a pearle of price or, The best purchase For which the spirituall marchant Ieweller selleth all his temporalls. By Samuel Gardiner, Batchellor of Diuinitie.

CHAP. X.

¶ Of the necessitie of our mortification, and the adiuration of all our worldly lustes, vnder the person and example of this Iew∣eller, who made a simple sale of all that he had for the purchase of this Treasure, and Pearle of great price, euidently euicted.

ONE thing is necessary, (saith Christ to Martha:) and of this with Ma∣ry this Ieweller maketh choice. For the purchase whereof, he doth not sticke to renounce and giue vp his state and property in all his worldly hereditaments and emoluments, of whatsoeuer nature and condition they are.

He dodgeth not with God, as Ananias did with Peter, keeping part behind. He putteth not his hand to the Lords plough, and hath an eie with Lots wife vnto Sodome. He min∣ceth not God of any part of his dew, as the King of Arams muster-master, excepting with the Prophet his worship with his ma∣ster in the house of Rimmon. It is not the plea∣sure or profit of the world, that he standeth at with God: but he reputeth all things with

the Apostle, as doing for the gaine of godli∣nesse.

This man is euery christian mans look∣ing-glasse, in whom we may behold that image of perfection, that is pleasing vnto God, and by which we may see how to re∣forme such blemishes which disguise vs so much, and make vs so vnclean and laothsom in his sight.

We are reasonably contented to part stakes with God, and willing enough with the false mother, who pleaded for the diuision of the child before Salomon, to diuide him out halfe of that all, which is his portion, dealing with God altogither like as Hanun with the ser∣uants that were sent from Dauid, who sha∣ued off half their beards from their faces, and slashed off their garments from the middle to the buttockes.

But God may not indure such paltring at our hands.

The true mother may not abide to heare of the mangling of her child; and Dauid may not digest such barbarous indignity offered to his seruants, and God may not suffer him selfe to be so mocked; as to haue his glory of which he is so iealous, communicated vnto others.

Very many we find, howbeit, otherwise

of very proper parts, & induments of nature, who halt with God too much, and cannot, without strugling to one way or other, keep in the right way: we are as the graine that wanteth measure, and the gold that will not hold weight. There is in euery one of vs, somewhat which blemiseth and disgraceth all our beauty.

Many, albeit they are of chaste behauior, of very ciuil nature, and (as by outward ap∣pearance it seemeth) of religious disposition: yet are their minds fixed vpon couetousnes, they go after worldly thoughts, and incomber themselues with Martha about many things. They cannot be parted by any meanes from their profit, or stride ouer those blockes that lie in their way, or deuote themselues wholy with this Ieweller vnto God Wee find other some of liberall and bountifull affections, yet violently miscaried with a desire of ambiti∣on.

There was death in the pot, which marres al the broath of the children of the prophets: so some sinnefull profit or pleasure alwayes spoyleth whatsoeuer good graces the Lord giueth vs beside.

There is none of vs, who doth not hucke with God, who is not ready for some excuse or other; we ask our flesh, our lusts, our plea∣sures

leaue, and if they consent not to it, God is answered as Pharao answered Moses, Na∣bal, Dauid, and the Lord of the vine-yard was aunswered when he demaunded fruites. Who is the Lord (saith Pharao vnto Moses) that I should let Israel got who is the Lord (saith the stubborne soule) that I should let my sin∣full pleasures go? Who is Dauid, and who is the sonne of Ishai (saith Nabal) that I should take my bread, my water my flesh, which I haue killed for my shearers, and giue it vnto men, whom I know not whence they be. These be the termes wherer vpon we do stand, we commune the case in this wise with Nabal, who is Christ the sonne of Dauid, that I should take that which I haue deputed to my pleasure and my sin, and giue it vnto him?

Be not deceiued, God will not be stinted, he will haue all, or nothing at all of thee: and when thou giuest all, thou giuest him but his owne. Thou dost but like the coppy holder that payeth his rent, and performeth his bounden homage and seruice vnto his Lord, the diminution of any iote thereof beeing the forfeit of thy whole coppy.

