CHAPTER III.

THE CHRISTIAN'S TREASURE.

THE second general inquiry is, what is the treasure of which our Saviour speaks in the text? I conceive it is principally intended of the thoughts of the heart, which are called the possessions of the heart, because these are the first-born of the soul, and enjoy the inheritance of it. You cannot turn off the thoughts from their freehold. You may suspend the tongue from speaking, and the hand from acting; but you cannot suspend the soul from thinking, while it is a rational soul; for this is an essential property of it, so long as it continues to be itself. Good or bad thoughts are every man's treasure and possession; and these centre and settle in the heart; these are the spring and source of actions and expressions. Now, it is said of a godly man; "The thoughts of the righteous are right;" or, as the word imports, they are in harmony with law, judgment, measure. A gracious person thinks as he is, according to the rules of enlightened and sanctified reason. His thoughts run in a right channel, to right objects,

for right ends; and are, therefore, very precious, and may well be called a treasure. Hence David's exclamation, "How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me!" Or, as some interpret the words, How rare and dear are the thoughts I have of Thee to my soul! This meaning is rendered probable by what follows, "When I awake I am still with Thee"that is, in holy thoughts and heavenly meditations. A pious man's thoughts are a precious treasure. If his "tongue be as choice silver," what are his thoughts, which furnish the tongue with profitable discourse?

Now, as the thoughts feed the tongue and the hand, so there are four springs that feed and furnish the heart with holy thoughts. These are like the four rivers of Paradise; they water the divine garden of a Christian's soul; and being followed to the head, will certainly lead the believer upward to the celestial Paradise.

These thought-nourishing streams are-Scriptural Truth-Spiritual Graces-Large Experiences-and Lively Comforts.

The first of these, scriptural truth, is like the river Pison, "which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold." So this takes in the whole territory of the Holy Scriptures, where there are such choice mines of divine teachings as to make the soul both wise and rich unto salvation.

It is a great mercy to have the understanding replenished with a saving knowledge of gospel mysteries. Hence we are commanded to "buy the truth;" to "search the Scriptures;" to "seek for wisdom as for silver," and "for knowledge as for hid treasures." And the apostle exhorts us, "Let the word of God dwell in you richly in all wisdom," that is, copiously, abundantly. The expression denotes two things-the measure in which the word of God should dwell within us, and so implies plenteousness; and then the value of such spiritual furniture, and thus indicates richness. And surely a great stock of scriptural knowledge is a priceless treasure. O what a blessed thing is it to have a man's breast the library of Jesus Christ! The Sacred Scriptures are the wealth and the joy of a gracious soul. To David they were better than thousands of gold and silver. A mountain of transparent pearls, heaped as high as heaven, would be poor and mean compared with these. Hence he chose them as his heritage forever, and rejoiced in them as in all riches. A covetous miser could not take such delight in his bags, nor a young heir in a large inheritance, as holy David did in God's word. All the saints are priests unto God. Now, of Levi it is said, "The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips." So it is or ought to be

with God's spiritual priests; they should have the law of God graven in their hearts, and on their tongues the law of kindness and holiness. The word law, comes from a root that signifies to try, as merchants try and prove the wares which they buy and lay up. Hence also comes the word for gems and jewels, which are tried and found right. The sound Christian is the wise merchant, seeking goodly pearls. He tries what he reads or hears, by the standard and touchstone of Scripture; and having found genuine truths, he lays them up to the great enriching of this supreme and sovereign faculty of the understanding.

Another spring, that feeds holy thoughts, is found in spiritual graces-those fruits of the Spirit, which exceedingly help the fruit of the lips. If the will and affections be sanctified with a principle of true holiness, the lips and the life will bring forth heavenly expressions and actions. "The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life." A gracious habit streams freely and fully into all the acts of spiritual life, and is at last swallowed up in the ocean of eternal life. It is said of Jesus Christ, the Divine Source of all grace, that "the fear of the Lord is His treasure ;" and we also may say, that it is the Christian's treasure. A head full of notions will not make the soul rich, without a heart full of grace. It is grace that ennobles the

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soul, and strengthens it to bear burdens, and to fulfill duties. Without the operation of grace in the heart, there can be no holiness in the life. works of piety, charity, and sobriety, must flow from a pure heart, a good conscience, and faith unfeigned. These unitedly contribute their influence to every good work. Obedience respects the command of a superior; love, the kindness of the lawgiver; faith, his bounty and reward. The first sways the conscience; the second inclines the heart; the third gives encouragement; and sure I am, that without these there can be no spiritual actings in an evangelical manner. He only pos sesses a gospel frame of spirit, who has the law written in his heart, and the works thereof in his hand, and whose life is a continual transcript of this blessed copy. For "he that doeth righteousness, is righteous;" yea, it is he that moveth heaven ward, from a living treasure of gracious principles, and not from external compulsion, as clocks, and such dead, unconscious machines, are moved by artificial weights and springs. Hence, with the Church, each true believer can exclaim, "My soul made me like the chariots of Amminadab;" or, as it is otherwise rendered, "like the chariots of a willing people." If, as the words are sometimes explained, they refer primarily to Christ, still they are no less applicable to every truly gracious indi