5~2 THE GOSPEL coMPARED 'to A TREASURE. Bookiii. I N F E R E N C E S. I. THIS !hews who are the truly rich Men and Women in the World, and what is indeed the true Treafure, that will make them fo here, and to Eternity, Janus ii. 5· 2 Cor. vi. 10. I I. It !hews the Folly and Madnefs of thofe that Oight and defpife the Gofpel, Heb. ii. 2, 3· Jer. viii. 8, 9· · Ill. What ftrong Motives might I produce in order to the getting of this Treafure? 1. Would you have R iches for ever, would you have durable Riches ? &c, 2. Would you be defended, and know how to fubfift another Day? Then get much "lf this Treafure I ~ell:. But is not this the Wa)' to be in the more Danger? For it is not the Poor that the 'rhief cares to meddle withal, but the Rich: W e fee what A.Jfaults they meet withal that have this 'rreafure, therefore it is beft to be at cafe and quiet, and forbear to meddle with it. Anf&. God's Power and Strength is laid om for its Prefervation, and of the Ve1fels in whom it is. lt is God's Treafure, and the Veffel too, for his People are his pecu– liar Treafure: He will keep it Night and Day, left any hurt it, !fa. xxvii. 3. meaning his People, whom he hath enriched with this Treafure. ~ell:. But why is tbis 'rreajitre put into fuch earthen Vejfels? Is it not in the greater Danger therefore to be loft, they being fo Jitbjefl to be broken? Anfw. 1. They are, though mean in the World's E ye, and alfo in their own, yet, chofen and fanCtified Veffels, and fitted for the L ord's Ufe; fo that the Treafure can fuffer no Lofs by tl;e Ve1fd. z. The Power of God is the more manifefted, in preferving this Treafure in an earthen Ve1fel. ObjeCt. But theft Vejfels m·ay be, nay, have been, ana are often broken, and turned I~ Dufl. Anfw. Yet God never wanted a Ve1fcl for this T reafure; nay, thofe that are turned to Duft are not defhoyed; they are but diffolved, that the Treafure !)light be the •nore diffufive, and fpread itfelf. The Blood of the Saints bath been the Seed of the Church, 2 Cor. iv. 8, 9• 10, I 1. 1 Cor. vi. 1 4 . Met'lphor>,
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