Heart-treasure, or, An essay tending to fil [sic] and furnish the head and heart of every Christian ... being the substance of some sermons preached at Coley in Yorkshire on Mat. 12. 35 ... / by O.H. ...

CHAP. XVII. How a Christian is to maintain and encrease his Treasure.

THus I have largely handled Directions for obtaining a Treasure, and particu∣lar instructions about particular Treasures to furnish the poor soul. Now 'tis also necessary to take heed of losing or diminishing this Treasure, 'tis a piece of wisdome to keep as well as get, to maintain as well as obtain a Treasure: a little negligence loseth that sud∣denly which had been got with much dili∣gence: Salomon saith, there's a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together, but there's no time to cast away these precious Treasures, you must keep what you have and stil be gathering more: Now to help you herein, take these ten practical Directions:

1. Let not Satan rob or circumvent you: he is that evil One that envies a Saints treasure, he steals away the seed of the Word, lest it be∣come a treasure of divine Truths; He it is that most grudgeth our growth in Grace, the better the soul is treasured, the more assaults must he suffer from the evil one, a Pirate makes most at a rich laden Ship, a Thief breaks not into the Beggars Cottage; the Devil lets his sworn Vassals live in peace, but raiseth an hurry in the Believers heart: This Juggler will transform himself into an Angel of light, that like a Famili•• he may pick our pockets

with more ease and less suspition; as he foists in dangerous Errours under the notion of truth, so he allures to damnable sins under the paintings of Vertue: take heed of both, observe it, new Notions may eat out the heart-root of Religion as well as corrupt practices: Satan may rob us of our treasure by subtile insinuations of new light as well as grosser temptations to apparent works of darknesse: for these drink up the marrow of those spi∣rits that should be laid out otherwaies: there∣fore take Pauls advice, refuse prophane and old wives fables, and exercise your selves rather to godliness, 1 Tim. 4.7. Strivings, though they should be even about Scriptures and the Law, may come to bee unprofitable and vain, Tit. 3.9. Great Triflers are no good trea∣surers, and many great Disputers have argued away much of their Religion; or at least have filled their heads with Notions rather than their hearts with saving truths or savou∣ry affections: Precious Saints have complain∣ed that even necessary Disputes have put their spirits out of tune: You have zeal little e∣nough for the vitals of Religion, let none run in by-channels: the Lord help you to prize more a fundamental truth, and a degree of saving grace, than a fine Notion or victorie over an Antagonist: take heed lest Satan cast into you a spark of false zeal and blow it up to an eager dispute for an opinion, to divert or excuse you from medling with the more weighty matters of Christianitie. O Chri∣stians, be not ignorant of Satans various me∣thods

to get an advantage against you, that he may rob you of your treasure: you know the old Serpent when he was young out-wit∣ted our first Parents in their best estate: now he is grown more cunning by almost six thou∣sand yeares experience, and we more foolish in this dotage of the world, we are in great danger of undoing: O lets watch and pray that we enter not into temptation, keep out of Satans Road, hold him at staves-end, sus∣pect his wiles, resist his power, that neither his seven heads by plotting, nor his ten horns by pushing, may deprive our souls of our precious treasure.

2. Fill not your hearts with the world: Carnal men have the world set in their hearts, and are therefore called, the men of this world; that have their portion therein, and that is to∣tally inconsistent with this heavenly Treasure: and the more you admit the world into your hearts, the more you thrust out divine things: As the shining Sun eats out the burning fire, or as the abundance of weeds sucks up the vertue of the earth that should nourish the herbs and fruit-trees, just so do Riches choak the Word by a wicked encroachment they have upon the heart: the love of the world justles out the love of God, 1 John 2.15. Love and Royaltie can endure no Corrivals: 'Tis true, Religion begot wealth, but the daughter devoures the mother, as the Proverb hath it, worldly-mindedness is directly opposite to heavenly treasures: O let not your hearts be in the world, though your heads and hands be

