketh mighti­ly in such a one, and hath him in his power to hood-winke him, and hide from him the grace of the Gospell, that the brightnesse of this Pearle should ne­uer shine to him, least he should conuert and be saued: See 2 Cor. 4.3, [Page 121]4. This of the first action: Who hauing found a Pearle of great price.

The second action of the wise Merchant is; he findeth an excellent Pearle; Of the Pearle, and of the excellencie we haue spoken: Now are we in this part one­ly to speake something of the finding of it. And by the Pearle being meant the grace of the Gospell, as wee haue heard, wee learne this Doctrine: Doct. 1 Seekers of grace shall finde it. That seekers of grace shall finde it: and onely they. Psalme [Page 122]118.5. I called vpon the Lord in trouble, and the Lord heard me, and set me at large: and Psalm. 138.3. When I called then thou heardest mee, & hast increased strength in my soule: Salomon seeketh wisdome and findeth it. Luke 15.9. Matth. 7.8. The woman that sought the lost groat, found it: Who­soeuer asketh, recei­ueth, and he that seek­eth, findeth. Why?

Reas. 1 1. Faithfull seeking can neuer take God wanting or vnwilling to giue grace, both be­cause [Page 123]hee hath promi­sed, and is able to per­forme, aboue all we are able to aske or thinke: His power is sufficient to supply all our wants: and Isay 65.1. I was found of them that sought mee not: and verse 24. Yea before they call I will answer, and while they speake, I will heare.

If earthly fathers that are euill, Matth. 7.11. (both in com­parison of God, and in their owne inclina­tion) can giue good things to their children that aske, much more [Page 124] our heauenly Father can and will. How glad is an earthly father, when his children can seeke after that which is good for them? and our heauenly Father much more: Besides, God who hath promi­sed cannot lye, Titus 1.2. now he should de­ceiue his people, if they should not finde the grace they duly seeke: but he hath said, Matth. 5, 6. that the hungring and thirsting soule shall be satisfied and sup­plied.

Reas. 2 2. The Lord will not [Page 125]so farre discourage his seruants, and dishear­ten them, as neuer to let them finde that, they bestow so much true paines in seeking: but he vpholdeth them in seeking, by supplying, some way or other, some time or other, that they seeke: his wisdome not only fee­deth his children with hopes of an haruest to come; but affordeth them present food and finding, euen in this life, so far as will stand with hunger and thirst: by which hee incou­rageth [Page 127]them in their prayers, teares, labours, and sufferings, and without which finding for the present, in part, the smoaking wicke should bee quickly quenched, and all the beginning of grace ea­sily lost: oyle is not more necessarie to feed a lampe, than the supply of grace is to feed grace. Psal. 116.1. I loue the Lord, because hee hath heard my voice and prayers: and Psal. 65.2. Because thou hearest prayer, vnto thee shall all flesh come.

Reas. 3 3. The Lord will not so much withstand his owne glory, as not be found of true seekers, because his owne glo­ry is the maine end of all his mercy. Psal. 22.26. They that seeke af­ter the Lord shall praise him: namely, in ac­knowledging him true in his promises and plentifull in his mer­cies.

Obiect. But God is a free gi­uer of grace, and be­fore wee can aske wee shall haue it without seeking: what need we then seek so diligently?

Answ. 1. Gods grace is free in respect of me­rits, not of meanes: if God should not giue vs sauing grace before we aske it, we should ne­uer haue it; and no man can seeke grace but by grace; yet God giueth not grace to idle or sleepy persons, but to the vigilant and watch­full: he is not so prodi­gall of so excellent a Pearle, as to bestow it for nothing: or vpon those, who hauing ta­sted the sweetnes of it, will not bestirre them­selues for more, that [Page 129]they may grow in grace.

2. Though God doth bestow on vs free salua­tiō which costeth vs no­thing, yet wee must ac­cept it in the meanes: which do excite & exer­cise our graces, & suffer vs to bee neither idle, nor vnfruitfull in the worke of the Lord.

But if we seeke, our seeking is a cause of fin­ding, & so Gods grace shall not be free.

Ans. 1. Our seeking is no cause of finding but a meanes or way in which we finde.

2. In seeking we doe our duty, but merit nothing by it; for when we haue done all we can, we are vnprofi­table seruants.

Note. 3. The promise of finding is not made to the seeking, but to the seeker, being in Christ: who findeth for Christs sake, not for his owne.