This is a slye pollicie of the diuell, to haue vs dernie christians, to serue GOD by halues, to drawe vs on to some duties of de∣uotion, that whilst we doe flatter and beguile

our selues with a counterfeit profession, he may cause vs priuilie, and vnawares, to fall in∣to the pit of his destruction. And herein he hath the tricke of a cunning angler, who ha∣uing hold of some great fish vpon his hooke, is not greedie of him to drawe him vp to shore, but he stretcheth out his rod, and gi∣ueth him more line, that hee might more throughly swallow vp the hooke: for other∣wise through too hasty violence that is offred him, he will breake all asunder, and the fishe shall so escape him.

Thus he playde with Herod who hauing snarled and hooked him before with the hooke and line of inordinate lust, he dallieth with him, and giueth him some libertie to heare Iohn Baptist willingly, and to reforme many things according to his directions.

As along as the diuell hath vs vnder his line, and hath any hold of vs, either by our pride, by our vsurie, by our couetousnes, by our enuie, by our emulation, by our ambition, by our hatred, by our crueltie, by any kinde of sinne, he will so sporte with vs, as he will be sure of vs, he will not let vs goe.

For as a bird, if she be limed, and taken by one wing, cannot flie away: so though we pray or fast, or giue our almes, repaire to ser∣mons, and giue our selues to many good de∣uotions:

yet if any sinne hath a limme of vs, it is impossible to escape. To be bound in any part is all one, as to bee bounde in the whole.

To what vse is it to rampire vp al the gates of the citie, and to set watch and warde about the walles, if one gate or breach of the wall shall be suffred to lay open, for all the power of the enemie to come in? Giue thou the diuell but an enterance into thee, and thou shalt neuer remoue him, but he will be who∣ly at the last seated in thee.

Christ his charge to those that will be fol∣lowers of him, flatly is this: Take my yoake vpon you. He nameth not any parte of the bo∣dy that should be yoaked aboue other, the head, the necke, the shoulders or such like; but the whole: that wee should not thinke that we haue serued God well, by myncing him a pittance, vnles he hath the whole.

Wherefore Dauid summoneth al his parts to the Lords courtes. All my bones (saith he) shall say, Lord who is like vnto thee. And againe, Praise the Lord O my soule, and all that is within me praise his holy name. And againe, I haue an eye vnto all thy commaundements, and all false wayes I vtterly abhorre.

The diuell is an importunate suter vnto vs, to haue any roome, or tenement within vs,

be it neuer so little, rather then he would be vtterly shut out.

When as Pharao could no longer holde the Isralites in durance, but the time was come that they should be set at libertie, and sent a∣way to serue the Lord, he craueth that their cattell might remaine behind them: so when the diuell is not permitted to domineere as he list, to haue his full power and pleasure ouer vs, he beggeth but a parte and little por∣tion within vs. But giue the diuell that an∣swer that Moses gaue to Pharao, who snobbed him thus roundly; No not a hoofe shall re∣maine behinde vs, but euery part shall be con∣secrated vnto God.

Or let vs say in this case vnto Satan, as Isaac said to Esau: Iacob haue I blessed, and he shall be blessed: we haue giuen vp all to God already, and he shall possesse it.

Yea let vs say to God as Peter said to Christ when Christ would wash his feete: Lord, not my feet onely, but my hands, and my head. For why should we deny him any thing, see∣ing he is the owner of euery thing we haue. The diuell, the world, the flesh indeede haue no more right in vs, then Achab had to Na∣both his vineyard, or Herod to his sister.

If we giue all to God, he will saue and pre∣serue it: there is nothing that the diuell would

haue, but that he would destroy. And yet we are ouercome of such folly and madnes, as we will rather put our selues to our destroyer, then to our mercifull Sauiour. As many a young man doth, who rauished with lust of a droyling slauish bond woman, doth bestowe himself vpon her, and albeit that he know∣eth that he is cast away by her, yet will he marry her: so our will, forgetfull of Gods loue, is so lincked to the lust of this wretched world, as hap what hap shall, it will not be di∣uorced, but will be obsequious to her impe∣rious hestes.

