THE PEARLE OF the GOSPEL,
The Kingdome of heauen is like vnto a Merchant man that seeketh good pearles.
Who hauing found a pearle of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
OVr Lord Iesus comming from the bosome of the Father, to reueale the mystery hid from the beginning of the world, spent the whole time of his ministerie [Page 2] in discouering to the Church, the excellency, the vtility, and the necessity of that blessed and sauing truth, the daughter of eternity, without which the whole world had lien in perpetual death and darknesse.
This parable among many, The scope of this Parable. and aboue many, manifests, that how base soeuer and vile the things of God seeme to naturall men, yet there is such worth, vertue, price and beauty in them, as the godly man, who onely can discerne them, will exchange all hee hath with them, yea and part with all the world before hee will par [...] with them.
In which Parable conside [...] foure things: Foure parts of the Text.
- 1. What is this kingdome [...] heauen.
- 2. What is this Pearle, and th [...] goodnesse of it.
- 3. Who is this Merchant ma [...]
- 4. What are his actions, nam [...] ly, three.
- [Page 3]1. He seeketh good pearles.
- 2. He findeth a pearle of great price.
- 3. He sold all to buy it. For the first. I
By the kingdome of heauen, What the kingdome of heauen is not. is not meant the blessed estate of the Church triumphant in heaheauen: as in MATTH. 5. 10. Yours it the kingdome of heauen.
Nor the Church militant and visible: as in MATTH. 13. 47. which is like a net cast into the Sea.
Nor the time of grace vnder Christ exhibited to preach in his owne person: MATTH. 3. 3. For the kingdome is at hand.
Nor the estate of grace, wherin the elect bee iustified by faith, and are lead forward by grace, toward the kingdome of heauen: as MAT. 13. 51. The kingdome of heauen is like a graine of mustard-seed.
Nor the kingdome of power, by which God in heauen as a [Page 4] King gouerneth al the world, and euery particular creature in it.
But by it is meant the preaching and publishing of the Gospel, What it is, called here,
- 1. A Kingdome.
- 2. A Kingdome of Heauen.
A Kingdome, 1. Why a kingdome 3. Reasons for three reasons:
1. Because the doctrine of 1 the Gospel bringeth vs to Christ, that hee as a King may reigne in vs: hence it is called, The Gospel of the kingdome, MAT. 4. 23.
2. Because it is a powerfull 2 meanes ordained by God, to pull vs out of the kingdome of darknesse, and translate vs to the kingdome of his deare Sonne, Coloss 1. 13. and the Apostle calleth it, The power of God to saluation, Ro. 1. 16.
3. Because God hath set it apart, 3 not onely to erect vp the kingdome of God within vs, which standeth in inward righteousnesse, peace of conscience, the ioy of the holy Ghost, ROM. [Page 5] 14. 17. but also to lead vs thorow to the participation of that kingdome of glory reserued in heauen for vs.
Secondly, Why of heauen. of heauen.
1. Because of Distinction from earthly kingdomes: it preacheth Christ a King; but withall, that his kingdom is not of this world: hee ruleth not after a temporall manner, but sitteth as King in the spirits of his subiects, and ruleth the conscience, and holdeth vp this scepter of his kingdome in the hearts of men, so as this kingdome is heauenly and spirituall.
2. For Exaltation and aduancement, lifting it vp aboue all that earthly kingdomes can afford, for worth and excellency: and so to stirre vp our affections, and pull our eyes toward it; the very name of it should rauish vs, and commend the priuileges of the Gospell vnto vs.
3. For Admonition and caution [Page 6] that the subiects of this kingdome should receiu [...] th [...]ir lawes from heauen, and cont [...]mning earth and [...]arthly things, should aspire, meditate, & frame themselues to heauenly conuersation: this very title of the Gospell should bee of power to lift vs aboue the earth.
II Now what is meant by this pearle? By the pearle is meant, What is meant by the Pearle
- 1. The happy estate of grace here.
- 2. The happy estate of glory hereafter.
Of which latter, see REV. 21. 21. the foundations of the new Ierusalem were garnished with all manner of precious stones; Iasper, Saphir, Chalcedon, and the twelue gates were twelue pearles, &c.
But here it signifieth the happy estate of grace, in which wee are still seeking, and purchasing the pearle, and the good things of the Gospell, as namely, the [Page 7] glad tidings of it; the offer of Christ with his merits; Good things of the Gospel resemble a Pearle in fiue things 1. In value and worth the gift gift of faith, iustification, sanctification; and these are called a pearle for sundry reasons:
1. For the value and worth of them, which passe all other treasures in excellencie and estimation. As siluer is beyond brasse, and gold beyond siluer, so pearles are beyond gold, and the good things of the Gospell beyond the most precious pea [...]les: so saith SALOMON, PROV. 3. 14, 15. The merchacaise of wisedome is better than the merchandise of siluer; the reuenue of it is b [...]tter than that of gold; it is more precious than pearles, and all thou canst desire are not comparable to it. What a world of wealth both spirituall and heauenly, is manifested by the Gospell, which exhibiteth Christ, in whom are all treasures of grace and glory? What a rich store-house is Christ himselfe? the least drop of whose [Page 8] bloud was more precious than all the world? How preci [...]us are all his merits, and plentifull for redemption? What a good thing, and precious grace is faith, which storeth a man with all the good things of heauen? How precious is the doctrin of saluation, which must not bee cast to swine; as MAT. 7. 6. Well doth our Sauiour therefore call this a pearle of Great price; for the most precious pearles in regard of these good things of the Gospell, are but dust and clay.
2. For the rarenesse. 2. In rarenesse. Pearles are not so common as pibbles, nor in the hands of common and ordinary men; but fit for Princes and great personages; common men know them not, nor the price, nor the vse of them: euen so the good things of the Gospell are not knowne or obuious to euery one, but Hidden mysteries, vnknowne to the most part of the world, and a [Page 9] wisedome reuealed to Babes. And as Pearls are easily contemned of vnskilfull persons, who are ignorant of their price and vse: so the mysteries of the Gospell; offer them to the Gentiles, they esteeme them Foolishnesse: 1 Cor. 1. 23 to the Iewes they are as a Scandall: Christ crucified, is the very scorne of the world; onely a few beleeuers aduanced to bee Kings and Priests to God, know the price of this commodity, Reu. 1. 5. and lay out for it.
3. In regard of the hidden vertue and secret excellencie of them. 3 For hidden vertue▪ The body and quantity of a Pearle is small, but the vertue and power of it great: so the Gospell seemeth small, and contemptible, but it is the Power of God to saluation: Rom. 1. 16. and faith in the Gospell draweth vertue from Christ to open blinde eyes; to cure all spirituall diseases, to raise from death in sinne; to driue away deuils, and breake the force [Page 10] of temptation: all the Pearles betwixt heauen and earth haue not such power; onely faith as small as a graine of mustard-seed, draweth vertue from Christ: and grace, though it be neuer so little (if sound) it is of power to open blinde eyes, and to carry the Saints along vnto their saluation.
4. In regard of their excellent qualities, Foure qualities of a ric [...] Pearl▪ as purity, 1. Brightnesse. and cleerenesse, 2. Firmnes▪ and orient brightnesse: 3. Greatnesse. so The Law of the Lord is pure, 4. Roundnesse. PSAL. 19. The doctrine of grace, for the brightnesse and perspi [...]ity of it, is as a resplendent gemme, which draweth all eyes to it. Secondly, in Pearles is Firmnesse and strength; so hard and firme are some of them as fire consumeth them not, nor much strength can breake them: euen so firme and sure are the promises of the Gospell; 2. Cor. 1▪ 2 all of them are Yea and Amen: fire no [...] water, prosperity nor aduersity can conquer them: so firme [Page 11] is sauing grace, 2 Tim 3. last. which can neuer be shaken out of the hart. Thirdly, their Magnitude and greatnesse; so great is the mystery of godlinesse; amongst all Gods secrets, there is none so great, as this of mans redemption: in the beholding of which, the Angels cannot yet satisfie themselues, 1 PET. 1. 12. Fourthly, Equality and roundnesse much commend pearles. The Gospell is offered to all alike, to beleeuers and vnbeleeuers; to masters and servants, rich and poore: it is no fault of the Gospell, if thou beest not saued by it.
5. In regard of their effects: 5. For the effects, which are three. Pearles supply our needs at all seasons; 1. To inrich. and therefore NONIVS a Senator of Rome, persecuted by M. ANTONIVS, prouided onely for himselfe an Vnion of inestimable price, to carry with him in his flight, by which alone he was rich enough: So the Gospell supplyeth all our wants; [Page 12] Christ in the Gospell supplyeth vs all things, prouideth for vs bread of life, and water of life, and garments of his owne righteousnesse; hee payeth all our debts, inricheth vs with inestimable treasures, and naked Christ is wealth enough.
Secondly, 2. To adorne. Pearles serue for ornament, and honour, and shew a man to bee in dignity: some hang them in their eares; some hang them in golden chaines vpon their brests; some set them in gold, and weare them on their fingers: So the Gospell is the honour and ornament of a Christian, and maketh vp all his indignities and wrongs: while he hangeth it on his eare, by diligent and carefull hearing: while he fastneth this Vnion, and Pearle, and maketh it shine by faith in his heart [...] and while hee weareth it as a ring on his finger, by conscionable practise of the commandements of the Gospell; which [Page 13] is, to beleeue in the Sonne of God, and loue one another; this man is honoured of God and all his Saints.
Thirdly, Thirdly; to cure & comfort. many Pearles are of great vse, and effect, to preuent poyson, to preserue naturall strength, and recouer it decayed: many of them great Cordials, and others great comforters of the principall vitall parts of man.