Obiect. But I haue sought long, and haue not found.

Sol. Ans. There is a 2. fold seeking, 1.6. Sorts of seekers amisse. a seeking a­misse, and then no mar­uell if thou findest not; Esan sought with [Page 131]teares, and findeth not: many shall seeke and strine to enter, and shall not bee able; and of these are sixe sorts, 1. wicked men being destitute of the spirit of GOD, want their eyes cleared: and a blind man shall sooner find a Pearle lost, than they this.

2. Some seeke with­out light, as fond Fami­lists and Anabaptists, who seeke grace in the darke corners of En­thusiasmes, and reuela­tions, scorning the light of the Scriptures [Page 132]and Ministrie: in which the spirit onely and or­dinarily offreth himself to be found.

3. Some seeke with­out the promise and so without faith: Israel sought it by merits, Rom. 9.31.

4. Some seeke with­out repentance. Isay 1.16. wash you, make you cleane, and then come and reason together.

5. Some seeke it vn­seasonablie the doore being shut, so did Esau when the blessing was bestowed.

6. Some seeke with­on [Page 133]out sincerity. Hypo­crites seeke a while but giue ouer, as weary of so much paines; now the promise is made to none of these: the goale is not giuen but to such as striue lawfully.

A second Kind of seeking that is which faileth not, and that is in the true and lawfull conditions of seeking, as by the supernaturall eye of faith, by the light of Gods Word, in the right veine of finding, and in the places where the Pearle lieth, and in season of seeking, [Page 134]whilst the day lasteth and the light is with vs: hast thou thus sought, and art yet held off? I say God must be true Quaerentibus recta & rectè, hee that see­keth, quae oportet & quomodo oportet, shall certainely finde; and therefore I say to thee that seekest good things well: 1. Thou hast found grace suffici­ent, 2 Cor. 12.7.as Paul did when hee seemed to be deni­ed of the grace desired: thou hast found grace in some measure, at least in such measure as [Page 135]may cause thee to hun­ger for more.

2. God may delay to giue thee a greater measure, and yet not deny thee; it may bee that which thou see­kest, is worth more la­bour than yet thou hast bestowed: distinguish now betwixt Gods de­layes and denialls: hold on thy seeking, thou shalt find in good time.

Thirdly,The best see­kers find but in small mea­sure in this life, and why. the best and holiest seekers of al find but for the estate of this life; that is, in small measure, a taste, a first fruites, heere is but [Page 136]a sowing in grace. God leaueth his children in many wants for the present, for diuers ends. 1. For their humiliati­on, as Paul had a pricke in the flesh left.

2. To maintaine hun­ger and thirst after more.

3. To long after the time of perfection, and full saciety, when they shall bee fully confor­med to the Image of God.

Fourthly, thou hast found a promise of God to be fully satisfi­ed at length, Matth. 5.6. [Page 137]in the meane time e­steeme thy seeking as a seede time, thy labour is sowen in heauen, thy seede is cast into the bosome of God: and if it presently returne not so much comfort, ioy, and increase as thou desirest: it is layd vp and will bring thee good store, and a happy crop for hereafter:Gal. 6.9. ther­fore be not weary of well doing, for in due time thou shalt reape, if thou faint not.

If no man seeketh this Pearle aright but find­eth, see a difference be­tweene [Page 148]this commodi­tie, and all other. Seeke any other thing in the world, with thy best in­deuour, and thou maist faile,Eccle. 5.9. and not finde. He that seeketh siluer, shall not bee satisfied: Seeke wealth, pearles, honor, pleasures, thou shalt of­ten faile of them: but seeke the best thing, & alway speed. In all o­ther things, many seeke one thing, but finde an­other: goe to the Physi­tians to seeke health, thou maist meete with death; to the Lawyer, to seeke law and justice, [Page 139]thou maist find iniustice and oppression: at some friends hāds thou maist feeke fauour & friend­ship, but finde hatred and enmitie, as Ioseph sought at his brethrens, but findes them foes and enemies.

But in matters of grace, thou shalt finde the same things thou lookest for: seekest thou the Pearle, thou findest the Pearle, as the Mer­chant did: nay, findest an excellent one, farre better than thou look­edst for; the worth of which is not to bee va­lued [Page 140]in this vale of dacknesse.