Sampson could not be so absurdly ignorant of Dalila her drift, for former experience and triall that he made of her, discouered her de∣ceit. He sawe too plainely, that her so earnest practise with him to vnderstand wherein his power might be weakned, did tend to his de∣struction, yet he could not be warned by for∣mer admonitions, but is so intoxicated, and besotted with her, as he chuseth rather like a mill horse to grinde at the mill, and to be made a foole as afterwardes he was, when he was the subiect of the Philistines pastime, then to be offensiue to this his abiect my∣nion.

As the Lord is Alpha which signifieth the beginning: so is he Omega which signifieth

the ending. He wil not be put off as Lawyers doe their clyents from terme to terme, with dodges and delayes.

Moses asking Pharao, when he should pray for him: his answere was to morrow; And why not to day Pharao? since euery day is Gods, and he cannot be serued of any man too soone. How doest thou know, that thou shalt liue vntill to morrowe? Thus the wic∣ked prescribe God his time, whenas euery time is his.

Lycurgus making lawes for the Lacedemo∣nians, propounded them vnto them to be ob∣serued of them, vntill he should returne from that region and country, whither immediatly he was to take his voyage: and so sayling in∣to Creet, he neuer did returne, but there dy∣ing, commaunded his bones to be burned, and the ashes of them to be throwne into the sea: supposing, that if his body might not be carried ouer, his lawes and ordinances should neuer be repealed. Such a tender care had this Gentile Philosopher of the zealous and continued obseruation of good lawes: which care of his, taxeth our carelesnes, and remisnes in keeping the commandements of our God: seruing him by fits as our stomackes serueth vs, and affording him what we may spare from our pleasure and our sinnes. It should

not be so with vs, but we should take that course which this Ieweller by his practise here prescribeth vs, who resigneth vp all that he had in the world, that he might buy this treasure of Gods word.

Let vs doe the like: Nos ipsos pro illa mar∣garita demus, non quia tanti vateamus, sed quia plus dare non possumus. Let vs giue our selues for this pearle of great price, not because we are worth somuch, but because we haue no more to giue. Minus dat vt plus accipiat: hoc fac & tu. Da modica, accipe magna: da tempo∣ralia, accipe aeterna: da terram, accipe coelum. This Ieweller hath a wonderfull bargaine, in giuing vp his state and interest to this world, for liuery and seisin of this better pur∣chace of the world that is to come. For as Au∣gustine saith, he giueth the lesse, to receiue the more: doe thou the like; Giue meane things, and receiue greater for them: giue tempo∣rall things, and receiue eternall: giue earth, and receiue heauen: giue golde, and receiue God.

As thou forsakest father, and mother to cleaue to thy wife: so forsake father, and mo∣ther, wife and al, be it neuer so neere and deere vnto thee, to cleaue to God.

To sell all that we haue, is to renounce the lusts of the flesh, and of the minde, and so to

shake off the world, which inticeth vs to wic∣kednes, as Ioseph shaked his cloake from him, and left it with his mistris, egging him to vn∣cleannesse.

But, this is that that breaketh off the bar∣gaine, and keepeth vs from this purchase; we endure well enough to heare of the pleasure and profit of this purchase, but we like not the couenants, we are loath to be tou∣ched in our worldly state, or to alter the con∣dition of our life; the doctrine of repentance, and the Gospel of Christ teaching vs to deny all vngodlinesse, and worldly vanity: and to liue soberly, iustly, and vprightly, in this world, is grieuous vnto vs, and we cannot a∣bide it.

The children of Israel hearing of the fruit∣fulnes of the promised land of Canaan, buck∣led themselues in al the haste vnto the battell, and marched towards it, eger of the present possession of it: but hearing the place was in∣habited with Giants, they hung downe their heads, and their hearts failed them, and altred quite from the men they were before, their fancies were set vpon Aegypt again. So many hearing by Gods spies, that came from hea∣uen, of the ioy and happines laid vp in store for vs in the life that is to come, especially of saint Paul, who was rapt vp to heauen, and

was full of reuelations, and discoursing of the vnspeakable riches of his kingdome, ra∣uisheth the hearers with these delightfull ti∣dings, that the eie hath not seene, the eare hath not heard, neyther can the heart of man conctiue the things that God hath prepared for them that loue him: men I say, heartned with such con∣solation, they take stomacke to themselues, and are zealous and hot in spirit after it, to winne and enioy it: But withall, vnderstand∣ing that the way is narrow, and the doore streight, that leadeth into it, and that there wil be some difficultie in our passage, our hearts grow heauy, and our iourney is dashed, and our whole minde is set vppon retiring vnto Aegypt, and to embrace this present world.

