A Discovery of the Nature of a Treasure in general.

A Treasure imports the laying up of things for necessary use in after-times, and holds forth these seven particulars, all which suit with the laying up of spiritual provision in general.

1.Laying up a Treasure, implies carefulness, anxious thoughts, sollicitous endeavour; its casie to scatter, but it requires some industry to gather, yea 'tis easier to gather by filching and cheating, than by trading or working; and things easily got by evil means, are as quickly lost by strange waies, Prov 13:11. Wealth [gotten] by vanity, shall be diminished, [Note 1] i.e. an estate procured by base shifts, devices, and jugling tricks, comes to nought. But he that gathereth by labour [Heb. by the hand] shall increase, and in time become a Treasure. Experience tells us, that they that would get a great estate, take pains in the day, and plot in the night, [Note 2] and desires to get and keep their abundance, wil not suffer them to sleep: 'tis so in Spirituals, there's hard tugging to get abiding provision; Spiritual goods are not got with a wet finger; they drop not into the mouth of a careless loyterer: [Note 3] The choicer any thing is, the hardlier is it attained: an Harvest-mans labour is hard toyling. O think not to get Heaven by laziness: The Kingdom of Heaven is taken by violence, Matt 11:12. A resolute Christian (as it were) storms this uphill City; as Souldiers run to get the prey, or Racers to obtain the prize.#

2.It imports choiceness in the things laid up. [Note 4] 'Tis not all Labour that obtains a Treasure; [Note 5] they labour in the very fire, that weary themselves for very vanity. Men may lay out money and labour for that which neither doth profit nor satisfie; there are many things better sleighted, than sought and gained: However, stones and straws make no good treasure; no wife man wil account himself rich with toys and trifles; A Christians treasure consists in Spirituals, which onely are of worth and value; [Note 6] Gold and Silver are but red and white clay, called thick clay, because more solid bodies; but compared with Divine things they are but dross: [Note 7] Spiritual blessings only make the Believer blessed; nothing can be accounted a treasure, but what comes from, and leads to Heaven, Bona throni, the good things of the Throne, are a Saints treasure, Bonascabelli, the good things of the Footstool, are a wicked-man's portion, and he may have a large measure, yea, a treasure of them; [Note 8] their bellies are filled with hid treasures: Yet these do not make them happy; all undermoon comforts are but sorry trifles to make a treasure of; the whole world cannot counterballance a grain of Grace: we account of things by their worth, not by their bulk; a little box of precious oyntment is of more value and vertue, than whole tuns of ordinary Liquor; only Heavenly riches make up a Souls treasure.#

3.Suitableness of the things stored up: No man wil lay up what he shall never need, and account it his treasure: Every Trades-man lays up that which is fit for his Calling; Cloathiers, Staplers, Tanners, Husbandmen, have all their peculiar provisions, suited to their vocations: that may be a cumber to one, that is a treasure to another: Kings have their peculiar treasure, [Note 9] i. e. that which none but Kings have; So all Gods Kings have their peculiar treasure; which as it is different from all others, so in some respects different one from another. Moses had a treasure of meekness, Job of patience, Salomon of wisdome, John of love: [Note 10] As the Childe of God is to come behinde in no gift, so he is to excel in that which he is more especially called to exercise; 'Tis a great Duty and mystery in Religion to bee wise in observation, and prudent in provision; let every Christian lay up supplies suitable to the several ages, estates, sexes, offices, burdens, duties, relations, places, trials, or temptations, through which any one may passe, in the whole course of their Lives: So shal they not be unprovided or unfurnished, but which way soever the Lord leads them in this uneven world, [Note 11] yet their foot shal stand in an eeven place, and go streight to Heaven.#

