OVr Sauiour Christ hath in the former part of this chap­ter condemned the fond af­fectation of Vaine-glory as the onely bane and poyson of all good actions, wherof he giueth three instances: [Page] The one in giuing of Almes: The o­ther in Fasting: The last in Prayer▪ He now for biddeth worldlinesse, and gree­dy desire of earthly things, as dangerous an enemie to our Saluation, & no lesse a staine vnto our Christian profession, as the former. Vaine-glory and Hypo­crisie as a burning poyson that infecteth and inflameth the inward parts, is to be auoyded, yea, as a Theefe that robbeth the Almightie of his glory is to be pur­sued. Greedy Couetousnesse or world­linesse as Thrones that choke the gra­ces of Gods Spirit, is to bee plucked vp by the rootes. As a spirituall Feuer that relisheth no goodnesse, but distasteth all H [...]uenly and Spirituall things, is to bee purged and taken heed of, yea, the desire of riches is to bee auoyded as a streame both deepe and swift, that will both drowne mens soules & carry them quite away from God. To that ende Saint Paul saith,1. Tim. 6. 9 they that will bee rich, (meaning whether God will or no, or before the time that God hath appoin­ted) fall into many noysome and foolish lusts, which drowne men in perdition and [Page 2] destruction, to shew in what a miserable case a worldling is: for speak to a drow­ned man, smite him, teach him, and cry out vnto him, or sound a Trumpet in his Eare, and he heareth not, he feeleth not: and so is it with a man whose hart is drowned in the cares of this World, and loue of riches. And yet those are in greatest admiration, for the world doth not onely desire to be hauing more still, but doth admire those that haue world­ly Treasures. Therefore our Sauiour Christ doth warne vs of that gnawing Worme, and tels vs, that if wee bee so greedy of the world as to set our harts vpon it, we loose heauen for our labo [...]. And therefore wee must take heed how wee vse this world: for Christ would teach vs how to vse the world, that wee bee not cousened by it.The scop & summ [...] of this Text. A little thing certaine is better then much vncertaine, as a poore man with a little Coppy­hold, is better to passe in that respect than hee that hath much, and no assu­rance in it: The World is vncertaine, for it is in danger of Theeues which will rob, or of Mothes which will f [...]e [...], or of [Page] Rust which will consume, or of Death which wil end all, but Heauen is not sub­iect to any of these nor the like. Againe, hee that will bee saued must send Trea­sure before hand to Heauen, and not driue of till death come, for none shall finde Treasure there, but they that lay it vp before they dye.

As a man that remooueth to another place to abide there, sendeth his stuffe and prouision before him: so they that meane to remoue hence and to abide in Heauen, must send their Treasure the­ther before hand, by relieuing the poor, and helping forward other holy & cha­ [...]table works. And wheras some alledge for themselues, that they haue had great losses, &c. and therefore cannot giue any thing to the poore, or other holy and charitable vses, they must know that they haue the more need to giue, and to bee liberall, and to doe good with that they haue, and so to lay vp in Heauen, when the World goeth from them, or else they will bee poore both here and there too. Now if any man bee desirous to know whether he hath any treasure [Page 3] in heauen or no, let him take this course: First, let him see what it is that doth command his hart: and next what doth most moue him, and touch him: and last­ly, what hee taketh most delight in, and what he beateth his braine about most: and if the matters of Heauen and Gods Kingdome doe most commaund his heart, and occupy his head, and delight his minde, then his Treasure is there, his stuffe is sent before hand to the place whether hee intendeth to remoue when God calleth him, or else not: and this is the summe of Christs words and holy counsell in this place.

This Text hath 2. parts.The parts of the Text.

• 1. A Commandement.
• 2. A reason of the same.

The Commandement hath likewise two parts. The first is Negatiue in Verse 19. Lay not vp Treasure for your selues in▪ earth, &c. The second is Af­firmatiue in verse 20. But lay vp for your selues Treasure in Heauen, where neither the Moth, &c.

The Reason is in Verse. 21. For where your Treasure is, there will your [Page] hart bee also. As touching the Negatiue part of our Sauiour his Precept, wee are to vnderstand that his manner of speak­ing is here no otherwise then in other places, and other cases also of the like kinde:Ioh. 6. 27. as, Labour not for the meate that perisheth, but labour for the meat that en­dureth to Eternall Life. And in another place,Luk. 12. 33 Sell that you haue, and giue to the poore. Mat. 10. 9 And in another place, Possesse not gold nor siluer. And in another place, Be not carefull what to eate and drinck, Mat. 6. 25. or what rayment to put on. All which places being literally taken, and not according to the minde and meaning of our Saui­our Christ, may breed error, as they haue done: for from hence the Anabaptists fetch their communitie of goods; the Monks and Fryers their wilfull pouer­ty; and the Iesuits hereupon perswade others to impouerish themselues to en­rich them: And lastly, vnder the shadow of these words: the slothfull sluggard, & idle person would shrowd themselues, to bee thereby discharged of all honest labor and diligent following of their vo­cations. Therfore first the true meaning [Page 4] of the words is to be sought for, and then we shall the better vnderstand what do­ [...]trines from thence may bee gathered, for our further instruction and consola­tion in the Lord.Treasure This word Treasure, is taken in the Scripture sometime for gold and siluer. 1. King. 7. 51.1. King. 5 And Salomon brought in the things which Dauid his fa­ther had dedicated: the Siluer, and the Gold, and the Vessels, and laid them among the Treasures of the house of the Lord. So Prou. 2▪ 4.Pro. 2. 4. If thou seekest for wisedome as for siluer, and searchest for her as for trea­sure. And Mat. 13. 44.Mat. 13. The Kingdome of Heauen is like vnto a Treasure hid in the field, &c. Sometime it is put for a­bandance of riches or any other thing. As, Mat. 13. 52.Mat 13. [...] Euery Scribe which is taught vnto the kingdome of Heauen, is like vnto a House-holder, which bingeth forth out of his Treasure things both new and old. And Mat. 12. 34.Mat. 12. [...] out of the aboundance of the hart the mouth speaketh. Verse 35. A good man out of the good Treasure of his hart, or abundance of good things, br [...]ng­eth forth good▪ things. So Rom. 2. 5. Thou after thine hardnesse, and hart that cannot [Page] repent, treasurest vnto thy selfe Wrath against the day of Wrath, that is, causest vnto thy selfe abundance of Wrath, &c. And sometime it is put for whatsoeuer a man taketh delight in, as here in this place, Where your Treasure is, there will be your hart also, that is, where the thing is that you delight in, there will be your hart, your minde and affection. Againe, all Treasure is eyther temporall or eter­nall. 2. Cor. 4. 18. The things that are seene are temporall, but the things that are not seene are eternall. Eternall or heauenly Treasure is from heauen, and consisteth in the grace and fauour o [...] God, and is the onely true Riches. Esay. 33. 6. [...]sa. 33. 6 The. feare of the Lord shall bee his Treasure. And a good man out of the good Trea­sure of his hart bringeth forth good things. [...]uk. 6. 45. These are called: [...]uk 12. 33 Bagges that wax not old. Cor. 4. 7 And Light of glory brought in earthen vessels. The renuing of the inward man. Ver. 16. An excellent and eternall waight of glory. 17. And things not seen, yet looked vpon. Cor. 2. 9 Vers. 18. Such as no Eye hath seene, nor Eare hath heard▪ nor haue entered in­to the hart of man. And here in our Text [Page 5] such as Moths cannot eate, nor Rust con­sume, nor Theeues steale, that is, they are not subiect to any kinde of casualtie or mischance: all which places doe rather shew what it is not, then what it is, for indeed it is God himselfe in Christ Iesus, which cannot bee expressed, because he is infinite and incomprehensible.

Of this latter it is not that hee speak­eth, when hee saith Lay not vp for your selues Treasures in earth, then hee must needes meane the former. But what? doth the Lord Iesus meane that it is in no wise lawfull for a Christian man to get, or enioy the riches of this world? not so, for in Pro. 2. 4.Pro. 2. 4. it is said that we must seeke for Wisedome as for golde: to shew that golde also may bee sought for.1 King. 10 22 And King Salomon made a nauie of ships, which once in three yeeres re­turned with golde and siluer, Iuory, &c. And in Gen. 37. 28.Gen. 37. 28 it is said there was traffique betweene the Midianites and the Ismalites Marchants,Chap. 39. 1 and betweene the Ismalites and the Egiptians, that one country might by that meanes bee be­nefited by the commodities of another. [Page] What then? doth hee meane that it is vnlawfull to keepe any thing in store for hereafter? Not so neither, for Ioseph is commended for laying vp against the time of famine,Gen. 41. 35 yea, it is Iosephs counsell that Pharaohs officers shall gather all the foode of seauen plenteous yeeres, and lay vp Corne for foode in the cities to bee kept against the seauen yeeres of famine. What then? doth hee meane that a man must take of earthly goods onely so much as will serue his turne, and cast away that which is left? Not so neither, for in Iohn. 6.Ioh. 6. 12. He commandeth his Disciples to gather vp in baskets that which was left, when the people had bene miraculously fed, and let no­thing bee lost (saith the Lord.) What then? doth hee meane that wee must not prouide for those that wee leaue be­hinde vs? Not so neither, for the Apo­stle saith,1 Cor. 12. 14 The Children ought not to lay vp for their Fathers, but Fathers for their Children. And hee telleth Timothy, that hee which prouideth not for his fa­milie Tim. 5. 8. is (meaning in that respect) worse than an Infidell, and hath denyed the faith [Page 6] What then? doth hee meane that all must bee common? Not so neither, for then there could bee no breach of the eight Commaundement if any man did steale; and all exhortations and precepts of distributing to the poore were in vaine, if the poore might bee their owne caruers of rich mens goods: yea, what should then become of buying and sel­ling? Buy the Truth but sell it not, Prouerbs. saith Sa [...]omon: And defraud not one another (saith the Apostle) in barganing,Thessalo. and buying, and selling.

What then? doth hee mean that we must sell away all that wee haue and begge for our selues, as Popish Fryers, and Monkish Papists would haue vs to doe? Not so neither, for in Luke 12. 33.Luk. 12. 33 It is not said sell that you haue, but [...], Sell that you haue ouerplus, and may well spare, and giue to the poore, otherwise we should loue our neighbours not as our selues, but aboue our selues, which God neuer required. And better it is for a man to keepe his goods for himselfe, than to bestow them vpon idle Monks, and a wicked rabble [Page] of Fryerly locusts, which bee as neces­sarie in a christian Common-wealth, as Snakes in a mans bosome, or Mice in a barne full of Corne.

What then? doth hee meane that a man may liue idly, and then looke to be maintained by others? Not so neither, for the Apostle being ruled himselfe by the spirit of Christ, hath set downe a Rule for such irregular persons, that if any can worke and will not, [...] Thess. 3. 10 such should not eate, to shew that idle persons are inor­dinate, and so burdensome to a Com­mon-wealth, that they are not worthy to liue, but to bee punished by the most cruell death that [...]an bee, and that is to bee starued and pined to death. And in Pro. 6. 6. the sluggard is sent by the holy Ghost to the Pismire, that in be­holding her wayes hee might learne to bee wise, for shee hauing no guide, go­uernour nor ruler gathereth her meate in Summer, and prepareth her foode in Haruest, to shew that euen by honest and painefull trauaile men should pro­uide in Summer against the hard time of Winter, and in health for sicknesse. [Page 7] And albeit the Lord Iesus saith in Ioh. 6 Labour not for the meate that perisheth, Ioh. 6. 27. yet his meaning is not to discharge men of their honest labour, and following (euen with diligence) their callings, but that we must not labour so much for the bread that perisheth, as for that which abideth to Eternall life, or that our tem­porall commodities should not bee the only end of our labour, or that we must not mingle our labour with distrust and vexing care,Psal. 90. 10 for that euen our strength is but labour and sorrow, and when Sa­lomon by his Wisedome had waded through all matters, and had made try­all of the world, hee vpon his approo­ued experience, set downe his verdict, that all is but vanit [...]e and vexation of spi­rit, as if hee should say, moyle not, vexe not, weare not out your selues so much as you haue done about the world, to the loosing of your heauenly treasure. Well then, if Christ doth allow men to get and enioy riches as the Merchants of Tirus: and King Salomon, if he doth al­low vs to prouide and lay vp beefore hand as Ioseph did, & to saue that which [Page] is remaining, as himselfe and his Disci­ples did, and to lay vp for our families as the very Infidels doe. If the Lord Ie­sus will not allow men to haue all things common as Anabaptists doe, nor to pro [...]esse wilfull pouertie as beggerly Fryers do, nor to feed Idle-packs which will not labour for their liuing, as pre­posterous pittie doth, what then should bee his meaning when he saith, Lay not vp for your selues Treasures in earth?

That wee may the better finde out the Lords meaning we, are to know that Treasure here, is put not onely for mo­ney, riches, and prouision for the time to come, but also for any thing else (as was said before) wherein a man taketh most delight, and whereupon hee de­pendeth most, or which hee maketh his felicitie; yea, and doth so lauish out his loue vpon it, and torment himselfe with careful thoughts for the same, as if with­out it hee should be vtterly vndone, and could not possibly liue. In which maner Worlldings gather riches, and Atheists seeks after pleasure, the Ambitious man hunts after Honour, euen with all their [Page 8] harts, with all their minde, with all their might, strength & soule, as if it were their God that did make them, and it should preserue and saue them, which is a mani­fest breach of the first commandement.

Now all is made the Treasure that the heart is set vpon, as for Example.

Some men take more to heart the losse of a Childe, than the losse of all their goods besides, and doe so much set their affection vpon it, that they will say, if God should take this Childe a­way, then all our ioy is gone,Mat. 2 28. like Rachel that mourned for her children & would not bee comforted.

Some are so iealous ouer their Ho­nour, that if they haue not all manner of outward complements afforded vnto them▪ Hes. 3. 5. 6 they are as male-contented as Haman, who was full of Wrath, and studied nothing but monstrous & mis­cheuous reuenge, because Mordecai did not bow the knee vnto him, as others had done.

Some againe dote vpon their Credit. that if their wicked counsell bee cros­sed at any time, they are readie with [Page] Achitophell (that treacherous counsel­lour) to goe hang themselues.Sam.

Others are so madde vpon their pre­sent pleasure, that with the beastly E­picures they cry,1. Cor. 15 let vs eate and drincke, though wee dye for it to morrow.

Some are so enamored of their wealth, that when their goods are encreased and their barnes enlarged, then with the worldling they dreame of a quietus est: And cry soule be now at rest, Luk 12. 19 for thou hast goods enough for many yeeres.

Of all these it may be said they haue layde vp Treasure in Earth but not in Heauen, beecause in these things they haue reposed all their ioy, their delight, their trust. And therefore being inuited to the heauenly banquet of the Gospell, they `answere like earth-wormes, ma­king light of the matter,Mat. 22. 5. I must looke to my farme saith one,Luk. 14. 18 and I to my Oxen, saith another, and I must aske my wife first, saith another: which is no more in effect but thus much, wee must follow that wee delight in, and that wee trust in, these are the things that our heart delight in, and trust in, these are our [Page 9] treasure▪ If wee saw more goodnesse in that Feast then in these our commodi­ties, wee would goe to it, but wee cannot relish them as wee doe these worldly matters, and therefore thank your Mai­ster for his good will, and pray him to hold vs excused: for the [...]th is, wee must follow that which our hart affect­eth, our worldly Treasure, wee cannot come. To all such it is said here. Lay not vp your Treasures on earth, &c.