in it: the heart is to be reserved for God; if Riches be placed in that Closet, Christ must be thrust into the Stable: if Riches encrease set not your hearts thereon; in the Apostles times, the Saints cast their money and estates at the Apostles feet, thereby signifying, saith an An∣cient, that they were fitter to be trodden upon, than doted upon, or rather to be a step-stone to divine things, than a burden on our backs: but the truth is, these outward things are too many, rather a stumbling block to cast them down, than a foot-stool to lift them up: it is better bee without great Estates, then to have them for a snare: tremble lest you bee over-charged with the cares of the world, or be bewitched with the delights here below: Be not like that carnal Cardinal, that preferred his part in Pa∣ris to his part in Paradise: But say, as that no∣ble Commander to a common Souldier, Thou art not Themistocles, take this trash to thee, for so he called and accounted the Persian spoils, of richest Jewels and goodliest Ornaments: So do thou scorn to load thy noble soul with such unworthie baggage, cast out those wares that will sink the ship of your souls: One staffe will help in your journey, but a bundle will be burdensome carriage; a garment fit for the body is nimble and useful, but one that's too wide, or with a long train, is in dan∣ger to be troublesome to the party that wears it and others: not that I would have you to cast away the good mercies of God (though you must cast your bread on the waters) but cast the world out of your hearts; Let not

your precious souls be like the Serpents belly, joined to the dust: if you possess much of the world, let it not possess you, fear your selves in this most: How many Demas's are hereby ship-wrackt? How many Sampsons have lost their best strength by the embraces of this Dalilah? Alass, thousands have been cheated of their spiritual Riches by its Syren Songs, and bewitching charmes: And there∣fore let our souls stand at a distance from it, make no friendship with it, let us more sus∣pect its fawnings, then fear its frowns, a false Friend will prejudice us more than an open Foe, let no earthly treasure take off our spi∣rits from an heavenly treasure, lest we abate of the divine stock that our precious souls are furnisht with:

3. Mortifie the corruption of your hearts: cast out intestine enemies, carnal affections. Sin & Grace are like two Scales, as one goeth up, the other goeth down, or like two Buc∣kets, as the one mounts up full, so the other falls down empty: the more full the heart is of sin, the more emptie it is of goodnesse: Sin is the thief in the Candle that dims our light and comfort, it is as dirt in the channel that stops the Current of Grace: Sin is a great Prodigal that wastes a fair Revenue; Adam by one fall lost all: Sin is the Canker and Moth that marrs all our enjoyments, it is a Pul-back to high attainments, 'tis the only Make-bait betwixt God and the soul, which hinders communion with God and commu∣nications from God: The Devil, the World,

and the flesh are the souls mortal and mis∣chievous enemies, but the flesh is nearest and worst, therefore these fleshly lusts are said peculiarly to fight against the soul: Divines distinguish of three sorts of temptations, As∣cendent, Objected, and Injected: Ascendent temptations are such as fume up from some stirred humour or lower facultie within us, that borders next upon the sense or affection. Objected, are such as reflect from some out∣ward object, baited and suited to the Organ: Injected, are such as the Tempter immedi∣ately affects the facultie it self with, this last proceeds from Satan, the second from the World, but the first from our own hearts, which is of all others most dangerous: Except the wicked one finde something in us he can have no advantage against us; Our base hearts entertain little Thieves within, which open the door to Satan without, that comes to spoil us of our treasure: Therefore take heed of this wilie beguiling thing, touch not the forbidden fruit, admit no parly with lust, commit no sin, though never so secretly, a secret way of spending hath exhausted large Estates; Heart-sins dallied with, delighted in, will do your souls a deadly mischief: a privie stab may let out your Heart-blood: an un∣suspected leak may sink a well-laden Ship: And therefore let a Christian say as good Jo∣seph, who might have committed filthinesse with his Mistress secretly and safely as to man, yet cries out, How shall I do this wicked∣nesse and sin against God? O Sirs, consider

how unsuitable and incongruous it is for a Vessel of Mercy to admit iniquitie, it is as if a Cup of gold were filled with mens Excre∣ments: O let not your precious souls be fil∣led with the loathsome excrements of sin, re∣member your dignity and Dutie, and keep your selves from an evil matter: have not any fel∣lowship with the unfruitful works of darknesse, mor∣tifie earthly members, possesse your Vessel in san∣ctification and honour, purge out filthiness of flesh and spirit, and thereby you will not only main∣tain, but encrease your souls treasure.

