Here then we learn that none shall make appearance in the kingdom of God hereafter,1 which maketh not an entrance into it here. He which taketh not possession of it in this life, shall never possess it in the life to come, none shall rise and reign with Christ, which doth not with him here crucify himself and rise from sin on earth: for who so will be made partaker of the kingdom of heaven, must here wholly addict himself to seek the kingdom of heaven. Therefore it behooveth every man to make an especial account of these means, seeing that by them we have already passed the second death, and entered into the kingdom of God, which whosoever doth not enjoy here, can never enjoy it in the life to come: wherefore the kingdom of God is, and may well be called a treasure. The righteousness of Christ Jesus, with the peace of conscience, joy in the holy Ghost, virtue, faith, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, love, &c. these be sure gages, seals, and pledges unto us, of our entrance into the kingdom of God, and therefore most excellent treasures. For if that be a treasure, which if a man have, he needeth nothing else, and without which, if he have all things he hath nothing, then may this rightly be called a treasure; for all things without them are nothing, and these without all other things are sufficient for our salvation. Therefore this being so great and inestimable a treasure, is highly to be esteemed of us. Have we this treasure? then we need not to esteem of all other things. In judgement men do see that the only treasure of man is the salvation of the soul: this is a granted rule, neither doth this need so much to be proved unto us, as that it is not only to be confessed of us in words, but also in understanding to be conceived, in affection to be well liked of, and agreed unto, and in life to be expressed. For blessed are they that can so think of, and make use of this treasure. Now where a mans treasure is, there is his heart, and where his heart is, thither are all2 the powers both of soul and body carried headlong. For so soon as men give themselves to like of and to love pleasures, riches, credit, honour, or learning, wisdom, or glory, so soon they make these as it were, their Gods:
Here then wee learne that none shall make appearance in the kingdome of God hereafter,1 which maketh not an entrance into it here. He which taketh not possession of it in this life, shall neuer possesse it in the life to come, none shall rise and raigne with Christ, which doth not with him here crucifie himselfe and rise from sinne on earth: for who so will be made partaker of the kingdome of heauen, must here wholie addict himselfe to seeke the kingdome of heauen. Therefore it behooueth euerie man to make an especiall account of these meanes, seeing that by them wee haue alreadie passed the second death, and entred into the kingdome of God, which whosoeuer doth not enioy here, can neuer enioy it in the life to come: wherefore the kingdome of God is, and may well bee called a treasure. The righteousnesse of Christ Iesus, with the peace of conscience, ioy in the holy Ghost, vertue, faith, knowledge, temperance, patience, godlinesse, brotherly kindnes, loue, &c. these bee sure gages, seales, and pledges vnto vs, of our entrance into the kingdome of God, and therefore most excellent treasures. For if that bee a treasure, which if a man haue, he needeth nothing else, and without which, if he haue all things he hath nothing, then may this rightly bee called a treasure; for all things without them are nothing, and these without al other things are sufficient for our saluation. Therefore this being so great and inestimable a treasure, is highly to be esteemed of vs. Haue we this treasure? then wee neede not to esteeme of all other things. In iudgement men doe see that the onely treasure of man is the saluation of the soule: this is a granted rule, neither doth this neede so much to be proued vnto vs, as that it is not onely to bee confessed of vs in words, but also in vnderstanding to bee conceiued, in affection to bee well liked of, and agreed vnto, and in life to be expressed. For blessed are they that can so thinke of, and make vse of this treasure. Now where a mans treasure is, there is his heart, and where his heart is, thither are all2 the powers both of soule and bodie carried headlong. For so soone as men giue themselues to like of and to loue pleasures, riches, credit, honour, or learning, wisedome, or glorie, so soone they make these as it were, their Gods:
- 1Obseru. 1. He that will go to heaven, must make an entrance into it on earth.Obseru. 1. He that will goe to heauē, must make an entrance into it on earth.
- 2How to know where a treasure is.