He that hath earnest occasion of speech with another man, coueteth to find that man alone, and free from other busines: when as God would speake to vs, he would find vs in this case, he would haue vs loue men, seque∣stred and put apart from the world.

Therefore when hee was to commune with Abraham, he willed him to be priuate, to resigne his natiue soyle Ʋr of the Calde∣ans, and to inioy his blessed presence, to forget his owne kinred, and his fathers house.

And because that cares are the daughters of riches, which as thornes do choake the

good seed of the worde, in worldly minded men; the Lord enacted in the state of Israel, that cleargy men, seperated and put a part to the ministrie, should not haue worldly he∣reditaments and possessions as other of the tribes: that their minds, whilest they were in their holy ministration, might not be distra∣cted, and miscaried with them.

As also it was a constitution among them, that he that was bunched and crooked in the backe, shuld not serue & minister in the tem∣ple. For this defect and impediment of body, is a hindraunce to their eies, that they cannot lift them vp to heauen as they shuld. So, such as are distorted and crooked in mind, and haue their affections always stooping & loo∣king on the world, are no fit persons to serue before the Lord, and to enter into his courtes.

Mortifie we therfore all our worldly lusts, and slay we them down right with the sword of the spirit. Let vs not imprison in the bow∣els of our soules, such sinnes as we like best, and keep them aliue as Saul did Agag, whom God commaunded should be put to death: but let vs hew them in peeces, as Samuel did Agag in Gilgal before the Lord, and beate them as small as the dust of the earth.

If we pitty our sins as Ely did his sons, when we ought to punish them, God will punish

them, and wil bring a great iudgement against vs for them.

Oh heauy and most grieuous is that com∣mination of the Lord against Achab, for de∣missing Benhadad: Because (saith God) thou hast let goe out of thy handes a man whome I ap∣pointed to die, thy life shall goe for his life. The like sentence is gone out against all, that saue aliue that sinne they should destroy, they shal die for it.

If ye liue (saith Saint Paul) after the flesh, ye shall die; but if ye shall mortifie the flesh by the spirit, ye shall liue. Thus Paul maketh two men of one: the one the outward and the o∣ther the inward man: both which are vnited in one, yet are they so sundry, as they cannot agree in one, but the generation of the one, must be the others corruption, the life of the one, must be the death of the other, and therefore to saue and keepe aliue the one, we must needes mortifie and put to death the o∣ther.

What a good match we shall make, in co∣ping away the pleasure of the world, for the ioyes of heauen: at that generall county day, wherein the bookes and scrolles of conscien∣ces shall be laid open, plainly will appeare, at what time all those things that we haue here gathered together will do vs no good, where

no manner of excuse may serue our turne, where there wil be no place of any refuge for vs.

Here there haue bin found some places of small succor, in the time of danger. Adam could runne behind the trees of his orchard. Sarah could hide her selfe within her tent. Li∣tle Zoar was a sanctuary to Lot. Elias could shrowd himself in Mount Carmel: and Ionas could go downe to the hatches of the keele, that he might flee to Tharsis, from the pre∣sence of the Lord. But in the iudgement, we shall say to the mountaines, hide vs, and to the hills couer vs, from the anger of him that sit∣teth vpon the throane, and of the lamb.

Tell me what it is, whereat thou shouldest sticke to go through with this purchase? Or what it is that thou shouldst desire in compa∣rison of this? One saith riches, another saith honor: one desireth beauty: this man is for his backe, and this man for his belly, one for his myrth, another for his credite, another for his pride: here one, and there one goeth vp high∣er, and desireth heauen, and steppeth vp this ladder, as the Angells that Iacob did see in his dreame.