4. Observe the Spirits Pulses and impul∣ses: yield to the genuine motions of Gods blessed Spirit, grieve it not, lest it grieve or leave you, its a delicate thing, and will deal with you as you deal with it; Christ Jesus hath left the Holy Ghost to supply his place, and now the Spirit is Gods great Factor in the World, if it knock at your doors it hath a good bargain for you; O slight not such a Chap-man lest you dally away your market: the Spirit never puts you upon Duty, but it calls you to some profit, now its good making Hay when the Sun shines, and sailing when you have wind and tyde to help you: take this advantage lest if you miss it, you be left to your own strength, and then what can you do? the Spirit is that gentle Nurse, and streng∣thening Hand that helps the infirmities of the dead or daunted childe of God in Prayer, O refuse not its assistance: the Spirit is that holy Fire, that sets the soul in a flame for God, O do not quench it: This Holy Spirit is a

Queen that comes attended with a goodlie train of graces and comforts, called the fruits of the spirit; and therefore labour you to be filled with the spirit, and then you have this blessed treasure: 'tis true you can∣not expect it as Christ had it, beyond mea∣sure, yet your larger measure wil be a trea∣sure, and help you to maintain and increase that heavenlie treasure in the heart: the in∣comes of the spirit promote renewed acts of grace: as the Sea ebbs and flows according to the influence of the heavenlie bodies, so doth grace in the heart move, according to the ope∣rations of the spirit: the more you yield up your selves to the guidance of the spirit, the more you shal feel the assistance of the spirit: this wil be a preservative from sin, a prepara∣tive to dutie, an evidence of your state, and an entrance into glorie: yea, then the peace of God aswel as the God of peace, shal keep your hearts & minds through Christ Iesus, Phil. 4.7. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 shal keep as with a guard in a Garison, i. e. shal stand centinel for you to prevent the furious assaults of your spiritual enemies, and be a safe convoy to the ship of your souls against Rocks and Sands, Storms and Pirates, til you come to the haven of Heaven: therefore O yee Christians, make much of the spirit, maintain familiarity with it, and it shal main∣tain your treasure, keep up intercourse with it, and it shal keep its interest in you, allies and confederates have the same friends and foes, and if you have the Holy Ghost to take your part, you shal be kept by the power of

God, through faith unto salvation, if receiv∣ed faith cannot keep you, yet supporting po∣wer is able, never did any fal out of the hands of God; therefore I beseech you give up your selves to the Spirits guidance, and go∣vernance, and it shal be your guard and de∣fence: that God that preserves his peoples bones, wil preserve their souls, and he that keepeth the feet of his Saints, wil also keep the fruits of his love, in the souls of his ser∣vants: and if you thus do, he that is able to keep you from falling, wil present you fault∣less before 〈◊〉〈◊〉 presence of his glory with ex∣ceeding joy. Jude 24.

5. Carefully watch your hearts; though God hath undertaken to guard you, yet you are bound to watch your own hearts: that's the command, Prov. 4.23. Keep thy heart with all diligence, in the Hebrew 'tis very ful and emphatical, in or above all keepings, take care of thy heart: thou maist and must look to other things, but above all, let thy eye be most intent upon, and study be most about the frame of thy heart, But why so? What great need of industrie about the heart? why he tels us, out of it are the issues of life, i. e. all our treasure is there, our greatest stock and store, if that be neglected, our wealth is exposed to apparent hazard; therefore keep thy heart with all diligence, lock up thy trea∣sure, and set a guard upon it, admit no stran∣gers into this Closet, let not other things make an inroad upon thee, or at least a through-fare of thee: there's no keeping a