Here is also a diffe­rence betweene seeking things at Gods hands, and at mans: all that aske at mans handes speed not: though thou maist aske neuer so iust­ly, as in the example of the vniust Iudge. A poore man asketh at mans hands mercy, and misseth of it: knocke at mans doore, it is not al­way open: But the gate of grace is neuer shut; Gods eare is alway o­pen, and as a fauorite sitteth in the eare of the [Page 141]King, and speedeth in any suite, so doth the godly seeker speed with God.

Vse 2 This comforteth poore soules seeking & panting after grace; so long as thou canst seeke, thou art sure to find, though the Lord hide his face for a time, and seeme to locke vp his mercy from thee, yet vpholde thy selfe in seeking, and thou shalt find in due season, Psal. 9.9.10. The Lord also will bee a refuge for the poore, a refuge in due time, euen in affliction. [Page 142]Wantest thou strength against temptations? Seeke by prayer the grace of Christian for­titude: be strong in the cry of prayer; and as a theefe will runne away when the true man ma­keth a noyse and out­cry, so will Sathan vp­on this noise of feruent prayer cease his assault. Wantest thou peace of conscience, chearfulnes in doing, or suffering? wouldest thou see a sweet looke from God? or needst thou any o­ther blessing for life or godlines? Seeke it with [Page 143]instance, doe as the wo­man of Canaan, who sought grace at the hands of Christ, and would not be repulsed, Math. 15.22. And the poore woman by her importunitie preuailed in her suit with the vn­iust Iudge, Luke 18.5. And how much more shall faithfull importu­nitie preuaile with the most righteous & faith­full God?

Obiect. But my seeking is so weake and sinfull, that I shall neuer finde: my sinne quite marreth my seeking, and hin­dreth [Page 144]my finding.

Sol. Is there more weake­nesse in thy seeking,than in Iacobs seeking the, blessing? yet his weake and faultie seek­ing found it.

Obiect. O that I could finde any feeling or worke of grace, but the strong hart of my corruptions is not yet brokē: I haue lost all my labour, and found nothing but dis­comfort of it.

Sol. Let not thy soule pre­scribe and instruct the Lord, how, or what way or when to do thee good: but waite and [Page 145]striue, and find and pre­uaile.

Secondly, seeke against sense and feeling, euen out of the belly of the whale of desperation it selfe, lay hold on the free grace of God, and thou shalt find an issue, & his sweet loue drop­ping comfort, sweeter than hony combes to thy soule.

Vse 3 Thirdly, see the rea­son why grace groweth so thin euery where,Grace not found because not sought. e­uen because hee that hath not attained grace neuer sought it aright; the want is not in God, [Page 146]nor in the meanes, but in thy selfe and manner of seeking:Non deficit dā ­tis misericordia. Non medico­rum insufficientia, sed quaerentium negligentia culpanda; Blame thy selfe for not finding, who hast failed in the manner of thy seeking; for perhaps,

Thou art full and feelest not the need of grace, as the Church of Laodicea, Reu. 3.17. and then how canst thou seeke? A beggar will not stir abroad so long as hee hath any thing at home.

Or art prophane and [Page 147]scornest the blessing, as Esau.

Or art a hater of it, and the seekers of it; turnest their glory into shame, & art of the ge­neration of them that hate them that seeke the Lord.

Or art idle and see­kest slightly, or formal­ly; and can God attend that prayer, or request, which thou carelesly & formally castest out, and thy selfe attendest not? And here numbers of men lye vnder just re­proofe; as

1. Such as neuer spent [Page 148]so much labour in see­king grace, as Saul did in seeking his Fathers Asses, 1 Sam 9.4,

2. They that neuer spent so much time to find it, as they could for a handfull of siluer, and yet hope they haue it, or shall haue it. When didst thou breake thy sleepe, disease thy selfe, put thy selfe into all weathers by night and by day, for the Word, as thou hast for wealth? When wast thou so good and thriftie an husband for thy soule as for thy body? Neuer [Page 149]looke for grace before thou prizest it: and bee sure thou hast it not, who so vnder-valuest it.

Vse 4 Thirdly, let vs exa­mine our selues whe­ther by all our seeking wee haue found the Pearle, & that by these rules.

1. He hath found by seeking who still seekes to find,5. Notes of one that by seeking hath found the Pearle. for it is not here as in seeking other things: heere the fin­der giueth not ouer seeking: but the more be findeth the more he seeketh; heere is an vn­saciable couetousnesse, [Page 150]and a couetousnesse warrantable.

