Chapter 7: The First Use Is for Examination, Whether We Have This Treasure

Now for a more close application of this to our own souls: is it so, that a good treasure in the heart, is necessary to good expenses in the life? then

1. It stands us all in hand to try ourselves, and dig into our own hearts to see if we can find a treasure there, both in respect of sincerity and degree of grace: Know it, You are beggarly souls unless you have truth of grace; graceless souls are the only treasureless souls, and I fear there is more than a good many, that could never experimentally distinguish between nature and grace, and therefore are increasing guilt, and treasuring up wrath: O Christians! See whether you have the true riches, try what proficiency you have made to grace, and in grace; you have long had a day of grace, and you must be accountable for all opportunities. Cheat not yourselves with counters instead of gold; Bristol stones may make as fair a show as pearls; true grace is a rare and rich commodity. Thousands conceit to themselves a treasure, that are empty; proud, conceited professors are apt to boast of their attainments, while some self-denying humble souls, are apt to bear false witness against themselves, by denying what they have: Solomon says, There is that makes himself rich, yet has nothing; there is that makes himself poor, yet has great riches (Proverbs 13:7). Sounding vessels are often empty, and still-running waters are usually deep: vapouring tradesmen jingle their money in their hands, while sober chapmen keep it in their chests: You shall find more of a merchant's goods in his warehouse, than in his shop window. So it is with a sober, serious and judicious Christian: his glory and treasure is most within, while vain-glorious mountebanks in religion set all upon the stage. I entreat you read those books, that lay down marks of true grace, hear and attend the most heart-searching ministry, take much pains in descending frequently into your own hearts, and the God of Heaven make you serious in a thorough search.

More particularly, that I may help you in a discovery whether you have laid up a treasure of holy thoughts; flowing from truths, graces, comforts, experiences. Ask, I beseech you, your own hearts these four questions.

- 1. How came you by it? - 2. How do you value it? - 3. How do you use it? - 4. How do you increase it?

1. Let me ask you, and do you ask yourselves if you pretend to such a treasure, how you came by it? Men usually know how they get a treasure, the hand of the diligent makes rich (Proverbs 10:4), that is, the blessing of the Lord upon diligent endeavors, verse 22. Men that would be rich ply the oars, run to markets and fairs, travel from city to city, to buy and sell and get gain, they travel by sea and by land, compassing the world to possess a small portion of it: Why now, what do you in spirituals? Where are your thoughtful cares and painful hands? Though labor will not get this treasure (it is a free gift) yet it will not be had without labor. God's ordinance must be honored; it is the immutable decree of Heaven since the fall: In the sweat of your face shall you eat your bread, indeed this holds good for the soul (John 6:27). Labor for that meat which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man shall give to you: mark it, man's endeavors are very consistent with God's free grace, and Christ's dear purchase. God will be found in his own way, he ordinarily conveys the first grace, in and by his own institutions, but seldom shall a soul grow up to a treasure without a long trading in the royal exchange of holy duties, and diligence has the promise of increase (Mark 4:24). And to you that hear, shall more be given: Well, sirs, has the care of your hearts put labor into your hands, and travel into your feet, to repair to the markets and fairs of public, private and secret performances, to get a solid treasure? Have you both dug and begged for it? Where is your sweat and agony? Has Jesus Christ sweated blood to fit you for Heaven, and have you not gone through a bloody sweat to get interest in him, and possession of his grace? Oh the pangs of conscience, and sad pantings of a convinced sinner to obtain a portion in these riches of grace! Never did a poor laborer [reconstructed: toil] so hard for his day's wages as a humbled soul to be [reconstructed: filled] with Christ: a treasure of money is got with sweat and blood; or to be obtained of alms with weary steps, and [reconstructed: loud] cries: but if you are too idle to dig, and too proud to beg, you are without a treasure, and may pine away in everlasting poverty.