And these words may bee expoun­ded two wayes. Lay not vp, &c. Thou that art a Christian and hast giuen thy Faith to the Lord Iesus Christ in thy Baptisme, thou that art a Cittizen of the heauenly Ierusalem, and hast the holy One of Isr [...]ell, euen the Lord of Hoasts, and the mightie God of Heauen and Earth for thy father: his sonne, yea, his onely beloued Son for thy Redeemer, and the holy Ghost which proceedeth from them both for thy sanctified guide and Comforter, and thou that hast the Angels to guarde thee, and the Saints to pray for thee, and all the Creatures to serue thee, and therefore art of all the [Page] Creatures the most noble and excellent, thou must needs haue somewhat to de­light in, to occupy thy minde vpon, and to set thy hart vpon. Take heede it bee not vpon earthly things, for all the earth cannot yeeld thee a fit match, thou be­ing called to so high and heauenly [...] calling, but heauen can. In earth is [...]o­thing that can make thee happy, but in heauen there is happinesse it selfe. In earth there is no commoditie without a discommoditie, but in heauen there is. In earth is no perpetuitie, but in heauen there is. In earth there is no securitie or safetie, but in heauen there is both: there­fore Lay not vp thy Treasure in earth where the Moth and Canker corrupteth, and where Theeues dig through and steale, but in heauen where is no such matter. Or it may thus bee expounded. Thou which art a Christian doe not so gree­dely seeke after earthly substance, as thereby to neglect thy heauenly sub­stance, as the manner of all men is to do by nature, like Esau who was so hun­gry for a messe of his brothers pottage, that for loue thereof, and for feare of [Page 10] [...]taruing (except he had it) lost his birth­right,Gen, 25. 32 for which prophane part of his, he [...] could not finde any place to repen­cance,Heb. 12. 16 although hee sought the blessing with teares. Verely a thing this is, that may make our harts to ake, for wee are at Esaucs passe: So we may get the world, keepe our customers and win the pot­tage, wee are safe: but marke thou, that art of Esaues humour, well maiest thou weepe for the losse of thy temporall be­nefits, but for this damnable profane­nesse of thine in preferring of Earth be­fore Heauen, except Gods grace bee the more abounding towards thee, thou wilt hardly repent. Therefore if thou be wise indeed (as thou wouldest seeme to bee) forsake Esaues dyet in time, and lay not vp Treasure in Earth where Moth and Canker do corrupt, and Theeues break through and steale, &c.

Heare Christs reason Where Moths doe fret, Christs Reason. Canker corrupteth, and Theeues dig through and steale. The summe of his reason is this, that whatsouer this world affordeth, is subiect to consumption, or corruption, or both: if it bee in vse, it is [Page] consumed with the vse, if it bee not v­sed, then it corrupteth for want of vse. The consuming and spending of these worldly goods, is eyther by the owners of them, or by Theeues that oftentimes are pertakers of them to the hurt of the owner. They are also consumed [...]yther by sensible and liuing Creatures, as by Mothes, Flyes, Mice, and Rats, and such like: or else by insensible & dead things, as Rust, and Mould, and Fire, and Wa­ter, and Ayre, and Age, &c. Now consi­der the matter, consult & giue sentence. What madnes is it to prouide for theeues and Robbers? What inhumanitie to giue that to Mothes and Mice, &c. which is better bestowed vpon thy selfe, vpon thy familie, or vpon the poore? What va­nitie, yea, what misery is this to bee a slaue to such things as theeues and rob­bers, Vermine, and rottennesse shall do. minier ouer, and in a short time must perish eyther in the vse, or for want of vse? This doe not worldlings consider, they locke vp, and lay vp, and put out their Treasures to be kept for them, yet can they not keep their garments from [Page 11] Moths, nor their golde and siluer from Rust, nor any thing they haue, from one casualtie or another long. When they haue gotten goods together, they can­not promise vnto themselues either per­petuitie of them or securitie: And what a misery is that? but either their goods or themselues must weare away, and their goods are in daunger for their pro­perties sake, and the owners are in dan­ger for their goods sake.

Neither are these all the discommo­dities that thy Treasure is subiect vnto, who knoweth not that the Fire may consume them, as it hath done thou­sands? or the Water may drowne them, as it hath done thousands? or the Plague may infect them as it hath done thou­sands? or Time may weare them, as it hath done millions of thousands? or Death may fetch thee away, as it hath done infinit millions of thousands? Besides all this,The mise­rie of a worldling consider how manie haue beene vndone by vnconscionable Debtors, by crafty headed Lawyers, by vnthrif [...]re Children, by vntrusty Ser­uants. Yet this is not all, for what restles [Page] care doth teare thee in getting them? what tormenting feare doth abate thy comfort in keeping them? and what hart breaking sorrow doth vexe thee in loosing of them? Yet this is not all neither, for here thou art praysed, there thou art dispraysed, now thou art loued, by and by thou art enuied, of some thou art admired, of many thou art scorned, and all for thy wealths sake.

The worldling is like a Mill, driuen violently by a maine streame, and great prouision is made to feede in one place, and to coole in another, the Sacke is brought to feede the Mill, and the Mill grindeth and weareth it selfe to fill the Sacke againe, and still the Wheele is where it was, for all his whirling about, and as you finde it so you leaue it: so is it with a worldly man and his goodes, but this similitude applyeth it selfe, I will therefore follow it no further.

This wee all know, but how often, or rather how seldome doe wee thinke vpon it, or remember it, or make vse of it, to stay vs from greedy coueting and egar pursuing of the World, with the [Page 12] hazard of our Saluation? The Diuell hee cryeth, follow the World, compasse the worlds goods, oh thou shalt profit thy selfe,Mat. 16. but Christ saith, What shall it profit a man to winne the World, yea, the whole World, and to loose his owne Soule? that the Diuell concealeth; yea, he dea­leth with vs as hee did with Christ him­selfe, hee shewed Christ the glory and maiestie of worldly kingdomes, but not the troubles and tumults, not the daun­gers and enimies of the same: So he de­ludeth the fooles of this world, he shew­eth them the brauery of the Court, but not the vanitie that is in the Court: hee sheweth them the glory of honour, but not the daunger of honour: he sheweth the flowers of Beautie, but not the de­ceiptfulnesse of Beautie: hee sheweth the commodities of Offices, but not the discommodities of Offices: he sheweth the wealth of such a Country, but not the enuie & misery of the same country. And thus are the Fooles of this world (as God himselfe calles them) deluded and abused,Luke. 12. yea, and destroyed many times by the Diuels shewes, like the [Page] miserable Troyans who doted so much vpon the Grecians counterfaite and monstrous horse, that they would neuer leaue vntill they had pulled▪ downe the wals of their Cittie to get it in, neuer dreaming of the hidden mischiefes and armed Souldiers that lay in the belly thereof, prepare [...]d for their present de­struction. But they see what a shew this maketh, and what a shew that maketh, and meruailous it is in their eyes, then their hart is on fire till they haue it, and their head still is deui [...]ing how to com­passe it, to which end all meanes are at­tempted, there is flattering, and glosing, and fore-stalling, borrowing here, and pawning there, and selling one thing to buy another: and when hee hath got­ten his harts desire, then he thinks of no­thing but his gettings,Dan. 4. as Nabuchadnez­zar that proud King of Confusion, thought of nothing but of his glorious buildings, Oh (said hee) Is not this great Babell, which I haue built for the honour of my Macestie? strouting vp and downe in his Galleries, and admiring himselfe for his Building, as a foole admireth [Page 13] himselfe in a glasse, so doe the fooles of the world, oh (saith one) how rich shall I bee? how worshipfull saith another? how much admired for my wealth, for my brauery, for my strength, saith a third? &c. Within a while commeth the Moth, the Mouse, and the Rat for their fees, the one taketh vp his lodging in his braue apparrell, and gnaweth holes in his lodging, the other in his Barnes and granieries, and taketh as deepe toule as the Miller, the Rust falleth and feedeth vpon his gilded and glittering Armour, and the Canker seazeth vpon his Gold and Siluer. After these commeth the legall Theefe, that is, the Vsurer, and he must haue for the lone of his money, then comes the Mercer and Draper with their Bils, wherewith they giue ma­ny astonishing blowes on the head (as it were with clubs) for wearing out their braue Apparrell before it bee paid for. Then the fashion altereth, or the Ayre is not wholesome, and both must bee changed, or the Flatterer licketh his Dishes, or the Begger pulleth him by the sleeue, and then the propertie is [Page] altered, Oh quantum mutatus ab ille? Hee is not the man hee was taken to bee, neyther is it all gold that glistred in his eyes.

Now, speake to these Earth-wormes of Heauenly things, and amidst their ioyes or dumps, aske them if they will goe to a Sermon, or ioyne with the con­gregation in Prayer, or the like, what is their answere? Is it not Nabal-like? who when his kindnesse was requested towards Dauid and his Souldiers, an­swered like a foolish Churle, euen like himselfe. Who is Dauid? and what is the Sonne of Ishai that I should send of my vittailes vnto him? So say they, the Ser­mon, what good shall wee get by going to a Sermon? who worse then these Preachers themselues? Oh they can talke well, and tell a trim tale in the Pul­pit, but their liues are not thereafter. And thus they play the currish Dog, barking and bawling at them that bring them meate. Oh, wee shall haue a Pu­ritaine of you, how holy you are? Tell not mee of the Sermon, I haue other matters to thinke vpon, I must follow [Page 14] my suites in Law, or I must goe and beare such and such company at the Tauerne, or at Bowles, or at Tables, &c. I haue not sleptinough, (saith another:) And others haue not their ruff [...]s, and their cuttes, and their hoopes, and their knackes fine inough: I cannot abide to sit so long saith one: I must goe serue my customers: I like not this kinde of teaching (faith another) And thus doe they answere, when they are moued to meete the Lord, in the meanes of their saluation and sanctification, which lay vp Treasures on earth, and not in hea­uen: And therefore Lay not vp your Treasures on earth, but in heauen.

Againe, how doe worldlings deale in bargaining, in buying and selling? Doe they not assault one another with lyes? Doe they not vndermine one with an­other with deepe dissembling? Doe they not sweare fasly, to deceiue one another? Doe they not promise large­ly, deny impudently, and falsifie vniust­ly their promises? Doe they not work vpon the aduantage, and take the extre­nitie of Law one against another? Doe [Page] they not thus deale which are onely deuoted and altogether addicted to the Treasures and pleasures of this World?

Againe, how are they accounted of? how are they accounted of? how are they accursed? Are they not (for the most part) accounted as Iudas­ses and tray-Gods? as Machiuels and Tirants, as Cut-throats and Cousoners, vnconscionable and cruell, hard-harted and mercilesse, and that euen of their friends? They are cursed of the rich, which pay for their kindnesse, and of the poore they are cursed, because they can get not kindnesse of them: Of whole Countries, trades & Common-wealths they are accursed, for they will haue a cast at all. Wee cannot buy but of him faith one: Wee cannot sell but we must agree with him faith another: Wee can­not vtter our commodities because of him, faith a third. The country curseth him: where were wont to bee so many Ploughes kept for Tillage (faith the country) is there now nothing but a Shepheard and his dogge. Vbi Troia iam seges: nay I would it were so well, but now vbi seges iam segnities: Weedes. all is little [Page 15] enough for a stinking Weede, that hath in most places, put down both Tillage and Pasture, to set vp the pride of life, and lust of the eye, as if the Common­wealth might liue rather by colour, than by cloath, and by accidents, rather than by substances. And as the country cur­seth the worldling, so the poore seruants doe iustly cry out vpon them for detay­ning of their wages, and do truely apply those words in the Gospell against such, they reape where they sowed not, and take vp where they laid not downe. And thus are they accounted of, which follow onely earthly Treasure, and therefore Lay not vp Treasure on earth.

How they liue wee haue heard, but how doe they dye? commonly Qualis vita, finis ita: Doe not many of them prooue Bankroupts and spend-thrifts? Doe they not dye deepe in debt, plun­ged in despaire, voyd of comfort, and without confidence in God? Is not their wedge of Golde their confidence? and doe they not say to their bags of gold, these are the Angels that shall keepe vs? Oh most fearefull, and what more mi­serable? [Page] As they loued not the word of God in their health time, so doe they wholy distast it in their sicknesse, and their light goeth out in obscure dark­nesse, leauing a filthy smell behinde it, like a snuffe in a socket, when the can­dle is burnt out.

How many of them doe take their leaue of the World (after their long doting vpon it) most he [...]eshly blasphe­ming of God, most cruelly cursing of men, most monstrously execrating of themselues, and most brutishly roaring like beasts knocked on the head, or lying most sencelesly like blockes and stocks. And if any make a better end, that may bee reckoned amongst the mi­racles of Gods superabounding mercy. But thus commonly doe they dye, that haue had their thoughts, and their cares, wholy drenched in the loue and delight of earthly things, to verifie the saying of the Apostle: [...]hil. 3. 18. Many walke of whom I haue tolde you often, and now tell you weeping, they are enimies of the crosse of Christ, whose God is their belly, whose glory is their shame, which minde earthly [Page 16] things, & therfore their end is dam [...]ation. And thus we see how the profane Irre­ligiousnesse, the deceiptfull dealing, the wicked liuing, and the cursed ending of worldlings doe all cry out with one consent, and bid vs beware, that we lay not vp Treasure on earth onely, where Moths doe gnaw, and Rust doth con­sume, and Theeues breake through and steale.

When the men of Lystra would haue worshipped Paul and Barnabas, those blessed Apostles cryed out,Act. 14. 15. 18. O men why doe you such things? wee are euen men as you be, and subiect to the same passions that yee bee, yet scarce refrained they the peo­ple, that they had not sacrificed vnto them. So when worldlings would sacrifice their harts to earthly Treasure, doth not the earth cry out and say. O vaine man what dost thou meane? I am as thy selfe, and as base as thy selfe, I was another mans, and am for euery mans turne, I am enuironed with thornes and Bryers, and inhabited with Toads, Vipers, and noysome Vermine, & all my commodi­ties are haunted with moths, & cankers, [Page] with Theeues and Diuels, yet scarse doe they refraine from offering sacrifice vnto them. I know not whereunto the earthly Treasure may bee better resem­bled then vnto the huge horse that the Greekes had prepared for the destructi­on of Troy (if that story be true) which made a great and goodly shew, but vte­rum armato milite complent, Virg. Aen. lib. 1. it was with­in full of armed Souldiers, who when they saw their fittest opportunitie, issued out of his panch, to the vtter ruine of all those that doted so much vpon it, and tooke so much paines to bring it into the Cittie. But most pithy was the counsaile of Lacoon that valiant and prudent Cit­tizen, concerning that monstrous moun­taine of hidden mischiefes, and happy had it beene for that Cittie if his coun­saile had beene followed, and surely, Si­meus non leua fuisset (as the Poet speak­eth) if they had not beene too light of beliefe, and too much enchaunted with a false perswasion thereof, they had done well enough, for hee spake plainely e­nough, when he told them that Aut hoc­inclusi ligno occultantur Achiui, aut hoec in [Page 17] [...]ostros fabricata est machina muros: Ey­ther (sayth hee) our enimies lye lurking in this woodden horse, or else it is some Engine erected for the battering of our wals. Nay more Aut aliquis latet error, Equo nè credi [...] Teucri, There is more mischiefe in it then wee are aware of O Troyans, bee wise and take heede you trust not a Horse. Yea, but it is a gifte that the Greekes haue left for Pallas. Well, saith hee, Quicquid id est, ti meo Danaos & dona ferentes: Make what you can of it (saith hee) there is, no trusting to the Greekes, though they come with gifts in their hands: So hee that hath a spirituall eye indeed, that can pearce fur­ther then to the out-side of worldly shewes, can truely say it, and may safe­ly iustifie it, that the golden shewes of profits and pleasures, which are often in this world presented vnto his view, haue eyther some secret mischiefes lurking in them, or are like some strange engine erected to batter his estate, or to cut his throate, or to ouerwhelme his head with cares and feares, or to prouoke him to some desperate attempt: but let the best [Page] bee made of it that can bee made, yet the world is not to bee trusted, though it comes sawning and flattering, creep­ing and crouching to a man with giftes and presents in the hand, for in a kisse was treason, and Ioabs kind embracings prooue but deadly stabbings, and the wisest that euer was amongst the sonnes of men, hauing made tryall of all, and taken not a taste, but his fill of all the treasures and pleasures that this world could possibly inuent for the delight and strength of a king, could at the casting vp of his accompts, giue no better ver­dict of it but this:Eccles. 1. Vanitie of Vanities, and all is but Vanitie and vexation of spirit. And here againe one wiser and greater then Salomon tels vs (if we haue grace to beleeue him) that both the rust, and the Moth, and the Canker, and the Theefe, and all cry out vnto vs, and bid vs take heed how we dote vpon world­ly Treasure.

