The works of the reverend and faithful servant of Jesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…

THE NINTH SERMON, PREACHED ON PART OF the 44. verse of the 13. Chapter according to Saint Matthew.

MATTH. 13. vers. 44. And for joy thereof departeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

MATTH. 13. vers. 44. And for ioy thereof departeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

The word of God and the graces offered by it, are called a treasure, because that without this all things else are nothing, and this of it self is sufficient to our salvation. Many there are, which will confess that this is the only treasure which a man ought to seek for, but few there are which do agree thereunto in their lives, and labour to express the same in their conversation. But blessed are they that can so think of it, and labour to have a testimony in their consciences that they do thus seek after it: for where every mans treasure is, there is his heart also. So that if the word of God and the graces of the Spirit and eternal life be our treasure, then our hearts must be set on them, and then must we wholly seek after them; but this treasure is a hidden treasure, and therefore not so esteemed and reverenced: for whether we do consider the means which have no outward power or show in them, or whether we consider the graces of the Spirit offered by the means, it is a treasure altogether hidden; but yet though it be hidden, yet it is not any whit less esteemed of the godly.

The word of God and the graces offered by it, are called a treasure, because that without this all things else are nothing, and this of it selfe is sufficient to our saluation. Many there are, which will confesse that this is the onely treasure which a man ought to seeke for, but few there are which doe agree thereunto in their liues, and labour to expresse the same in their conuersation. But blessed are they that can so thinke of it, and labour to haue a testimonie in their consciences that they doe thus seeke after it: for where euery mans treasure is, there is his heart also. So that if the word of God and the graces of the Spirit and eternall life bee our treasure, then our hearts must bee set on them, and then must wee wholie seeke after them; but this treasure is a hidden treasure, and therefore not so esteemed and reuerenced: for whether wee doe consider the meanes which haue no outward power or shew in them, or whether wee consider the graces of the Spirit offered by the meanes, it is a treasure altogether hidden; but yet though it be hidden, yet it is not any whit lesse esteemed of the godly.

This must teach us not to be offended with any, when we shall see them make no account of receiving the truth: for it is no new thing, but hath been a thing prophesied of old: Lord (saith the Prophet Isaiah) who will believe our report, or to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? We showed that treasures are found before they be sought for, and ⟨p. 296⟩so God he hath offered unto us the treasure of his word before we sought it, and therefore we must acknowledge that this is only of the free mercy and favour of God, that we do enjoy the treasure of his word.

This must teach vs not to be offended with any, when wee shall see them make no account of receiuing the truth: for it is no new thing, but hath been a thing prophecied of old: Lord (saith the Prophet Esay) who will beleeue our report, or to whom is the arme of the Lord reuealed? Wee shewed that treasures are found before they bee sought for, and ⟨p. 296⟩so God he hath offered vnto vs the treasure of his word before wee sought it, and therefore we must acknowledge that this is onely of the free mercie and fauour of God, that wee doe enioy the treasure of his word.

Now, for as much as God hath once vouchsafed to call us, we must obey, and having once spoken unto us, we must hearken unto him: for it hath pleased the Lord to deal with us as parents deal with their young children, who when their children be tender, they put the teat into their mouths, put on their clothes upon their backs, and feed them with milk: but when they wax elder and grow to some years of discretion, then if they offend they are rebuked and scourged. And even so the Lord at the first beginning of our regeneration, he offered his graces most plentifully unto us, he sent his watchmen to call us unto him: but now whether for omission of duties, correction of our sins, or trial of our patience, it pleaseth him to withdraw his merciful countenance from us, and as it were to be gone from us, to the intent that now we might seek him, now we must fast and mourn, or he will not return unto us again.

