2. Captives lose the riches they had, when taken Captives. That though they were rich before, yet are made poor, and are stripped ⟨p. 21⟩of all. If a rich Merchant at Sea have many goods in a Ship, costly Jewels, precious Pearls, and be taken prisoner, and carried captive, he is spoiled of all, and loseth all. Man at first was exceeding rich, rich in the knowledge of God, rich in love and likeness to God. The holiness of man was his riches, the enjoyment of God was his riches, the spiritual endowments of man at first, were not to be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious Onyx or the Sapphire; Gold and Crystal could not equal them, they were not to be exchanged for Jewels of fine Gold, the Topaz of Ethiopia could not equal them, neither were they to be valued with pure Gold, Coral or Pearls were not worthy to be mentioned with them, for their price was above Rubies, as Job setteth forth the excellency of wisdom, Job 28.15. to the 20th verse. But when man was overcome by the Devil and taken captive by him, he was spoiled of all, all was taken from him, that he became miserably poor, lost his knowledge of God, the image of God, the favour of God, communion with God, the gracious comfortable presence of God, his abode in Paradise; and though before he was Lord of all, and had dominion over all inferior creatures; yet being captivated by the Devil, he lost ⟨p. 22⟩his right to all, and was turned out of all. So it is with all unregenerate men, whatever be their outward riches and worldly enjoyments, as to spirituals they are miserably poor, very beggars indeed, Rev. 3.17. the true riches they have not, suitable riches for their Souls they have not, durable riches they have not; no man is rich indeed, till he is good indeed and free indeed. God is the free-mans riches, Christ is the free-mans riches, the grace of the Spirit, the privileges purchased by Christ, the promises of God, the treasures laid up in heaven, these, these are the riches of redeemed persons; but those that still remain captives and bond-slaves to Satan and to sin, have no interest in them, no title to them.
2. Captives lose the riches they had, when taken Captives. That though they were rich before, yet are made poor, and are stripped ⟨p. 21⟩of all. If a rich Merchant at Sea have many goods in a Ship, costly Jewels, precious Pearls, and be taken prisoner, and carried captive, he is spoiled of all, and loseth all. Man at first was exceeding rich, rich in the knowledge of God, rich in love and likeness to God. The holiness of man was his riches, the enjoyment of God was his riches, the spiritual endowments of man at first, were not to be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious Onyx or the Saphire; Gold and Christal could not equal them, they were not to be exchanged for Jewels of fine Gold, the Topaz of Ethiopia could not equal them, neither were they to be valued with pure Gold, Coral or Pearls were not worthy to be mentioned with them, for their price was above Rubies, as Job setteth forth the excellency of wisdom, Job 28.15. to the 20th verse. But when man was overcome by the Devil and taken captive by him, he was spoiled of all, all was taken from him, that he became miserably poor, lost his knowledge of God, the image of God, the favour of God, communion with God, the gracious comfortable presence of God, his abode in Paradise; and though before he was Lord of all, and had dominion over all inferior creatures; yet being captivated by the Devil, he lost ⟨p. 22⟩his right to all, and was turned out of all. So it is with all unregenerate men, whatever be their outward riches and worldly enjoyments, as to spirituals they are miserably poor, very beggars indeed, Rev. 3.17. the true riches they have not, suitable riches for their Souls they have not, durable riches they have not; no man is rich indeed, till he is good indeed and free indeed. God is the free-mans riches, Christ is the free-mans riches, the grace of the Spirit, the priviledges purchased by Christ, the promises of God, the treasures laid up in heaven, these, these are the riches of redeemed persons; but those that still remain captives and bond-slaves to Satan and to sin, have no interest in them, no title to them.