Of this discourse we may make good vse,Vse. 1. when wee are tempted to the break­ing of Gods Commandements for the gayning of the worlds goods. When any [Page 18] is tempted, let him but reason thus with his soule: My Soule what thou wouldest haue thou seest, but what thou shalt haue thou seest not, thou seest the horse, but not what hee hath in his belly: thou seest the Bee, but not her sting: thou seest sweet meat, but not the sower sauce: thou seest the baite, but not the hooke: the cheare, but not the reckoning: a faw­ning face, but not the hand at the back: In a word, thou beholdest the profite that thou art like to get by profaning of the Sabboth with working and drudg­ing, the gaine of Vsury and Bribery, the commoditie of lying and cogging, and the gaine of deceit and falshood, and the like: but what stings and wounds, thou shalt get in thy Conscience by follow­ing of those spirituall Couseners, thou dost not consider, and therefore stay, and proceede no further vnlesse thou wilt bee so mad as to loose Heauen for Hell.

Agane when thou art in prayer or hearing of Gods word,Vse 2. or about any o­ther of thy godly deuotions, and feelest thy heart stepping aside to haue confe­rence [Page] with earthlie cogitations, doe but say thus to thy selfe with Salomon, for whom is it that I now care? is it not for the world, that will cousen me of the word? is it not earthly treasure that cals my minde away, that I might loose this Heauenly treasure? returne then O my soule vnto thy rest, and keepe thy stan­ding, beware least thou be cousened of the heauenly verity, with a shew of earth­ly vanitie.

And in like manner when thou hap­nest to loose any worldlie commoditie,Vse 3. neuer lay it to heart, but euen say this to thy selfe, now the world hath shewed it selfe like it selfe; God hath taken that from me, which otherwise would haue pulled me from him. As a louing father he hath but taken from mee that knife wherwith I might like a child haue hurt my self: And as a most wise captaine he hath rid me of my luggage, that I might pursue my enemies more swiftly, and make more expedition toward my hea­uenly countrie, where are better things prouided for me, euen such as no fire can consume, no Moth can freet, no [Page 19] Theefe can steale, no time can weare, & so with patience let it goe, and giue God thankes, that hath better prouided for thee, then thou wert aware of.

But lay vp for your selues treasure in heauen, where &c.

Our Sauiour Christ hauing forbid­den the gredy seeking of earthly things,The Affir­matiue part. and brought men out of conceit with the bewitching vanities of this life, he presently offereth vnto vs better things, and commaundeth vs to lay them vp in heauen, to our owne vse when time shall serue, as if he should say, I doe not ab­solutely forbid you to gather, and to lay vp in store, but I would haue you so gather, and so to lay vp, that you may finde store of treasure in Heauen,Heauenly Treasures are to bee preferred in three respects, viz. your heauenly countrey, whereunto you are borne againe, and where you must abide for euer. And these treasures thus to be laied vp, hee commendeth vnto vs, for their Excellency, for their Securitie, and for their Perpetuitie;1. Excel­lencie. things which all desire,2. Securit [...] and which are able to free a mans minde from all care.3. Perpe­tuitie. Of which it will not be amisse for vs to take a little view.

[Page] What are those treasures then that are commended vnto vs for their excel­lencie? In a word they are heauenly,Of the ex­cellency of the Christians Treasure. now looke how farre heauen is more excel­lent then the earth, and the spirit then flesh, and God then man, so much doth the Christians heauenly treasure excell all the treasures of this world.

This is true indeede:Obiect. but in heauen (thou wilt say) there is neither buying nor selling, trading nor traffique, build­ing nor planting, letting nor hiring, hun­gring nor thirsting, no cold nor heat, no working nor labouring, no iourneying, nor trauelling. And therefore we need not care for any prouision for any such vses, what then are those treasures, or what is in them more then in others that wee are so charged to lay them vp? here we know (saith the Atheist) what wee haue, but what we shall haue there we know not.Answere. But heare thou earthly mind­ed man, and harken O thou whose mind and hart lye buried vnder a loafe of bread. There are indeed no such com­modities in heauen as the earth afford­eth, yet heauen is a rich countrey, & the [Page 20] commodities thereof are far aboue the fine golde of Ophir. First there is the Lord Iesus who is the Lord high treasu­rer of heauen and earth,Col. 2. 3. In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdome and know­ledge. In whom God hath blessed vs, Eph. 1. 3. with all spirituall blessings in heauenly things: Iohn. 1. 16. Of whose fulnes we receiue all grace for grace, In whom and by whom wee liue, Act. 17. 28. and moue, and haue our being, of whom the church enquired and was sicke of loue vntill she found him.Cant. 5. 8. Worldlings make a wonder at this geare vntill they know what it is, but then they are as desirous of it as others, as plainely appeareth by the conference that passed between the regenerate Spouse of Christ, and the vnregenerate members of the visible Church, about the excellency of Christs person and loue, and the effect of the said conference most liuely and pathe­tically deciphered by Salomon in his spi­rituall song.Cant. 5. 8. And first the regenerate and Godly Spouse of Christ beginneth in this manner. I Charge you O Daugh­ters of Ierusalem, if you finde my wel-be­loued, that you tell him that I am sicke of [Page] loue. Now mark the answer that is made to this charge by those which yet knew not the excellency of Christ.Verse. 9. O the fai­rest a mong women, what is thy welbeloued more then other welboued? what is thy wel­beloued more then an other louer, that thou dost so charge vs? Now mark the descrip­tiō of Christ, set forth by the true church, as glorying and delighting to speake of the beautie and riches of their heauenly Bridegrome, to the shame of those that beare the title of Christians, and yet are neuer so much daunted and silenced at a­ny thing, as when speach is offered them of Christ and Christian Religion, as if it were possible that an honest woman should bee ashamed to heare good spo­ken, or to speake good things of her Husband,Verse. 10. My belouod (saith the Spouse of Christ) is white and ruddy, the cheif­est of ten thousand. 11 His head is as fine gold, his locks curled, and black as a Rauen. His eyes are as Doues vpon the Riuers of waters, 12 which are washed with milke, and remaine by the full vessels. 13 His cheekes are as a bed of Spices, and sweet Flowers, and his lips like Lillies dropping downe pure [Page 21] Mirrhe. His hands like rings of Gold,14se [...] with the Chrisolite, his belly like white Y­ [...]ory, couered with Saphirs.15His legs as pil­lers of marble, set vpon sockets of fine gold, his countenance as Lebanon, excellent as the Cedars. His mouth is as sweet things, and he is wholy delectable,16that is my Be­loued, and this is my Louer, O Daughters of Ierusalem. What say you to him now? Heare now what effect this sweet de­scription of Christ hath wrought with the Daughters of Ierusalem, that is, with the members of the Church, yet such as hitherto were ignoraunt of these things. O the fairest amongst women, whi­ther is thy Welbeloued gone? whither is thy Welbeloued turned aside, that wee may seeke him with thee? And would you seeke him indeed? then heare more. This heauenly and louely Bridegrome hath for his Spouse a whole Cittie, and A holy Cittie called new Ierusalem (whose Daughters you are) come downe from God our of heauen, Apo. 21. 2 prepared as a Bride trimmed for her husband, hauing the glo­ry of God, and her shining is like vnto a stone most precious, and as a Iasper stone [Page] cleare as Christall. Verse. 11. The Wall of it is great and high, 12 and hath twelue Gates, and at the Gates twelue Angels (for Porters) And the Wall of the Cittie hath twelue Foundations, 14 and in them the names of the Lambs twelue Apostles. 16 It is euery way twelue thousand furlongs, as broad as long, and extending aswell to one part of the world as to another. 18 The building of the wall is of Iasper, and the Cittie pure Gold like cleare Glasse. 19 The foundations of the Wall were ga [...]nished with all manner of precious stones. 20 And the twelue Gates wore twelue Pearles, and euery Gate is of one Pearle, 21 and the Street of the Cittie is of pure Gold. 22 There is no Temple there, for the Lord God Almightie, and the Lambe are the Temple of it, 23 There is no neede of Sunn [...] or Moone, for the glory of God▪ doth light it, and the Lambe is the light of it. And the people which are saued shall walk in the light of it, 24 and the Kings of the earth shall bring their glory and honour vnto it. 25 And the gates of it shall not bee shut by day: for there shall be no might there. 26 And the glory and honour of the Gentiles shall bee brought vnto it. 27 And into it shall enter [Page 22] no vncleane thing, neyther whatsoeuer worketh Abhomination or Lyes: but they which are written in the: Lambs booke of Life. Now if the Gates, Wals and Streets of this Cittie bee so [...] beautifull, and sumptuous, then how glorious and rich are the inward parts? nay who can ex­presse the riches and pleasures that are there layd vp for the Cittizens and Spouse of Christ? are they not (thinke you) like those things which Saint Paul saw when hee was rapt vp into the third heauen, which the tongue of man can­not vtter? And must [...] they not needes bee those ioyes which the same Apo­stle saith,1. Cor. 2. are such as no Eye hath seene, no Eare hath heard, no Tongue can expresse [...] nor Hart conceaue? Now doe but consi­der with thy selfe (if thou canst) what some Eyes haue seene, what some mens Eares haue heard, and what some tra­uellers Tongues haue reported in these dayes, and what the hart of some man is able to conceaue, and then doe but imagine what those ioyes of heauen are if thou canst. But what are the com­modities and Riches of that Heauenly [Page] Ierusalem, and the Cittizens therof, that cannot bee valued? If the report there­of will mooue thee to seeke after them▪ then heare, for euen in this life the true Christian is put in possession of them in part, by which as by a tast, hee is cer­tified, and as by an earnest p [...]nny hee is assured of the rest that is kept for him, vntill hee bee ready for them.Apo. 3. 18. Saint Iohn saith, that (as if some rich merchant were come from a far Country) the Lord Ie­sus inuiteth vs, and setteth vp as it were his bils in euery Church, offering to all that will vse the meanes to make them­selues sure of his marchandise (which is meant by buying) no worse wares then fine▪ Gold tryed in the fire, to make vs rich, white rayment to couer our filthy nakednes withall, and eye salue to heale vs of Spirituall blindnesse, that is, him­selfe, his Word, and his Spirit. And the like offer in most kinde mann [...]r againe hee maketh by Salomon, willing vs (if wee bee wise to God ward) to receiue instruction and not Siluer, Pro. 8. 10. and knowledge rather then fine Gold. Pro. 16. 16 Whereof Salomon himselfe giueth this testimony (after his [Page 23] long experience of both) that to get wis­dome is much better then gold, but how much better hee cannot tell, it so far ex­celleth, and therefore hee sets it downe with an Interrogation: How much better is it, Pro. 3. 13. &c. and to get Vnderstanding (saith he) is more to be desired then Siluer, Yea, Blessed is that man (saith hee) that find­eth Wisedome, and that man that getteth Vnderstanding. Now marke his reasons. For the marchandise thereof is better then the marchandise of Siluer, 14 and the gaine thereof is better then gold. 15 It is more pre­cious then Pearles, and all things that thou canst desire, are not to bee compared vnto her. 16 Length of dayes is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and glory. 17 Her wayes are the wayes of pleasure, and all her pathes posperitie. 18 Shee is a Tree of Life to them that lay hold on her, and blessed is hee that receiueth her.

There is also a spirituall traffique and intercourse betweene Christ & the faith­full Christian.Phi. 3. 20. For Our conuersation is in beauen saith S. Paul, very troublesome and dangerous (I confesse) for a time, for this world is the sea,Apo. 4. tempestuous and [Page] tumultuous enough.Christs ship de­scribed. The Church mi­litant is the ship of Christ that is tossed in the same. The tackling of this ship may be the communion of Saints. The Pilate that guides the course, the spirit of God. The Carde or Compasse, the Word of God. The Purser of this ship, is loue. The Baliffe is humane frailties, noisome feares, and troublesome doubts, The munition of this ship, is the armour of God, that is, the Helmet of Hope, the Shield of Faith, the Sword of the Spirit, the Brest-plate of Righteousnesse, &c. as the Apostle describeth it in the 6. to the Ephesians. Eph. 6. The windes which driue this Bark are prosperitie and aduersitie. The waues which tosse this ship are presumption and despaire. The enimies to this ship, are the world, the flesh, and the Diuell. The Factours are the faith­full Ministers of Christ. The Commo­dities, are the Treasures of Heauen, the Riches of Christ, or Fruites of the Spi­rit. Our Messenger is Peace, a speedy Poste. The Hauen is the Kingdome of Heauen. The landing place is Golgo­tha. The Land is the land of the liuing. [Page 24] The Customer is Death, who sets all men at libertie, and yet is bound him­selfe. Peter was once one of these hea­uenly Factours for the Lord Iesus: a Creeple came vnto him for an Almes, but what was his aunswere?Act. 3. 6. Siluer and Gold haue I none, but such as I haue, I giue thee, in the name of Iesus of Naza­ret arise and walke: A better Almes a great deale then hee expected. So wee may say: If you aske vs what commo­dities our vessell hath brought, we may make Peters answere, Siluer and Gold wee haue none; new wine haue we none; pleasant tales haue wee none; and Po­pish trash haue wee none; but wee haue the hidden treasures of the Gospell,The corn­modities of the Gospell. the puritie of true Religion, the rich Iewels of the holy Ghost: as Faith to ouercome the world, repentance to make men new, remission of sinnes, and Reconsiliation with God, by the death of Christ, peace of Conscience which passeth all vnder­standing, and is a continuall Feast, ioy of the holy Ghost, a [...]d gladnes of hart, which the world cannot take from him that hath them, wee offer loue to God, [Page] and Charitie to men, zeale for the truth, patience in affliction, moderation of af­fections, lowlinesse of Spirit to grace all our actions, and assurance of euerlasting life after this life, the great gaine of god­linesse, with sweete contentation to all estates.