Now, for as much as God hath once vouchsafed to call vs, wee must obey, and hauing once spoken vnto vs, we must hearken vnto him: for it hath pleased the Lord to deale with vs as parents deale with their young children, who when their children be tender, they put the teate into their mouthes, put on their cloaths vpon their backes, and feede them with milke: but when they waxe elder and grow to some yeeres of discretion, then if they offend they are rebuked and scourged. And euen so the Lord at the first beginning of our regeneration, he offered his graces most plentifully vnto vs, he sent his watchmen to call vs vnto him: but now whether for omission of duties, correction of our sinnes, or triall of our patience, it pleaseth him to withdraw his merciful countenance from vs, and as it were to be gone from vs, to the intent that now we might seeke him, now wee must fast and mourne, or he will not returne vnto vs againe.

Every one must therefore examine his own heart, whether that he doth there find such power of the spirit of God working in him, as that he is willing to seek unto the Lord, and a proceeding and holding on in grace, in virtue, and in goodness. And if upon due trial and examination of our hearts, we find them not in us, then we are to know that the reason why we have them not, is this, we would still be babes, and still be fed as children, not seeking, not knocking, nor looking after the Lord.

Euery one must therefore examine his owne heart, whether that hee doth there finde such power of the spirit of God working in him, as that hee is willing to seeke vnto the Lord, and a proceeding and holding on in grace, in vertue, and in goodnesse. And if vpon due triall and examination of our hearts, we finde them not in vs, then we are to know that the reason why we haue them not, is this, wee would still be babes, and still bee fed as children, not seeking, not knocking, nor looking after the Lord.

The man that findeth a treasure, hath a joy suddenly arising in his mind, but by and by¹ he doubteth of himself whether he hath found a treasure indeed or no: and therefore he looketh over it again to the intent he may be the better certified thereof, least otherwise his sudden joy should soon vanish away. And even so the children of God find by the word of God the treasure of their salvation to be in Christ Jesus, and being throughly touched in heart to seek after the same, yet oftentimes they do make many doubts, they seek again and again, and are desirous not only to have a smack and a glimmering taste of Christ, but a lively eating and feeding upon the Lord Jesus, and therefore they hide the word with the Prophet David in their hearts.

The man that findeth a treasure, hath a ioy suddenly arising in his minde, but by and by¹ he doubteth of himselfe whether he hath found a treasure indeede or no: and therefore he looketh ouer it againe to the intent he may be the better certified thereof, least otherwise his sudden ioy should soone vanish away. And euen so the children of God finde by the word of God the treasure of their saluation to bee in Christ Iesus, and being throughlie touched in heart to seeke after the same, yet oftentimes they doe make many doubts, they seeke againe and againe, and are desirous not onely to haue a smacke and a glimmering taste of Christ, but a liuely eating and feeding vpon the Lord Iesus, and therfore they hide the word with the Prophet Dauid in their hearts.

1. 1An apt simile.An apt •imilie.

A man having found a treasure rejoiceth. Joy and sorrow, hope and fear working on mens hearts, do make known unto men how far off, or how near our hearts are unto God: for the nearer a man is unto salvation, the more joyful and gladder he is▪ Great is¹ the joy of harvest unto them which have harvest at hand; great is the joy of silver and gold, unto them which have abundance thereof, but greater is the joy of a good conscience: great is the joy of spoils, of victory and glory, gotten by victory and spoils, but greater is the joy of a true Christian in the mercies of the Lord. And therefore David speaking in the person of a regenerate man, saith in Psalm the 119. the last part save one• I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth a great spoil. Those then which have no joy in the word, in the spirit of God, and in the graces of Gods spirit, they never tasted of the good spirit of God, neither shall they taste of the joys of the world to come. There is a joy of the mind, and a joy of the heart: a joy when a man knoweth that a treasure is to be found, but a greater joy, when in experience the heart is fully settled in the finding of it. The joy of a man which cometh in this, that he knoweth that there is salvation, this joy may vanish away; but that joy which is settled in the heart in the full assurance of salvation, this joy, though it may sometimes be darkened, yet can it never be utterly extinguished, heaviness may abide for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