2. How do you value this treasure? Where the treasure is, there will the heart be also (Matthew 6:21). The thoughts, cares, affections will center upon a man's treasure, for he accounts his treasure the best thing he has; indeed worth all his other possessions; no man would willingly part with his treasure. As Naboth did tenaciously adhere to his hereditary possession: the wise merchant parts with all to purchase this: Paul accounted his gain to be no better than loss for Christ, or rather it stunk like dung and dog's meat in comparison of his sweet and satisfying Saviour: all the world is a Christian's prejudice, when it obstructs or obscures the grace of Christ. Is it thus with your souls? Do you account your spiritual portion your only riches? The truth is, the riches of the soul, and the riches in the soul, are the very soul of riches. I confess that's a meretricious love, that prizes receipts from Christ more than the person of Christ! But here I understand Jesus Christ to be the marrow and treasure of this treasure, and all these as ensuring evidences of interest in him: for all that the soul has is wrapped up in him. Well then, let me pose the most dark and doubting (if sincere) Christian, what [reconstructed: do you say], poor soul, would you quit your share in Christ and spiritual treasures, for a crown and kingdom? Would you not answer, no? Would you cast away your trembling hopes of acceptance with God, to be delivered from the infamy, poverty and persecution that attends the powerful profession of Christianity, that you may live in honor, pleasure, and worldly delights? Surely you would answer, no. Would you change your present, low, afflicted, and conflicting state with your former carnal but confident condition, or with the pompous, prosperous state of graceless sinners? I dare say you will answer negatively. Yet again, are you not willing to part with your dearest bosom lust, and earthly enjoyment, for a true immortal treasure in heaven, and in your heart? I am confident an upright heart will answer, yes. And if I mistake not, this (if not only, yet chiefly this) is the very parting point between a sound Christian, and a rotten-hearted hypocrite, the one chooses Martha's many things, the other Mary's one thing needful: this is indeed a discriminating note, for a gracious soul will cry out, none but Christ, none but Christ, give me Christ, or else I die, give me Christ, and I shall live: Christ is my life, my crown, my joy, my all, if I may have him I have enough, without him I have nothing. When one asked Alexander where his treasure was, he answered, where Hephestion my faithful friend is; just so will a good soul say: Christ is the chiefest of ten thousands. I prize him above my life, who loved me to the death; I account that of great value that does evidence my interest in him. As the marigold opens to the sun in the firmament, so does the heart of a sincere Christian to the Sun of Righteousness. Take an instance of Moses, who chose the bitterest cup of affliction, rather than the sugared cup of sensual pleasures, that he might enjoy Jesus Christ: see (Hebrews 11:25-26). Observe the strange disparity that appears to carnal reason in that choice: on the one side there was suffering, on the other enjoying, affliction on the one hand, pleasures on the other, the despised people of God were companions on one side, ruffling gallants in Pharaoh's court on the other, yet on the one side it was for a season, on the other but for a season, and that 'but' cast the scales in his choice. Those were pleasures, but treasures may prevail; the last yet not the least of Satan's assaults of Christ. No, good Moses esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: the worst of Christ is better than the best of the world. The noble Marquess Galeacius Caracciolus, in imitation of him, being tempted with large offers to depart from Zion to Babylon, resolutely replied, Let their money perish with them that account all the treasures of the world worth one hour's communion with Jesus Christ. If all the mountains were gold, the rocks pearls, and the whole world stuffed with the sweetest delights of the sons of men, and these offered to the Christian to be his proper inheritance forever, he would with a holy scorn trample upon them, and look on them as not worth one glance of his eye, in comparison of one taste of the love of Christ, and a grain of saving grace in his heaven-born soul. But a carnal heart sees no such beauty in Christ, why he should be so desired, nor is he taken with the comeliness and excellency of grace, a sad yet lively emblem of which we have in the hopeful young gentleman that bade fair for heaven, yet when he saw it would cost him so dear, as to part with all, he would rather go without it, than forgo his estate for it. O sirs, this is a pinching point, look to it, this one mark will discern between joint and marrow, and a day of trial will discover what you account a treasure.