Behold, these are the Riches, and these are the Treasures that the Lord Iesus sendeth from heauen to enrich and glad his seruants withall, while they liue here dispersed and despised vpon the face of the earth. And yet here bee not all, for euen all outward blessings also do attend vpon these inward graces, so that if any man can finde these, and hartely affect them,Earthly Treasure. the other shall follow measurably and proportionably according to euery mans place and want.doth fol­low the heauenly. And therfore our blessed Sauiour (not knowing how to enuy, or deny vnto his Church the smal­ler things, hauing frankly bestowed himselfe, and the greater things of his Kingdome) set vs in the way, and direct­eth vs a right course for the obtaining both of heauenly Treasures, as also of earthly Commodities. Seeke first (saith [Page 25] hee) the kingdome of God, Mat. 6. 33. and his righte­ousnesse, and all these things shall bee cast vnto you, but Gods Kingdome must bee first sought.1 King 3 12. 13 When Salomon preferred (in his request vnto God) a wise and vn­derstanding hart, for the well gouerning of his people, God gaue him that, and also Riches and Honour, things that he asked not: So, if our chiefest desire and endeauour be to lay vp treasure in hea­uen, and to bee rich in the graces of the holy Ghost, the Lord will giue vs those Graces, and earthly Blessings besides. But alas, it fareth with most men as it did with Boaz his kinseman,Ruth. 4. 4. 5 who was well content to redeeme the field of Na­omie, but when hee heard that hee that should haue the field, must also marry Ruth, hee would none. So, many hea­ring of earthly commodities, and world­ly blessings, are content to strain them­selues for the obtaining of them, but when they heare that they must take them as Religious dowrie, and vpon condition that they liue vertuously, and liberally amongst their Brethren, they wil none, for the one they wil deale, but [Page] not for the other: but hee that hath the one, must haue the other also, and who­soeuer will straine himselfe for the best part, shall bee sure to haue his share in the other: as hee that married Ruth with her meane portion, lost nothing thereby, because shee was a vertuous woman, and what was wanting in goods, shee had it supplyed in goodnesse: so he that hath godlinesse can be no looser, for Godlinesse is profitable vnto all things (saith the Apostle) and hath the promises of this life, 1 Tim. 4. 8 and of the life to come.

Godlinesse will make thy selfe, and thy seed, thy ground and thy cattell, thy wealth and thy credit to bee blessed. It is like the Tree that bearet [...] fruit euery month, & beareth twelue manner of fruits, and the leaues thereof are good to heale the nations withall. Apoc. 22. 2 And as for them that thinke that godlinesse is not fit for all things, for all times, and for all places, but count it a dead world when vnchast daunces, ribald songs, and other scurri­litie are restrained at feasts, and marri­ages, and other merry meetings, nor can relish any mirth or ioy, that is seasoned [Page 26] with words of grace, it seemeth they are better acquainted with the sacrifices of the Indians, than with the sacrifices of Christians: But let them speake that haue made tryal.Mal. 3. 10. Haue any done as Ma­lachie willeth them, that is, brought their Tithes and offrings, liberally and freely vnto Gods house, for the maintenance of the Lords seruants and seruice, and hath not the Lord (according to his pro­mise) opened the windowes of heauen, and powred out a blessing vpon them? Haue any suffred hunger and thirst for righteousnes sake (which hunger onely is sa [...]ra fames, Mat. 5. holy hunger indeed) and not bene filled with good things? Hath any faithfull person decayed in his out­ward man,2 Cor. 4. and hath not his inward man beene renued daily? Haue any seene Christ in some part of his glory,Mat. 17. and not beene rauished with a desire to dwell there still? Nay more, hath any follow­ed him in this r [...]generation (as he saith himselfe) that doth not now, and shall at [...] th [...] last day sit on seats to iudge the nations of the world? Hath any with the poore Widdow of Sa [...]pta [...] shew [...]d [Page] kindnesse, and beene at cost with the Lords Prophets, and not found it againe with increase? Haue any for the loue of Christs gospell left all, and followed him in time of persecution, and not bene prouided for sufficiently? Hath any with the woman of Samaria, left scoffing at Christs words, and hath not her hart beene so enflamed with the Truth, that shee hath runne in to call forth her neighbours, to take part of her happinesse? Haue any with Paul and Silas beene imprisoned for preaching of Christ Iesus, and haue they not found that in prison, which hath made them to sing Psalmes for ioy? Hath any gone to the Lords warres, at his owne cost? or planted the Lords vineyard, and not drinke of the wine? Hath any laboured in the Lords husbandry, and gone away without his reward? Haue any at any time beleeued God, and ben deceiued? Hath any trusted God with his estate, that hath not beene compassed about with the mercies of the Lord?Psal. 32. 10. Hath any loued the Lord, and not bene loued againe? Hath any craued day and not [Page 27] beene borne withall? repented and not beene forgiuen? In a word; did euer any imploy his talent to the Lords ad­uantage, and not more to his owne ad­uantage? for haue they not (besides the receipt of commendations for their faith­fulnesse) beene put in possession of their maisters ioy?Mat. 25. 20 And on the contrary, hath any neglected the gifts of God bestow­ed vpon him, and hath it not bene to his owne losse, as hee that hid his Talent in the ground? Hath any Esau sould his birth-right, and not lost the blessing? Hath any Iudas sould his Master, and betrayed the truth, & not been the first that repented the bargaine, by that time that he and the gallowes, or the Diuell, or both haue reckoned together? Haue any with Demas forsaken gods seruants, to follow this present world, and not with Hymeneu [...] and Alexander made shipwrack of faith & a good conscience?1 Tim. 1. 19. Beleeue mee (good brethren) it will stand vs in hand to looke lesse to our earthly Treasure, and more after the heauenly, least in the end wee loose both.

[Page] To conclude therefore this point: seeing as the Christians heauenly Trea­sure, which is both Christ himselfe and all the riches of his Gospell bee so ex­cellent, rare, and precious that nothing may bee compared therewith; and see­ing the treasures of this his kingdome of Grace (though they bee inestimable and vnspeakable) are but a tast and ear­nest of those treasures, which bee reser­ued for the Saints in his kingdome of glory. And lastly, seeing as they which seeke after the heauenly Treasure, shall also haue earthly blessings to accompa­nie the same, as farre forth as God shall see good for his children, let euery Chri­stian hart bee hereby moued and per­swaded to lay vp from henceforth Trea­sure in heauen, rather than on earth, sith euery man desireth the best things.

As the Christians heauenly Trea­sure is so bee preferred before all things, for the Excellencie thereof, so also is it here commended vnto vs by our blessed Sauiour, for the Perpetuitie, and the Securitie of the same. For their Perpe­tuitie, hee saith that neither Moth can [Page 28] eate it, nor Rust consume it. And for their security the safe keeping, he tels thee that they are where no Theefe can dig through and steale them, meaning that no enimie whether terrestiall or infern­all, whether man or Diuell can possibly deceiue thee or depriue thee of them.

Now as touching the Perpetuitie of the Christians heauenly Treasure,Of their Perpetuity it is such and of so long continuance, that euen in that respect it is to bee prefer­red beefore all earthly and transitorie Commodities: for all earthly commo­dities and treasures they are ey [...]ther vsed or not vsed, if they bee put to any vse or employment, they consume and weare: if they be put to no vse, but lye by, then they are corrupted, which corruption also abateth not a little both of their sub­stance and glory: But as for the Hea­uenly Treasures of Gods grace and spi­rit, they are neyther consumed, nor cor­rupted. There is more vse of them then of any earthly thing whatsoeuer, yet are they not, neyther can they bee subiect to any consumption: Nay, they are no whit the worse, but much the better for [Page] the vsing. Tell me, is there not a daylie yse of Prayer, of Preaching, of Faith, of Charitie, of Repentance, of Patience, of Hope, of Humilitie, &c. And are they not through continuall vse encreased, strengthened, and made easie? like the fiue tallents, which being put forth to aduantage, gained fiue more. And as Milo that Tullie speakes of,Milo. by vsing his strength day by day, in carrying of a Calfe did so increase his strength, that hee was able to beare it on his shoul­ders when it was an Oxe: so doth the Christian Soule by inuring his patience and faith to beare smaller crosses, that in time hee is able through daylie exercise of the spirit, to beare greater crosses, and to put vp mighty wrongs: Through negligent slothfulnesse, cursed ingrati­tude, & prophane abusing of Gods hea­uenly Graces, they may dye and decay in thee, but the more they are vsed, the more they are increased.

The glorious Garment, and royall Robe of Christ that Sonne of Righte­ousnesse,Mal. 4. 2. wherewith Saint Iohn saw the Church clothed, is neuer worne out, [Page 29] nor shall euer be put off, vntill faith and Hope bee abolished; their pure Gold that they buy of him is neuer spent, and their Sunne is neuer set, though some­time perhaps it may bee vnder a cloud. The Oyle of gladnesse wherewith they are annointed is like the widdows Oyle of Sarepta, wherewith shee paid her debts, maintained her selfe & her house, and yet her Cruse was still full.Ioh. 2. Nay, Christ turneth the water of his seruants (that loue to enuite him vnto their feasts) into wine, and the oftner it is powred forth the sweeter it is. One Helmet of Hope, one Shield of Faith, one Sword of the Spirit, &c. shall last all thy life, and saue thee in a thousand battailes of temptations and spirituall conflicts, and neuer bee worne: for whom the Lord loueth, hee loueth [...]to the end, and his mercies endure for euer. There is but one Faith, one God, one Lord, one Bap­tisme, one Word, one Spirit, and one Hope, though there bee many misbe­liefes, many Diuels, many falsehoods, many doubts; there is but one supreame goodnes, though many euils, & that one [Page] shall ouercome all, and remaine alwayes the same, that we may still sing with the Psalmist, The mercies of the Lord endure for euer.

And as the Christians heauenly trea­sure doth excell for Perpetuitie,Of their Security. so also for Securitie: for it is laid vp in heauen, where the Lord himselfe dwelleth, and from whence hee laugheth all Theeues both infernall and terrestiall to scorne.

Many lay vp their treasure in the bot­tome of a ship, and the sea swalloweth it vp; but what sea can deuoure those Treasures that are layd vp in heauen? Many put their treasure into other mens hands, who spend it vainely, or runne away secretly; but who can spend, or runne away with that which is laid vp in heauen? Many bestow their Trea­sure vpon their backe, belly, and build­ing, three such Bees as will sting the land to death,3 Bees. if they be not taken heed of, and all perish in the vse, by fire, or by age, or by sicknesse, or by death; but no such thing can happen to those trea­sures which are laid vp in heauen. Many haue houses, and lands, and riches, and [Page 30] friends, to day in very good securitie as the world thinketh, and by to mor­row they are gone, or sold, or wasted, or stolne, or dead, or turned to another minde, but they that haue once laid vp the Treasures of a good life, and a good Conscience in heauen, shall bee sure to finde them there, and to enioy them for euer: for they are so kept to his vse, that no Theefe can euer steale them from him.

And howsoeuer some vaine and pre­sumptuous Persons will not sticke through greedinesse of gaine, to vnder­take (for a quantitie of money) to se­cure a mans goods at sea, or at land, yet considering the miserable vnquietnesse that mans life is exposed vnto, and the vniuersall disagreement and warre that is betweene man and all the Creatures in the world, yea, betweene the Crea­tures themselues, nay more, betweene man and man in all estates and degrees: nay more than that, between euery man in himselfe. I see no reason, why any man should be so vnwise, as to promise vnto himselfe any secure enioying of [Page] any worldly commoditie, or why ano­ther should so confidently (or desperate­ly rather) vndertake to secure any mans goods or estate, when as hee cannot se­cure himselfe one minute of an houre to an end. And first, for the miserable and vnquiet estate of this life, I see not what can bee said more to discouer the same, then hath beene already said by Petrach that learned Italian Oratour,Fran. Petrach. de reme­dijs vtri­us (que) fert. the substance of whose discourse, con­cerning this point, I thinke will not bee lost labour to lay before thee, which briefly is this: that considering the vn­certaine and sodaine chaunces & chan­ges, whereunto the affaires and estates of men are subiect,Nothing more frail or vnqui­et than the life of Man. nothing can be more fraile, nothing more vnquiet then the life of man. In other liuing creatures (saith hee) it is not so, and why? be­cause nature hath prouided for them a wonderfull kinde of remedy: but what is that remedy? might not wee enioy it with them? Oh no, for it is a certaine ignorance of thēselues, by reason wher­of they inioy their life and being, in lesse misery, and more quiet then man doth, [Page 31] for in vs onely that haue degenerated,Memory, Vnder­standing and proui­dence per­uerted vn­to our own toile &c. both our memory, & vnderstanding, our prouidence, and all the diuine gifts of our minde are conuerted (or peruerted rather) vnto our owne toile & destructi­on: for, are wee not haunted alwayes with vaine and superfluous, yea, with noysome and pestiferous Cares:Cares. which cause vs to bee grieued with the present time,Grieued. to bee vexed with the time past, and to bee afraid of the time to come?Vexed. If our life were well gouerned,Afraid. it were the most happy and pleasant thing that wee possesse, but now so many causes of miseries and nourishments of sorrowes doe wee daylie heape together, that we make our life a wretched and wofull toile,Entrance blindnes. whose Entrance is blindnes,Progresse labour. whose Progresse is labour, whose End is sor­row,End sor­row. and the whole Course error. What Day doe we passe oue [...] in rest and qui­etnes?Course error. or rather that we finde not more painefull and troublesome then other?Day. What Morning haue we euer passed so merry and pleasant,Morning. that hath not been ouertaken with some sorrow and hea­uinesse before night? What perpetuall [Page] warre is it that wee make against For­tuneWar with Fortune. (as some speake which know not the diuine prouidence to be the gouer­nor of all things) Wee onely being weakelings and vnarmed, take vpon vs to encounter a most fierce foe, in vn­equall fight; and bee againe (as lightly as things of naught) tosseth vs vp,Better o­uercome then bee had in continual scorne. and throweth vs downe, & turneth vs round about, and playeth with vs, so that it were better for vs to be quite o [...]ercome, then continually to bee had in scorne. And the cause heereof, is nothing else but our own lightnesse and daintinesse: for wee seeme to bee good for nothing else, but to bee tossed het [...]er and thi­ther like a tennis-ball,The cause, our [...]owne lightnesse. being creatures of a very short life, of infinit carefulnes, and ignoraunt vnto what shore to fall with our ship, or vnto what resolution to apply our mindes.

And besides the present euill, we haue alwayes somewhat to grieue vs behinde our backs, and before our eyes to make vs afraid: which thing hapn [...]th to no other Creature besides man, for vnto all others it is most perfect Securitie, to [Page 32] haue escaped that which is present. But wee in respect of our Wit and Vnder­standing of our minde, are in a continu­all wrastling and strife with an enemie. Which being so, what safetie or securi­tie can wee looke for with our earthly pelfe (notwithstanding all the bonds, and Bils, Euidences and Conu [...]aiances, and whatsoeuer deuise else by craftie heads can bee contriued) when wee can by no meanes secure our selues of our selues in rest and quietnes one houre to an end.

Now as touching the vniuersall disa­greement and war,Vniuersal discord betweene man & the Creatures. that is betweene man and the Creatures, and betweene the Creatures themselues, and between man and man, yea, and in euery man in him­selfe, it is more then euident, for doe not the Stars moue against the Firmament? Doe not the Elements which be of con­trary qualities striue one against ano­ther? Are not the Windes at continuall conflicts among themselues? Doth not one time contend against another time, and one thing against another thing, and all things against vs? The Spring is moist, the Summer is dry, the Haruest is [Page] pleasant, and the Winter sharpe: And this which is called change and altera­tion, is in very deed strife and disagree­ment, although by the diuine proui­dence of almightie, they are made to agree together, against their owne na­ture, to serue mans turne, that man might serue him.