So the Gospell and good of it preserue the soule from the poyson of sinne, preserueth supernaturall strength, restoreth and reneweth strength of grace decayed; is the onely heauenly Cordiall to comfort the heart in gripes of temptation, and accusation: it is the comforter in all afflictions; Psa. 119. 92 that a Christian may say of of it as Dauid of the Law, Had not my comfort beene in thy law, I had perished long agoe in my trouble.
Labour then to see the worth and price of the Gospell, Vse 1. that [Page 14] with Christ thou mayest preferre this Pearle of the Kingdome, aboue all Pearles and Kingdomes, and value this Pearle of grace aboue all naturall Pearles.
Our Sauiour would haue vs see how carnall wee are, while such supernaturall treasures are so slightly accounted, and at so little and low a rate with vs. How carnall is it to preferre other Pearles which are from earth, or sea, before this Pearle which only is from heauen? How vnwise are wee, so highly to value the Pearles whose matter is dust and slime, and whose beauty is by the Sunne-beames included: and contemne the Pearle, the matter of which is the eternall loue of God by Iesus Christ: and the beauty, the light and grace of Christ the Sunne of righteousnesse, which for the orient brightnesse excelleth the Sunne shining in his strength.
[Page 15] Beside, neuer shall this Pearle be purchased before it be prized; nor euer be of vse to vs vntill we haue purchased it: as a Pearle keepeth its shine, beauty, and vertue, wrapped vp in the darkenesse and bowels of the earth; but no whit inricheth him that findeth it not.
Also let vs place our riches in the Gospell, Vse 2. which is so farre aboue Pearles, Place our riches in this Pearle as the substance is aboue the shadow: Pearles here doe but shadow forth the worth of grace, but there is no proportion betweene them in shining, vse, or beauty.
First, 1. The excellency of this Pearle aboue all other in fiue things because opinion setteth the price of the one; but worth on the other: the true worth of the grace of the Gospell, heightneth it to him that can truly esteeme it.
Secondly, no Pearle can buy a graine of grace; but grace may bring riches and Pearles; hauing the promise of this life as well as [Page 16] of that which is to come.
Thirdly, no Pearle can auaile in the day of wrath: onely grace opposed to Gods displeasure stinteth it, PRO. 11. 4.
Fourthly, Pearles and treasures can no way further a mans saluation; many wayes doe, and may hinder it: many for gaping after the world, lose their owne soules: but the wealth of the Gospell onely saueth soules, and there is no other meanes besides it.
Fiftly, Peales may make a man rich in this world, and adorne the outward man; but not the inward: neither will they goe with vs hence to doe vs any good; here we finde them, and here we leaue them. But the rich Pearle of the Gospell is indeed ours; and maketh vs richest in heauen: Ioh. 6. 68. content thy selfe therefore with it as the blessed Disciple Peter, saying, Master, thou hast the words of eternall life, and whither shall [Page 17] we goe? How haue the Saints esteemed and made grace their onely jewell and treasure? Ps [...]. 119. 111. DAVID made the testimonie of God his Heritage, yea the ioy of his heart. EPH. 1. 7. The Apostle calleth it a Rich grace, and CHAP. 2. 7. The exceeding riches of his grace: and COL. 1. 17. which riches is Christ in you.
But men that seeke after grace are the poorest men, meane, and vnprosperous in the world.
No, they are the richest men, though neuer so meane in the world, they haue many wayes to bee rich, which the worldling wanteth. They haue a rich knowledge, 1 Cor. 1. 27. they haue faith a rich cōmodity, more precious than gold that perisheth, 1 Pet. 1: 7. they haue Christ liuing in them and dwelling in them; they haue prayer a Rich store-house; they haue title, and are indeed heires of the Kingdome of Heauen. [Page 18] And suppose they bee afflicted, reiected, and scorned amongst men; yet can they with MOSES, account the rebukes of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, HEB. 11. 46. Oh what a world of sweet content lodgeth in the heart with Christ? in want of all things he hath all things. If one aske a Christian, What is thy Country? he may answer, Christ and his Countrey. What is thy kindred? ANS. Christ is my kindred. MAT. 12. 50. Behold my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters. What is thy wealth and honour? ANS. Gods Kingdome is mine, yea God himselfe: he is al things to me, here and hereafter.
Men cast vp their heads, and looke aloft, if they bee Lords of some small Manour, or possession: but to be a King or Prince of a peece of earth, lifteth them in their conceits aboue the tops of the clouds: But a poore Christian is better contented with poore [Page 19] and naked Christ, than with all such high and stately vanity.
We must also doe for the Gospell as men will doe for pearles and treasures, Vse 3. take paines to purcha [...] and obtaine it. Do for the Gospell as men do for Peat [...]es.
1. What a deale of paines and travell doe men take to Faires and Markets, 1. Painfulnesse to procure it. in hope of a little profit, of which yet they may be disappointed: but refuse all cost, and trauell for the Gospell? Oh that men would heare the call of the Gospell, and seeke for Faith above silver, and for Grace above fine gold; happy is the man that findeth the merchandise of grace and the cōmodity of faith, which is above all commodities: alas, that such precious wares should lie neglected, and never asked after, nay refused and thrust off, when God maketh offer to thrust the same upon us; while for every trifle we want, for every shoostring, we can inquire, aske, and pray for: but content our selves [Page 20] with goods wanting goodnes, & with a full chest of siluer, or gold; and a heart empty of God and his grace: woe to so rich a begger; and vnhappy is that man that hath onely not purchased what was onely worth purchasing.
2. Locke vp the doctrine and promises of the Gospel in faithful hearts and memories. 2. Carfully locke it up in thy surest chest. A man that hath a Iewel of inestimable price will be sure to locke it vp in the surest chest he hath; How carefull then should wee bee of safe keeping the instructions of Gods word? which we can lightly reiect; and will be more carefull to keep the least peece of siluer that euer we saw coined, thā the most inualuable treasure of Gods word that euer we hard preached? But Mar [...] pondred Christs words, and laid them vp in the closet of her heart.
Againe, Vse 4. this tends to comfort poore Christians. Comfort to poore Christians Thou art poore & despised in the world; but God [Page 21] hath honored thee with a Pearle, worth al the Kings ransoms in the world. Thou art a loser in the world, the profits of it flye from thee, into other mens hands; But 2 Cor. 6. 10. As poore, and yet making rich; as hauing nothing, and yet possessing all things. Thou losest thy name, goods, and liberty; but this Pearle remaineth with thee in al estates; thou art neuer so poore as thou seemest, nor such a loser as the world takes thee for: DAVID found the word his comfort in trouble, & that kept him from perishing: yea, the statutes were his songs in the time of his pilgrimage, PSA. 119. 50. 54.
This of the second thing.
3 Who is the Merchant?
Every Christian man and woman, who are in the way to heauen; Who the Merchant is. and in respect of their Trade of Christianity, are compared to the Merchant, PRO. 3. 14. for the merchandise of wisedome is better than the merchandise of siluer, and the gaine thereof is better [Page 22] than gold. Luk. 19. 13. And he called his ten seruants, and deliuered them ten peeces of money, and said vnto them, Occupie this till I come. Christianity is a spirituall merchandising: Seuen differences betweene ciuill and spirituall merchandizing. I say Spirituall, to distinguish it from Ciuill; neither is it altogether so like, but that there is much difference and dissimilitude betweene them: and the difference is in seuen things. 1. Persons:
1. In respect of persons: in ciuill society all must not be Merchants. The Politicians call Merchants, [...] that, is, the fect of the body politicke; both to carry out needlesse commodities into forraine parts, and by exchange to bring in more and other necessaries for them: Now all the body must not bee a foot; nor all the members of a naturall body haue the same function. But in this mysticall body it is farre otherwayes: for here euery Christian ought to bee a [Page 23] Merchant, LVK. 19. 13. seeing euery Christian man hath receiued some Talents of his Lord to traffique with; and charge also to trade, and occupy with them till he come: And whereas in ciuill dealings, Ministers are excepted and prohibited, that they must neither make merchandise of the Word, nor intangle themselues with the affaires of this life; 2 Tim. 2. 4. No man that warreth intāgleth himselfe with the affaires of this life, because he should please him that hath chosen him to be a souldier; These are in this supernaturall trading the chiefe Merchants, of whom men must expect, and inquire of these chiefe and heauenly commodities.
Secondly, in respect of the commodities; Ciuill Merchants doe onely deale in profits from earth, and for earth: in earth are they gotten, and in the earth are they left; but these spirituall Merchants deal [...] in commodities [Page 24] farther fetcht, namely from heauen, and for heauen; not left by vs, nor leauing vs, till we get into heauen; the Apostle calleth them, Heauenly things in Christ.
Thirdly, in regard of the manner of obtaining them, they doe much differ: these are often gotten by indirect meanes; as by false weights, measures, counterfeit money, lyes, and oathes; and this ciuill merchandising is one of the Arts, or Trades, that may bee well or ill vsed: But in spirituall and supernaturall trading, the Merchant aduanceth his estate by true and iust meanes onely: euery thing is weighed out, and taken in by the weights of the Sanctuary, sealed by God himselfe for true and iust; they are people of a Pure language; casting deceit out of their mouthes: here they are not crafty Merchants to deceiue their brethren, but true Nathaniels in whom there is no guile.
[Page 25] Fourthly, Fourthly, effects. in regard of the effects; Ciuill trading oft times calleth men from the worship of God, and hindreth it: LVK. 14. 18, 19. wee may read of three sorts that refused to come to the supper, two of them were Merchants; the one had bought a Farme, and the other fiue yoake of oxen, and these must bee excused: But this euer furthereth it; for no man can attaine to the meanes of saluation (which is this supernaturall merchandising) but by such parts of Gods worship and mans duty, as the Lord hath appointed in his word.