treasure in a common room, a Man that fears his Purse in a strange place, hath alwaies an eie upon it, dare not let it go out of his sight, in a time of great robbing a stranger suspects every one, and goeth not forth unarmed: O Sirs, consider you are strangers in this Earth, many Thieves are abroad, they aim at you, they have plundered many of their treasures, and cast down manie strong men wounded, therefore look about you, keep strict watch, be not found asleep on the Centinel, as the ten Virgins, or Christs own Disciples, but gird up your loines, watch and be sober, and if drouziness at any time seize on you, rub your eies, shake off sloath, and awake out of sleep, and when anie motions knock at your door; boldlie ask who is there? whence comest thou? art thou a Messenger sent from God, or from Satan? art thou for me, or against me? what's thy end or errand? make your thoughts stand stil, and go no further til they have under-gone an impartial trial, whe∣ther they have a pass and commission under the great seal of Heaven, and be warranted by the Word, and tend unto the glorie of God, and the souls eternal good: and though vain thoughts may step into thy heart, yet suf∣fer them not to lodge there, for thy heart is not thine own, thou dost but keep it for thy Lord and Master, there he hath laid up a treasure, and if anie thing be wanting through thy default, thou canst not give a good ac∣count, but be exposed unto shame, and grief, and loss: principallie and particularlie watch

thy heart when thou art before God in dutie, take heed of distractions, diversions, and ex∣cursions of spirit from God! these wil waste and weaken thy treasure, by running out in a wrong Channel, and spilling or spoiling the souls activitie, for the narrow shallow spirit cannot minde manie things at once; Besides, wandering thoughts are as a dead flie to cause this box of precious ointment to stink, and putrifie; these vain cogitations obstruct the operations of grace, and insensiblie steal away the affections from God; even dust may hin∣der the Clock from going, as wel as dirt; raise up your affections Heaven-wards, cen∣ter and settle your hearts upon God, say to distractions, as Nehemiah to his Enemies, I am doing a great work, and I cannot come down, or as 'tis storied of John Baptist, who being asked of his companions to play with them, when he was a Childe, yet answered. I am not born for sport; thus do you say to your trifling hearts, it is not fit that I should leave the work of God, to attend upon toies; I must minde my business, or I shal go behinde in my spiritual trade; that Man is in danger to be on the losing hand, that stands gazing at others, or runs playing at foot-ball on the Market-day, when others are busie making bargains, and getting money; O Christians you either gain something, or lose in everie performance, if the heart be not fixt on God, you are on the losing hand: everie thing is beautiful in its season, do what you do with all your might, pray when you pray, work

when you work, but let not these things inter∣fere; set not up anie Idols in your hearts, drive away that which may interpose betwixt God and thy soul, as Abraham drave away the Fowles that sate upon the Carcassses: the Jewish Rabbins say, that if a Serpent bite a Man by the heel, while he is at his Devotions, he must not stop, nor stoop to shake her off: and Heathens have recorded instances of some that have rather suffered their Armes or Legs to be burnt, with a Coal from the Altar, than move whilest sacrificing: and do not Christians blush upon consideration of their slight occasions of diversion from God in du∣tie: O learn from hence to be more instant and intent in worshiping God, whereby your treasure wil be maintained and promoted: That's the fifth.

6. Be most jealous after the sweetest en∣largements: there's greatest danger after you have been with God, and loaded your souls with choicest treasures of refreshing incomes: I have observed almost a score of Scripture-instances of Saints saddest fals, suddenlie af∣ter Gods doing some signal thing for them, or their doing some notable thing for God: and I appeal to experienced souls, if they have not sustained saddest shakings and losses, after the sweetest gains: dear Years usuallie come after great plentie, a great spending fol∣lows a time of gaining, a long journey after a good bait, and a sharp Winter after a plea∣sant Summer; God in wisdome usuallie lets Satan loose, upon such as he hath armed to