These things vpon which we dwell,Of the Elements. by which we liue and are nourished, which flatter vs with so many enticements, how terrible are they when once they begin to bee angry? the earthquakes, ship­wrackes, whirlewindes, raging fires, and mightie flouds, doe sufficiently declare. With what violence doth the Haile fall? What force haue stormes and tempests? What ratling of Thunder? What rage of lightning? What fury of the waues? What blowing of the Sea? What roar­ing of flouds? what excursions of Ri­uers? What recourse and concourse of clouds? Our meates and drinkes which we take to nourish vs, if they be immo­derately and excessiuely taken of vs, what seazures and forfaitures doe they make of Reason, Sence and Strength, [Page 33] yea, oftentimes of health and life it selfe?

There is no liuing Creature with­out war.No Creature without war. Fishes, Foules, wilde Beasts, Serpents, Men, one kinde of these per­secuteth another, none are at quiet. The Lyon followeth the Wolfe, the Wolfe the Dog, the Dog the Hare, and the Hare the greene Corne; with what cra [...]t doth the [...]oxe pursue our Lambs, and our Poultry? What watching is there of Crowes and Kites about our Pigeon houses, and Broodes▪ of Chickens? And what assaults of Theeues is there against the priuie Chambers, and Clo­sets of rich men? What watching and warding is there in euery seuerall kinde, how great and diligent contention?

But though these cease, yet disagree­ment ceaseth not:Of Loue and Mari­age. for what hart-bur­ning is there euen in Loue? What disa­greement in Marriage? How many complaints, what suspicions are there a­mongst Louers?Masters & Seruants. What sighes, what paines, what contention betweene Ma­sters and Seruants?Parents & Children. Yea, what bitter contention do we see betweene Parents [Page] and Children, and betweene Brother and Brother? And as touching the loue of Parents, who are most tenderly af­fected towards their Children, yet how great their indignation is, it is euident, whiles they loue them that are good, and lament their case that are euill, and thus in a manner they hate while they loue hartely.Friends. Now among Friends al­though there be agreement in the words and ends, yet in the way, and in their actions what disagreement and contra­ri [...]tie of opinions and counsels is there? What then shall a man hope for in ha­tred? for there is Hatred in Loue, and Warre in Peace, and Dissention in a­greement. If wee consider the orders of Bees in their Hiues,Bees. what thronging to­gether, what noyse, what wars, not one­ly with their neighbours, but amongst themselues, what domesticall conflicts, and dissentions is there amongst them? If we looke vpon the Doue,Doues. that inno­cent and simple bird, and which (as some write) hath no gall, with what battailes and disquietnesse, with what clamours and outcryes (I pray you) do they passe [Page 34] forth their life? And now (to meet with Christs instance againe) How doth the Moth gnaw the cloth?Moth. the Rot the post, and little Wormes by day and night fret through the bowels of Beames & huge Timber?Rot. Againe,Wormes what an enemie is the Grassehopper to Hearbs, the Caterpil­ler to Fruites before they bee ripe, and the Fowles of the Ayre to ripe f [...]uites and graine?Sparrow. what an enemie is the Mil­dew to the Vintage,Mildew. the blasting to the Hearbs, the Canker to the Leaues, and the Moule to the rootes?Moule. What should I speake of the hurtfull plentie of bran­ches and leaues of Trees, against which the wakefull Husbandman giueth dili­gent attendaunce? And what doth the continuall returne of Bryars and weeds, but minister perpetuall matter of toyle and strife? I let passe the furious rage of showers of Raine, and heapes of Snow, and biting of Frosts, and violence of Ise, and force of Flouds, which many times shake whole Regions and Coun­tries.

But thou liuest amongst the Richer and more delicate sort perhaps,The toiles of the richer sort. yet art [Page] not thou nor any of them without their discommodities and toyles, for how is their quiet silence, and sweet sleepe in­terrupted and troubled eyther with the cryings and screiches of Owles, or the continuall barking of Dogs all night against the Moone, or with the horrible outcryes and hellish clamour of Cats, meeting vpon the tiles and toppes of houses? And on the day time they are annoyed with the common clamour and laughter of Fooles, then which nothing is more ridiculous, and the merriments of Drunkards, then the which nothing is more grieuous? Then come the com­plaints of such as be at variance, and the Iangling & scoulding of old wiues. Ad hereunto the thronging and noyse of Iudgement [...] Hals vpon court dayes, the Altercations of Merchants, and such as buy and sell, together with the vaine Oathes and Protestations both on the one side and the other. Adioyne here­vnto the sorrowfull singing of workmen to asswage their painefull trauaile. Fi­nally, examine whatsoeuer there is, run through in thy mind all the Heauen, the [Page 35] Earth, the Sea, there is like contention in the top of the Skie, and the bottome of the Sea, and there is strife in the deep rifts of the earth, as wel as in the woods and Fields, and aswell is there per­petuall disagreement in the Desarts of sands, as in the streets of Cities.

At the very beginning of the world there was a battell fought in the first Heauen, and those vanquished Angels (now Diuels) whilst they endea­uour to bee reuenged vpon vs mortall men, that inhabite the earth, they pro­cure vnto vs immortall warre of sundry temptations, with most hard and doubt­full businesse. And to gather all into a short summe, all things whatsoeuer ha­uing sence, or without sence, from the vppermost top of heauen, vnto the low­est center of the earth, and from the chiefest Angell, to the basest worme, there is continuall and euerlasting strife betweene them, what securitie then can be looked for of any thing in this world.

As for man himselfe, the Lord and gouernour of all things,Of Man against Man. who onely by the rule of Reason, should bee able to [Page] guide in Tranquilitie, this swelling and troublesome sea, with what continuall strife is hee tossed, both externally with other things, as also internally with him­selfe. As for the things that are out­ward, whereby man is tossed and tur­moilde, they are innumerable and vn­speakable, euen from one man to ano­ther, and practised by one man against another: Homo homini Lupus, one man is become a Wolfe towards another. What mischiefe is there, that one man worketh not against another? and all other harmes, by what meanes soeuer they happen, yet being compared with these, doe seeme but light discommodi­ties. Who can number the disagreement of opinions, the variety of sects, the con­tentions of the learned, and the warres of Kings and Nations? Who then can bee assured of the Truth? Who can assure his peace long, if hee seeke no further for Peace and Truth then vnto this world?

But if thou or thy estate be called into question, as whose is not somtime? thou wilt repaire to s [...]kilfull Grammarians, [Page 36] who can tell what Construction to make of euery things; or to eloquent Rhetoricians, that can tell how to per­swade much; or to wittie Logitians, who can dispute thy cause well; or to learned Lawyers, who can plead thy cause ef­fectually, but then remember againe, what contentions are amongst Gram­maians, not yet decided? what conflicts among Rhetoricians? what Quirks and quidities amongst Logitians? what brab­ble and clamour amongst Lawyers? who how well they agree the continu­ance of their Cliants causes doth eui­dently declare.Lawyer [...] for thy Wealth▪ And if thou sayest thou wilt haue Law for thy mony▪ then re­member first, that they will also haue thy mony for Law, and by that time the Law hath tryed thy cause, it may be, halfe thy estate and wealth must bee sharde amongst the Lawyers and their Clarkes, who hauing eaten the Oyster which made the strife, will returne thee the shell for recompence.

Well then,Phisitions for health. thou wilt say, if thy wealth stand vpon so tickle a pinne, thou wilt looke to thy Health, and to that end [Page] thou wilt make much of the Phisition; but then heare againe, make thou as much of him, as thou canst, bee sure of one thing, that hee will make as much of thee as hee can. And as for the a­greement of Phisitions about diseases, their causes and their cures, let their Patients bee iudge, for that life which they haue pronounced to bee short, by their contentions they haue made most short. But if thy wealth & Health be so vncertaine, thou wilt then looke to thy Religion, and be assured that that shall be right and sound: thou doest well in so doing, but then thou must take heed thou hang not thy Faith or Religion vpon men, but vpon God, and his word, for else what deformitie and disagree­ment of opinions is there in the holy rites and religion of the Church, where Gods heauenly direction in his Word is neglected,Strife for Religion. and that not so much in the words of the learned, as in the wea­pons of the armed, and oftner tryed in the field then in the schooles? But it may bee for more securitie of thy selfe and thy estate, thou wilt looke to the [Page 73] common life and affaires of men, and conforme thy selfe to the fashions of the most in house keeping,To doe n [...] the most doe. in build­ing, in apparrell, in recreation, &c. But then remember againe, that if thou hast not light and Wisedome from Heauen, thou maist soone slip into the broad way that leadeth to Hell. And againe e­uen then thou wilt bee to seeke, so ma­ny windings and turnings thou shalt meete withall, for there are scarce two in a cittie that doe agree, both many things else, but especially the great diuersitie of their houses and Apparrell, doth de­clare, for who euer succeeded any man in an house, were hee neuer so rich and good an Husband, that hath not (for all that) changed many things in it? so that looke what one man had a desire to build, another hath a pleasure to pull downe: witnesse hereof may bee the often changing of Windows, damming vp of Doores, and the skarres and new reparations that are done in old Wals. Nay more, is not euery mans opinion & Iudgement contrary to himselfe? whilst (according to the saying of the Poet) He [Page] pulleth downe, Horace. and buildeth vp, and chan­geth that which was square into round. Diruit, [...]dificat, mutat quadrata rotundis. By which it may appeare that almost no man can agree with another man, nor yet with himselfe.

To these may bee added the conten­tion that is oftentimes without an Ad­uersary,Contenti­on with­out an ad­uersary. as of Sriueners with Parch­ment, with Inke, with Pens, with Paper, before they can make them serue their turne,Scriue­ners. and many the like? What a coile haue SouldiersSouldiers. (not with their enimies onely) but with their owne Horses and Armour, when as the horse waxeth ob­stinate, and their Armour wayeth them downe?Speakers & writers. What businesse haue they that speak, and those that write at the mouth of another, whilest the one through ear­nest intention speaketh many things vnperfect, and the other through igno­rance, or vnskilfulnes, or a flitting & vn­constant wit misconstrueth those things that are perfect? Againe, what Conflicts haue InfantsInfants. with fals, ChildrenChildren. with their Bookes, and Young menYong men with plea­sures and vnruly affections? Yong men are indeed to bee pittied, for there are no [Page 38] kinde of men that would seeme to bee more merry, and none indeed are more miserable and sorrowfull. And againe, in what danger are WomenWomen. in Childe­bearing? what wrastling haue men con­tinually with Pouertie and Ambition? What great carking & caring for more then is needful for liuing? And finally, what euerlasting warre haue old menOld men [...] with old age and sicknesses? and all other persons with death also, and (that which is more grieuous then death it selfe) with the continuall feare of death?

But to omit this external strife (which is one while with Aduersaries,Of the in­ternall strife in a mans self. and an­other while without an Aduersarie) how great is the internall Contention, not onely against another, but euen against our selfe, euery one enduring a continu­all war euen in the secret closet of his minde? With how diuerse and contrary Affections doth the mind striue against it selfe? with how variable and vncer­taine motion of minde is euery man drawne, sometime one way, sometime another? hee is neuer whole, nor neuer one man, but alwayes dissenting and [Page] deuided in himselfe. Now hee willeth, by and by hee will not that which hee would before: now hee liketh, by and by hee misliketh: now hee loueth, by and by hee hateth: now hee flattereth, presently he threatneth: now he iesteth, and presently is in good earnest: here hee beginneth, there hee leaueth off: now hee admireth, by and by hee dis­daineth: one while hee goeth forward, and straight way he turneth back again, and such like, then the which there can bee nothing imagined more vncertaine, and with which the life of man ebbeth and f [...]oweth more turbulently, from the beginning to the ending without inter­mission. And what tempests and mad­nes is there not in these foure passions, to hope or desire, and to reioice, to feare, & to be sorry, which trouble the poore and miserable minde by driuing it with sodaine windes and gales, far from the Hauen, into the middest of most dange­rous Rocks? And therefore say not as some doe, that thou wilt trust no body but thy selfe, or what thou hast once re­solued vpon, no man shall alter thee [Page 39] from it, for they selfe are most variable, and thine owne false hart will bee the first that shall betray thee. And there­fore to conclude and returne where wee began, sith the life of man is so full of misery and vnquietnesse, sith there is so little agreement, nay, so much strife and contention betweene all things created, sensible and insensible, and all against man, and sith there is so much discord and iarring in all estates and degrees of men, and lastly, in euery particular man, with himselfe, how canst thou now that art a Christian (and induced with any sparke of Heauenly light) set thy heart vpon the world, or any thing that is in the World, to make it the study of thy braine, the care of thy minde, or the ioy of thy heart, sith in this world as there is nothing of any Excellency, or Perpetu­itie, so likewise is there nothing of any Securitie or safety, but all exposed to pe­rill, danger and losse?

But in heauen it is otherwise, looke what Treasures thou sendest thether be­fore thy▪ dying day, thou shalt bee sure to haue them secured vnto thy vse for euer, [Page] and why? surely because they are with thy GOD and most louing Father, where no Theefe can breake through and steale.

As this Doctrine should cause vs to leaue our doting vpon this World,Vse. so it seru eth to stay the troubled Conscience from drooping vnder his sins, [...] and from despairing of Gods mercy, for though thy Si [...]nes bee many and great, yet thy Treasure is sure in heauen, and there is thy Comfort. Haddest thou euer any Peace of Conscience, any Comfort in Christ, any Ioy in the holy Ghost, that same abideth still in heauen for thee: and that which thou haddest here, was but an earnest of that which is laide vp for thee there.

But thou canst not see it,Obiect. nor feele it, thou canst not pray so effectually as thou wert wont to doe, &c.

What then?Answ. yet it is in Heauen and nothing can take it from thee. God doth not keepe our Treasure from Mothes and Theeues, to let the Diuels deceiue vs of it, no, no, it is sure for euer. When the Childe abuseth such things as his [Page 40] Father bestoweth vpon him, they are taken from him and laid vp till another time; and though the foolish Childe would haue them still in his sight, yet that may not bee, the wisedome of the father will not suffer it: so God dealeth with his Children, as touching the gifts and graces of his Spirit, and the vse of them. The similitude applyeth it selfe: It sufficeth Iacob to heare that his sonne Ioseph was a liue, though hee saw him not: so it should much comfort vs, to know that our Sauiour Christ liueth in vs, though wee alwaies feele him not alike.

I once loued the word of God (thou wilt say) and was zealous for the glory of God,Obiect. and did beleeue his promises, and did reioyce in the exercises of Re­ligion, and prayed continually, and grie­ued heartely for my sinnes; Oh then I had Treasure in heauen, now all is gone, my Spirit is dull and heauie, I cannot pray, nor meditate with that feeling and comfort, that I was wont to feele.

But doe the Lord no iniurie:Answere. doe not measure his grace by thy feeling: [Page] while Sathans messenger did buff [...]t Paul, 2. Cor▪ 12. that blessed Apostle could not so sensibly feele Gods grace as before, but cryed out,Rom. 7. Oh wretched man that I am, who shall deliuer mee? So whiles temp­tations doe buffet vs, wee are benum­med and know not well, how it is with vs in respect of Grace, but yet Gods grace doth vphold vs for all that Whiles Sathan sifted Peter, Luk. 22. 32 Christ prayed for him that his Faith might not faile, but it was more then Peter felt, and so it is with the rest of Gods Children at some times. These buffetings and siftings are tokens of Gods fauour, yet secret in vs for the time, for whom doth Sathan most desire to sift of all the Apostles? surely none so much as him that before had made the best confession of Christ. And none are more buffeted then they that haue receiued the greatest Graces. Ye shall sorrow (saith our Sauiour Christ) in the World, Ioh. 16. 20 but in mee yee shall haue ioy, and your ioy shall no man take from you, no nor Diuell, nor Angell, nor God himselfe,1. Tim. 2 for if wee beleeue not,13 yet God is faithfull (saith Saint Paul) and [Page 41] not deny himselfe.Verse. 19. And againe, The foundation of God abideth sure, and hath this seale. The Lord knoweth who are his, and let euery one that calleth on the name of the Lord les [...]is depart from iniqui [...]e, to shew that if wee depart from iniquitie, wee shall our selues also know that wee are the Lords, yea, and to that end wee ought to call on the name of the Lord Iesus, that by his grace wee may depart from iniquitie. And in so doing we may say as the Apostle saith,2. Tim 1. 12 I know whom I haue beleeued, and I am perswaded that hee is able to keepe that which I haue com­mitted Vnto him against the day of Christ.