Fifthly, Fifthly, meanes. in respect of necessary meanes to vphold and driue the trade withall: In ciuill trading, money is necessarium subsidium; for when men needed not the commodities exchangeable, mony was inuented to preserue contracts; without which the Merchant cannot compasse his commodities. But in supernatural [Page 26] traffick, the Merchant [...]yeth without mony or money worth. Esa. 55. 1. Hoe, euerie one that thirsteth, come yee to the waters, and ye that haue no Siluer, come buy and eat: come (I say) and buy wine and milke without Siluer and without monie: Not the least of these commodities are to be valued by money, gold, pearls, and the desirable things of this life, PROV, 3. 14, 15. for the merchandise thereof is better than siluer, or whatsoeuer men can deuise or desire besides it.
Sixthly, 6 Circumstances. in regard of circumstances of time and place.
For the time: 1. Of time Ciuill merchandising is to bee exercised on the six dayes, not on the Sabbath day. 13. Neh. 19, 20. And whē the gats of Ierusalem began to be dark, before the Sabbath, I commanded to shut the gates, and charged, [...]hat they should not be opened till after the Sabbath: and some of my seruants set I at the gates, that there [Page 27] should be no burden brought in on the Sabbath day: So the chapmen and Merchants of all merchandise remained once or twice without Ierusalem.
But for supernaturall and spirituall trading, as all the six dayes are fit; so the seuenth especially is the Lords mart or market, to furnish all his people with prouision for the whole weeke following.
And for the place: All places are not fit for ciuill marts and merchants; but the principall prohibited place is the Church, the house of God: Matth. 21. 12. Iesus went into the Temple of God, and cast out all them that bought & sold in the Temple, & ouerthrew the tables of the mony changers, & the seats of them that sold Doues: Christ would not endure his Fathers house of prayer to be made a house of merchandise. But in spirituall trading, for heauen, all places are fit for Christian Merchants, who should goe no where [Page 28] but still be trading for grace: and continually either bee doing of good, or taking of good: But especially the house of God is the most proper place appointed, for the inriching of the heart, and increasing of the stocke of faith and knowledge, and of all graces.
So much for the dissimilitude betweene them: The similitude and resēblance betweene earthly and heauenly trading, standeth in fiue things Now the similitude and reason of this resemblance standeth in fiue thing:
1. A Merchant man is a man that dealeth in great & precious commodities; The Greeke word is [...], not [...], the Merchant is no Pedler, nor chapman of small wares, nor taken vp in selling pins, or points, and toyes for babes: but tradeth for great things, for great bulks, 1 In greatnesse of the commodities. and quantities, for great sums, and dealeth in most rich commodities.
So the Christian Merchant carefull for heauen, aymeth not at the base profits of this life; as siluer, gold, & such corruptible things: [Page 29] for these things are but sinall in his eye and contemptible, in respect of the businesse of iustification, of holinesse, grace, and glory. These are that one thing needful, L [...]k. 10. 4 [...]. and that better part that taketh vp his thoughts and desires: such a rich Merchant was Dauid, Psa. 4. 7. Thou hast giuen me more ioy of heart than they hau [...] had when their wheat and their oyle did abound. Let other men peddle and barter for corne, wine, and oyle, the Christian Merchant hath a commodity beyond all this, in his eye: Psal. 4. 6. Lord lift vpon mee the light of thy countenance; Such a Merchant was Zacheus; Luk. 18. 8. when saluation was come to his house; he cast away these pedling profits, faster than he gat them; halfe he gaue to the poore, and the rest he reserued to restore fourefold. Phil. 3. 8.
Such a on was Paul, who counted al things losse & dung in comparison of Christ; & to know the vertue of his death and resurrection. [Page 30] Such rich Merchants were the Martyrs; who hauing heauen in their eie, esteemed their goods libertie, yea life it self not worth hauing in comparison therof. For as a man if he were as high as the Moone, would see the earth but as a pricke; so he whose thoughts are in heauen, and his eyes on things that are aboue, within the veile; esteemeth the earth but small, and despicable. For euen as the great light drowneth the lesser; so the bright shining of the Sunne of righteousnesse, drowneth all the lesser candles & comforts of this present world.
Secondly, 2 In the skill of the commodity. there is likenesse in the skill of the commoditie hee dealeth in: for as a Merchant greatly aduanceth his estate, if he haue skill, and insight, what commodities are like to bee of the quickest returne: if he know and lay out for the best conditioned commodities of euery kind: So the Christian Merchant labouring [Page 31] for skill, knowledge, and sound iudgement in the matter of Religion, whereby he may be able to iudge aright of Doctrines deliuered, shall grow rich in knowledge, and to a great measure of faith, and full of Christian wisedome; whence the Apostle, (Phil. 1. 10.) prayeth, that they may abound in all knowledge and iudgement to discerne things that differ: and thus they shall bee rich, and filled with the fruits of righteousnes, ver. 11.
And contrariwise, for want of this skill, a Merchant dealing for great bulkes, soone falleth into great losses: But especially the Ieweller or Lapidary by ignorance may soone ouerthrow his whole estate, in respect of many cheaters and couseners, who can notably counterfeit Pearles, and make themseeme very orient by false arts, and so put away at a great price a peece of a fish bone or shell, or some peece of painted [Page 32] glasse for rich Pearls and precious stones.
Euen so, many spirituall Merchants decay, and break for want of this skil, by meanes of many imposters & deceiuers, heretiks, false teachers, Apostates, Libertine Preachers, and the Popish guides, furnished with all arts to deceiue, as with wit and speech, & other insinuatiue faculties, that make offer of pibbles for pearls, and thrust vpon men for the true Pearle of Gods word, the glassie, & brickle cōceits of mans brains; which because they haue made to glister, and haue set a good colour on them, they hold at as high a rate as any Pearl can be valued; and now many inconsiderate persons are taken with the beauty, profit, or some seeming pleasure, and so robbed and gulled of their soundnesse, for the present; an [...] of their expectations and hopes hereafter. Now that wee may not be thus abused, let vs listen [Page 33] to those Apostolicall precepts: EPHES. 4. 14. Not to bee children, wauering and carried about with euery wind of Doctrine, by the decei [...] of men, and craftinesse whereby they lye in wait to deceiue: and in 1 IOH. 4. 1. Beleeue not euery spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: and, 1 THESS. 5. 21. Trye all things, and keepe that which is good.
Thirdly, 3. In conferring of their commodities. the similitude is in their conuersing and conferring one with another: Euery Merchant will bee speaking of his commodities; he will make offer of his Pearles and wares of price, that he may put them off into other mens hands for his owne aduantage. So the Christian Merchant will be talking and conferring of this Pearle of the Gospell; as in CANT. 5. 6. The Spouse sp [...]ndeth her daies in breathing out the prayses of Christ. A faithfull Christian cannot [Page 34] hide grace in a napkin, nor hold it so close to himselfe, but hee must communicate it, and make offers of it to others: Such good Merchants were the two Disciples going to Emmaus, conferring of Christ, whom Christ ioyned himselfe with, LVK. 24. 19. Such an one was Paul, offering the Pearle to Agrippa, and wishing all the people were such as he was except his bonds, ACT. 26. 29. And the reason is, whatsoeuer hee can communicate to another, is his owne cleare gaine: For this is the difference betweene the secular riches and spirituall: A worldly rich man is rich for himselfe onely, and the more he imparteth to others, the lesse is left for himselfe; But he that is rich in God, is not onely rich in and for himselfe; but these riches doe more inrich him by inriching others, than holding them to himselfe: and the more he communicateth, the more remaineth; [Page 35] as the oyle in the cruse, and the meale in the barrel were not wasted with spending, but rather increased.
Fourthly, 4. The earnest desire of increasing their estate of both. in the earnest desire and endeauour of increasing wealth, they may bee fitly compared. The Merchant refuseth no paines or perill, no labour or danger, no cost or charge, no hazard by Sea or Land to purchase such commodities, as may yeeld him returne of profit and aduantage: But especially Lapidaries and Merchants, for Pearles, toyle themselues by many weary iournies, and voyages, into all lands and countryes; and haue their factors lying abroad euery where to meet with Pearles and precious stones which are of greatest gaine and aduantage.
So the Christian Merchant hath an insatiable thirst and hunger after the good things of the Gospell; and with vnweariable study and desire hee trauelleth to [Page 36] euery Mart, where this Pearl may be met withall: he apprehendeth all opportunities, frequenteth euery Sermon, waiteth at the gates of wisdome: Pro. 8. 34. he swalloweth easily matter of labour and charge, to become owner of the Pearle; and he is instant in this painfull endeuour: for here it is not as in ciuil trading, wherin many Merchants hauing gotten money enough, giue vp their trade, and take their ease in the Country: but so long as there is any good comming in, he will be ready for it: and as the labor of the body bringeth thirst, so the labour of the soule increaseth thirst after grace. Besides that, grace is so sweet to a godly heart, as a Christian Merchant can neuer be satisfied, nor euer giue vp as hauing enough; and as hee knoweth the streame from whence he sucketh, can neuer be drawne dry: so himselfe is euer in want of some good things, or at the least of some measure of [Page 37] it; and is euer seeking the supple of the same.
Fifthly, they agree in the care of preseruing, and safe keeping the Pearls, and wealth gotten: the Merchant doth know hee is in continuall danger of theeues and robbers; and that the more precious the commodities bee, the more eagerly they are assaulted: and himselfe for them often set vpon; sometimes with hazard, sometimes with losse of goods, and life it selfe: now hee is so much the more carefull and watchfull to barre, and locke vp in the surest and strongest places his richest commodities.
So the Christian Merchants are in continuall chase and pursuit by Satan; seducers, hereticks, false teachers, tyrants, and al prophane ones in the world; Besides their owne inbred rebellion and lusts, which fight against their owne soules.
