25$ The perft Tatterhe z t.Crn.:.§. but inthe power ofgoel i. IftheLord (houldvfuallyemplyfuch infrumenrs, as for outward refpeas we (hall be ready to admire, it would bean occafion fume- thing to darken theglory of God, &we would afcribe that to themeanes, which is in thepower of Godonely toperforme;whereas now,God vfrngweakand vn. likely meanes,it niuf makevs to fay,whenwe feele ourfelues connected & cófor- aPfal,n8,zg. ted therby;This is the fingeroftheLordílt is his deing,&ir marneilorts inoar ties.: The;. Vfe. Thirdly, we are yet to make another vfe thereof,to wit, that Peeing this trea- fitre is hiddento the naturali man, thereforewewould begearneftly ofGod , to enlightenour mindes:we would pray with Damid,O Lord ópenmyeyes,that I may+. b PCal,u9.r8 fee the wonder, ofthyLaw'. WhenE1:fha thePiophetaedhisferuantweretoge- ther , and theKingofAram had feat an hofte ofmen, with honks and Chariots to take him, his feruant at the fight of it was afraide,and criedout, AlasMailer Whatthanwe doe? 8lifha prayed to the Lord,agd laid ; Lord, l befeech theeopenhis e z.Ffln.ó.r r. oyes that he may fee e. He fa wnot the multitude ofheauenly fouldiers , who were there ready to guardElifha, till the Lord openedhis eyes : fo when we come to theexercifesofreligon; it fareth withesas it did with thewoman ofSamaria a; d Ioh.4. little thought thee that that fillymanthat fate there alone, craningof her a little water, wastheSauiour ofthe world : fo we doe not imagine,that lifeand falsari- on isreadied to vs, in thole bale means whichare vied in the Churchibut ifwe Ihall pray theLot d toopen our eyes , as Erta did for his feruant , then we (ball e flay /0. fee that which before lay hidden , even the arme ofthe Lord e, thepower ofGod f xom,a,r6, veto f )nation . This is one reafon why it is called a hidden treafure; andtheft be the siresofit. DeElrine g. Afecond reafon why it is called a hidden treafure, is,to put es in miedeofthe great pailles andcare whichwe muli vicia the feekingafter it. Treafurescannot be gotten but by digging deepe , & by fearchingeven into thevery bowelsof the earth. Thekingdomeof beamen(faith ourtSauiour Chrill)fnffereth violence,and into takeitKbyferce 8 ,thereis no comming irrst thefiraitegate,without flriningh. ggMath.te.xu. dt condemnes our carelfneiTe andniceneffe, wethinke togoeto heauen as it hLuke a 3,24 were in beds ofdówne ; ofall other matterswecount it theeatiefi thing to bee TheVie. fatted. Weconf lfe,amancannotberichwithoutcare,withoutipduflrie,without riling tardy, andgoing late totell, without forwardnesto take eueryopportu- nitie, without fatting: but as for life eternal], the richesof Chrill, the treafureof faluation;we thinke,that,though we loyter at hotne,& lye in bed when we Ilrould come toheare, though we care not to lendour cares when we are at Church; though wefeeke for no knowledge in theScripture,though we haue no wraft]ing again('our ovine corruptions, yet we may doe wellenough, heauen (ball be cali vpon vs, though we doe negle& and defpife the measestocomcvotoit. So a: gaine,the bare readingof the textof the Scripture , wouldwellenough content vs; we make no account, wehane itodelireofany further opening. Toreforaic theft evils, the Spirit .of God catsthemeansoffaluationahid treafure: In deede the word of God isthe field where it is laid 1 but as, infearching for finer and gold, we flay notepos theupper faceofthe ground, but diggeinto the very heart ofthe earth.: fo in labouringafter the knowledgeof faluation,and the com- fortable vnderftandingof themyflery ofChrill; the vpper face and letterofthe text mutt not fatisfie vs ; but we mull delireto haue thehiddenmyfieries there- of fought out and revealed tovs, that will enrichour fouleswith wifedomeand fpirituall vnderfbanding. Thefpeech of Salomon (withwhich Iwill conclude) is very agreeing hereunto, to (hewwhatpaises and diligencemutt be vied, in ree- king out the hid treafute ofthis fauing knowledge: 1./thow caaeff after knowledge ; andcry'?for onderffanding;ifthoa feelfefl herasfilmer.0liarchellfor herse for trea. iPro.2.5,4,ç fires,thenfhalt thou vnder&andthefeareroftheLorrfandfindethe lrnörpkdgeofGod'. So that by aflight,careleffe, and fuperficiall carriage,men (hail notamine tothe hidden trcafureoffaluationr The
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