And whereas thou complainest that thou canst not pray, know that yet for all that the Spirit of God may bee in thee,Rom. 8. 26 For the Spirit (saith Paul) helpeth our infirmities for we know not how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit it selfe maketh request for vs with [...]ighes, which cannot be expressed, to shew that when the hearts of Gods Children are oppressed with burdensome Temptations, which stop the course and passage of our Prayers, that then the Spirit of God makes a [Page] supply by sighes and grones.

But if Gods spirit were in thee (thou sayest) thou shouldest feele it working in thee some heauenly and spirituall work.Obiect.

True it is, and so hee doth, for euen the sighes and grones of a troubled spi­rit,Answere. are the workes of Gods spirit, and euen the hungring after righteousnesse, is no lesse the work of Grace, then the hauing of righteousnesse. And the work of Gods Spirit is oftentimes more secret in thee then thou art aware of: for could God take a Rib out of Adams side while hee slept, and neuer felt it, and cannot God put his Spirit into thy hun­gry and heauie Soule, and keepe it there as a Liger, while thy Faith sleepeth, and thou not feele it? God dealeth with his Children as Ioseph dealt with his Brethren, who knew them well enough, but for a time would not bee knowne of them, yea, and put their money into their sacks more then they knew of, and at last made himself knowen vnto them. Gods spirit is called the Comforter, and his words are the words of Comfort. Sonne bee of good cheare, thy sinnes are [Page 42] forgiuen thee, Hee hath thy pardon with him in thee, and when thou hast most neede, hee will deliuer it thee, and thou shalt see it, with ioy and great gladnes.

In thee meane time, that hee is in thee know by this, that thou dost not hate the Lord, but loue him and hast an ho­ly desire,Heb. 13. with some earnest endeauour to serue him, to liue honestly, and to keepe a good Conscience in all things, and art afraid of falling away. And surely all good desires are of the Lord. Waite the Lords leysure with Patience, seeke for Peace, which though thou canst not finde awhile, yet by Prayer thou must wayte on the Lord, and say, Lord be­cause there is mercy with thee that thou maist bee feared, I will wayte on thee, euen as the eye of a Maid seruant wai­teth on the hand of her Mistresse, I will condemne my selfe of folly, and say, O my Soule, why art thou cast downe, wait on God, for hee is thy present help and thy God. And thus shalt thou bee re­stored to the ioy of thy Saluation. And as Iob after his manifold tryals, had both of Gods goodnesse, of Sathans malice, [Page] his friends vncharitableness, and his owne weakenesse, had all seauen folde restored vnto him againe: So thou after thy supposed losse of heauenly Trea­sure, shalt finde heauenly treasure plen­tifully restored vnto thee againe. When Christ stept aside from his earthly fa­ther and Mother, to doe the businesse of his heauenly Father, hee meant to come againe, but in the meane time they sought him with heauy hearts, and at the last, they found him in the Temple, dis­puting with the Doctors, to their great ioy and astonishment: So Christ some­times doth as it were step aside from vs, to the end wee may seeke after him, and wee may perhaps seeke him with heauie harts, but yet at the last, we shall finde him with great ioy, for they that sowe in teares, shall surely reape in ioy.

Thou hast heard what high com­mendations are giuen of the Christians heauenly Treasure; doest thou beleeue it? then lay vp thy treasure in heauen, say not as the buyer doth, it is naught, it is naught, for if thou couldst obtaine it, with the losse of all the world, thou [Page 43] mightst and wouldst brag of thy bar­gaine. But alas, how few regard this? The poorer sort care not, but for backe and belly, and neuer repaire with good will to the house of God,How mos [...]men goe to Gods house. but when they thinke to receiue an almes, like the criple at the gate of the Temple, or like the people that followed Christ, to haue their bellies filled of free cost. Others come to the sermons and prayers of the Church, but loaden with their sins, & their mindes cumbred with pleasures & cares of this world, to whom the house of God is as a house of correction, and they sit there to bee whipped, and euery sentence of the Preacher, that crosseth their delights, or beloued sinnes, is as so many lashes and ierkes tormenting and tearing their guiltie Consciences. Others againe, make the Lords house as it were a market place, repairing the­ther onely to muze and studie of the prizes of their commodities, or to make some bargaines, or to doe some busines with some whom they haue appointed to meete there. Others againe, make the house of God their play house, and the [Page] Pulpit the Theater, the Preachers are their fooles, and Scripture phrases are their Iests, to make themselues merry withall. And others goe to the Lords house as children goe to schoole, the one for feare of the rod, and the other for feare of Lawes and Presentments, whereupon the Prouerbe is growen, as willingly as euer I went from schoole, but these may say, as willingly as euer I went for Church, but alas poore soules, long it will be before any of these kinde of hearers, get any heauenly Treasure, except they seeke after it, with better mindes and affections.

But now, as wee haue heard these Treasures commended for their Excel­lencie,Foure circūstances.1 Place.2 Time.3 Manner how.4 Why. for their Perpetui [...]y, and Security, so it will not bee amisse, to consider of the Place wher we must seeke for them, of the Time when, of the Manner how to lay them vp, and lastly of the Reason why: All which are questions necessa­rie, for the Serpent commended know­ledge, but withall shewed a wrong way thereunto: so all commend the heauenly Treasure, but all take not a right course [Page 44] to obtaine it, therefore saith the Apo­stle, Sorunne that yee may obtaine. 1. Cor. 9. 24 Christ is the Treasure and Treasurer. And this Treasure is in the ship of Christ, that is his Church, and no where else. The Ministers of the Church or Masters of the Assembly (as Salomon calleth them) are the factours. Now in what roome to search, or in what Vessell, is the questi­on? In Ierusalem there were many chests, yet but one Ark, that had the holy things and sacred Monuments in it. Though there were many Waters, yet was there but one Poole of Siloam, in which Le­pers were cleansed. In Christs Ship bee many places, but the place of the trea­sure is but one.2. Cor. 4. Saint Paul saith it is in earthen Vessels, so say wee too, mean­ing the Ministers of the Gospel, because we are in shew contemp [...]ible and in sub­stance brittle.

These vessels haue a booke that will shew all, if any man can open it, and vn­derstand it, and it is the Word of God, contayning the holy Scriptures of the old and new Testament, which Christ would haue vs to search, because they [Page] beare witnesse of him,Ioh. 5. 39. and containe in them eternall life. Like a Merchants bill they are, which sheweth what commo­dities are in the ship. This booke hath ben by gods prouidence mightily & mi­raculously preserued from time to time from burning, drowning, and loosing, and this priuiledge it hath, that it endu­reth for euer, and when heauen & earth shall faile, yet not one iot or title there­of shall fall to the ground.

The places then that wee must fre­quent if wee will finde this Heauenly Treasure, are the holy Assemblies of Gods people, where God is called vpon by the publike Prayers of the Saints, the Word is truely taught, and the Sa­craments sincerely ministred, for the working and increasing of faith, and not the conuenticles of Schismatikes, who haue seperated themselues from the publike assemblies of Gods Church, and are at open defiance with their mo­ther the true Church of Iesus Christ, who first brought them to that know­ledge and Faith that they haue, if in truth and soundnesse they haue any at [Page 45] all. That which must discouer vnto vs this heauenly Treasure, is the holy Bible, and sacred Scriptures of God, and not the reuelations of Anabaptists, nor the Dreames of the Familie of Loue, nor the Iewes Ta [...]mud, nor the Turks Al­caron, nor the Popes Portuise, nor the Tridentine Counsels, nor the Traditi­ons or decrees of the Church of Rome, all which will leade vs to trash, but not to Treasure; to hell, but not to heauen; to the flesh, but not to the spirit, and so from God to the Diuell.

And being come now to the place, and hauing found the Booke that will rcueale this Heauenly Treasure, what must wee doe?Ioh. 5. 39. Search the Scriptures, saith our Sauiour Christ, to shew that there is some hidden Trasure in it more then is seene outwardly, or more then they make shew of, and so there is. And therefore the Word is preferred before Gold,Psa. 19. 10 albeit most men had rather haue Gold then the Word: but Da [...]id could say that of Gods Word, which he could not doe of Gold, nor all the world be­sides,Ps. 119. 92 and that was this, Except thy word [Page] had beene my comfort in my Affliction, I had perished. Pro. 3. 13. And Salomon auoucheth that man to bee blessed that findeth wisedome, and him happy that getteth Vnderstanding, and doubteth not to yeeld this for his reason,14 That the mar­chandise thereof is better then the Mar­chandise of Siluer, and the gaine thereof is better then Golde. 15 It is more precious (saith he) then Pearles, and all things that thou canst desire, are not to be compared vn­to her. 16 Length of dayes is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and glory. Her pathes are the pathes of pleasure, and all her wayes prosperitie. 17 Shee is a Tree of Life to them that lay hold on her, and therefore blessed are they that receiue her. But to see these are required very heauenly and spirituall eyes, euen the eyes of a liuely [...]aith; for carnall sence cannot compre­hend them, and worldly wisedome can­not conceiue them,The crosse of Christ an offence to some. yea, many laugh at vs, because we seeke for life in the death of Christ, grace in his curse, righteous­nesse in his condemnation, and comfort in his holy Gospell. Verely (say they) so floweth cold water out of a burning [Page 46] Furnace, and so springeth light out of darknesse, and hereupon they conclude, that none are more foolish then wee, which hope for Life at a dead mans hand, which aske forgiuenesse at a con­demned person, which fetch the grace of God out of one that was accursed, and flye for refuge to the Crosse, as to the onely author of euerlasting Saluati­on, which are all the Treasures that the word of God doth offer vs, and there­withall laughing at our simplicitie, they think themselues very sharp-witted, but alas they want the chiefest thing in true wisedome, namely, the feeling of Con­science, and the [...]eare of God-Let vs but enter deeply into our selues, and so soone as wee acknowledge our owne wretch­ednesse, the way for vs vnto Christ, and for Christ vnto vs, will bee by and by paued and made l [...]uell, for as to the attaining of humane Sciences, is requi­site a fine and well furnished wit, so to this Heauenly Philosophie is requi­red a subdued minde, for what tast can there bee where is lothing?

[Page] As many then as will not willinglie bee deceiued and perish,How to auoid the former offence. let them learne to begin with this l [...]sson, to know that they haue to doe with God, to whom they must giue accompt, let them set before their eyes, that iudgement seat, that makes euen the Angels to tremble, let them hearken to their owne consci­ence, bearing witnesse against them, let them not harden their harts against the pricks of sinne, and then they shall find nothing in the death of Christ to bee ashamed of. And let not their astonish­ment bee a stumbling blocke to vs, but rather let vs bee carryed from the hu­mane nature of Christ, to the glory of his Godhead, which may turne all curi­ous questions into admiration: And let vs goe from the death of Christ, to his glorious resurrection, which may wipe away all slaunder of his Crosse: Let vs passe from the weakenesse of the flesh, to the power of the Spirit, which may swallow vp all foolish thoughts: And let vs still pray with holy Da [...]id, that the Lord would open the eyes of our Vnderstanding, that wee may see the [Page 47] wondrous things of his word; for not euery one that readeth the booke of God, doth come to the Treasure, for it is like a Nut with a double shell, both which must bee broken before the ker­nell can bee found; or like a Chest with many locks, and euery one must be ope­ned before the Treasure can bee met withall.

To which end the Lord hath ap­pointed Preaching and Preachers, and endued them with the tongues of the learned, and all to open the hidden Treasures of the Gospell of Christ. To which must bee ioyned a diligent eare, a minde to meditate, and a sober tongue, to confer with thy Pastor and familie, and an humble Spirit, to bee enformed and reformed by the counsell of God. These meanes are called digging, and searching, laborious exercises indeed, to shew what paines and diligence must bee vsed in searching after the heauenly Treasure.Prou. 2, 1 [...] My Sonne (saith Salomon) if thou wilt receiue my words, and hide my commaundement within thee, and cause thine eares to hearken vnto Wisedome, 2 and [Page] incline thine heart vnto Vnderstanding,3if thou callest after Knowledge, and cryest for Vnderstanding,4if thou seekest for her as for Siluer, and searchest for her as for Treasures,5then shalt thou vnderstand the feare of the Lord and finde the knowledge of God. But if wee bee negligent, back­ward, and indifferent or luke-warme, then will it fare with vs, as with Lao­dicea,Reu. 3. 18. wee shall thinke wee are rich, and increased with goods, and haue neede of nothing, when indeed wee are wretched, and miserable, and poore, and blind, and naked.

And alas so it is with too too many and therefore when you come into their houses, if the booke of God bee there, you shall finde it couered ouer with much rubbill, and drosse, as Cards and Tables, merry Tales with sorry or sor­rowfull tailes, profane and scurrilous discourses, and paultry pamphlets, and such like stuffe, which domineere ouer the booke of God, as the Iewes did ouer Christs in Pilates hall; all which should bee swept out of doores, or sacrificed in the fire: and as for such humorists [Page 48] as do nothing but feede mens humours with idlenesse, and ply them with the pleasures of sinne, to the losse of their precious time, which should bee spent in seeking of the heauenly Treasure, say vnto them as Christ did vnto Peter, when hee solicited him against the will of God, vnto carnall courses, Turne thee behind me Sathan, thou art an offence vnto mee, and sauourest not the things of God.

The next thing to bee considered is,Of the time when to lay vp. &c. E [...]cles. 9 the time of gathering and laying vp this heauenly Treasure, for there is a time for all things, saith the holy Ghost. All in time, saith the World, hereafter when old age comes, or when sicknesse comes, or at the houre of death. It is not good to bee too forward in Religion, or to meddle too soone with matters of God and Godlinesse, for a yong man may prooue an old Diuell. But heare what God saith,Eccle. 12. [...] thou foolish man. Remem­ber thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth, before the euill dayes come vpon thee, and the dayes whereof thou shalt say I haue no pleasure. And Esai cryeth out vnto thee, saying:Esa. 55. 6. Seeke the Lord while hee may be [Page] found, and call vpon him while hee is nigh at hand, to shew vs that the Lord will not alwayes bee found, much lesse when wee thinke good, neyther will the dayes of olde age and sicknesse bee like the dayes of youth and health, for then shall wee feele our selues vnfit and vntoward to seek after these things, in two regards: first, in regard of naturall infirmities and bodily paines which will hold thy mind occupied about meanes of ease, as Phi­sicke and such like. Secondly, in regard of that strong hand which sin through long custome will beare ouer thy soule, euen to the hardning of thy heart, for custome of sinne, breedeth hardnesse of heart, and hardnesse of heart beget­teth impenitencie,Rom. [...]. 1. as the Apostle shew­eth in the second to the Romanes.