Now then all these lye in wait [Page 38] so much more diligently, as the wealth is more precious than any other, to rob these Merchants, not of siluer or gold, but of faith and hope, and all their graces, the least of which is much more precious than gold, or the most precious pearles that euer lay hid in the bowels of the earth: Yea, themselues are so furiously assaulted, as hardly they may escape with goods or life, as we may see in Christ himselfe, and in the Martyrs, who for his sake were bereaued, and stripped of all outward comforts of life, and life it selfe.
Hence the wise Christian Merchant carefully fenceth himselfe with Gods feare: Secondly, standeth on his ground and guard of faith: Thirdly, lo [...]keth vp his graces and the Word in his heart: Fourthly, keepeth watches with God morning and euening in holy prayer and prayses: Fifthly, with Christian fortude [Page 39] and armour, he maintaineth the measure of grace receiued: By all which meanes he not only disappointeth the enemy of his prey, Non minor est virtus, quam quaerere, parta [...]neri. but also sheweth his owne valour and vertue, which is no lesse in keeping and retaining the good things of the Gospell, than in getting and attaining them. Vse 1.
Now if Christians bee Merchants, then not Monks nor eremits; Merchants and Monks very different. not a cloistred people who liue alone; and not to any other. Ciuill Merchants must trade and conuerse together for the good one of another; and Christian Merchants much more: I would these bellies had eares, and that these drones would consider; First, Phlitic. 1. how vnnaturall this course of life is, condemned by the heathens themselues. Ossic. 1: Non nobis nati sumus, sed partem patria, partem parentes, & [...]. Aristotle could say, that Homo est natura animal gregabile, a man is naturally sociable: and Cicero, that no man is borne for himselfe, but [Page 40] his Country, kinred, & his neighbours, yea euery man hath a part in euery man. Secondly, what other more essentiall difference is there, betweene the life of man and brute beasts; but the beasts life is a kinde of single life for it selfe: but mans life is a life communicatiue? Thirdly, these droues of idle cattel are the vnprofitable burdens of the e [...]rth; for, what gifts soeuer they haue, all is lost; what profit is there in a hidden treasure? Paulum sepultae distat inertiae Celata virtus. so wisdome & gifts denied to the Church & Commonwealth, to what are they vnprofitable? God hath not giuen al gifts to one; but variety of gifts to diuers: vt ego tuis, tu [...]me [...]s indigeris: God will haue men taught, edified, gouerned, by men, not by Angels: How then can he set vp the duties of piety, promote the good of his neighbour, o [...] edifie the Church by precept or example, which flyeth society, and imprisoneth himselfe in wilful seeters; [Page 41] vnnaturally putting off manhood, and blessing himselfe in a fearefull curse, as any temporall almost can be?
Let all of vs therefore carry our selues like wise Merchants. Vse 2.
1. Imitate wise Merchants in three things. A wise Merchant wil know what stock he putteth into trade; so must we take notice what talent or talents we haue receiued of the Lord to trafficke withall; what portion or proportion of gifts we haue in our hands: and esteem our selues worth so much as we haue receiued of grace, and no more.
Secondly, the Merchant wil not lay out his mony but for a hopeful bargaine. Esa. 55. 2. Wherefore do you lay out siluer, and not for bread, and your labor without being satisfyed? Hearken diligently vnto me, & eat that which is good, and let your soule delight in fatnesse; taxing the folly of such as labour and dearely buy externall food, & prouision; with neglect [Page 42] of the wholesome bread and water of life.
So a wise Christian Merchant will spend his time and labour on that, which when he hath gotten will satisfie him; which if he bestow in outward things, (suppose he doth gaine them) they cannot satisfie him. Eccl 5. 9. He that loueth Siluer shall not be satisfied, and he that loueth riches shall bee without the fruit thereof: And of all earthly things may be said that of Salomon, The eye is neuer satisfied with seeing, nor the eare with hearing: onely godlinesse bringeth with it contentment.
Thirdly, the Merchant will often cast his estate, his bookes, his shops, and his reckonings to see whether his stock increaseth or decayeth: If he finde himselfe a gainer, then he is glad; if the contrary, he is heartlesse and sorrowfull.
So the Christian Merchant is much and often in trying his estate [Page 43] and standing in grace; and is most glad when hee findeth in himself increase of grace, knowledge, humility, faith, loue, &c. but it is a death to him to goe backward, and to see his estate of grace rather to decrease than increase: hee hath no comfort in his present vnfruitfulnesse; much lesse in Apostacy and backe-sliding: but his comfort and account to the Lord is onely when he can say, LVK. 19. 13. Lord, Vse 3. thy talent hath increased ten talents. The poorest Christian is a very rich Merchant.
Let this consideration also comfort godly poore men despised in the world: thou that art a poore Christian, in a low estate in the world, labor busily for grace: and thou maist be as rich a Merchant, haue as rich a stocke, and deale in as great and rich commodities (if poore in spirit) as the richest. Thou that hast no mony, and but little credit in the world, maist here make as good a bargaine and as gainfull returne [Page 44] for thy selfe, as he that hath thou sands of mony beyond thee. The poore receiue the Gospell, saith our Sauiour, that is, few but the poore in estate, none but the poor in spirit; for this trading is without money, like the poore womans curing, who speut all her money on the Physitians, and yet was not cured; but Christ commeth and cureth her freely. Againe, art thou a poore man, hast thou a great charge of children, and no meanes to put them forth to trades? here is a rich trade: make Merchants of them, teach them and binde them to this trade of godlinesse: this is the way to make them prosperous in earth, and bring them happily towards heauen: Prou. 14. 26. The feare of the Lord is an assured strength, and his children shall haue hope.
Haue likewise a care, Vse 4. that hauing bought and purchased the Pearle, Part not from the pearl once gotten. thou dost not sel it againe. [Page 45] Pro. 23. 23. Buy the truth, but sell it not: likewise wisdome & instruction, & vnderstanding, for what we sel, we esteeme it lesse worth thā that we sel it for: but we must value this Pearle aboue riches, glory, liberty, Pearls, and life it selfe: by no means part from wisdome, neither by our forgetfulnesse, security or ouer-sight any way: Besides, wee can sell it for nothing which is not vncertaine gaine, but this is most certaine and most lasting; and therefore not to be exchanged with any other.
This of the third generall.
The Merchant mans actions are three: Three maine actions of a wise Merchant.
- 1 He seeketh a good Pearle.
- 2 Findeth an excellent one.
- 3 Selleth all he hath to buy it.
Euery man naturally will be seeking some thing to make him happy: the naturall man hath some naturall Pearle or other, on which hee setteth his affection, and in which he taketh greatest [Page 46] delight. Some Merchants esteem pleasure their best Pearle, some honour, some riches, and the most of the world seeking some perle, light vpon some counterfeit or other; wherein they content themselues, and blind both themselues and others; which made an ancient Father cry out, Foelix negotiator qui nouit quaerere non nociua vt ambitiosi, non inutilia vt curiosi, sed salubria, vt sancti. Happy is that Merchant that knoweth to seeke not hurtful things as the ambitious doe, nor vnprofitable things as the curious doe; but the most wholesome things, as doe the Saints: but this a supernaturall both seeker and seeking and things sought [...] The thing sought is the grace of the Gospell: a good Pearle indeed as before the seeker was, the wise Merchant.
But how can any man seeke grace, Quest. seeing Psal. 14. and Rom. 3. no man seeketh after God.
Answ. No man by nature can seeke after grace, Sol. nor of himselfe once aske after it, because hee is destitute of the spirit of God, no [Page 47] more than the lost groat can aske after her that lost it, or a wandring sheepe after the Shepherd, or a dead man after life: So as those places are meant of men before conuersion and calling: for the elect seeke not God till God first seeke them, and findeth them. But this is to be vnderstood of men called, conuerted, already found of God, and mooued by the Spirit of God: who mooued by God can now moue themselues, and sought by him now can eeke him. Which both setteth out our infinite misery, who of our selues neuer minde the meanes of happinesse: and also magnifieth Gods mercy which is infinite: who offering vnto vs a free grace, doth truly say, I was found of them that sought me not: and giueth him also the honour of goodnesse, and of our seeking of him. Doct.
Onely the godly and all they are seekers of the good Pearle: Onely the godly and all the yare seekers of the Pearle. they seeke after God in Christ, and the [Page 48] grace of the Gospel; euery where the godly are called seekers of God, and seekers of wisedome, Prou. 2. and seekers of the kingdome, Mat. 6. 33. and wicked men are described to bee such as seeke not after God, Psalm. 14. 4. And why?
1. These onely doe see their owne want and beggery, Reas. 1. which is implyed in seeking. No man seeketh that hee wanteth not, or that first findeth not in himselfe a want of grace. Dauid desired grace as the thirstie ground, Psal. 143. 6 and grace is not promised, nor giuen to any but the thirstie. Psa. 55. 1. Euery one that thirsteth, come yee to the waters. Psalm. 14. 2. First they must vnderstand (namely, their estate) and then seeke after God.
2. All these, and they alone doe see the excellency, Reas. 2. as well as the need of this Pearle, and God hath let them see, in some measure, the worth of it. Why are [Page 49] men so earnestly carried to seeke Pearles, farre and neere, swallowing insensibly all toiles, dangers, and charges, but because they know their worth and price, and that if they can light on them, they shall be wel paid for all their labour.
Euen so, such as to whom God hath made knowne in some mea sure, the worth of this inestimable Iewell, are quickned daily to the vnweariable inquisition after it. Paul knew that one graine of grace would weigh downe all world: and therefore would procure it through all perils and dangers, through good reports or euill, through wants and losses, euen of the dearest things, & most desirous in all the world; whereas Ignoti nulla cupido, none will seeke that hee knoweth not, or not any goodnesse in it.
