with John i. 16. But, fay you, we would hear fomething more particularly anent this gofpel-treafure. Well, then, I fhall tell you of fome rich and valuable things to be found in the treasure of the gospel.

1. then, Of all things in the world life is the moft valuable. It was a true faying of the father of lies, "Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life." The mariner will heave overboard into the fea all his most valuable goods and commodities that he has with him, to fave his life. And if the life of the body be fo valuable, what muft the life of the foul be? Matth. xvi. 26. "What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lofe his own foul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his foul?" The redemption of the foul is precious, and ceafeth for ever as to any ransom that man can give for it. Well, Sirs, we tell you, that the life and falvation of the precious foul is to be found in this gofpeltreasure; if a man give but the hearing of faith unto this gofpel, his foul fhall live, If. lv. 3. The gospel is called a word of life, and a word of falvation, Acts xiii. 26. and chap. v. 20. "Go (fays the angel unto the apoftles who were imprifoned), ftand and fpeak in the temple to the people all the words of this life." And whoever he be that believeth the report of the gofpel concerning Chrift, he fhall not perish, but have everlasting life, John iii. 14-16..

2. Next unto life, light is the most sweet and valuable thing in this world. What a melancholy unheartfome habitation would this world be, if it wanted the fun in the firmament! "Truly light is fweet, and it is a pleafant thing for the eyes to behold the fun." Well, the gospel brings a more valuable light unto the world than the light of the fun in the firmament, even that light which discovers another world, and a far better world than this is, "for life and immortality is brought to light by the gofpel." Wherever the gofpel comes, "the people which fat in darknefs are made to fee a great light; and to them which fat in the region of the fhadow of death, light doth fpring up," Matth. iv. 16.; and, John viii. 12. fays Chrift, "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me fhall not walk in darknefs, but fhall have the light of life." And where this light of the gofpel fhines into the heart, it is juít a prelude of the light of glory.

3. In this gofpel-treafure is to be, found a treasure of wildom, whereby the foolish and fimple finner is made wife to falvation. "In Chrift (whom we preach) are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge ;" and he is made of God unto us wifdom. David found fuch a meature of wifdom and knowledge in this treafure, that he had more understand

ing than the ancients, and more wifdom than all his teachers: by the gofpel-revelation, thefe things are brought to light unto babes, that are hid from the wife and the prudent of this world. See a lecture of the excellency of the gofpel-wisdom, Job xxviii. 12-23. "It cannot be gotten for gold, neither hall filver be weighed for the price thereof. No mention fhall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies. The topaz of Ethiopia fhall not equal it, neither fhall it be valued with pure gold. God only understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof."

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4. In this gofpel-treafure, is to be found that crown of glowhich fell from Adam's head that day that he finned against God: 2 Cor. iii. ult. "All we with open face, beholding as in a glafs, (viz. the glafs of the gofpel-revelation) the glory of the Lord, are changed into the fame image, from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord." Chrift is the image of the invifible God, and the brightnefs of his Father's glory; and, by beholding his glory in the gofpel, we come to be renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created us at first, 2 Cor. iv. 4-6.

5. The gospel opens a treasure of " fine linen, pure and white, which is the righteousness of the faints," Rev. xix. 8. The judicious Durham upon that place obferves, that by this righteousness of the faints, is to be understood the imputed righteoufnefs of Chrift, which he proves by feveral arguments. This is that white raiment which Chrift counfels Laodicea to buy of him, that the fhame of her nakednefs might not appear, Rev. iii. 18. This, I fay, we bring forth, and bring near unto you in the gofpel-revelation: Rom. i. 16. 17. “ Ï am not afhamed of the gofpel of Chrift: for it is the power of God unto falvation, to every one that believeth. For therein is the righteoufnefs of God revealed from faith to faith." Come then, O naked finners, and buy white raiment, robes of righteoufnefs, garments of falvation, without money and without price, for it is a gifted righteoufnefs, Rom. v. 17.

6. Here is a treafure of quickening, cleanling, adorning, ftrengthening, and fanctifying influences of the Holy Ghost; for we receive the Spirit, not by the works of the law, but by the hearing of faith. Chrift is a head of influence, who received the Spirit above measure, that he might communicate the Spirit and all his influences unto his mystical body; and the gofpel is the channel of conveyance; hence, by the great and precious promifes, we are made partakers of the divine nature. Thefe places of the world, where the gofpel is not preached, they are like unto the mountains of Gilboa, upon which nothing of the rain or dew of the Holy Ghoft defcends.

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7. Here in this gofpel is a treasure of noble fecurities for every thing needful, either for life or godlinefs, for time or eternity. The gofpel-covenant is a large charter under the feal of Heaven, for the whole inheritance of glory, and all that pertains thereunto: and the promifes of the covenant are fo many particular claufes of the charter, whereby this and that and the other blefling is fecured, and all thefe yea and amen in Chrift. It is "an everlafting covenant, well ordered in all things and fure. The mountains fhall depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindness fhall not depart from thee, neither fhall the covenant of my peace be removed, faith the Lord, that hath mercy on thee," If. liv. 10.

8. In this gofpel you have a treasure of fovereign medicines and antidotes against all these spiritual and foul diseases unto which we are fubjected fince the fall of Adam. Here are the leaves of the tree of life, which are ordained for the healing of the nations: Pfal. cvii. 20. "He fent forth his word and healed them." We bring you glad tidings of great joy, that there is baim in Gilead, and a Physician there of unerring fkill, and who faves to the uttermost all that come unto him, and will employ him, let their cafe be never fo defperate, or the diseases never fo obftinate against all other remedies; he opens the blind eyes, he makes the lame man to leap like a hart, and the tongue of the dumb to fing; yea, the very dead are made to hear the voice of Gilead's Phyfician, and fo are made alive, John v. 25.

