25G THE RICH PEARL.
creatures have a double use, one for the good of the body, another for the good of the soul, as Eom. i. 20, seq. The Godhead is so manifest in the creature, as it alone is sufficient to leave us without excuse ; and therefore as we daily use them, so should our souls, by way of meditation, make them as a ladder to ascend on high. But for the parable itself, in it first we will expound the terms, and then pass to the observations. And, first, by the ' kingdom of heaven' is meant sometime the company of men that are under Christ's regiment,* that acknowledge him for their king ; as we say it is not the walls that make the city, but the body of men united and governed by one law, custom, and privilege. But here it may be well taken for the blessed estate that doth belong to such, together with the means that bring them to this estate, and the prerogatives annexed to it, as peace, joy, grace, and the like ; but most especially for the glorious estate of a Christian, begun here and perfected hereafter, for where this is supposed, it doth suppose the means and prerogatives also foi-merly spoken of. And therefore if we ever think to come to heaven, it must he began here in this Idmjdom of f/rnce. And hence it is that the word is sometimes called the ' kingdom of heaven ;' for Christ will rule in those here by his Spirit that think to reign with him hei'eafter. And it should also comfort those that find in them the first-fruits of this kingdom, for they shall assuredly have the harvest at length. Fear not trials nor troubles ; grace once begun, though as a grain ' of mustard seed,' will not leave growing till it ends in glory. And yet it must be supposed that our carriage here must be as if we were in heaven ; our thoughts must suit with our estates. We are kings, our thoughts must be high ; and take heed how we dis- esteem the gospel. If we neglect it, we neglect the kingdom of heaven ; if we contemn it, we refuse also, and contemn grace, and so disclaim all title to heaven. It is further said that it is with this ' kingdom' as with a merchantman that seeks pearls. This merchant is everij Christian. Our life is a continual merchandising of something, and taking other in ex- change, and taking such as are better than the things we part with, else will our trade be soon at an end, and we never a whit the better. And therefore the Christian, like a good merchant, trades for pearls. A Chris- tian life therefore is a life of trading, a venturing life ; and therefore a life of danger, being ever as it were in danger of death, as the merchant is at sea, 3'et ever sure that his God will not forsake him, but assist and defend him ofi" from the rocks of Satan's temptations, and accusations, and terror of conscience, and despair on the one side, and from the alluring waves of the world, that he falls not into that dangerous whirlpool on the other side. His life is also a life of labour, labouring in his particular calling with faithfulness, having ever an eye on his other calling; and thus by an holy use of the things here below, his mind is ever climbing up the hill, to see the end of all his labour, and to aim at it in all his thoughts, words, and deeds. And as it is a life of labour, so it is not fruitless. It isf for pearls of honour, pleasure, or profit; but the Scripture counts these but dirt and thorns, although in our childish esteem we count them goodly jewels, being indeed but counterfeit glass. Yet there is a sort of higher spirit, that do indeed seek a pearl, having purposes to serve God ; but they in seeking meet with counterfeits, with false teachers, that make glorious shows, yet indeed are but mountebanks, who shew and sell them much counterfeit pearl, and thereby seduce them from the right way. But such as God intends good unto, he informs them by his Spirit that this is not the right * That is, ' government.' — G f Qu. ' is not ' ? — Ed.
THE RICH PEAKL. 257
orient pearl; and this they find by experience. It quiets not their hearts nor their consciences; it gives them no comfort. Briefly, it stands them in no stead ; nay, it hinders them. And this makes them cast about anew for other treasure, as the woman of Samaria, a ' Messiah that will shew them all things,' John iv. 25 ; and at length they meet with this rich and precious pearl. And thus Augustine, a Manicheo at the first, fell to doubting of his estate, and at length met with God indeed, which he for- merly sought in vain.* To proceed : this merchant seeks, then finds, then sells all, to get the pearl that he thus found, wherein we will shew what this pearl is.
First, therefore, by this pearl is meant Christ Jesses, with all his tjraces and prerogatives derived] to us, b)j the means of his ordinances. Christ is the great pearl; all the rest are pearls, but no otherwise than as they lead us to Christ, the peerless pearl. Now, we know that pearls are bred in shell-fishes, of a celestial humour or dew; and like hereto was Christ, by heavenly influence formed in the womb of the Virgin. And as pearls, though formed in the water, yet originally are from the heavens, so the graces of God's Spirit are from heaven, though placed in earthly hearts. And again, as pearls, though here below, yet are like the heavens in clear- ness, so Christians by this gracious influence from this pearl Christ Jesus, though they live here on earth, are more like heaven than earth, wherein they are bred ; and thus is Christ also. Though he took the flesh of man upon him, yet he hath the lustre of the Godhead, in whom all the attri- butes of God do plentifully shine. Again, a pearl is of great value and worth; and so Christ, one Christ of infinite value, and therefore became a ransom for many millions that were in bondage, so as all the whole church hath interest in him, and every particular Christian hath such a part in him, as if one only man had been in the world to have been saved by him, Christ must have died for him. He was given by God to purchase our redemption; and not only to purchase our deliverance, but also to make us acceptable, and to fill us with other things that are good in him. We have all that we stand in need of here and hereafter; all our grace and comfort ariseth from him. In him are the treasures of wisdom and counsel hid; 'and from his fulness we all receive grace for grace,' John i. 16. Furthermore, it is such a pearl as frees us from all ill; nay, it is powerful to turn all' ill to the greatest good. It makes life out of death ; it makes joy out of afiliction ; it makes the devil, our enemy, to be a means of hastening us to heaven. Lastly, this pearl makes us good. Like the philosopher's stone, it turns everything into gold. So this makes us God's jewels ; and our High Priest doth now in heaven bear us in his breast, as the precious stones that were in Aaron's breastplate. It makes us kings and priests to God, and a spouse fitting for him our Hus- band. It adorneth us with all graces, it makes all ours, and entitles us to heaven, which we lost in our fall. Christ then is this pearl.