Secondly, much ioy and large affections to expresse the sence of so great a commoditie: the testimony of Gods Spirit witnesseth our adoption; once receiue it, and it refresheth the soule with ioy vnspea­kable and glorious, 1 Peter 4.5. and this ioy will not be hid, as in the woman finding the lost groat.

Thirdly, the Pearle once found, there follo­weth a contempt of the world, a killing of the [Page 151]cares of this life, a fen­cing from the loue of earthly things: there is no true content in any thing else, he that hath found this Pearle estee­meth all other things, euen the best of that the world so admireth, dung in comparison of Christ.

Fourthly, being so rich a commoditie, it enableth to good workes and (as no o­ther Pearle can) it wor­keth the will also to be aboundant in good workes, aboundant in the fruits of the spirit, [Page 152]in the fruits of Sanctity, and holines of life.

Fiftly, it is of so pre­cious vertue, as it is in euery one that findeth it, an antidote against all the poison of sinne, the grace of repentance presently expelleth it: the grace of patience is a salue for euery sore: the grace of faith is a most soueraigne Cor­diall; it is of vertue to renouate the whole man, and all the parts of the man: it cleareth his sight daily, it ma­keth him quicke of hearing, it sharpneth [Page 149]all his senses in diuine things; it preserueth his stomack, and appe­tite to Gods word: it purgeth out his cor­ruptions, reneweth his strength, as the Eagle: All these and a thou­sand more vertues hath this Hearbe-Grace wrought in thee in some measure if thou hast found it, and so a­boundantly recompen­seth all thy labour.

He went & sold all that he had and bought it.] The third action of the Merchant.Our Sauiour continu­eth the allegory of the wise Merchant, who [Page 154]1. hath sought, 2. found the Pearle, and then sit­teth not downe:1. Vadit ad forum spiritu­alium per effe­ctum. but (thirdly) maketh pur­chase. In the words are three things.2. Vendit omnia per affectum & contimptum terrenorum.

1. He goeth away, to the Mart and meanes where it is to be had.3. Emit per co­natum & desi­derium ater­norum.

2. Hee selleth all in affection to it, and con­tempt of earthlythings.

3. He buyeth it by a carefull desire and en­deuour after heauenly things.

For the meaning, 1. he goeth away.] Selfe­denial is the first les­son in Christs schoole, [Page 155] Whosoeuer will saue his life, Mat. 16.25. shall loose it, and whosoeuer shall loose his life for my sake, shall find it; hee that forsaketh not his own will, reason, affections, and euill ha­bits, and doth not crosse his owne desires, shall neuer prize or purchase this Pearle.

2. And selleth all] That is, in comparison hee contemneth all earthly things, & setteth them at a low rate and value in respect of the Pearle, and doth not care much who haue them, so hee may enioy the [Page 152]Pearle: let others get the wealth of the world, he will be rich in grace; let others get corne, wine, and oile; if he can get naked Christ, hee hath enough.

Obiect. But is it necessarie to sell all, to haue eternall life? It may seeme so: Matth. 19.22. Iesus said vnto him, if thou wilt be perfect, goe and sell all that thou hast, and giue it to the poore, and thou shalt haue treasure in heauen, and come and follow me.

Sol. Ans. The Papists build a state of perfection [Page 153]vpō voluntary pouerty: and hold it a counsell onely fit for perfect Christians, and farre more meritorious than the keeping of the whole Law.

But 1. to answer them, and then the question.

1. It is a friuolous conceit to thinke, that any man may come to an higher estate of hap­pinesse, by some other meanes than by keep­ing the Law.

Secondly, it is ab­surd to thinke that any worke can be accepta­bly done toward salua­tion, [Page 158]which is without the walke and com­passe of the law, which is so perfect, that cursed is he that doth dare to adde to it, or detract any thing from it.

3. Christ desired no more of the young man, than he did of his Disciples, who said verse 27. wee haue left all to follow thee, and yet Peter had an house still, and Iohn, to which hee tooke the Virgin Mary.

And therefore Christ would haue the young man to part with all, which hee could not [Page 159]hold with his loue and affection to Christ him­selfe, and the Gospell.

