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CHAPTER VI.

SELF-EXAMINATION RELATIVE TO THIS TREASURE,

LET us now proceed to apply the foregoing truths more closely to our own souls. Is it so, that a good treasure in the heart, is necessary to a good expenditure in the life? Then it stands us all in hand to try ourselves, and to dig deep into our own hearts, to see if we can find a treasure there, with respect both to sincerity and degree of grace. O be assured that you are beggarly souls unless you have real grace! Graceless souls are the only treasureless souls; and I fear there are more than a good many, that could never experimentally distinguish between nature and grace, and therefore are increasing guilt, and heaping up wrath. O Christians! see whether you have the true riches. Try what proficiency you have made for grace, and in grace. You have long had a day of grace, and you must be accountable for all opportunities. Cheat not yourselves with counters instead of gold. Bristol-stones may make as fair a show as pearls. True grace is a rare and rich commodity. Thousands that are empty, ima

gine they have a treasure. Proud, conceited professors are apt to boast of their attainments, whilst some contrite, humble souls, are apt to bear false witness against themselves, by denying what they have. "There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing; there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches." Sounding vessels are often empty, and still waters are usually deep. Vaporing chapmen jingle their money in their hands, whilst sober tradesmen keep it in their chests. You shall find more of a merchant's goods in his warehouse, than in his shop-window. So it is with a sober, serious, and judicious Christian. His glory and treasure are most within; whilst vainglorious mountebanks in religion set all upon the stage. I entreat you, read those books that lay down the marks of true grace; hear and attend the most heart-searching ministry; take much pains in descending frequently into your own hearts; and the God of heaven make you serious in a thorough search.

To aid you in discovering whether you have laid up a treasure of holy thoughts, proceeding from scriptural truths, graces, comforts, and experiences, ask, I beseech you, your own hearts these four questions-How came you by it? How do you value it? How do you use it? How do you increase it?

1. Let me ask you, and do you ask yourselves, if you pretend to such a treasure, How came you by it? Men usually know how they get a treasure. "The hand of the diligent maketh rich;" that is, through "the blessing of the Lord" upon diligent endeavors. Men that would be rich ply the oars, run to markets and fairs, travel from city to city, to "buy and sell, and get gain." They traverse sea and land, compassing the world to possess a small portion of it. But what are you doing in spiritual things? Where are your thoughtful cares and painful hands? Though labor will not get this treasure, for it is the gift of God's free grace—yet it will not be had without labor. God's ordinance must be honored. It is the immutable decree of Heaven since the fall-"In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread." And this holds equally good in regard to the soul. "Labor for that meat which endureth to everlasting life, which the Son of Man shall give unto you." Man's endeavors are wholly consistent with God's free grace, and Christ's dear purchase. God will be found in His own way. He ordinarily conveys the first grace in and by His own institutions; but seldom will a soul attain to a treasure, without a long trading in the royal exchange of holy duties. Diligence hath the promise of increase. "And unto you that

hear shall more be given." Has, then, the care of your hearts put labor into your hands, and travel into your feet, to repair to the markets and fairs of public and private ordinances, to get a solid treasure? Have you both digged and begged for it? Where are your sweat and agony? Has Jesus sweat blood to fit you for heaven, and have you not gone through one earnest struggle to get an interest in Him, and possession of His grace? O the pangs of conscience, and sad pantings of a convinced sinner, to obtain a portion in these riches of grace! Never did a poor laborer toil so hard for his day's wages, as an humbled soul to be filled with Christ. A treasure of money is got with sweat and toil; or is obtained from alms, with weary steps and loud cries: but if thou be too idle to dig, and too proud to beg, thou art without a treasure, and mayest pine away in everlasting poverty.

2. How do you value this treasure? "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." A man's thoughts, cares, and affections will centre upon his treasure; for he accounts his treasure the best thing he has. No man would willingly part with his treasure. Thus Naboth tenaciously adhered to his hereditary possession. The wise merchant in the Gospel parted with all he had to purchase the "one pearl of great price." Paul

accounted his gain to be no better than loss for Christ; nay, as mere offal, in comparison with his sweet and satisfying Saviour. All the world is as dross to a Christian, when it obstructs or obscures the grace of Christ. Is it thus with your souls? Do you account your spiritual portion your only riches? The truth is, the riches of the soul, and the riches in the soul, are the very soul of riches. That, I confess, is a meretricious love which prizes receipts from Christ more than the person of Christ. But here I understand Jesus Christ to be the marrow and essence of this treasure, and all these as ensuring evidences of interest in Him; for all that the soul hath is wrapt up in Him. Well, then, let me question the most dark and doubting, if sincere, Christian. What sayest thou, poor soul? Wouldst thou quit thy share in Christ and spiritual treasures, for a crown and kingdom? Wouldst thou not answer, No? Wouldst thou cast away thy trembling hope of acceptance with God, to be delivered from the infamy, poverty, and persecution, which sometimes attend the zealous profession of Christianity, and to live in honor, pleasure, and worldly delights? Surely thou wouldst answer, No. Wouldst thou change thy present low, afflicted, and conflicting state, for thy former carnal, but confident condition, or for the pompous, prosperous state of graceless sinners?