3 They onely know, Reas. 3. that without painfull seeking, they shall neuer attaine the Pearle: for as [Page 50] Pearles doe not lye on the face of the ground, but are hid in the bowels of the earth, or in the sands; so the mysteries of the Kingdome lye not abroad for euery one to stumble vpon vnawares; but they are a hidden treasure, not discerned by the naturall man; nay, hated by the wisedome of the flesh, and scorned by the wisest of the world.
Besides, that this is the condition vpon which the Lord bestoweth his best blessings: if wee dig for wisdome as for treasures: Pro. 2. 4. which words imply, that it is not easie to come by; hee knoweth our nature, that we lightly set by what we lightly come by: and if Pearles were as common as pibbles, we should as lightly set by them as we doe by the other.
4 The godly alone see, Reas. 4. that without the Pearle, they cannot by any thing else be satisfied: for so seeking, implieth a discontent in the want of the thing sought [Page 51] for. Common men, if they finde health, wealth, friends, pleasures, and the like outward things, are well contented; corne, wine and oyle, to cheere their hearts: But these wise Merchants seeing grace, no other thing contenteth them but grace; one glimpse of Gods countenance through Iesus Christ, is sweet aboue all. And as he that seeketh a Iewell, doth looke still after it, (a thousand things come in his way and eye, but he passeth slightly ouer them, and seeth them not, nor seeketh he them) euen so doth the Christian Merchant; and as the ciuill Merchant attaining Pearles, doth rest ioyful in them as in such commodities as will helpe his happinesse in the world: So the godly Merchant finding this one Pearle of the Gospell, which is the grace of life, goeth away reioycing, and resteth well appaid for all his labours and sufferings. He was before he light vpon this Pearle, the [Page 52] most vnhappy man in the world; but now he cannot hide his ioy: but as the poore widow, which called in her neighbors to reioice with her because she had found the lost groat, Luk. 15. 9. so can he neither wholly hide, nor yet expresse halfe the ioy he conceiueth in his new commodity and purchase.
But many seeke, Obiect. and that with tears, that faile of grace, as Esau, and many shal striue to enter (saith Christ) and shall not be able: and Ro. 9. 31, 32. Israel sought righteousnesse, but obtained it not.
Ans. Many seeke, Sol. but amisse, and therefore faile: Fiue conditions of right seeking the Pearle. so Israel sought, but not by faith. Now the true condition of seeking as the wise Merchant, and as the Word directeth, standeth in fiue things:
1. With an earnest and true loue, 1 Affectionately. desire, and estimation of the thing sought; this wilmake a man seeke diligently, and as a thirsty person, not coldly, carelesly, remisly. [Page 53] slightly, or negligently; for such seeking shall neuer find: for why did the Church seek Christ so laboriously, till she found him, but because it was he whom her soule loued? [...]an. 3. 3. The watchmen that went about the City, found me, to whom I said, Haue yee seene him whom my soule loueth? And why did Mary seeke Christ, hauing lost him three dayes? Because shee loued him, and reioyced in his person and presence; which made her heart so heauy in his absence, Luk. 2. 42. Behold, thy father and I haue sought thee with heauy hearts. The Merchant, because he loueth and esteemeth of siluer, doth seeke it carefully and earnestly, Pro. 2. 4. and the heauenly Merchant shall finde grace vndoubtedly, if he seeke it as the other doth siluer. Loue is laborious; hee that loueth Christ and his grace, will neuer cease to seeke him, nor faile to finde him: [Page 54] See the promise in Jer. 29. 12, 13 Then shall you cry vnto mee, and you shall goe and pray vnto mee, and I will heare you: and you shal seeke me and finde mee, because you shall seeke mee with all your heart. Who soeuer then euer meaneth to finde God and his saving grace, must vnfainedly and hartily seeke after him.
2. It must be sought in the likely place and meanes of finding: 2. Wisely in the likely place of finding. the ordinary place where this Pearl is to be found, is, the assēblies of the Saints: there God holdeth forth his scepter, and maketh offer of the grace of life. Where was the Church to finde Christ with his graces at noone, Cant. 1. 7. in her thirst, but in the steps of the shepherds? And these assemblies are the suburbs of heauen, called therefore the Kingdome of grace: and he that refuseth the good offers of grace, in the word, sacraments, prayer, hearing, reading, conferring, and the like, shall neuer find [Page 55] it. No wise Merchant will slacke any good opportunity of aduancing his estate; now the likely meanes in wise seeking are diligently to be vsed, as
1 To search the euidence of the Pearle, and this euidence is contained in the Scriptures, John 5. Search the Scriptures, for they witnessee of me.
Secondly, the grant of it is from heauen by prayer. Let vs therefore goe boldly to the Throne of grace, that we may find mercy and grace to helpe in time of need, HEB. 4. 16.
Thirdly, the couenant is by the application of these meanes singed, and deliuered, yea and witnessed by the blessed Spirit of God, by a blessed change in the beleeuing heart; by mortification, and subduing the corruption of nature; by heauenly motions, heauenly mindednesse, and gracious conuersation, standing not in a shell, a forme or shew, but in [Page 56] the kernill, power, and substance of sound godlinesse.
Thirdly, [...] Princi [...]ally. it must be sought first and principally, yea onely sought and that for it selfe: it must bee sought first in time: As Psa. 63. 3. Early in the morning will I seeke thee. The Isralites must seeke Manna, the first thing they doe in the morning. Esau seeketh, but too late; the foolish Virgins doe knock, but the doore is shut. 2. It must be sought in the first place. Mat. 6. 33. [...]eeke ye first the kingdome of heauen, & the righteousnesse thereof: Seek neither other things before it, as worldlings, nor other things with it, as prophane Epicures, who would grasp heauen and earth together; nor yet seeke it for other things, as Hypocrites, who professe the Gospell for fauour, credit, profit, or some other (in respect of that) base things. But seek it alone for it selfe, and in sincerity; for only such seeking findeth it: Neuer [Page 57] will Christ be sought for loaues, nor can the same eye looke to heauen and earth together.
Fourthly, 4. Humbly it must be sought humbly, that is, first out of thy selfe: a man that wanteth water, wil goe to the fountaine; the waters of grace must flow from the fountaine and wel-head, Christ Iesus: seek it therfore in him and from him. The eye of faith spyeth it in him, and the hand of faith doth take it vp from him.
Secondly, it must bee sought with godly sorrow & repentance for sin. Isa. 1. 16. Wash you, make you cleane, take away the euill of your works from before mine eies, cease to doe euill.
Thirdly, with reformation of heart and life. Ps. 14. 4. The workers of iniquity are vnfit and vnworthy seekers of grace. 5. Constantly.
Fifthly, it must be songht constantly: Mary and Joseph neuer gaue ouer seeking Christ, vntill they found him, nor the Church [Page 58] till she found him: neither must we giue ouer seeking, hauing sound grace, for it is not in this seeking, as in other things, where hauing found, we rest contented, and seeke no more: but here hauing found the thing we sought, we must seeke still: for a Christian is euer wanting of grace, if not in whole, yet in part; if not in substance, yet in some degree and measure of it: and therefore this worke (as the husband mans) is neuer at an end.
This must needs condemne many of vs, Vse 1. of extreame folly and sinne: how few of vs haue sought after grace as after siluer? for siluer we will take great paines, rise early, goe to bed late, and eat the bread of carefulnesse: but when doe we so for grace? for siluer we will trauell many miles on horse, and foot, to a market or faire, if we can but gaine or returne halfe a handfull of siluer: but for grace we will hardly step [Page 59] out of doores, or bestow the least paines, to frequent the places of Gods Exchange. In seeking siluer, euery man will seeke a good penny-worth: he is carefull that none ouer-reach him: he parteth with his money as warily as may be: and will be ready to lay hold on a good bargaine, when it is offered. In the matter of grace, how fearefully doe many thrust it away with both hands, wilfully forsaking their owne mercy? Jona. 2. 8. They that wait vpon lying vanities, forsake their owne mercy: that is, refuse the bargaine of eternall life offered, almost forced vpon them and others, that seemed to haue receiued a good summe of grace, foolishly depart with it, and fall away either quite or wholly, or else from their measure and their first loue, these men are farre from seeking grace, and farther from [...]inding it.
This should stirre vp our thirst Vse 2, 2 [Page 60] after grace, to expresse our selues wise Merchants seazed on the Pearle, which that we may earnestly seeke after, let vs consider these fiue motiues.
1. Christ seeketh vs, 5. Motiues to prouok vs earnestly to seeke after grace and desireth vs to seek him; & shal Christ seeke thee for thy good, and not thou seeke him for thine owne good? But Christ seeketh vs as a Hen that gathereth her chickins vnder her wings, MAT. 23. 37▪ and woe vnto vs if we remaine vngathered. The father of the prodigall, goeth out to meet his sonne returning home, to incourage vs to goe out of our selues to seeke him.
Secondly, the fearefull reuenge against such as seeke not, nor inquire after God, should moue vs to seeke him: as ZIPH. 1. 6. in the fourth verse, I will cut off the remnant of [...]aal; and in the sixt, And them that turne backe from the Lord, and those that haue not sought the Lord, and inquired for [Page 61] him. And if they vnder the Law were so reuenged, how much more shall we liuing vnder the Gospell, Heb. 2. 3. if wee neglect so great saluation? If the Gospell be now hid, it is hid to them that perish, 2 Cor. 4. 3. Oh what a fearefull case is it, that the Gospell should serue for the conuiction of men, and not for their conuersion? Oh thrice vnhappy man, that shall peruert this so aboundant grace to his owne destruction: and yet the plenty of Gods grace in the Gospel shal condemne thousands that neuer required or [...]ought after it.