But the speciall time of gathering and laying vp this heauenly Treasure, is the holy Sabboth, and other times of holy assemblies, and generally whenso­euer thou art called forth, to heare the Word preached vnto thee, or hast any occasion to exercise thy Faith, in the workes of Charitie and pietie. Then [Page 49] comes the Angell to stirre the Poole,Iohn. 5 [...] step in then, if thou wilt doe thy selfe good, for afterward will bee too late, Whosoeuer carelessely neglecteth the Sabbaoth of the Lord, and presumpti­ously giueth God the slip in the holy Assemblies, as many car [...]all Christians doe, who mistrusting God with their e­state, thinke it no sin to spend the Sab­baoth day in their worldly affaires, or vaine exercises, well may they with Esau get a sup of pottage to stay their hungry mawes withall if God doe not crosse their enterprises, and curse their labours (as oftentimes hee doth) but surely their heauenly Birth-right is for [...]aite by the bargain, and but bankroupts they proue in the heauenly Treasure of a Christi­an. They heape vp, but it is nothing but wrath against the day of wrath.

The Sabboth day is especially ap­pointed for gathering of heauenly trea­sures, Remember therefore that thou keepe it holy as the Lord comminandeth, p [...]etend not a necessitie of breaking the [...] rest, where [...] is apparant, as the manner of some is when [...] a faire [Page] Sabboth day, they must work, for feare of Raine, but consider thou whose heart is buryed vnder thy loafe, and wilt needs bee rich by deceiuing the Lord of his right, consider I say, hath not the Lord prouided for thee when it hath rained? and darest thou not trust him when it is faire? did he euer deceiue any that trust­ed him with their estate, while they wal­ked reuerently in his feare, and carefully kept his commandements? what indig­nitie then and dishonor is this that thou offrest vnto the most high, in that thou darest not trust him with thy body, whiles thou seekest for the good of thy Soule? And how doest thou thinke to answere this geare, when thy conscience shall bee summoned to answere there­vnto, before that Iudgement Seat, which maketh the very Angels and Celestiall Powers to tremble? Oh consider of these things betimes, and the Lord [...] thy drowsie soule.Euill company how dangerous And aboue all, beware of sorting thy selfe with profane company, which will cause thee to loose thy time, and dull the edge of the Spi­rit, decay thy graces, and make thee to [Page 50] treasure vp sinne against the day of ven­geance,Eecle. 9. 18 for one sinne admitted with loue and liking, letteth out many graces and maketh hauock of all thy vertues.

Now the manner how to lay vp this heauenly Treasure,How to lay vp hea­uenly trea­sure. commeth next to be remembred, and that is done three waies. First, by relieuing of the Lord Iesus Christ in his members, which stand in neede of help, Sell that you ha [...]e ouer­plus (saith Christ) or that you can sp [...]are [...], and giue to the poore. Make you bags which waxe not old. Luke 12. 33.Luk. 12. 33 to shew that when a man giueth almes to the poore, hee doth but take it out of one purse and put it into another, out of bags that waxe old, and put it into bags that waxe not old, and in so doing saith Christ, thou shalt finde treasure in hea­uen, in so doing I say, but not for so do­ing,Mar 19. 21 as Papists teach, If thou wilt be per­fect (saith Christ to the rich yong man) goe and sell that thou hast and giue to the poore, and what you doe to them, I take it as done vnto my selfe, for saith our Sa­uiour Christ,Mat 25. 34 when they my poore members were in prison, I was in prison; [Page] when they were hungry, naked, and cold, &c. I was hungry, naked and cold, and therfore what you did to them, you did to mee. To the like effect speaketh the Prophet Esai, Esa 58. 7. If (saith hee) thou deale thy bread to the hungry, and bring the poore that wandreth into thy house, and couer the naked when thou seest him, then shall thy light breake forth as the morning, and thine health shall grow speedely, thy righteousnesse shall goe before thee, and the glory of the Lord shal embrace thee. Necessary encouragements, and why, These bee sweet encouragements and necessa­rie, because poore people are vnable to recompence the kindnesse of those that bestow any thing vpon them; and as they are vnable, so for the most part, they are very ingratefull, and their vn­thankfulnesse doth not a little discou­rage many, who would otherwise bee more beneficiall then they are. And in these respects, men had rather venture their goods vpon any other thing, then vpon the poore. For (say they) quod in­grato feceris perijt: It is cast away which is giuen to vnthankfull persons: but how­soeuer it bee that many of the poorer [Page 51] sort, bee both wretchedly vnthankfull, and miserably vnable to repay thee, yet if thou giuest them for Christ his sake, in whose name commonly they aske it, thou shalt finde it againe in heauen.

But it may bee, thou wilt be content to giue part of thy ouerplus to the poore, so thou maist reserue the other part to bestow on thy pleasure, but beware thou deceiue not thy selfe, for all thy ouer­plus is for the poore,Ouerplus for the poore. when thy familie is prouided for, thy debts paid, and all Dueties that thou owest to the Church and Common-wealth, thy Prince and Countrie are de [...]ayed, that which re­maineth is for the poore, to play for that is to cast lots vpon the Garment of Christ,Cal. Har. Ne fundis parcendum est, (sayeth Cal [...]sin, Euen of a mans ground and In­heritance a Christian man must deuide, some to poore Schollers, some to scholes of learning, some to the Ministry of the Gospel, some to maimed souldiers, some to poore hospitals, & in all to Christ, & he that giueth but a cup of cold water to the poore members of christ,Ma [...] 10. 42 hauing no more to giue, shall not loose his reward.

[Page] The second way to lay vp Treasure in heauen,The 2 way to lay vp, &c. is by suffring constantly and patiently for Christ, when thou art thereunto lawfully called and required, and that two wayes: First, thou must suffer the word of Christ which is the sword of the Spirit, to hew and cut thy sinnes, and bee content with patience, to endure the sifting and fanning of the Gospell,Ioh. 15. for except the dead and super­fluous branches be cut off, we can neuer bring forth fruit in Christ. Secondly, wee must resolue to endure all outward crosses and losses, for the euerlasting Truth of Christ, for hee that will saise his life (saith Christ) shall loose it, Mat. 10. and he that will loose it for my sake and the Gos­pell, 39 shall saue it. And if wee suffer with him (saith S. Paul) wee shall also raigne with him. Rom. 8. 17 If wee belong to Christ, wee must looke for tribulation, and anguish,35 and persecution, and famine, and na­kednesse, and perill, and sword, all which will try their force, to see if they can se­perate vs from the loue of Christ. Yea, wee must looke for his sake,36 to bee kil­led all the day long, and to bee counted [Page 52] as sheepe for the slaughter.37 But in all these things (saith the holy Apostle) wee are more then conquerours, through him that loued us. 2 Cor. 4. And therefore wee faint not, but though our o [...]tward man perish, 16 yet th'inward man is renued daily. 17 For our light affliction which is but for a moment, causeth vnto vs a farre more excellent waight of glory. 18 While wee looke not on the things which are seene, but on the things which are not seene. This point will bee scarce welcommed, or well liked, of nice and daintie professours of the Gospell, which must neuer goe to Gods house, but when the Sunne shineth, the waies are faire, and no Winde is stirring, to blow vpon them; and when they are there, they must heare nothing but plea­sing things, their sinnes must not bee touched, much lesse can they endure to haue the cutting knife of Gods law, laid to the throat of their sinne. And if all the world doth not applaud and com­mend their zeale, and good deeds, they soon are discouraged, & stand stone stil, like the winde mill that goeth no lon­ger then the winde bloweth, no scoffe [Page] or reproach, no persecution or trouble can they endure for the Truths sake, what Treasure can these lay vp by their daintinesse in heauen?

The third way to lay vp Treasure in heauen,The third way to lay vp, &c. is while thou liuest here vp­on earth, to grow in the powerfull and liuely knowledge of Christ crucified, & by a liuely apprehensiue faith to make thy selfe sure of all his benefits, in com­parison of whom, thou oughtst with the blessed Apostle,Phil. 3. 10. to esteeme all the world but drosse and dung. Now to effect this, we must consider the merite of Christ, the vertue of Christ, and the example of Christ, and what benefit wee haue by euery one of them; as that worthie man of God M. Perkins, hath both lear­nedly & heauenly declared, the somme whereof, I will breefly recall into thy minde.

Christ is to bee considered, as the common Treasurie and store-house of Gods Church, for God hath blessed vs with all spirituall blessings in Christ. Eph. 1. 4.Ephe. 1. 4. And in him are all the Treasures of Knowledge & Wisdome hidden. Col. 2. 3.Col. 2. 3. [Page 53] And of his fulnesse [...]wee all recei [...]e grace for grace.Iohn. 1. Iohn. 1. So that all the bles­sings of God without exception are conuayed vnto vs from the Father by Christ, and so must they bee receiued and no otherwise. But concerning the benefits of Christ wee are to learne fur­ther two things: first, what they are: Secondly, how or in what manner to vse them. His benefits are three: Merit, Vertue, and Example.

The Merit of Christ is the value of his death and passion, whereby he hath obtained to vs Reconciliation And this Reconciliation hath two parts: first, Remission of sinnes, Secondly, accepta­tion to eternall life, and both for the me­rit of Christ imputed. This benefit must bee knowen not by conceipt, nor car­nal presumption, but by the inward testi­monie of gods Spirit. To attaine to the infallible assurance of this benefite we must call to minde the promises of the Gospell touching remission of sins, and the gift of eternall life to the Faithfull. Secondly, wee must endeuour by the as­surance of Faith to apply them to our [Page] owne hearts. And thirdly, wee must vse often exercises of Inuocation and repen­tance, for by our crying to God for re­conciliation commeth the assuraunce thereof. And if it so fall out that a man in temptation, feele nothing but the furi­ous wrath of God, yet euen then against all reason and feeling, hee must hold to the merit of Christ, and know that God is a most louing father to them that haue a care to serue him, euen at that instant when he sheweth himselfe a most fierce and terrible enimie, which Iob knew right well when hee said,Iob. 13. 15 If the Lord should kill mee, yet I will trust in him.

From the benefite of Reconciliation proceede foure benefites. First, that ex­cellent peace of God, which passeth all Vnderstanding▪ Phil. 4. And that hath sixe parts: first, peace with the Trinitie, for being Iustified by Faith, we haue peace with God. Rom. 5. 1. Secondly, Peace with Angles, who do ascend and descend vpon the Sonne of man. Iohn. 1. 51. and all for the good of Gods Church. For the Angels doe incampe about those that feare the Lord. Psal. 34. And like [Page 54] Nurses doe beare them in their armes. Psal. 90. 12. that they hurt not their foot against a stone. All this seruice which the Angels performe vnto the faithfull, proceedes of this, that the faithfull be­ing in Christ, are pertakers of his merit. Thirdly, peace with the Faithfull, for, the Wolfe shall dwell with the Lambe, Esa. 11. 6. and the Leopard shall lye with the Kid, and the Calfe and the Lyon, and the fat beasts together, and a little child shall lead them. Esay. 11. 6. Fourthly, peace with a mans selfe, and that is: first, when the Con­science washed in the bloud of Christ, ceaseth to accuse a man: secondly, when the will and affections are obedient to the minde, enlightened by the Word and Spirit of God, and this is that which the Apostle meaneth, when hee saith, Let the peace of God rule in your hearts. Col. 3. 15. Fiftly, Peace with our enimies, and that two wayes: first, in seeking Peace with all, hurting none, but doing good to all:Dan. 1. 9. secondly, in that God re­straineth their mallice & inclineth their hearts to peace. Sixtly, Peace with the Creatures. Psal. 91. 13.Psal 91. 13 Thou shalt walk [Page] vpon the Lyon and the Dragon, &c. And in that day (saith the Lord) I will make a co­ [...]enant for them, with the wild Beasts, and with the foules of the heauen, & with that that creepeth vpon the earth, &c. Hos. 2. 18Hos. 2. 18. If therefore wee see God against vs, our owne Conscience against vs, the An­gels against vs, the Faithfull against vs, the wicked against vs, the Creatures a­gainst vs, let vs examine this point, of Reconciliation, and if all bee with vs, let vs know that it is the benefit of Christs merit.

The second benefit of Christs me­rite,The secōd benefite. is recouery of that right, which man hath to all the Creatures, the which Adam lost to himselfe & all his posteri­tie. 1. Cor. 3. 22. Whether it be the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come, all are yours, and you Christs. The right way of knowing this benefit is this, when God giueth meat & drinck, &c. we must not barely consider them, as blessings of God, for that very Hea­then men can doe, which know not Christ, but as proceeding from the loue of God in Christ. And so often as wee [Page 55] vse the Creatures, this point must come to minde, for blessings conceiued a part from Christ, are misconceiued. What­soeuer they are in themselues, they are no blessings to vs, but in and by Christs Merits: for this cause it is not sufficient generally to know Christ to be our Re­deemer, but wee must learne to see him and acknowledge him in euery particu­lar gift & blessing of God. If men when they behold their meates and drincks, could by faith behold in them the me­rit of Christs passion, there would not bee so much gluttony and drunkennes as there is. If the like in their houses and lands, their would not bee so much fraud and deceipt, in [...]ustice and oppression. Also noble birth, without new birth is but vanitie. The like is to bee saide of phisicke, sleepe, health, libertie, recreati­ons, and very breathing it self. There­fore it is meete, that with our earthly re­creation wee ioyne spirituall medi [...]ation of the death of Christ, then would there not bee so many vnlawfull sports and delights, and so much abuse of lawfull Recreations as there is, and this wee [Page] ought to do, for, Christ is all in all things. Col. 3. 11.

The third benefitThe third benefice. of Reconciliation, is that all crosses, and afflictions cease to bee curses and punishments to them that are in Christ, and are onely cor­rections & trials, because Christs death hath taken away all, and euery part of the curse of the law. In all crosses Christ is to bee knowne on this manner, iudge of them as chastisements or tryals, pro­ceeding not from a reuenging Iudge, but from the hand of a louing father, and therefore they must be taken in and with the merit of Christ, as meanes sent of God, to keepe vs from being damp­ned with the wicked world, if otherwise, wee take them as curses, and punish­ments. And hence it followeth, that Sub­iection to the crosse, or hand of God in all crosses, is a marke of the true church of Christ.

The fourth benefitThe 4 benefite, of Reconciliati­on, is, that Death is properly no death, but a rest, or sleep. Death therefore is to bee considered not as it is set forth in the Law, but as it is altred by the [Page 56] death of Christ, and when death com­meth, wee must looke vpon it through Christs death as through a glasse, and thus it will appeare to bee but a passing from this life to euerlasting life.

The second benefit of Christ,Of Christs Vertue. is the benefit of his Vertue. The Vertue of Christ, is the power of his Godhead, whereby hee createth new ha [...]ts in all that beleeue in him. This Ve [...]tue is double: First, the power of his death. Secondly, the power of his resurrection: by the first, hee freed himselfe from the punishment and imputation of our sins. By the second, hee raised himselfe from Death to Life. The benefit of Christs diuine power is great to all the faithfull: for, the same power which freed him from the punishment and imputation of our sins, setueth also to mortifie and cru­cifie the corruptions of our wils, mindes and affections. And the same which rai­sed him from death to life, serueth also to raise those that belong to Christ, first from their sinnes in this life, secondly, from the graue, in the day of iudgement. The knowledge of this double Vertue, [Page] must not bee onely in the braine, [...] experimentall in the heart, that is, to feele the power of Christs death kil­ling sinne in them, that wee might bee able to say with Paul, Wee li [...]e not, but Christ liueth in vs. This was one of the most excellent things which pau [...] sought for. Ph [...]. 3. 10. I have counted al things but dung, that I may know him, & the vertue of his resurrection. The way to know it, is to cast off the old man, which is corrupt, through deceiu [...]able▪ lusts. Ephe. 4. 22.