Fourthly, that which Christ required of this Iustitiarie, is not any deuised Euangelicall counsel aboue the law; but a dutie contained in the law: the summe of which is, Thou shalt loue the Lord thy God with all thy heart: and whereas hee had boa­sted, that hee had kept all the law; Christ doth send him backe againe to the law, to let him see his want of loue, both to God and his [Page 156]neighbour; to God, if the loue of his friends hinder him from fol­lowing him, whom he confesseth a teacher from God: And want of loue to man, if at Christs word hee will not part with his mo­ney, especially if not at Christ his especiall commandement.

So as this is not a counsell to some per­fect recluses or orders of wilfull men; but a commandement to all Christians, that must striue to perfection. 1. Cor. 2.6. And we speak [Page 157]wisdom amongst them that are perfect: who must not onely leaue goods and lands, and houses for Christ, and the Gospell; but must hate father, mother, wife, and children, bre­thren, sisters, and their owne life, if they cānot hold them with Christ.

So much to answer the Papists:

Now to the question.

1. Who can denie wealth to be the gift of God, if it be held with­out couetousnes, con­fidence, pride, and sub­ordinate to heauen and [Page 162]heauenly things? Or who can denie but ri­ches may become helps to heauenly Ta­bernacles? who can de­nic but good men may both haue them, and vse them? Abraham was a man of great possessions, and Iob and Dauid men of most great wealth: and yet godly men, and poore of spirit; goods there­fore in themselues are not to be cast away: but first in comparison,Wealth in foure cases to be renoun­ced.rather than we will not attaine, and retaine the Pearle of the Gospell, [Page 163]we must abandon all we haue.

Secondly, when they proue an impediment to our calling, and ho­ly profession, we must renounce them,Heb. 11.25. as Mo­ses in this case refused to be the sonne of Pha­raohs daughter, and to suffer with Gods peo­ple: a traueller may car­rie a staffe to helpe him in his iourney, but not to ouer-load himselfe: and he may beare some money in his purse for his charges, but not burthen himselfe with it.

Thirdly, in affection alwaies wee must re­nounce them, and hold them retiredly and weignedly, vsing the world as not vsing it: 1 Cor. 7.3.Let them be in our hands, not in our hearts; to lay downe, or lay out; not to lay vp, or lay vp our hearts with them.

Fourthly, actually, but not vncalled, wee must leaue them, not of our owne accord, but called by God, nō spon­te sed vocati: let vs al­wayes see wee haue a good ground, as if ty­rants, [Page 161]or persecutors, keepe vs from inioying either Christ, or our own estate; then in this choyse, we must prefer a poore estate in Christ, before a rich estate in the world.

And buyeth it.] Our sauiour vseth this word buying, not to signifie, that we can make any recompence, payment, or merit, to purchase e­ternal life: for, first, that is infinite, we finite, and betweene these is no proportion. Secondly, it is a free gift of God, Rom. 6.23. Thirdly, it [Page 166]is a buying,Esay 55.1. but without money, & money worth. And the poore are cal­led to buy it, who haue no money to lay out for it. Fourthly, this Pearle is such a com­moditie, as neither men nor Angels can giue any due price for. Fift­ly, we can giue God no­thing but his owne.

But Christ here speak­eth figuratiuely, name­ly, that this wise Mer­chant dealeth as a buy­er;The Christian man resem­bleth a buyer in 4. things.first, hee seeth the want of Gods grace & Christs merits; the thir­sty are called to buy, Esay 55.1.

Secondly, as a buyer, he priseth, valueth, and casteth the worth; estee­meth Christ at the hiest rate, and all things else in comparison of him, losse, and dung, Phil. 3.13.

Thirdly, as a buyer he maketh an exchange; not of money, nor mo­ney worth, but vseth all good indeuour, and la­bour, by prayer, and di­ligence, and the vse of all good meanes, to ob­taine the grace of the Gospell. Which price God doth set vpon grace, and on which [Page 164]condition, an [...] is made. The [...] putteth ouer his sinnes to Christ, and recei­ueth righteousnes from Christ. 2 Cor. 5.21. For he hath made him to be sinne for vs that knew no sinne, that we should be made the righteous­nesse of God in him.

Fourthly, the bar­gain, made, is earnested; so the beleeuer, able to giue nothing to God, taketh from God the earnest of his Spirit, in some sauing graces; by which the whole bar­gaine of eternall life is [Page 165]assured vnto him.

Doct. 1 From this selling all, A wise Chri­stian will part with all be­fore he part with Christ.and buying the Pearle, learne, That a wise Christian must, and will part with all hee hath before hee will part with Christ. Prou. 4.7. Aboue all thy possessi­ons get wisdom and vn­derstanding. The god­ly follow Christ out of Ierusalem, and out of the campe, Heb. 13.13. they sold their liues, & loued them not to the death for Christ.