3. Thou shouldest seeke grace from God, but he seeketh to pin his grace on thy sleeue: God bringeth home the Gospell to thy house and doores; hee sendeth forth his seruants, he continueth to seeke thee by continuing the meanes & the season of grace: he seeketh thee daily by his Word, his Ministers, his blessings, his corrections, [Page 62] by the motions of the spirit, by the checks of thine owne conscience, and wilt thou not seeke being sought vnto? darest thou receiue such grace still in vaine? 2 COR. 6. 5. or turne it to wantonnesse? Jud. 3.
Fourthly, of this saluation the Prophets search diligently, 1 Pet. 1. 10. and shall wee to whom it more specially belongeth, not so much as aske or inquire after it? or shall we thrust it away as the Iewes did, ACT. 13. 46. but not without the most fearefull reuenge that euer hapened to any nation vnder the heauens, vnder which they lye at this day?
Fifthly, for a man to abide destitute of desire and endeuour after grace, sheweth that Satan, the God of the world, worketh mightily in such an one, and hath him in his power to hood-winke him, and hide from him the grace of the Gospell, that the brightnesse of this Pearle should neuer [Page 63] shine to him, lest he should conuert and be saued: See 2 Cor. 4. 3, 4. This of the first action: Who hauing found a Pearle of great price.
The second action of the wise Merchant, is, he findeth an excellent Pearle; Of the Pearle, and of the excellency we haue spoken: Now are we in this part onely to speake something of the finding of it. And by the Pearle, being meant the grace of the Gospell, as we haue heard, wee learne this Doctrine:
That seekers of grace shall find it; Doct. 1. and onely they. Seekers of grace shal finde it. Psal. 118. 5. I called vpon the [...]ord in trouble, and the [...]ord heard mee, and set me at large: and Psalm. 138. 3. When I called, then thou heardest me, and hast increased strength in my soule: alomon seeketh wisedome and findeth it, LVK. 15. 9. MAT. 7. 8. The woman that sought the lost groat, found it: Whosoeuer asketh, receiueth, [Page 64] and hee that seeketh, findeth. Why?
1. Faithfull seeking can neuer take God wanting or vnwilling to giue grace, Reas. 1. both because hee hath promised, and is able to p [...]rforme, aboue all we are able to aske or thinke: His power is sufficient to supply all our wants: and Isay 65. 1. I was found of them that sought mee not: and vers. 24. Yea, before they call I will answer, and while they speak, I will heare.
If earthly fathers that are euil, Mat. 7. 11. (both in comparison of God, and in their owne inclination) can giue good things to their children that aske, much more our heauenly Father can and will. How glad is an earthly father, when his children can seeke after that which is good for them? and our heauenly Father much more: Besides, God who hath promised cannot lye, [...]itus 1. 2. now he should deceiue his people, if they [Page 65] should not finde the grace they duly seek: but he hath said, Mat. 5. 6. that the hungring and thirsting soule shall be satisfied and supplyed.
2. The Lord will not fo farre discourage his seruants, Rea. 2. and disharten them, as neuer to let them finde that they bestow so much true pains in seeking: but he vpholdeth them in seeking, by supplying, some way or other, some time or other, that they seek: his wisedome not onely feedeth his children with hopes of an haruest to come; but affordeth them present food & finding, euen in this life, so far as will stand with hunger & thirst: by which he incourageth them in their prayers, teares, labours and sufferings, and without which finding for the present, impart, thesmoking wick should be quickly quenched, and all the beginning of grace easily lost: oyle is not more necessary to feed a lampe, than the [Page 66] supply of grace is to feed grace. Psal. 116. 1. I loue the Lord, because he hath heard my voyce and prayers: and Psal. 65. 2. Because thou hearest prayer, vnto thee shall all flesh come. Reas. 3.
3. The Lord will not so much withstand his owne glory, as not be found of true seekers, because his owne glory is the maine end of all his mercy. Psalm. 22. 26. They that seek after the Lord shal praise him: namely, in acknowledging him true in his promises and plentifull in his mercies.
But God is a free giuer of grace, Obiect. and before we can aske, we shall haue it without seeking: what need we then seek so diligently?
ANS. 1. Gods grace is free in respect of Merits, Sol. not of Means: if God should not giue vs sauing grace before we aske it, we should neuer haue it; and no man can seeke grace but by grace: yet God giueth not grace to idle or sleepy persons, but to [Page 67] the vigilant and watchfull: he is not so prodigall of so excellent a Pearle, as to bestow it for nothing: or vpon those, who ha [...]ing tasted the sweetnesse of it, will not bestirre themselues for more, that they may grow in grace.
2. Though God doth bestow on vs free saluation which costeth vs nothing, yet we must accept it in the meanes: which doe excite and exercise our graces, and suffer vs to be neither idle, nor vnfruitfull in the worke of the Lord.
But if we seeke, our seeking is a cause of finding, and so Gods grace shall not be free.
ANS. 1. Our seeking is no cause of finding, but a meanes or way in which we finde.
2. In seeking we doe our duty, but merit nothing by it; for when wee haue done all we can, we are vnprofitable seruants.
3. The promise of finding is [Page 68] not made to the seeking, Note. but to the seeker, being in Christ: who findeth for Christs sake, not for his owne.
But I haue sought long, Obiect. and haue not found.
Ans. There is a twofold seeking: Sol. 1. 6. Sorts of seekers amisse: a seeking amisse, & then no maruel if thou findest not: Esau sought with teares, & findeth not: many shall seek and striue to enter, and shall not bee able; and of these are six sorts; 1. wicked men being destitute of the spirit of God, want their eyes cleared: and a blind man shall sooner find a Pearle lost, then they this.
2. Some seeke without light, as fond Familists and Anabaptists, who seeke grace in the dark corners of Enthusiasmes, and reuelations, scorning the light of the Scriptures & Ministery: in which the spirit onely and ordinarily offereth himselfe to be found.
3. Some seeke without the promise, and so without faith: Israel [Page 69] sought it by merits, Ro. 9. 31.
4. Some seeke without repentance. Isa. 1. 16. wash you, make you cleane, and then come and reason together.
5. Some seeke it vnseasonably, the doore being shut, so did Esau when the blessing was bestowed.
6. Some seeke without sincerity. Hypocrites seek a while but giue ouer, as weary of so much pains; now the promise is made to none of these: the goale is not giuen but to such as striue lawfully.
A second Kind of seeking that is which faileth not, and that is in the true and lawful conditions of seeking, as by the supernaturall eye of faith, by the light of Gods Word, in the right veine of finding, and in the places where the Pearle lyeth, and in season of seeking, whilst the day lasteth & the light is with vs: hast thou thus sought, and art yet held off? I say God must bee true Qu [...]rentibus recta & rectè, he that seeketh, [Page 70] quae oportet, & quomodo oportet, shall certainly find: and therefore I say to thee that seekest good things well: 1. Thou hast found grace sufficient, 2 Cer. 12. 7 as Paul did when he seemed to be denyed of the grace desired: thou hast found grace in some measure, at least insuch measure as may cause thee to hunger for more.
2. God may delay to giue thee a greater measure, and yet not deny thee; it may be, that which thou seekest is worth more labour than yet thou hast bestowed: distinguish now betwixt Gods Delaies and Denials: hold on thy seeking, thou shalt find in good time.
Thirdly, The best seekers find but in small me [...] sure in [...] life and why. the best and holiest seekers of all, find but for the estate of this life; that is, in small measure, a taste, a first fruits, here is but a sowing in grace. God leaueth his children in many wants for the present, for diuers ends:
1. For their humiliation, as [Page 71] Paul had a pricke in the flesh left.
2. To maintaine hunger and thirst after more.
3. To long after the time of perfection, and full saciety, when they shall be fully conformed to the image of God.
Fourthly, thou hast found a promise of God to be fully satisfied at length, Mat. 5. 6. in the meane time esteeme thy seeking as a seed time, thy labour is sowen in heauen, thy seed is cast into the bosome of God: and if it presently returne not so much comfort, ioy, and increase as thou desirest; it is laid vp, and will bring thee good store, and a happy crop for hereafter: therefore be not weary of well doing, for in due time thou shalt reape, if thou faint not.
If no man seeketh this Pearle aright, but findeth, see a difference betweene this commodity and all other. Seeke any other [Page 72] thing in the world, with thy best endeuor, and thou maist faile, and not finde, Eccles. 5▪ 9▪ He that seeketh siluer, shall not be satisfyed: Seeke wealth, pearles, honor, pleasuers, thou shalt often faile of them: but seeke the best thing, and alway speed. In all other things, many seeke one thing, but finde another: goe to the Physicians to seeke health, thou maist meet with death; to the Lawyer, to seeke law and iustice, thou maist finde iniustice and oppression: at some friends hands thou maist seeke fauour and friendship, but finde hatred and enmity, as Joseph sought at his brethrens, but findes them foes and enemies.
But in matters of grace, thou shalt finde the same things thou lookest for: seekest thou the Pearle, thou findest the Pearle, as the Merchant did: nay, findest an excellent one, farre better than thou lookedst for; the worth of which is not to be valued in [Page 73] this vale of darkenesse.
Here is also a difference betweene seeking things at Gods hands, and at mans: all that aske at mans hands speed not: though thou maist aske neuer so iustly, as in the example of the vniust Iudg. A poore man asketh at mans hands mercy, and misseth of it: knocke at mans doore, it is not alway, open: But the gate of grace is neuer shut; Gods eare is alway open, & as a fauorite sitteth in the eare of the King, and speedeth in any suite, so doth the godly seeker speed with God.