It is euen as the shaking of an oliue tree, here and there a berry is to be had. Thus like bruit beasts, who set more by stubble & gras,

then by gold: they sottishly esteeme more of earthly vanity, then of heauenly felicity.

As the Sun which is but one, doth minister far more light then all the smaller stars which are innumerable: so the sun-shine of the glo∣rious gospell of Christ, doth vs more good by infinite proportion, then all the creatures which the world yeeldeth vs: as by particu∣lar discourse shall appeare in the winding vp of this historie in the last Chapter.

Wherfore grudge we not to do away those things that are of meanest moment, for those of greatest substance: to change chaffe with wheat, drosse with gold, myre for pearl, earth for heauen.

Know we not how that pearles and preti∣ous stones, are not set vpon yron and copper rings, but only vpon golde? In like case, the glittering gemme of heauenly glory, may not be set into yron hearts, brazen affections, im∣pure and earthly mindes: but into such as are purified as fine gold from all impure com∣mixtion. For the estate of the soule, is in na∣ture not vnlike a pure crystall glasse, which is so dimmed with the least dust, and is so ob∣scured but with once breathing on it, as it nei∣ther giueth the image of that face that looketh into it, neither sendeth backe such bright and cleare light as is obiect vnto it.

He must partake with God in his life, that will share with him in glory. If Christ our grand Captaine despised the world, and renounced al, to do his fathers will it appea∣reth that we fight not vnder his standerd, and are not his souldiers, who are as greedy of the world as a crow is of carrion, and who can sauour nothing but the things of this world.

There be many with Balaam, that desire to die the death of the righteous, but they re∣fuse with Balaam, to liue the life of the righ∣teous. They would liue rebelliously with Iu∣das, and die in peace with Simeon: but it may not be: for the life of beasts, and the glory of Angells, may not be knit together. It is not to be hoped for, that if we liue in this world like beasts, we shall liue in the other like An∣gells.

The sheepe, otherwise a seely creature, yet is so wise, as he knoweth what hearbes are most wholesome for him, and what as hurtful he is to refuse.

He knoweth the woolfe to be his enemy, and the shepheards curre that is like a wolfe, for to be his friend. The Lord hath giuen vs iudgement and discretion, if we would vse it thereafter, to leaue the euill, and to chuse the good; to eschew sinne, and to ensue righte∣ousnes; to loath the earth, and to loue heauen.

The birdes of the ayre naturally are dispo∣sed, though the cage be neuer so precious, wherein they are inclosed, be it of Iuory, or of gold, or howsoeuer they are daintily dieted and tended, to desire to be at liberty abroade, which they shew by the often grating their beakes against the wyer window: so the god∣ly scorn al the plesures of the world, in regard of their ioyes prepared in heauen, and to be in state and fruition of them, are willing and desirous to make a surrender of all their earthly profits and commo∣dities whatso∣euer.

Notes

• Luke. 10
• Act. 5
• Luke. 9
• 2. King. 5
• Phil. 3
• 1. King 3
• 2. Sa. 10.
• Luke. 10.
• 2. King. 4
• Matth. 21 1. Sa. 15.
• A similitud
• Mark. 6.
• A similitude.
• A similitude.
• Math. 11.
• Psal. 34. Psal. 103. Psal. 119.
• Exod. 10.
• Gen. 27.
• Ioh. 1••
• 1. reg. 21.
• Mark. 6.
• A similitude.
• Iudg. 16.
• Apoc 1. A similitude.
• Augustine.
• Genesis 39.
• Tit. 2.
• Num. 14
• 2. Cor. 12
• 1. Cor. 2
• Math. 7
• A similitude.
• Gen. 12
• Deut. 18
• Leuit. 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• 1. Sam. 15
• 1. Sam. 2
• 1. King. 20.
• Rom. 8
• Gen. 3 Genes. 18 Gen. 19 1. Reg. 18 Iona. 1.
• Luke 23. Apoc. 6
• Gen. 28.
• Isai. 17
• A similitude.
• A similitude.
• A similitude.
• Num. 23.
• Mat. 26
• Luke. 2
• A similitude
• A similitude.