Pauls possessions and his life was not deere,Acts 20.so hee might finish his [Page 170]course with ioy. And why?

Reas. 1 1. Such sound iudge­ment is restored vnto euery sound Christian, as he thinketh nothing so deere to him as Christ, and his grace: and doth suppose him­selfe rich indeed if hee attaine naked Christ; and the deerest things are base in this compa­rison. The Church of Laodicea will neuer buy gold & white rayment, so long as her iudge­ment is blinded, till shee annoint her eyes with eye-salue to see; [Page 171]and seeing once the worth, she is content to be at any paines for it. The text implieth, that no lesse paines bee made for wisdom than that of most industri­ous Merchants, who take long and dange­rous iournies, and voy­ages by sea & land for Pearles, and swallow all paines and perils in hope of attaining them.

Secondly, the Christi­an knoweth that hee shall bee no loser by the bargaine; other Merchāts buying great commodities know [Page 168]not whether they shall be gainers or no: and many seeke Pearles with infinite losses and finde them not: But here is a certaine and an vndoubted gaine, for whosoeuer forsa­keth house, wife, lands, liberty, children, and life for Christs sake, and the Gospell, shall receiue an hundred­fold in this life with tribulation, and in the world to come life e­uerlasting: here is vsu­ry enough, not ten in the hundred, but an hundred for tenne: [Page 169]haue this Pearle and want nothing; want this Pearle, and haue nothing.

Thirdly, this putteth a difference betweene soundnesse and hypo­crisie; the hypocrite can sell much for Gods fauour. Mic. 6.6. they will giue thou­sands of rammes, and ten thousand of riuers of oyle: and their first borne, but will not part with their sinnes. Ananias and Sapphira can part with three parts of their portion: but soundnesse estee­meth [Page 114]the Pearle better than the whole, were it the whole world.

Fourthly, because it seeth Christ forsaking all, liberty, life, wealth, heauen, and happinesse for it; in the way of thankfulnesse, grace in the heart doth hold it selfe bound to forsake all for Christ.

Vse 1 This condemneth foolish Merchants, who make a base reckoning of the Pearle: esteem­ing the Gospell worth nothing. The Gadarens accounted euery pig, and base profit better [Page 175]than Christ, and his Sermons: Prophane Esau despised the bles­sing in respect of pot­tage; There are other scornefull Merchants, who scoffe at such sim­plicity, as to forgo pro­fits, and delights, for vaine conceits, as to strip ones selfe of the pleasures of life, to runne many miles to Sermons, where is none at home: Others would buy the Pearle, if by it they might gaine ease, reputation, and wealth, like the Swallowes that will take their Summer [Page 172]with vs, but in Winter take their leaue of vs: these measure religion by their gettings, and say with the old Iewes, What profit is there in seruing God? Mal. 3.14.

Vse 2 2. Many who thinke they haue the Pearle de­ceiued. We may see it is not so easy a matter to haue part in the Gospell, as most men thinke: that vtterly deceiue them­selues in this commo­ditie; and this is the cause why so few re­spect it, 1. Some men thinke they haue it be­cause they haue heard of it, but there is as much difference be­tweene [Page 161]finding and buying, as betweene calling and answering. 2. Some heare, and like, and wish, and praise it: but as in a faire they see many rich commodi­ties; but they passe by them and bargaine for none: so many approue of Doctrines in general, but lay out nothing, nor lay aside any lust: they can commend a good Sermon, but will be sure it shal doe them no good.

Thirdly, there are others that come nee­rer, cheapen, loue, and [Page 162]bid somewhat; but as hard chapmen nothing neere the matter: rich men can cast some of their superfluity some­times to good vses; but not as the widow that had but two mites and cast in all: this were too hard a bargaine.

Fourthly, some would exchange some of their sinnes, but not all: others will doe some duties, as come to Church, heare, pray, sometimes reade at home, and reprocue sinne: but come to chargeable or dange­rous [Page 163]duties, to shew loue to Christ in time of danger or disgrace, they are backward, and draw in the tender horne for feare they be losers by him.