This comforteth poore soules seeking and panting after grace; Vse 2. so long as thou canst seeke, thou art sure to find, though the Lord hide his face for a time, and seem to locke vp his mercy from thee, yet vphold thy selfe in seeking, and thou shalt find in due season, Psal. 9. 9, 10. The Lord also will be a refuge for the poore, a refuge in due time, euen in affliction. [Page 74] Wantest thou strength against temptations? Seeke by prayer the grace of Christian fortitude: be strong in the cry of prayer; and as a theefe will runne away when the true man maketh a noyse and out-cry, so will Satan vpon this noyse of feruent prayer cease his assault. Wantest thou peace of conscience, chearefulnesse in doing, or suffering? wouldest thou see a sweet looke from God? or needst thou any other blessing for life or godlinesse? Seeke it with instance, doe as the woman of Canaan, who sought grace at the hands of Christ, and would not be repulsed, MAT. 15. 22. And the poore woman by her importunity preuailed in her suit with the vniust Iudge, Luk. 18. 5. And how much more shall faithfull importunity preuaile with the most righteous and faithful God?
But my seeking is so weak and sinfull, Obiect. that I shall neuer finde: my sinne quite marreth my seeking, [Page 75] and hindereth my finding.
Is there more weakenesse in thy seeking, Sol. than in Jacobs secking the blessing? yet his weake and faulty seeking found it.
O that I could finde any feeling or worke of grace, Obiect. but the strong heart of my corruptions is not yet broken: I haue lost all my labour, and found nothing but discomfort of it.
Let not thy soule prescribe and instruct the Lord, Sol. how, or what way, or when to doe thee good: but wait and striue, and finde and preuaile.
Secondly, seeke against sense and feeling, euen out of the belly of the whale of desperation it selfe, lay hold on the free grace of God, and thou shalt finde an issue, and his sweet loue dropping comfort, sweeter than honey combes to thy soule. Vse 3.
Thirdly, Grace not found b [...] cause not sought. see the reason why grace groweth so thinne euery [Page 76] where, euen because he that hath not attained grace, neuer sought it aright; the want is not in God, nor in the meanes, but in thy selfe and manner of seeking: Non deficit dantis miscricordia. Non medicorum insufficientia, sed quaerentium negligentia culpanda: Blame thy selfe for not finding, who hast failed in the manner of thy seeking: for perhaps,
Thou art full, and feelest not the need of grace, as the Church of Laodicea, Reu. 3. 17. [...] and then how canst thou seeke? A beggar will not stirre abroad, so long as he hath any thing at home.
Or art prophane, and scornest the blessing, as Esau.
Or art a hater of it, and the seekers of it; turnest their glory into shame, and art of the generation of them that hate them that seeke the Lord.
Or art idle, and seekest slightly, or formally; and can God attend that praier, or request, which thou carelesly and formally castest [Page 77] out, and thy selfe attendest not? And here numbers of men lye vnder iust reproofe; as,
1. Such as neuer spent so much labour in seeking grace, as Saul did in seeking his Fathers Asses, 1 Sam. 9. 4.
2. They that neuer spent so much time to find it, as they could for a handful of siluer, & yet hope they haue it, or shal haue it. When didst thou breake thy sleepe, disease thy selfe, put thy selfe into all weathers by night and by day, for the Word, as thou hast for wealth? When wast thou so good and thrifty an husband for thy soule as for thy body? Neuer look for grace before thou prizest it: and be sure thou hast it not, who so vnder-valuest it.
Thirdly, Vse 4. let vs examine our selues whether by all our seeking wee haue found the Pearle, and that by these rules: 5. Notes of one that by seeking hath found the Pea [...]
1. He hath found by seeking, who still seekes to find, for it is [Page 78] not here as in seeking other things: here the finder giueth not ouer seeking: but the more hee findeth, the more hee seeketh; here is an vnsaciable couetousnesse, and a couetousnesse warrantable.
Secondly, much ioy and large affections to expresse the sense of so great a commodity: the testimony of Gods Spirit witnesseth our adoption; once receiue it, and it refresheth the soule with ioy vnspeakeable and glorious, 1 Pet. 4. 5. and this ioy will not be hid, as in the woman finding the lost groat.
Thirdly, the Pearle once found, there followeth a contempt of the world, a killing of the cares of this life, a fencing from the loue of earthly things: there is no true content in anything else, he that hath found this Pearle, esteemeth all other things, euen the best of that the world so admireth, dung in comparison of Christ.
[Page 79] Fourthly, being so rich a commodity, it enableth to good workes and (as no other Pearle can) it worketh the will also to be abundant in good workes, abundant in the fruits of the spirit, in the fruits of Sanctity, and holinesse of life.
Fifthly, it is of so precious vertue, as it is in euery one that findeth it, an antidote against all the poyson of sinne, the grace of repentance presently expelleth it: the grace of patience is a salue for euery fore: the grace of faith is a most soueraigne Cordiall; it is of vertue to renouate the whole man, and all the parts of the man: it cleareth his sight daily, it maketh him quicke of hearing, it sharpeneth all his senses in diuine things; it preserueth his stomack and appetite to Gods word: it purgeth out his corruptions, reneweth his strength as the Eagle: All these and a thousand more vertues hath this [Page 80] Hearbe-Grace wrought in thee in some measure if thou hast found it, and so aboundantly recompenseth all thy labour.
He went and sold all that he had and bought it.] The third action of the Merchant. Our Sauior continueth the allegory of the wise Merchant, 1. Vadit ad forum spiritualium per effectum. who 1. hath sought; 2. Vend [...]t omnia per aff [...]ctum & contemptum terrenorum 2. found the Pearle, 3. Emit per conatum & desiderium aeternorum. and then sitteth not downe: but (thirdly,) maketh purchase. In the words are three things:
1. Hee goeth away, to the Mart and meanes where it is to be had.
2. He selleth all in affection to it, and contempt of earthly things.
3. He buyeth it by a carefull desire and endeuor after heauenly things.
For the meaning, 1. hee goeth away:] Selfe-deniall is the first lesson in Christs schoole, Mat. 1 [...]. 25 Whosoeuer will saue his life, shall lose it, and whosoeuer shal lose his life for my sake, shall find it; he that forsaketh [Page 81] not his owne will, reason, affections, and euil habits, & doth not crosse his owne desires, shall neuer prize or purchase this perl.
2. And selleth all.] That is, in comparison hee contemmeth all earthly things, and setteth them at a low rate & value in respect of the Pearle, & doth not care much who haue them, so he may enioy the Pearle: let others get the wealth of the world, he will be rich in grace; let others get corn, wine, and oyle, if he can get naked Christ, he hath enough:
But is it necessary to sell all, Obiect. to haue eternall life? It may seeme so: Mat. 9. 22. Iesus said vnto him, if thou wil [...] be perfect, go and sell all that thou hast, and giue it to the poore, and thou shalt haue treasure in heauen, and come and follow me.
Ans. The Papists build a state of perfection vpon voluntary pouerty: Sol. and hold it a counsell onely fit for perfect Christians, and [Page 82] farre more meritorious than the keeping of the whole Law.
But first to answer them, and then the question.
1. It is a friuolous conceit to thinke, that any man may come to an higher estate of happinesse, by some other meanes than by keeping the Law.
Secondly, it is absurd to think that any worke can be acceptably done toward saluation, which is without the walke & compasse of the law, which is so perfect, that cursed is he that doth dare to adde to it, or detract any thing from it.
3. Christ desired no more of the young man, than he did of his Disciples, who said, vers. 27. we haue left all to follow thee, and yet Peter had an house still, and John, to which he tooke the Virgin Mary.
And therefore Christ would hau [...] the young man to part with all, which he could not hold, with [Page 83] his loue and affection to Christ himselfe, and the Gospell.
Fourthly, that which Christ required of this Iusticiary, is not any deuised Euangelicall counsell aboue the law; but a duty contained in the law: the summe of which, is, Thou shalt loue the Lord thy God with all thy heart: and whereas he had boasted, that he had kept all the law; Christ doth send him backe againe to the law, to let him see his want of loue, both to God and his neighbour; to God, if the loue of his friends hinder him from following him, whom hee confesseth a teacher from God: And want of loue to man, if at Christs word hee will not part with his mony, especially if not at Christ his especiall commandement.
So as this is not a counsell to some perfect recluses or orders of wilfull men; but a commandement to all Christians, that [Page 84] must striue to perfection. 1 Cor. 2. 6. And we speake wisdome amongst them that are perfect: who must not onely leaue goods and lands, and houses for Christ, and the Gospell, but must hate father, mother, wife and children, brethren, sisters, and their owne life, if they cannot hold them with Christ.
So much to answer the Papists.
Now to the question.
1. Who can deny wealth to be the gift of God, if it beheld without couetousnesse, confidence, pride, and subordinate to heauen and heauenly things? Or who can deny but riches may become helps to heauenly Tabernacles? who can deny but good men may both haue them, and vse them? Abraham was a man of great possessions, and Iob, and Dauid, men of most great wealth: and yet godly men, and poore of spirit; goods therfore in themselues are not to be cast away: but first [Page 85] in comparison, Wealth in foure cases to be renounced. rather than wee will not attaine, and retaine the Pearle of the Gospell, we must abandon all we haue.
Secondly, when they proue an impediment to our calling, and holy professiō, we must renounce them, Heb. 11. 25 as Moses in this case refused to be the sonne of Pharaohs daughter, and to suffer with Gods people: a traueller may carry a staffe to helpe him in his iourney, but not to ouer-load himselfe: and he may beare some mony in his purse for his charges, but not burthen himselfe with it.
Thirdly, in affection alwayes we must renounce them, and hold them retiredly and weignedly, vsing the world as not vsing it. 1 Cor 7. 3. Let them be in our hands, not in our hearts; to lay downe, or lay out; not to lay vp, or lay vp our hearts with them.