the combate: Paul must have Satans Messen∣ger to buffet him after abundant revelations; Peter acts Satans part in disswading Christ from suffering, after he had acted an Angels part in acknowledging him for the Messias: the French often got that again by craft, that the English had obtained by Prowess: and we know in all Wars, supine negligence hath undone many an Armie, after famous victo∣ries: this Pugna Os••ulana (as Historians call it) is when the conquered gathered strength, and so returned upon the Conquerors, when they were dividing the spoils: just thus doth Satan with God's Children, when the soul hath been with God, and got its Vessel wel fraught with spiritual riches, then it's in grea∣test danger of Pirates: then Satan doth be∣stir himself most, his malice and policy takes that as the fittest season to foile and spoile the wel-laden soul: and then the soul is most apt to grow secure and carnallie confident, and so gives Satan greatest advantage; as a man that hath run fast, or workt hard, sits down and cools suddenlie, after much sweating doth thereby endanger his health, and life too, by a dangerous surfeit: so when the heart hath been sweetlie warmed with the love of God, and is powerfullie chaffed in an holie dutie, it's then most in danger of a spiritual Ague, a chil fit of deadness; for such an one blesseth himself, and thinks now he may sit stil, and take his ease, and then comes a fall: this is the believers round, this is his wheeling con∣dition in the World: Peter confesseth Christ

graciously, then magnifies himself too con∣fidentlie, then denies his Master shamefullie, and at last goeth out, and weeps bitterly, and so was kindly received by his loving Master: this, this is the Christians round, ebbing and flowing state, up-hil and down-hil condition in this howling Wilderness: But how sad is it, that a Christian should so soon forget his inlargements? and so soon return into follie, after his heart is broken, and peace is spoken to him? O why should the soul so quicklie turn out of the way, wherein so latelie it had such encouragements? why should we give Satan such occasion to bid defiance to the God of Heaven, that his Servants wil not be hired to continue with him, for all his pre∣sent rewards, and promises of future happi∣ness? Ah sirs, is there not much reward in keeping Gods Commandments? is there not more pleasure in holiness, than any sin? why should you think to eke out your spiritual delights with sensual pleasures? think seri∣ously of it, be afraid to stain your milk-white souls, that are newly washed in the blood of the Lamb, by wallowing in the mud of sin: be ashamed to dishonour God, torment your selves, gratifie your grand Enemie, and lose that in an instant, that was so hardlie obtain∣ed: Be not high minded, but fear, be jealous over your selves with godlie jealousie, rejoice with trembling, cast not off fear, nor restrain prayer before God, keep conscience tender, eies open and hearts resolved for God: pray over David's prayer for the continued settle∣ment

of those affectionate impressions upon your own hearts, in 1 Chron. 29.18. For a∣las, the best Man on Earth, is no more than the Lord makes him hourlie, we are like a staff, that must fall, if the hand be removed, or a stone that descends, if not carried or cast upwards, if we were as good as Paul or Peter, we should fall foullie, without supporting grace: therefore be jealous of your selves, after inlargements, and take heed, lest by securitie, you become a sacrifice to the Devil; as Luther speaks.

Notes

• Non minor est virtus quam quae∣rere parta tueri.
• 2 Cor. 2.11. chap. 11.2, 14.
• Eccl. 3.11. Psalm 17.14.
• Religio p••∣perit divi∣tias sed fi∣lia devora∣vit ma∣tiem:
• Psal. 62.10. Acts 4.35.
• Isa. 59 2.
• 1 Pet. 2.11. Mr Herl in Treat. of Polit. p. 11.
• Joh. 14.30.
• Eph. 5.11. Col. 3.5. 1 Thes. 4.4. 2 Cor. 7.1.
• Eph. 4.30.
• Rom. 8.26. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• 1 Thes. 5.19.
• Gal. 5.22. Eph. 5.18.
• Joh. 3.34.
• See Gal. 5.5. ver. 16, 18.
• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• 〈…〉〈…〉
• Quando a∣nimus di∣viditur ad multa fit minor ad fingula.
• Ec••. 10.1.
• Lightfoots Miscell. page 26.
• Psal.
• Exod. 32.••
• Nos nihil sumus, Chri∣stus solus est omnia, qui si a∣vertat faci∣em suam nos perimus & Satanas triumphat, etiamsi aut Petri aut Pauli simus: sicut deo sacrifi∣cium est spiritus contribulatus, ita haud dubiè Diaboli sacrificium spi∣ritus praefractus & securus: Luth. Tom. 1. Lat. fol. 522.