3. How do you use and improve this treasure? Habits of grace are no otherwise known but by their acts: what's a man better for that he uses not? A talent of grace of the right stamp will not be confined to a napkin, though gifts may: exercising is as necessary and evidential, as having sincere grace: things that are not, and things that appear not, are both alike: he is a wicked man that boasts of his heart's desire, and he is a fool that trusts in his heart: yet many will say I have as good a heart as the best, though I do not talk so well with my tongue, or work so much with my hand, I have as good a meaning as any of them all, though I cannot make so great a show, I love to keep my religion to myself, none knows how good I am: let such know (though I deny not but degrees of modesty, fears of vainglory, and jealousies of apostasy, may restrain some Christians' profession, yet there may be a temptation on that hand also yet) that where fire is, it will reveal itself by heat or smoke, it is impossible grace should be hid or stifled: though there be a smoking flax (even the wick of a candle that affords little light, much offensive smell) yet it will appear: truths and graces in the heart will be (as the word was to Jeremiah (Jeremiah 20:9)) as a burning fire shut up in the bones and bosom, that cannot be concealed. He that is full of matter, is constrained by the internal workings of the Spirit to vent it, else it is like Elihu's new wine that has no vent, it bursts the new bottles (Job 32:18-19): the truth is, it is as natural for a gracious heart to talk and walk holily, as for a living creature to breathe and move, so far as gracious: thus it cannot be otherwise, and also observe it, it must not be otherwise. Your treasure within ought to be laid out, what have you it for else? Profession with the mouth is as necessary in its kind, as believing with the heart (Romans 10:10). Our light must not be hid under a bushel, but shine before men, that it may reflect comfort to ourselves and influence to others, as well as have approbation from the Lord: so then, if you have a treasure within, you do witness a good confession, and your conversation will be suitable to your profession: your trading will answer your stock. The text tells you, a good man out of the good treasure of his heart, brings forth good things: and I told you the manner of laying out was in holy meditations, savory expressions, suitable actions, and comfortable bearing, and profitable improving of afflictions: why now, lay judgment to the line, and compare your own course of life with these practices of religion: how do you trade with heaven, and for heaven? What do you more than others? Where's the life and power of religion? Do you indeed exercise yourselves to godliness? What large expenses do you lay out for that God from whom you have such liberal incomes? When we see rich men lay out abundance of money in household goods, housekeeping, building, recreations, we guess, certainly such have a good stock before-hand, a great yearly revenue; thus it is here, though many make a great show of what they have not, yet a ready, real, uniform, and constant performance of duty. A serious, sensible course of walking with God, and exercise of grace in all conditions, do evidence a suitable inward treasure. What say you to these things? Can our hearts witness with us that in simplicity and godly sincerity, by the assistance of grace we have had our conversation (2 Corinthians 1:12)? Can our relations and neighbors witness for us, that we have served the Lord with all humility of mind, with many tears and temptations? Can our closets, chambers, shops, and fields testify our secret groans, meditations, self-examinations? Have we performed our relative duties with all care and conscience? As magistrates punishing sin, as ministers faithfully preaching at all seasons, suitably to all persons: as householders instructing, correcting, and leading a good example; as husbands, wives, parents, children, masters, servants, that man is not good at all, that's not good in all relations: does the treasure of grace and truths prompt our tongues, act our hands, guide our feet? Do these principles in our head, and that principle in the heart dictate to us our duty, and assist us in doing of it? Are we fruitful in good works, words, and meditations? And are we useful in our generations? Let's not deceive ourselves, it's not a conceit of some good meanings within that will serve our turn; but the apostle tells us roundly and plainly, he that does righteousness, is righteous (1 John 3:7). Acts do evidence the state, and a man cannot be good unless he does good: that's the third trial.

4. How do you increase this treasure? To him that has shall be given; truth of grace is the prologue to growth in grace: and growth in grace arrives at full strength of grace; the saints go from strength to strength (Psalm 84:7). The true Christian, like his Master, increases in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. These waters of the sanctuary, rise up to the ankles, knees, loins, neck, till the soul come to the Head Christ, and so be swallowed up in the unfathomable ocean of glory. It is monstrous in grace as well as nature to grow none, but continue as a dwarf. It is a sad shrewd sign you have no grace, if you think you have grace enough. He was never good that desires not to be better. They are hypocrites, and sure to be apostates that are contented with a taste. The true believer is insatiable, still hungering and thirsting after righteousness, daily adding one cubit after another to his spiritual stature, that he may be a tall man in Christ; and at last attain to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13). That is, not so much with respect to the complete stature of our bodies at the resurrection, proportionable to Christ's full age upon earth, as some expound it, though that may be true, but we must be increasing, till Christ his mystical body grow to ripeness and perfection, both in respect of all the members to be added to it, and also particular members growth in grace till they advance to a full maturity in knowledge and holiness. What say you to this? Are you any better than you have been? Are your last works more than your first? What light of knowledge in saving truths? What heat and warmth in sanctifying graces? What heart-refreshing experiences and comforts have you laid up? Are you grown more solid, humble, holy, watchful, faithful and fruitful? Do you get more power against your lusts? More ability to walk with God? Do you forget what is behind, and press forwards to perfection? Are you stirred up more to holiness? And strengthened with all might by his Spirit in the inward man? Are you still sensible of defects, craving for more spiritual riches, as a beggar for alms? I confess I have sometimes wondered at this strange paradox in Christianity, that there is nothing does so fill the soul as grace, and yet nothing makes the soul so hungry for more grace as a principle of grace; nothing contents but a dram of grace, yet a dram of grace will not content: more knowledge, more faith, more love, and accordingly a gracious soul is still perfecting holiness in the fear of God. So that, as the Apostle says of some, their faith grows exceedingly, and charity abounds, even till it become a treasure. For observe it, this spiritual treasure is made up, and increased by accumulation, or by augmentation, by adding more graces, or strengthening graces already conferred. Several good divines have done worthily in satisfying scrupulous souls in this great case about growth in grace. Let such as doubt of sincerity, read them, it would be a digression here to speak fully to this point. Only take this note, the more life you have added to your light, the more humility to your graces, the more watchfulness to your lives by your experiences; and the more tenderness of conscience, and cheerfulness in holy performances by your comforts, the more have you grown in grace, and increased your treasure: and thereby have given a clear evidence that you have a spiritual treasure in your hearts.