A man hauing found a treasure reioyceth. Ioy and sorrow, hope and feare working on mens hearts, doe make knowne vnto men how farre off, or how neere our hearts are vnto God: for the neerer a man is vnto saluation, the more ioyfull and gladder hee is▪ Great is¹ the ioy of haruest vnto them which haue haruest at hand; great is the ioy of siluer and gold, vnto them which haue abundance thereof, but greater is the ioy of a good conscience: great is the ioy of spoyles, of victorie and glorie, gotten by victorie and spoyles, but greater is the ioy of a true Christian in the mercies of the Lord. And therefore Dauid speaking in the person of a regenerate man, saith in Psalme the 119. the last part saue one• I reioyce at thy word, as one that findeth a great spoyle. Those then which haue no ioy in the word, in the spirit of God, and in the graces of Gods spirit, they neuer tasted of the good spirit of God, neither shal they taste of the ioyes of the world to come. There is a ioy of the minde, and a ioy of the heart: a ioy when a man knoweth that a treasure is to bee found, but a greater ioy, when in experience the heart is fully setled in the finding of it. The ioy of a man which commeth in this, that he knoweth that there is saluation, this ioy may vanish away; but that ioy which is setled in the heart in the full assurance of saluation, this ioy, though it may sometimes be darkened, yet can it neuer bee vtterly extinguished, heauinesse may abide for a night, but ioy commeth in the morning.

It followeth: He withdraweth himself, or he departeth. The natural signification of the word, is not only to depart and go away, but to withdraw and separate himself as it were from other business. And this we see aptly and fully to be resembled of us in the finding of a treasure: for when a man hath found a treasure, he goeth about to buy the field: or when one is about to undertake any other thing of great weight or importance, then he giveth himself wholly over unto it, he goeth aside to consider of it, what it is, whether he be not deceived in it, what his own ability is, what good it may do him, what it must cost him, what it may be worth unto him, and whether it will countervail ⟨p. 297⟩all those things he layeth out for it: and even so in the doctrine of salvation it is requisite that men should consider it, when God offereth such a worthy treasure unto them, then they are to search into their hearts throughly and diligently to cast before hand, what lets, impediments and hindrances there may be, what that is which they seek for, what cost and labour they are to bestow upon it, and again, what may be the profit, commodity and joy thereof, which may redound unto them thereby, when they have it, and how they may keep themselves in sure possession of it, having once obtained it. This preconsideration our Saviour Christ confirmeth unto us in two Parables in Luke the 14 the one is of building, the other of war. For the first, he saith, Which of you minding to build a tower, sitteth not down first and counteth the cost whether he hath sufficient to perform it, least after that he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to perform it, all that behold it begin to mock him, saying: This man began to build, and was not able to make an end. For the second, he saith: What King going to war against another King, sitteth not down first and taketh counsel whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him which cometh against him with twenty thousand, least afterward to his great shame (for so it may be gathered by the circumstances) he may be constrained to send an •mbassege unto him and to desire conditions of peace.

It followeth: He withdraweth himselfe, or he departeth. The naturall signification of the word, is not onely to depart and goe away, but to withdraw and seperate himselfe as it were from other businesse. And this wee see aptly and fully to be resembled of vs in the finding of a treasure: for when a man hath found a treasure, hee goeth about to buy the field: or when one is about to vndertake any other thing of great waight or importance, then hee giueth himselfe wholy ouer vnto it, hee goeth aside to consider of it, what it is, whether hee bee not deceiued in it, what his owne abilitie is, what good it may doe him, what it must cost him, what it may be worth vnto him, and whether it will counteruaile

So ought every one which cometh to hear the Word, to make this premeditation and preparation with¹ himself, whether he be able and can endure the cost which he must be at in coming unto the Lord, whether he can endure that fight which he is to take in hand before he come unto the Lord; whether he can sustain the loss of his father, mother, wife, and children, brethren, and sisters, yea and his own life also, and all that he hath; whether he be able to fight against Powers, Principalities, the Devil, the World, and the flesh, his own reason and affections, least that otherwise he break off his course, and show himself not to be the man he seemed first to be. This premeditation and preconsideration must be made, before we can enjoy that treasure and buy the field wherein it lieth.