9. In this gofpel there is laid open a treasure of great and glorious myfteries, that were hid in God from all eternity. The Lion of the tribe of Judah hath opened the book, and loofed the feven feals thereof, which none in heaven or in earth were capable to do but himfelf: and now under the New Teftament, by the commandment of the everlasting God, thefe hid myfteries are published unto all nations for the obe dience of faith, Rom. xvi. 25. 26. Col. i. 26. 27. In this golpel there is a revelation of the mystery of the Trinity, three in one, and one in three: the mystery of the incarnation of the eternal Son of God; " And without controverfy great is the mystery of godlinefs; God manifefted in the flesh" the myltery of the death and fatisfaction of Chrift, whereby the sword of juftice, being bathed in his blood, is put up again in its fcabbard, and the anger of God turned away from us: the mystery of his refurrection from the dead, whereby he was juftified in the Spirit, and the debt we were owing to law and juftice difcharged: the mystery of his afcenfion unto heaven, as our Forerunner, whereby the way to glory is opened for us through the territories of the Prince of the power of the air:

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the mystery of his interceflion, whereby our acceptance with God is procured. And all accufations and charges against us are repelled. The gospel brings to light the mystery of the new birth, whereby we are initiated into the kingdom of heaven the mystery of juftification by the imputation of his righteoufnefs unto us, whereby the righteoufnefs of the law comes to be fulfilled in every one that believes: the mystery of our adoption into God's family, whereby the heirs of hell and wrath are put among the children: the mystery of our fanctification by the Spirit of Chrift, whereby we are made meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the faints in light. Thefe and the like mysteries are opened in the everlafting gofpel, which flesh and blood cannot know, and cannot receive, becaufe they are fpiritually difcerned.

10. In this gofpel-treafure is to be found ftores of meat; meat for the hungry, and drink for the thirsty foul, meat indeed, and drink indeed. The incarnation and fatisfaction of the Son of God, apprehended by faith, is that hidden manna which the world are ftrangers to. Of this banquet we read, If. xxv. 6." In this mountain fhall the Lord of hofts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined." A tafting of this food fatisfies the longing foul fo much, that it hungers no more after the fwine hufks which the world feed upon. See the open invitation given to all people to come unto this gofpel-banquet, If. Iv. 1. "Ho, every one that thirfteth, come ye to the waters," &c. Prov. viii. 4. "Unto you, O men, do I call, and my voice is to the fons of men. Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled" fee Prov. ix. 1-6.

11. Here in this gofpel is a treasure of rich fpoils, which Chrift the Captain of our falvation took from the enemy, when he foiled him upon the field of battle, and triumphed over principalities and powers. Here is the head of the dragon, that old ferpent the devil, the destroyer of mankind, which Chrift gives to be meat to them that inhabit the wilderness. Here is the hand-writing of the curfe of the law, which was contrary unto us, and which gave Satan a law-power over us, retired and cancelled, Col. ii. 14. Here are the keys of hell and death, which Chrift took by main force from the jailor: Rev. i. 18. "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death." Here is death itself difarmed of its fting, and the grave of its victory, fo as you may triumph over it as a vanquished enemy, faying, " O death, where is thy fting? O grave, where is thy victory? Thanks be to God, which giveth VOL. III. 3 Y

us the victory, through our Lord Jefus Chrift." All thefe fpoils Chrift took from the enemy, when of the people there was none with him; and yet, like the women that tarried at home, he makes us to divide the fpoil: and thus the promise of the Father is fulfilled, If. liii. 12. "I will divide hini a portion with the great, and he fhall divide the fpoil with the ftrong."

12. In this gofpel are brought forth all the riches and glory of Immanuel's land, that lies on the other fide of the Jordan of death. The new Jerufalem, with all its fplendour and glory, is brought down from God out of heaven in the difpenfation of the gofpel, Rev. xxi. 1-3.; and from ver. 10-21. we have a map of the celeftial Jerufalem, unto which the redeemed from among men fhall be admitted, when they have finished their work and pilgrimage in this lower world. Thus you fee what rich treasures the gofpel brings unto finners. Oh how fitly then is it called "The glorious gofpel of the bleffed God, which is committed to our trust!" I Tim. i. 11. Thus much for the first general head.

II. The fecond thing in the method was, to fpeak a little of the earthen vesels, where in the gofpel-treasure is brought or conveyed to God's family; for, fays the apoftle here, We have this treafure in earthen vessels. By which, as I faid in the opening of the words, we are to understand minifters of the gospel, unto whom he fays, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gof pel to every creature." Now, as to this defignation given unto minifters of the gofpel, there are only two or three queftions I would propofe and anfwer.

Queft. 1. What may be imported in this defignation of earthen veffels?

Anfw. (1.) It fays, that God is the great Potter, who forms all the veffels of his houfe, whether they be veffels of cups, or veffels of flagons, veffels of leffer, or of greater quantity; he forms them all for himself, that they may fhew forth his glory. (2.) It fays, that minifters of the gospel are ordained not for their own ufe, but for the benefit of the church, even as veffels are for the ufe of the family. Chrift himself, as Mediator and High Prieft of our profeffion, is ordained for men in things pertaining to God; and fo are all minifters and or dinances difpenfed by them, for the ufe and benefit of the church; Eph. iv. 11. 12. "When he afcended up on high, he gave fome apoftles, and fome prophets, and fome evange lifts, and fome paftors and teachers, for the perfecting of the faints, for the work of the miniftry, for the edifying of the body of Chrift. (3.) While minifters of the gospel are

called