4.A treasure imports sufficiency. Store hath no lack; 'tis abundance that constitutes a treasure; the Granarys of Aegypt afforded plenty of Corn: A scant modicum makes not a treasure. Spiritual goods are a Christians riches, [Note 12] and he ought to be rich in these riches, rich in faith, and rich in good works. What a ful expression is that of St. Paul? Eph 3:19. where he begs to be filled with all the fulness of God. What Paul, can thy narrow vessel contain an infinite Ocean? Though hee cannot hold all, yet he would have all Divine fulness; [Note 13] he would know the Love of Christ, which passeth knowledge; that's to furnish his intellectual faculty, with a treasure of heavenly knowledge; and he would be filled with all Grace, as the richest treasure of his wil and affections; yea, nothing less than fulness wil suffice. Nay further, the fulness of God; yet higher, even all the fulness of God, let the vessel be filled to the brim, and let it bee made more capacious to receive larger incomes; never hath the believing soul grace enough, til grace be perfected and crowned with Glory, A gracious heart hath an insatiable appetite after heavenly delights, and dainties; nothing so good as Grace, and the more a soul hath of it, the better.#

5.It implies Secresie: A treasure is not exposed to the common view of all men, it was Hezekiah's pride and weakness to lead the Babylonian Messengers through his treasures. [Note 14] Treasures are usually hid in secret places; hence we read of treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, and a treasure hid in a field: So this good mans treasure is said to be in his heart, which St. Peter calls the hidden man of the heart, none can see into this, but the heart-searching God, he that knows all things onely is the Anatomist of this close and hidden man. Men see the face, but they see not what lies within; hence it is that the greatest and best part of a Christians treasure, is invisible; as the roots of a Tree under the earth, or the bottom of a Ship under water; or rather as a Merchants goods in his Ware-house. So it is with a Saints treasure; he is a Jew inwardly, his Circumcision is that of the heart; in the Spirit and not in the Letter, whose praise is not of men, but of God: Rom 2:29. The regenerate soul is the King of Heavens Daughter, which is all glorious within, though some sparklings of Grace appear without: the best and the worst of a Soul is hid from the view of men; happy were it for a Christian if he had no more corruption than appears outwardly, and wretched were he also, if he had no more Grace than others can take notice of.#

6.A Treasure for safety: This treasure being out of mens view is therefore secured from mens reach and touch: Treasures lye not loose, but are under lock and key: those at Rome are now laid up in the impregnable Castle of St. Angelo. Treasure-Cities are alwaies well Fenced, Guards were appointed to attend them; Dragons are fancied to wait on treasures: hence come Dragooners, say some: But sure I am, the treasure of a Christian is safe; Grace and Peace are a Saints free-hold that Men and Devils cannot deprive him off: Grace is an incorruptible seed, and God hath engaged himself to maintain it: Maries better part cannot be taken from her; As soon, saith one, may they pluck Christ out of Heaven, as Grace out of my heart: [Note 15] Nay the treasure of joy can no man take from the believing Soul, for this pure stream of Spiritual Joy, grows stronger and sweeter, til it be swallowed up in the vast Ocean of our Masters joy in eternal blisse: A Christians treasure is lock'd up in his heart, which is a Cabinet that none can wrest open: Christs heart was pierced, that a Christians might remain untouch'd; hence it becomes impenitrable, and invulnerable. A lively emblem whereof was the heart of John Husse, which remained intire, even when his body was consumed in the flames: the heart may be pulled out of the bosome, but not a Saints Treasure out of his Heart.#

7.In a Treasure there's readiness for present supply, 'Tis but giving a turn with the key, and taking out provision, and making use thereof, which is as soon made ready as Abraham's Feast for the Angels, or Jacobs Venison for his Father Isaac: He that hath a treasure of food, hath it not to seek when he should use it; as the man in the Parable, that ran to call up his Neighbour, [Note 16] to borrow three Loaves because he had nothing to set before his Friend that came unexpectedly; But the wel-furnish'd Christian can make God welcome in all his visits, in Mercy or Displeasure, and own him as a Friend, whether he come by day or by night; a wel-stored soul hath something in readiness for his honourable Guest. [Note 17] A notable resemblance hereof we have in the Parable of the wise and foolish Virgins; The Oyl in the Lamp is the treasure of Grace in the heart; and though the Virgin Christian may slumber as to the Exercise of Grace, yet he is ready upon a sudden Alarm for the Bridegooms entertainment, but the foolish Virgin is the treasureless Soul; the graceless Sinner, that hath no Oyl at all, but while it goes to buy, is shut out of the presence Chamber. But of this more hereafter onely observe, in General, that he that hath a treasure will be quickly furnish'd with all accommodations, on all occasions: Thus much for the first head.#