So ought euery one which commeth to heare the Word, to make this premeditation and preparation with¹ himselfe, whether he be able and can endure the cost which he must be at in comming vnto the Lord, whether he can endure that fight which he is to take in hand before he come vnto the Lord; whether he can sustaine the losse of his father, mother, wife, and children, brethren, and sisters, yea and his owne life also, and all that he hath; whether he be able to fight against Powers, Principalities, the Diuell, the World, and the flesh, his owne reason and affections, least that otherwise he breake off his course, and shew himselfe not to be the man he seemed first to be. This premeditation and preconsideration must be made, before we can enioy that treasure and buy the field wherein it lieth.

1. 1The fight of a Christian.

There is no similitude in the Scriptures used more often than the similitude of building, which often is englished by this word Edifying. Of this building mention is made 1▪ Cor. 3. where the people of God are called the Building of God, and the Apostles the Builders: so likewise in Ephes. chap. 2. verse. 20. 21. 22. And are built upon the foundation of the Apostles ¹and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the head corner stone, in whom all the building coupled together groweth into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom ye are also built together to be the habitation of God by the spirit. And in Esphes. 4 and 12. verse, it is said by the Apostle, That Christ gave some to be Apostles, some Prophets, some Evangelists, some Pastors, and some Teachers, for the gathering together of the Saints, for the work of the ministry, and for the edification of the body of Christ. And in verse the 16. By whom all the body being coupled and knit together, by every joint for the furniture thereof (according to the effectual power which is in the measure of every part) receiveth increase of the body, unto the edifying of it self in love. And Jude in his Epistle verse the 20. requireth of us that we build our selves in our most holy faith praying in the holy Ghost. Again, who knoweth not that the similitude of warfare is² often repeated also in the Scriptures; as in Job, The life of man is a continual warfare. And in the 1 of Timoth. the 6▪ chapter and 12. verse: Fight a good fight, saith the Apostle. And 1. Peter. 2. and 11▪ verse. Abstain from fleshly lusts, which fight against the soul. And Eph. 6. and 12. verse: We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, and ³against earthly governors, the princes of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickednesses in heavenly things: So that we see that of necessity every Christian must be a builder and a warrior.

This building and fighting was shadowed out in the rearing up of the material walls of the temple of Jerusalem, which when the Jews did build, they wrought with one hand, and held their weapons in the other hand to fight against their enemies, as it is in Nehem. 4. and 17▪ verse. The profit and commodity of building is a deed very great, the glory and honour of victory gotten in war is great, but this we know that nothing is more troublesome and dangerous, than both building and war: yet be thinking of the commodity and glory which do arise of them, do countervail the pains & griefs. But greater is the profit and more excellent is the glory which we shall attain unto in building up ⟨p. 298⟩of our selves temples of the holy Ghost. Therefore as none can look to have commodity by his building, nor honour by fighting, without travail and pains: so let no man deceive himself with a vain persuasion, that he shall inherit the kingdom of heaven,¹ when he laboureth not with might and main to come there. For we shall never be victors, except we fight valiantly, we cannot enjoy the building if we spare the cost. And as we see some begin a building, which not being able to finish, do leave off to their discredit: and as many do move and make war, who not being able to finish it, and to go through withal, are fain to their shame to seek truce, so alas many begin to build and make an entrance into Christianity with a great and fair show at the first, but few continue to the end.