The third benefite of Christ,Of Christs example. is the benefite of his example, for Christ is to be knowen, not onely as a redeemer, but also as a patterne of all good [...]ueties, to which we ought to conforme our liues. Christ is to bee followed of vs, in the practise of euery good duety, that may concerne vs, without exception [...] Our conformitie with Christ is, first in the framing of our inward life: secondly, in the practise of outward and morrall dueties. Conformitie in spiritu­all life, is not by doing that which Christ did vpon the crosse, and afterward, but a doing of the like by a certaine kinde [Page 57] of imitation, and it hath foure parts. First, a spirituall Oblation, for as hee by prayer resigned himselfe vp to bee a sa­crifice to the iustice of his father. So we in prayer must resigne our selues who­ly to the Seruice of God. Secondly, a spirituall crucifying of our selues, for as hee bare his owne Crosse, so must wee denie our selues, and take vp all crosses that come euery day. Againe, as hee crucified his flesh, so must wee crucifie the body of sinne. Gal. 5. 24. They which are Christs, haue crucified the flesh with the lusts and affections. He with a speare was wounded, we with the sword of the spirit must wound sinne to death, and labour by experience to feele the very death of it, and bury it. Thirdly, a spi­rituall Resurrection: for as he came out of his graue, so wee must come out of our sinnes, as out of a most loathsome graue, to liue to God. This worke can­not bee done at once but by degrees, as God shall giue grace. Fourthly, a spiri­tuall ascention, by a continuall eleuation of the heart and minde to Christ, sitting at the right hand of God. If yee be risen [Page] with Christ, seeke those things which are aboue. Col. 2.

Conformitie in morall Dueties is ge­nerally,Consormitie in morall duties. to bee holy as he is: specially to bee like vnto him in foure Vertues, that is, in Faith, Loue, Meeknesse, and Hu­militie.

1 In Faith,Faith. for as he when he apprehen­ded the wrath of God, wholy stayed him­selfe vpon the ayde, and good pleasure of his father, euen to the last: so must wee depend wholy on Gods mercy in Christ, as with both hands, in peace, and trouble, in life and pang of death. And not let goe our hold, no though wee feele our selues, as it were, descend to Hell.

2 Secondly, in Loue,Loue. for hee loued his enimies more then himselfe. Ephes. 5. 2. Walk in Loue, euen as Christ loued vs, and hath giuen himselfe for vs, &c. The like Loue ought wee to shew, by doing ser­uice to all men, in the compasse of our callings, and by being all vnto all, that wee might do them all the good we can both for body and soule. 1. Cor. 9. 19.

3 Thirdly, in Meekenesse,Meeknes. Mat. 11. 28. [Page 58] Learne of mee, &c. His Meekenesse ap­peared in bearing Patiently all In [...]uries and abuses, and suffering the curse of the Law without grudging, submitting him­selfe to his fathers will in all things: So must wee, and the more wee follow him herein, the more wee are like him in his Death and Refurrection.

Fourthly, in his Humilitie,Humility. for being 4 God, hee became man for vs, and of a man a worme, that is troden vnder foot, that hee might saue man. Phil. 2. 5. Let the same mind be in you, that was in Christ, who being equall with God, tooke vpon him the shape of a Seruant, and humbled himselfe euen to the death of the Crosse.

Here is to be obserued, that the exam­ple of Christ hath something more in it then any other hath, or can haue, for it doth not onely shew vs what wee ought to doe, but it is both a remedie against many vices, as also a motiue to many good Dueties: as for example, the seri­ous consideration that the very Sonne of God himselfe suffered all the wrath of God, and curse of the Law for our sins, is the most effectuall meanes to stir vp [Page] our hearts to a godly sorrow for them, to which end, euery man must bee per­swaded that hee was the man that cru­cified Christ, that hee is to bee blamed as well as Herod, Pilate, and the Iewes, and that his sinnes were the nayles and speares that pearced Christ. Againe, if Christ for our sinnes shed his bloud, and if our sinnes made him sweate drops of bloud, why should not wee shed bitter teares for our sinnes? Hee that findeth himselfe so dull and hardened, that the passion of Christ doth not humble him, is in a lamentable case. Againe, when thou art sicke and in paine, thinke how light these are, being compared to the Agony and bloudy Sweate, the Thorn [...] and Nayles which Christ endured: when thou art wronged & abused, turne thy eie to the crosse, consider how meek­ly Christ bare it, and prayed for them that put him to death: When thou art tempted with Pride and Vaine-glory, consider how for thy sinnes, Christ was mocked, despised and condemned: when thou art moued with anger and desire of reuenge, think how Christ gaue himselfe [Page 59] to death to saue his enimies, when they most cruelly set themselues against him, and these meditations being mingled with faith, will ease thy minde.

And hence ariseth (sayth M. Perk.) a three-fold knowledge: first, of God: secondly, of our neighbour: thirdly, of our selues. Of God, for if wee would know him to our Saluation, wee must know him in Christ crucified, for God of his owne nature is inuisible, and is re­uealed to vs onely in Christ, in whom hee sets foorth his Iustice, Wisedome, Goodnesse, and Prouidence. Heb. 1. 3. Col. 1. 3. whatsoeuer out of Christ com­meth to vs in the name of God, is a flat Idoll of mans braine.

The second knowledge that ariseth from the former meditations, is of our neighbours, that is, those that are of gods Church. They are to bee knowen of vs in this manner. When wee are to do any Duetie to them, wee are not barely to respect their persons, but Christ cruci­fied in them,Acts. 9. and them in Christ, Saul, Saul why, &c. when the poore come for reliefe, it is Christ, that commeth to our [Page] dores, and saith I am hungry, therefore let our compassion bee towards them as towards Christ.

The third knowledge is of our selues, and the right knowledge of our selues, ariseth of Christ crucified, in whom and by whom wee come to the knowledge of fiue speciall things: First, the grie­uousnesse of our sinnes, and our miserie in regard of them, for if wee consider our offences in our selues, wee may bee deceiued, because our conscience being corrupt often erreth in giuing testimo­nie, and so it seemes but little, but if sinne bee considered in the death and passion of Christ, whereof it was the cause, and the vilenesse thereof measured by the vnspeakable torments endured by him, the least sinne will appeare to be a most grieuous sinne indeed. Secondly, by this wee know that men beleeuing in Christ, are not their owne, but wholly both bo­dy and soule belong to Christ. Thirdly, that euery true beleeuer hath this being from Christ, not as hee is a man, but as hee is a new man. Fourthly, that all good works done of vs, proceede from the [Page 60] vertue, and merit of Christ crucified. Ioh. 15. 2. Fiftly, that we owe vnto Christ an endlesse debt, for hee was crucified onely as our suertie and pledge, and in the spectacle of his passion, wee must consider our selues as the chiefe debters, we owe him all our selues for the paines that hee endured, to set vs most misera­ble bankroupts at libertie, from Hell, Death, and the Diuell, but [...] when doe wee beginne to pay it?

Thus wee see what benefits we haue by Christ crucified, and in what man­ner wee ought to vse them, but alas, but few haue treasured vp this knowledge of Christ, as they ought, for herein faile both the Papist, and the common Pro­testant. The Popish Churches though in word they confesse him, yet doe they not know him as they ought, for in their Sermons they vse the passion, as a means onely to stirre vp pittie and compassion towards Christ, and hatred of Pilate, the Iewes, and Iudas, &c. But the seruice of God which in that Church, stands now in force, by the Cannons of the Counsell of Trent, defaceth Christ cru­cified, [Page] in that first the Passions of Mar­tires are made meritorious; secondly, the very word and signe of the Crosse, is their onely refuge and help; thirdly, the Virgine Mary is made the Queene of heauen, and a mother of Mercy, who may commaund her Sonne; fourthly, they giue religious adoration to dumbe stocks, & Crucifixes made by the hands of men. The common Protestant also commeth short, for three causes, for first though in Word they confesse him to bee a Sauiour, that hath redeemed them, yet indeede they make him a pa­tron of their sinnes: Secondly, they take knowledge of his merit, but little regard the vertue of his death, and resurrection, in mortifying of their sinfull lusts and affections: thirdly, they vsually content themselues generally and confusedly to know Christ to be their redeemer, neuer once seeking in euery perticuler estate of life, and blessing of God, to feele the benefit of his passion. What is the cause of all the securitie in the world, and that men are not touched for their sins? sure­ly because they did neuer yet seriouslie [Page 61] consider that Christ in the Garden, lay groueling vpon the earth, sweating of bloud, &c. for their offences. Againe oppressours of the poore, neuer knew that their sinnes drew out the hart bloud of Christ. Againe proud persons puf­fed vp with strange atire, neuer consider that Christ was not crucified in gay a­tire, but naked, that hee might beare the whole shame and curse of the Law for vs. These and such like, whatsoeuer they say in word, if we respect the tenor of their liues, are flat enimies of the crosse of Christ, and tread his precious bloud vnder their feete. So farre Perkins.

But if thou wilt haue the Treasures of Christ in heauen, thus thou must learne to know and feele Christ cruci­fied, and the benefits of his Merit, Ver­tue and Example, and thus must thou come to the knowledge of God, of thy neighbour, and of thy selfe, in Christ crucified, euen whiles thou art here vpon earth; which feeling knowledge is a sa­uing knowledge, euen an excellent por­tion of heauenly Treasure, imparted to the true Christian in this life, and is a [Page] pledge of endlesse and infinite treasure prouided for him in the life to come, and so much for the wayes and meanes of laying vp treasute in heauen, which are by giuing to the poore Members of Christ, by suffering patiently for the truth of Christ, and by growing in the sauing knowledge of Christ crucified.

In laying vp Treasure after this sort, we shal prooue good Alcumists. An Al­cumist they say can turne lead into gold, or out of Lead or other mettals extract Golde, which many haue practised to their vtter vndoing. The Pope is the cunningest Alcumist it is thought that the world hath, for hee can of a pound of Lead, make an hundred pound of Gold, for all his Buls and Pardons are sealed with lead, but what fooles are they that turne their Gold into Lead, or what calues rather that buy his Buls so deare? But lay vp Treasure as hath beene shew­ed thee before,A true Christian a good Al­cumist. and thou shalt turne earth into heauen, corruption into incor­ruption, Gold into godlinesse which is great gaine, labour into rest, sorrow in­to ioy, pouertie into riches, and thy [Page 62] cottage into a kingdome, euen the king­dome of heauen.

Now followeth the reasons of Christs Commandement,Verse. 21. The secōd part con­taining the reason of the Comman­dement. For where your Trea­sure is there will your heart bee also. A Reason of great force as if hee should say, for this cause chiefly you ought to lay vp your treasure in heauen, that God may haue your heart, which cannot bee vnlesse you lay vp your Treasure in heauen, for our hearts will bee where wholy their Treasure is. Here wee are taught, that no man can loue the Lord with his heart, that seeketh and pla­ceth his happinesse in earthly things, but onely those whose ioy and felicitie is in heauen, and the heauenly graces of the Lord Iesus Christ. Worldlings make no doubt but that they may, and doe serue God, and loue God with their heart, yea, and haue as good [...] hart to God as any whatsoeuer, though they follow the world, & heare not sermons, although they keepe not the Sabboth so precisely as others do, which will not worke or play then, though they neuer meddle with the Scriptures, but bee [Page] vtterly ignorant of the wayes and will of God. But Christ here sheweth that they are al deceiued, by a general princi­ple that neuer faileth. Wher the treasure is there will be the hart, and wher the hart is, there is the Treasure of the hart, wher­upon it followeth that they doe wholy renounce heauen, that do seeke for hap­pinesse here below, and if they set their harts vpon heauenly things, it cannot be that they should esteeme of them no better, or frequent them no oftner, then they doe. The Philosophers haue most exactly (so much as the Star-light of na­ture would giue them leaue) disputed of the happines or chiefe wel-fare of man.Summū Bonum. And no meruaile, for who doth not de­sire to bee happy, and to win that hold, are all mens Sences, and Wits mustred and marshalled, because it is the onely true treasure, For where the Treasure is, there will the hart be, but most men doe mistake the matter, while they seeke for happinesse in the flesh, which is not to be found but in the spirit, & while they confesse that it is in God, yet runne after the Diuell for it. When some seeke for [Page 63] it in Honour, Ambition is made gene­rall of the field, and doth commaund the minde: while others seeke it in worldly profite, Couetousnesse doth inuade the soule, taking vp euery roome for world­ly desires, and noysome lusts, which doe eat out the heart with cares, and drowne men in perdition: others seeking for it in carnall pleasure and sensualitie, cry one to another, come let vs eate and drinck, and bee merry, for to morrow wee shall dye: and in the meane time the brute beast in that regard is more happy then such Epicures, for that more freely, with­out any shame or feare hee enioyeth the pleasure of carnall sensualitie, then they doe.

But if we were once soundly perswa­ded of our happines in heauen, it would bee an easie matter to tread the World vnder foote, and to haue our mindes mounted vp to heauen. If the loue of God bee our Treasure, and through the spectacles of a liuely faith, wee can read our names regestred in the booke of life, and descry our happinesse to be hidden in Christ; if the spirit of Adoption doth [Page] certifie our spirits that God is our Fa­ther, and wee are his children, and with the same certificate shall deliuer vs a discharge against sinne, death and hell, then will our harts feede vpon heauenly meditations, and our soules hunger and thirst after righteousnesse, wee will then account all but dung, that wee might winne the Lord Iesus Christ. And then as the Hart brayeth for the riuers of water, so will our soules long for the presence of the Lord: And then the Word of God will bee the ioy of our harts, and wee will desire to bee dissol­ued; and to bee with Christ, for where the Treasure is, there will the hart bee also: And vntill then wee shall sauour nothing but earthly vanities. Therefore when S. Paul would draw the faithfull to the studie of a heauenly life, he doth propound Christ vnto them, in whom onely all true felicitie is to bee sought, If yee bee risen with Christ (saith hee) set your minds on things aboue, Col. 3. 1. 2. and not on things which are below, as if hee should haue said, it is an absurd and base thing for christians to haue their mindes grub­ling [Page 64] on the earth, whose Treasure is hid in heauen, and that is his reason, for yee are dead (saith hee) and your life is hid with Christ in God. Verse. 3.

Hence we may further learne, in what a miserable case they are, whose harts are set vpon earthly things, which are subiect to Mothes, and Theeues, Rust▪ and other such manifold mischiefes. A cousening match it is of the diuels owne making, hee is subtill, and sheweth men the world and the glory of it, the Court and the brauery of it, Honour and the fame of it, iniquitie and the profit of it, sinne and the pleasure of it, as it were his daughters with their dowrie. On the other side, wee are simple and beleeue him, presently our hart is a match, for them, and happy hee thincks himselfe that can get one of them, and to breake it off is a hard matter. Their affections are fixed vpon a liking, they haue taken, and although God himselfe forbid the banes, yet it is to no purpose, for they haue made a vowe, they haue spoken the word, and their harts are setled, and there is no remouing of them. And thus [Page] men doe runne despe [...]ately vpon their owne ruine, like the fool [...] that goeth laughing to the stocks, and all for want of due consideration, for if wee did but consider:Foure things to be considered in this match first the basenesse: secondly, the wretchednesse: thirdly, the vanitie: and lastly, the daunger of this foolish match, wee would not set our harts vp­pon any thing that is in this world.