they have never experienced any change in their souls; while others, on account of the commotion raised there, are ready to despond, as though they were utterly abandoned by GodBut both of these may see their error, if they will duly consider this parable-To the former we would say, Can leaven be put into the meal and no fermentation be produced? much less can the grace of God be in the heart and cause no commotion there-Be assured it will work as it did on the day of Pentecost, and cause you to cry out with earnestness, What shall I do to be saved?-Yea more, if it do not continue to operate, if it do not gradually pervade all your powers, and progressively change them into your Saviour's image, you may be sure that the leaven of divine grace has never yet been put into your hearts-To the latter we would say, Be not discouraged at the commotion in your soul, but be thankful for it-It is infinitely better to know our guilt and danger than to be lulled asleep in a fatal security-Your disquietude affords reason to hope that God has caused the heavenly leaven to blend itself with your souls-Give it time then to work— If it be of God, it shall stand-And the effects produced shall discover the true cause from whence they sprang-O beg of God that it may work effectually, and that it may never cease till it has made you "perfect and complete in all his will"-] 2. To reform our hearts [The true and uniform tendency of the gospel has been abundantly manifest-It is incumbent therefore on every one to ask himself, What reason have I to think that this " 'kingdom of God is within me?" What change has it wrought, what assimilating and transforming efficacy has it discovered? -There is, it is true, a leaven in the heart of natural men; but it is either a "leaven of malice and wickedness,"m or a "leaven of hypocrisy"-Whichever of these it be, it must be "purged out, that they may become a new lump' Their souls must be impregnated with a very different leaven, even that of grace and truth-Let us then "hide the word of God within us" that by its influence we may be renewed -Let our prayer be, Lord, "sanctify me through thy truth" -And "may the very God of peace sanctify us wholly, that thus our whole body, soul and spirit may be preserved blameless unto his heavenly kingdom" 990 1 Luke xvii. 21. o 1 Cor. v. 7. m 1 Cor. v. 8. n Luke xii. 1. CCXXVIII. THE HIDDEN TREASURE. Matt. xiii. 44. The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field, the which, when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath and buyeth that field. THE gospel, as viewed in various lights, admits of various representations It is generally set forth as small in its beginnings, but increasing in importance But we must not therefore suppose it to be of small va lue Our Lord sufficiently guards against this mistake by the parable before us He shews us, that the gospel, even while hid from our view, is exceeding precious It will be proper to shew I. Why the kingdom of heaven is likened to a "treasure hid" "The kingdom of heaven" is an expression peculiar to the New Testament [By it we are not always to understand heaven itselfIt is frequently used to signify Christ's spiritual kingdomAnd it is so called, because it is the re-establishment of God's empire over the hearts of men And because what is thus begun in grace will be consummated in glory] This may well be considered as "a treasure" [There is no other thing so deserving of this nameEvery subject of it may say with truth," All things are mine"a He is "blessed-with all spiritual blessings-in heavenly things-in Christ "____ Every earthly treasure is contemptible in comparison of it—] But it is compared to a treasure "hid in a field” [The mysteries of the gospel were from eternity hid in the bosom of the Fatherc Neither men nor angels could possibly have devised them— Who could have thought of bringing man back to God through the death of God's only Son? a 1 Cor. iii. 21. b Eph. i. 3. C © Eph. iii. 9. And of reducing him to a willing subjection by the operation of God's Spirit? A finite mind could never have conceived such an ideaBut these mysteries, though revealed, are still hid from the natural mand They still appear foolishness, and are a stumbling-block to many Paul, though so learned and religious, could not receive them in his unconverted statef Nor would he ever have embraced them, if God had not opened his eyes”— The apostles, though instructed by our Lord himself all the time of his ministry, needed after all a divine illumination"— Nor is a spirit of revelation less necessary for us— To this very hour there is as much ground as ever for that devout acknowldgement The"field" indeed, wherein the treasure is hid, is open and accessible to allk But we shall perish for lack of it, unless God do for us as he did for Hagar1 We must all adopt the prayer of DavidTM-] Its intrinsic worth, joined with the difficulty of finding it, must render the acquisition delightful II. The emotions which a discovery of it will produce The illustration given by our Lord is peculiarly aptA man who should find a treasure, would have a conflict in his mind [He would congratulate himself on his good fortuneAnd rejoice in his prospect of possessing so much wealthBut he would feel some dread of detection He would fear lest another should see it, before he had an opportunity of securing it for himself He would cover it up carefully, if he could not then carry it away And if by purchasing the field he could gain the treasure, he would gladly pay down the price In doing this he would use all the expedition and caution that he could Nor would he hesitate to sell all that he had, in order to complete the purchase-] d1 Cor. ii. 14. e 1 Cor. i. 23. f Acts xxii. 3, 4. Thus is a man affected who finds the gospel salvation Nor can he tell but that that serpent may beguile himp He sees too that the world may deprive him of his hope— Yea, he perceives in his own heart a proneness to despise the proffered mercy Thus is he agitated between hope and fear This effect was predicted by the prophets of olds And it was, on one occasion at least, experienced by the apostles But, in the midst of all, he is determined, if possible, to possess the treasure He undervalues every thing that can stand in competition with it He well knows that, whatever he pay for it, he can be no loser He approves in his heart the conduct of St. Paul"— And is resolved to follow the advice of Solomon*-] APPLICATION [The field, which contains this treasure, is nigh at handThe owner invites all to go and seek the treasureHe promises that all who seek in earnest shall find ityYea, moreover, that all who find, shall retain itLet those then who have never found it, begin to seekBut let them adopt that prayer of the apostle The Holy Spirit alone can give success to their endeavoursb And let them bear in mind the misery of those who faile If any have found it, let them hold fast the prized— Let them guard against every thing that may rob them. of it Let them remember, it is not a small treasure, but an inexhaustible mine Let them never regret any sacrifice they may make for itBut look forward to the complete enjoyment of it in heaven-] n Matt xiii. 20. o Luke viii. 12. r Matt. xxii. 5. p 2 Cor. xi. 3. Isai. Ix. 5. Jer. xxxiii. 9, 11. * Prov. xxiii. 23. a Eph. i. 17, 18. d Rev. ii. 25, and iii. 3, 11. CCXXXIX. THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE. Matt. xiii. 45, 46. The kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant-man seeking goodly pearls: who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. MEN are not easily wearied with renewed prospects of gain Advantageous bargains may be offered with the greatest frequency without fear of creating disgust Our Lord well knew that a love of earthly things was deeply rooted in our hearts And availed himself of that knowledge the more forcibly to impress our minds with better things He repeatedly commended his gospel to us under the figure of a great temporal acquisition In its general scope this parable agrees with that which precedes it But it suggests many thoughts that are new and important To elucidate it we may consider I. In what respects the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a pearl The comparison is not properly between the kingdom and a merchant-man, but the kingdom and a pearlThe kingdom of heaven is the kingdom of grace established in the world And it may be compared to a pearl as ENRICHING Some pearls are of very great value, and would be an ample fortune to a person who had nothing else The gospel kingdom also is of inestimable value to us In this world [It unfolds to our view the deepest mysteriesAnd gives a just comprehension of all spiritual thingsIt is said to contain "all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" It must therefore greatly enrich its possessor. a Col. ii. 3. b Prov. iii. 13-15. c Rev. iii. 18. |