Fourthly, actually, but not vncalled; we must leaue them, not of our owne accord, but called by [Page 86] God, non sponte sed vocati: let vs alwayes see wee haue a good ground, as if tyrants, or persecutors, keepe vs from inioying either Christ, or our owne estate; then in this choyse, we must prefer a poore estate in Christ, before a rich estate in the world.
And buyeth it.] Our Sauiour vseth this word buying, not to signifie, that we can make any recompence, paiment, or merit, to purchase eternall life: for, first, that is infinite, we finite, and betweene these is no proportion. Secondly, it is a free gift of God, Rom. 6. 23. Thirdly, it is a buying, but without money, Esa. 55. 1. and money worth. And the poore are called to buy it, who haue no money to layout for it. Fourthly, this Pearle is such a commodity, as neither men nor Angels can giue any due price for. Fiftly, we can giue God nothing but his owne.
But Christ here speaketh figuratiuely, namely, that this wife [Page 87] Merchant dealeth as a buyer; The Christian man resembleth a buyer in 4▪ things. first he seeth the want of Gods grace and Christs merits: the thirsty are called to buy, Esay 55. 1.
Secondly, as a buyer, he periseth, valueth, and casteth the worth▪ esteemeth Christ at the highest rate, and all things else in comparison of him, losse, and dung, Phil. 3. 13.
Thirdly, as a buyer he maketh an exchange; not of money, nor money worth, but vseth all good indeuour, and labour, by prayer, and diligence, and the vse of all good meanes, to obtain the grace of the Gospell. Which price God doth set vpon grace, and on which condition, an exchange is made. The beleeuer putteth ouer his sinnes to Christ, and receiueth righteousnes from Christ. 2 Cor. 5. 21. For he hath made him to be sinne for vs that knew no sinne, that we should be made the righteousnes of God in him.
Fourthly, the bargaine made, [Page 88] is earnested; so the beleeuer, able to giue nothing to God, taketh from God the earnest of his Spirit, in some sauing graces; by which the whole bargain of eternall life is assured vnto him.
From this selling all, Doct. 1. and buying the Pearle, A wise Christian will part with al before hee part with Ch [...]ist. learne, That a wise Christian must, aud will part with all he hath, before hee wi [...]l part with Christ. Prou. 4. 7. Aboue all thy possessions get wisdom and vnderstanding. The godly follow Christ out of Ierusalem, and out of the campe, Heb. 13. 13. they sold their liues, and loued them not to the death for Christ.
Pauls possessions and his life was nos deare, Acts 20. so he might finish his course with ioy. And why?
1. Such sound iudgement is restored vnto euery sound Christian, Reas. 1. as he thinketh nothing so dear to him as Christ, and his grace: and doth suppose himselfe rich indeed, if he attain naked Christ; and the dearest things are base in [Page 89] this comparison. The Church of Laodicea wil neuer buy gold and white raiment, so long as her iudgement is blinded, till she annoint her eyes with eye-salue to see; and seeing once the worth, she is content to be at any paines for it. The text implieth, that no lesse paines be made for wisdome than that of most industrious Merchants, who take long and dangerous iournies, and voyages by Sea and land for Pearles, and swallow all paines and perils in hope of attaining them.
Secondly, the Christian knoweth that he shall be no loser by the bargaine; other Merchants buying great commodities know not whether they shal be gainers or no: and many seeke Pearles with infinite losses & finde them not: But here is a certaine and an vndoubted gaine, for whosoeuer forsaketh house, wife, lands, liberty, childeren, and life for Christs sake and the Gospell, shall [Page 90] receiue an hundred-fold with tribulation, and in the world to come life euerlasting: here is vsury enough, not tenne in the hundred, but an hundred for tenne: haue this Pearle, and want nothing; want this Pearle, and haue nothing.
Thirdly, this putteth a difference betweene soundnesse and hypocrisie; the hypocrite can sell much for Gods fauour. Mic. 6. 6. they will giue thousands of rams, and ten thousands of riuers of oyle: and their first borne, but wil not part with their sinnes. Ananias and Saphira can part with three parts of their portion: but soundnesse esteemeth the Pearle better than the whole, were it the whole world.
Fourthly, because it seeth Christ forsaking all, liberty, life, wealth, heauen and happinesse for it; in the way of thankfulnesse, grace in the heart doth hold it selfe bound to forsake all for Christ.
[Page 91] This condemneth foolish Merchants, Vse 1. who make a base reckoning of the Pearle: esteeming the Gospell worth nothing. The Gadarens accounted euery pig, and base profit better than Christ and his Sermons: Prophane Esau despised the blessing in respect of pottage: There are other scornfull Merchants, who scoffe at such simplicity, as to forgoe profits, and delights, for vaine conceits, as to strip ones selfe of the pleasures of life, to runne many miles to Sermons, where is none at home: Others would buy the Pearle, if by it they might gaine ease, reputation, and wealth, like the Swallowes that will take their Summer with vs, but in Winter take their leaue of vs: these measure Religion by their gettings, Mal. 3. 14. and say with the old Iews, Vse 2. What profit is there in seruing God? Many who think they haue the Pearle, deceiued.
2. Wee may see it is not so easie a matter to haue part in the [Page 92] Gospell, as most men thinke: that vtterly deceiue themselues in this commodity: and this is the cause why so few respect it. 1. Some men thinke they haue it because they haue heard of it, but there is as much difference betweene finding and buying, as betweene calling and answering. 2. Some heare, and like, and wish and praise it; but as in a faire they see many rich commodities, but they passe by them and bargaine for none: so many approue of Doctrines in generall, but lay out nothing, nor lay aside any lust: they can commend a good Sermon, but will be sure it shall doe them no good.
Thirdly, there are others that come neerer, cheapen, loue and bid somewhat; but as hard chapmen nothing neere the matter: rich men can cast some of their superfluity sometimes to good vses; but not as the widow that had but two mites and cast in all: this [Page 93] were too hard a bargaine.
Fourthly, some would exchange some of their sinnes, but not all: others will doe some duties, as come to the Church, hear, pray, sometimes read at home, and reproue sinne: but come to chargeable or dangerous duties, to shew loue to Christ in time of danger or disgrace, they are backward, and draw in the tender horne for feare they be losers by him.
Let vs therefore learne to hold Christ, Vse 3. and the Gospell as the onely iewell, or pearle worth hauing; and to thinke our selues rich if we sel our selues out of all, to purchase the Pearle: let vs thus aduance our religion, and shut the mouthes of our aduersaries, that say we will leaue nothing for our religion, Obiect. while they giue all they haue to the Church and pious vses. 5. Notes of a man that hath purchased the Pearle.
How shall I know a man that purchaseth the Pearle?
[Page 94] 2. He changeth his owne merits, for Christs merits apprehended in the Gospell, and casteth them away like dung: and with Paul, who layeth his birth, kindred, righteousnesse, ciuill vertues, and good workes, and holinesse in the skale: but all is too light, and found losse weighed with Christ. So bring Wealth, liberty, friends, life it selfe, into the sight of a sound beleeuer: and if he must leaue these, or Christ and his Gospell, farewell they; he soone maketh his choyce: As in the danger of life, Act. 27. 18. the Mariners cast out their wares with their owne hands, and the tacklings out of the ship: so wee must cast away all in comparison of Christ, our Lord and our life. Where note, that the Papist that cannot disclaime his owne merits, shall misse of Christs.
2. He goeth away reioycing, all his affections are on it; his chiefe ioy is, that his Name is [Page 95] written in heauen, Luk. 10. 20. no affliction can remoue this ioy.
3. He desireth nothing in comparison, beyond, or besides it; Simeon was content with Christ in his armes; Iacob had enough, that Joseph liued: so the beleeuer hath enough, that Christ liueth in heauen, and in his owne heart.
4 He retaineth his confidence to it; euery thing else challenging his confidence, is but a staffe of reed.
5. He will neuer sell his purchase at any rate. Prou. 23. 23. Buy the truth, but sell it not: Great Merchants, what they buy for great prizes, they will sell for greater: but nothing is sufficient to buy the grace of the Gospell out of our hands: what wee sell wee value vnder the price; but we must redeeme it aboue much fine gold, [...]sal. 119 yea, aboue all that in the world is counted precious.
[Page 96] This is also a comfort to poore▪ men, who may here light on a good bargaine, and make a good purchase for themselues, although they haue no money: nothing is set for the price but paines, endeuour, godly desire and affection. Christ and his benefits freely passe to all, and are indifferently imparted to poore and rich; nay, if either haue the aduantage, it is the poore man, for the poore receiue the Gospell, saith our Sauiour: whereas, Not many rich, not many noble, not many wise attaine to haue their share in it.
I haue now according to the measure of the gift giuen me, set forth the choycest and chiefest commodity in all the world, which no Faire or Mart can match, if into one Fayre all the treasures of the earth were brought to sale: say not now as the buyer vseth to doe, Th [...]se Sermons were preached on seueral Faire daies It is naught, it is naught.
I haue set an easie price vpon [Page 97] it, a little paines, a few good affections, an vpright endeuour, which is so low a price as your selues can wish. You need not disburse siluer, or gold, but may carry away this commodity in your hearts, and your money in your purses too: as Iosephs brethren carried from their brother, euery man his sacke of corne, and his money in his sacke too: hee that now seeth on the one hand his owne want, and on the other the worth of the Pearle, will come and cheapen, and buy, and purchase it at any rate, and will not leaue it behinde him. But he that still esteemeth the Pearle, but as a common pibble, will goe home without it, or tread it vnder his feet. Of this man saith Salomoa, Pro. 17. 16. Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a foole, and he wanteth heart? And to this man I say, the day commeth, in which thou shalt say, thou once refusedst a good bargaine which [Page 98] was offered thee, and that was thine vnhappinesse: but now attended with a greater, that it shall neuer be offered thee any more; Be wise in time, and couet after the most excellent gifts.