Vse 3 Let vs therfore learne to hold Christ, and the Gospell as the only iewell, or pearle worth hauing; and to thinke our selues rich if we sell our selues out of all, to purchase the Pearle: let vs thus aduance our religion, and shut the mouthes of our aduer­saries, that say we will leaue nothing for our [Page 164]religion, while they giue all they haue to the Church and pious vses.Notes of a man that hath purchased the Pearle.

Obj. How shall I know a man that purchaseth the Pearle?

Sol. 1. He changeth his own merits, for Christs merits apprehended in the Gospell, and casteth them away like dung: and with Paul, who lai­eth his birth, kindred, righteousnesse, ciuill vertues & good works, and holinesse in the scoale: but all is too light, and found losse weighed with Christ. [Page 165]So bring Wealth, liber­tie, friends, life it selfe, into the sight of a sound bele euer: and if he must leaue these, or Christ & his Gospell, farewell they; he soone maketh his choyse: As in the danger of life, Act. 27.18, the Mariners cast out their wares with their owne hands, and the tacklings out of the ship: so we must cast a­way all in comparison of Christ, our Lord and our life. Where note, that the Papist that can­not disclaime his owne merits, shall misse of Christs.

2. Hee goeth away reioycing, all his affecti­ons are on it; his chiefe ioy is,Luke 10.20. that his Name is written in heauen, no affliction can remoue this ioy.

3. Hee desireth no­thing in comparison, beyond, or besides it; Simeon was content with Christ in his arms; Iacob had enough, that Ioseph liued: so the be­leeuer hath enough, that Christ liueth in heauen, and in his owne heart.

4. He retaineth his confidence to it; euery [Page 167]thing else chalenging his confidence, is but a staffe of reede.

5. He will neuer sell his purchase at any rate. Pro. 23.23. Buy the truth, but sell it not: Great merchants, what they buy for great pri­zes, they will sell for greater: but nothing is sufficient to buy the grace of the Gospell out of our hands: what wee sell we value vnder the price; but wee must deeme it aboue much fine gold, Psal. 119. yea, aboue all that in the world is counted pre­cious.

Vse 4 This is also a com­fort to poore men, who may here light on a good bargaine, and make a good purchase for thēselues, although they haue no money: nothing is set for the price but paines, ende­uour, godly desire and affection. Christ and his benefits freely passe to all, and are indifferently imparted to poore and rich; nay, if either haue the aduantage, it is the poore man, for the poore receiue the Gos­pell, saith our Sauiour: whereas Not many rich, 1 Cor. 1.26. [Page 169] not many noble, not many wise attaine to haue their share in it.

I haue now according to the measure of the gift giuen mee, set forth the choisest and chiefest commoditie in all the world, which no Fayre, or Mart can match, if into one Fayre all the treasures of the earth were brought to sale: say not now as the bui­er vseth to doe,These Ser­mons were preached on seuerall Fayre dayes. It is naught, it is naught.

I haue set an easie price vpon it, a little paines, a few good affections, an vpright endeuour, [Page 170]which is so low a price as your selues can wish. You need not disburse siluer, or gold, but may carry away this com­moditie in your hearts, & your money in your purses too: as Iosephs brethren carried from their brother, euery man his sacke of corne, and his money in his sacke too: he that now seeth on the one hand, his owne want, and on the other the worth of the Pearle, will come & cheapen, and buy, and purchase it at any rate, and will not leaue it [Page 171]behind him. But hee that still esteemeth the Pearle, but as a com­mon pibble, will goe home without it, or tread it vnder his feet. Of this man sayth Salo­mon, Wherfore is there a price in the hād of a foole, Prou. 17.16. and hee wanteth heart? And to this man I say, the day commeth, in which thou shalt say, thou once refusedst a good bargaine which was offered thee, and that was thine vnhap­pinesse: but now atten­ded with a greater, that it shall neuer be offered [Page 172]thee any more; Be wise betime,1 Cor. 12.31. and couet after the most excellent gifts.

A GLASSE for Gentlewomen to dresse them­selues by.

BEcause I know that sundrie women fea­ring God, faile in the matter of their attire and ornament, because they want direction, [Page 2]which might lead their consciences in stead o [...] the common errour o [...] riotous times: And because it is requisite that all that professe the Name of God, should be more care­full of adorning their profession, than their persons: I haue here set downe a few briefe di­rections in generall for their helpe that are wil­ling to bee ruled by God and his Word; and are more desirous to approue themselues vnto him, than to please themselues, or [Page 3]others, with his high displeasure.