This building and fighting was shadowed out in the rearing vp of the materiall walles of the temple of Ierusalem, which when the Iewes did build, they wrought with one hand, and held their weapons in the other hand to fight against their enemies, as it is in Nehem. 4. and 17▪ verse. The profit and commoditie of building is a deede very great, the glorie and honour of victorie gotten in warre is great, but this wee know that nothing is more troublesome and dangerous, than both building and warre: yet be thinking of the commoditie and glory which do arise of them, do counteruaile the paines & griefes. But greater is the profit and more excellent is the glory which we shall attaine vnto in building vp

And we find it most true in the Gospel, that nine lepers being cleansed, but one of them returned back again to give him thanks for it. Wherefore this forethinking and premeditation is most expedient and necessary: neither must we think that religion is so slight a matter, as many do persuade themselves that it is; which kind of men when death cometh upon them, even then they are deceived of their salvation, because they make no account thereof before hand, they never thought that the profession of Christianity would be so costly unto them, they never thought it would be so chargeable a matter. Whosoever therefore will avoid a most dangerous and desperate estate at his death, whosoever he or she be which will go on unto this building, must forecast and premeditate¹ before hand, what it must cost him, he must deeply consider with himself what his salvation and the kingdom of heaven will cost him; I tell you it is no small thing, it must cost him the loss of all the pleasures and delights of this world, it must cost thee the forgoing of all thy lusts, the loss of riches, of liberty, and of banishment, the loss of thy wife, goods, lands, friends, parents, children, yea and peradventure also it will cost thee the loss of thine own heart blood: It is more chargeable than some think it is, and that it is the cause why they make so little account of it.

And we finde it most true in the Gospell, that nine lepers being clensed, but one of them returned backe againe to giue him thankes for it. Wherefore this forethinking and premeditation is most expedient and necessarie: neither must wee thinke that religion is so slight a matter, as many doe perswade themselues that it is; which kind of men when death commeth vpon them, euen then they are deceiued of their saluation, because they make no account thereof before hand, they neuer thought that the profession of Christianitie would be so costly vnto them, they neuer thought it would be so chargeable a matter. Whosoeuer therefore will auoide a most dangerous and desperate estate at his death, whosoeuer he or she be which will goe on vnto this building, must forecast and premeditate¹ before hand, what it must cost him, he must deeply consider with himselfe what his saluation and the kingdome of heauen will cost him; I tell you it is no small thing, it must cost him the losse of all the pleasures and delights of this world, it must cost thee the forgoing of all thy lusts, the losse of riches, of libertie, and of banishment, the losse of thy wife, goods, lands, friends, parents, children, yea and peraduenture also it will cost thee the losse of thine owne heart blood: It is more chargeable than some thinke it is, and that it is the cause why they make so little account of it.

Now there are some which care not what it costeth them, so that it may be had with ease; but such must know that it is as laborious, as costly: For before thou canst attain unto it, thou must travail in heart and in soul, with weeping, with sighing, with much fasting, with prayer, with watching, with meditation of the word of God, and in practising¹ of all the commandments of God. Thou must travail in compassion towards all men, thou must take pains in doing thy duty towards thy superiors, and in relieving the needy, and such as are in distress. Finally, it is a most painful way to pass, and many there be which deceive themselves, entering into it without preconsideration either of cost or pains. I tell you in the hour of death, in the day of judgement, in persecutions, in trials, in banishments, many shall see and know that they have deceived themselves, for that they have not duly thought of these said charges; neither is it only chargeable and troublesome, but also there are in it many and great perils and dangers, many battles must be fought, before thou canst come unto the end thereof.

Now there are some which care not what it costeth them, so that it may be had with ease; but such must know that it is as laborious, as costly: For before thou canst attaine vnto it, thou must trauaile in heart and in soule, with weeping, with sighing, with much fasting, with prayer, with watching, with meditation of the word of God, and in practising¹ of all the commandements of God. Thou must trauaile in compassion towards all men, thou must take paines in doing thy dutie towards thy superiours, and in relieuing the needie, and such as are in distresse. Finally, it is a most painfull way to passe, and many there be which deceiue themselues, entring into it without preconsideration either of cost or paines. I tell you in the houre of death, in the day of iudgement, in persecutions, in trials, in banishments, many shall see and know that they haue deceiued themselues, for that they haue not duly thought of these said charges; neither is it onely chargeable and troublesome, but also there are in it many and great perils and dangers, many battailes must be fought, before thou canst come vnto the end thereof.

1. 1Christianity▪ a warfare.