Use 2. Quest. But how shall ice know whether ice have interest and por- tion in these excellent treasures, ay or no ?
Ans. [1.] We may see our interest in tJiem, especially by our esteem of them. If they be presented to our souls indeed as God doth, and as Christ and the word of Christ presents them, then it is an argument, that there is a tincture in our spirits whereby they are made suitable to the Spirit of Christ. If they be presented [as] excellent things — and beyond all com- * That is = agents, servants. — G.
848 COMMENTARY ON
parison, all tlio things thou canst think of are not to be compared with them — do we so present them to ourselves, that we esteem of them as Moses, and Paul, and God's children do ? Do we so esteem of grace, that if we were left to our wish, whether we will have anything in the world, or a greater measure of grace, of the love of God, of union with God, what choice would we make ? Our estimation and choice will discover the frame of our hearts. As we esteem, so we be. If it were left to our own opinion, and wish, and desire, would we make David's choice, Ps. iv. G, ' When many said, Who will shew us any good ?' A right temper of a worldling, ' Who ? it is no matter who,' let any ' shew me any good,' do but shew it, I have ways enough to get it. But saith David, ' Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon me.' Life is in the favour of God; nay, the favour of (rod is better than life itself. I had rather part with my life than the favour of God ; saith Paul, ' My life is not dear to me, so I may finish my course with joy,' Acts xx. 24. Now do you esteem communion with God and peace of conscience higher than life ? It is a good sign of interest in Christ when you have this estimation and choice on him.
Aris. [2.] Again, a sign of interest in this treasure is, n-hen ire have f/rnce to make use of it on all occasions ; for together with graces the Lord gives his Spirit to make use of them, in our afflictions, in our troubles. And therefore they that make not use of the Scriptures, and promises of good things they have in Christ, have no part in this treasui'e. What is the use of a treasure if it be not applied to our occasions ; if we run to earthly contentments, and never make use of our best grounds of comfort ? Christ giveth an excellent note of discerning-: ' Where the treasure is, there the heart will be,' Mat. vi. 2L Wouldst thou know whether thy treasure be in earth or heaven ? Where is the heart ? that is, where is thy love, thy joy, delight ? Ask thy soul what thou lovest most ? what thou most cleavest in affection to ? what thou delightest most in ? There is thy heart. And therefore they that have few thoughts, and very shallow and weak thoughts of the better state to come, and of the state that they have here in Christ, and the excellencies in Christ above the world, that do not think of these things with joy and love of God, their heart is not there ; there- fore their treasure is not there. They have hearts eaten out with the world, if they were anatomised, you should find nothing but projects for the world. Anatomise their aifections, there is nothing but the love of the world, and vanity, and emptiness, and which is worse than emptiness, much sin and evil that Satan hath brought into the world. And if nothing be found in the soul but worldly vanities and profits, alas ! where is our treasure ? Our treasure certainly is here, and not in heaven ; for ' where the heart is, there is our treasure.'
They that have treasures. Oh they mind them. Therefore we shall see worldly men, they have nothing in them. You shall not have a savoury word of goodness. Their minds are like mines of gold and silver. They say of them, that where they are the ground is always barren, because the metal sucketh out the juice that should cherish it. And so it is with all the minds of earthly men. Enter into an heavenly discourse, it is not for them. They have not a word with them, they have no savour, no relish of it, they shew a distaste ; yet if it be brought in by occasion of mortality, a short thing will'serve. But they will quickly be in the old tract of the world. They be so unwilling to dwell in the meditation of these things, that they be mere* strangers to them.
* That is, ' altogether.'— G.
2 CORINTHIANS CHAP. IV, VER. 7. 349
Alls. [3.] A man will think of his frccttiure and look on it, as a covetous man, that though ho use not his gold, yet will open his chest to look on it ; excellent is the colour of it.
Note. Shall a worldling joy in refined earth, and shall not a Christian delight to reflect on Christianity and his comforts in Christ, and his future estate, and what blessed conditions abide in him, and being for ever with the Lord, and having such rivers of pleasure ? The oldest man, the dullest wit, will never forget where he layeth his treasure, and when we cannot call to mind this comfort, and that comfort, and things useful for us, it is a sign they be not treasures to us, for if they were we would make more of them.