Vol 01 - Chapter 01 - Of the treasure of the enlightened Christian.

Chapter 01 - Of the treasure of the enlightened Christian
1. THAT the hearts of the faithful are the habitation of the ever-blessed Trinity, is largely attested in Scripture. But, alas! who is there that understands, values, or inquires after this immense and hidden treasure Wherefore, I thought it worth my while to explain at large the spiritual and heavenly dignity of the true Christian, and to instruct every one how to seek and find this sublime treasure in themselves. The foundation of this doctrine has been already laid down and demonstrated in the first book; proving how the Word of GOD, through faith, does exert its power in the heart of man. And in the second book it has been shown how God discovers himself to the devout soul, as the highest love, goodness, beauty, holiness, and wisdom.
2. But as this high treasure cannot be perceived or understood, but in the quiet of the soul, in which the Holy Spirit teaches us inwardly by the meditation of the Word, in which he enlivens and enlightens us; in which u he searcheth all things, even the deep things of God;" we must first of all learn how to bring the soul to the quiet state of internal rest; how this hidden treasure, this pearl in the field of our hearts, is to be sought for by introversion into ourselves, or rather, into God. And this is the inward Sabbath of an heart cleansed and purified by faith, and enlightened by the Holy Ghost. From this treasure of the Spirit and kingdom of GOD, hidden in the faithful soul, sprang the wisdom of all the enlightened souls, patriarchs, prophets, and apostles, that have ever been since the foundation of the world. This pearl then is worth looking after; this field is worth tilling; and this gift of the Spirit must be stirred up in us, as a spark of fire which, by continual application of breath, is blown up into a bright flame.
3. But that you may more fully and distinctly apprehend how the children of God are to be drawn from the exterior to the interior man, or the ground of the heart, that they may search, know, purify, and change it, and keep their spiritual eyes fixed upon GOD, and his kingdom in the inmost recesses of the soul; I shall first of all more generally in this Chapter, and afterwards, more particularly, touch upon and explain the several heads of this doctrine. GOD, and the kingdom of GOD, are purely to be joined, sought for, and found in the ground of the heart; 1: e. whatsoever the holy Scripture, and its true interpretation, discovers outwardly; all that ought to be really, spiritually, and truly felt and experienced in the ground of the soul.
4. But forasmuch as a general account of this will not be sufficient for the simple and unlearned, to bring them to this fundamental knowledge of themselves, and a true relish of the solid principles of theology; I shall descend to a more particular explication, and desire them to observe the five* chief heads of the Catechism; and to remember that they are not only to be learned externally, but to be applied and experienced internally. So, for instance, if you should say, you believed that God delivered his law upon mount Sinai, written upon two tables of stone; that' this law is the will of GOD, which every good man is obliged to obey; you do well to believe this. But this faith profiteth little, unless God himself be pleased to " write his law in your hearts," (Jeremiah 31:33,) and accomplish his will in you; but this cannot be done, unless, according to your baptismal obligation, you dedicate your whole heart to GOD, and offer up your own will to him, that his will may be fulfilled in you. The holy Psalmist, who well knew the dignity and necessity of this Divine operation, spends his whole 119th Psalm in earnest prayers to GOD, that he would vouchsafe to guide, direct, and govern him according to his law and testimony, that this sublime and heavenly work might not by any means be stopped or hindered in him.
5. So in like manner, if you believe "that CHRIST is our righteousners," your life and blessedness, you certainly do well. " For other foundation can no man lay, than that is laid, which is Jesus CHRIST. Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we may be saved." Yet remember withall, that this will avail but little, unless you have CHRIST within you; that is, unless you lay hold on him inwardly by faith, and make him, both as to his person and offices, your own. For if CHRIST be yours, it follows that all things which are God's are also yours; and that if he had ten thousand worlds and kingdoms, full of righteousness and blessing, yet, by faith, you are entitled to them all; for the righteousness of CHRIST is greater than all these. So in like manner, though the guilt of ten thousand worlds lay upon you, yet should it not be able to hurt you. This then is the treasure which you have within you; as our Lord tells us, "The kingdom of God is within you; that is, righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost," Luke 17:21.
6. Moreover, if you say, you believest CHRIST is the eternal word of the Father; that he is the true life and light of man; you dost well. But then you must take care, that this word speak in thee, that this light shine in thee, that this life live in thee. For unless you has this inward treasure in thy soul, and be united to CHRIST by a living faith, every thing else shall avail thee nothing. Again, you thinkest thyself obliged in duty and interest,’1 to pray to GOD, to give him thanks, and to praise his name;" and in this you judgest right. But take cane with all, that CHRIST himself pray within thee, and the Holy Spirit groan within thee. For as he is the Spirit of grace and supplication, so in order to make thy prayers effectual, it is necessary, that he also pray in the closet of thy heart, The temple of Spirit and truth. And if this be not done, thy prayers are all but vain.
You believest that in baptism, a You art made a member of CHRIST, a child of GOD, and an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven." But remember, unless you find in thyself the fruits of baptism; such as newness of life, the unction of the Spirit, and Divine illumination, thy baptism shall avail thee nothing. So if you believest, that in the external sacrament of the Lord's supper, you receivest the sign of the true and real body and blood of CHRIST, you dost well. But if you dost not also eat’it inwardly and spiritually, you wilt not only lose all the benefits of that institution, but dost also a eat and drink condemnation to thyself." Lastly, if you sayest, that CHRIST was the true Lamb of GOD, offered up for us upon the cross, and that you believest this, (John 1:20,) yet consider, what good can this faith do thee, unless the same Lamb of God become the daily food and nourishment of thy soul From all this it appears, that thy treasure ought to be within thee, and that unless you seek it in thine heart, you shall never find it.
7. The true way of attaining to this inward treasure is, by a true and living faith. The property of a true and living faith is, to cleave unto God with our whole heart; to put our whole trust in him; to depend on him; to dedicate and resign ourselves entirely to his mercy; to be united to God; and to enjoy him in the internal rest of the soul. True faith prefers nothing before God; it makes him the true object of all its desires; it places its infinite, and perfect good, in him alone, who is the true fountain of all good, whether in heaven or earth, in tinge or eternity; and all for Jesus CHRIST's sake, `• who is the author and finisher of our faith."
8. Faith brings the soul into a state of heavenly rest, in which God delights to manifest himself. This was the occasion of those words of our Lord to Martha: u Martha, Martha, you art troubled about many things; but one thing is needful. And Mary has chosen that better part, which shall not be taken from her." But what is that better part, but only God in Jesus CHRIST Now by this faith, which opens the heart, and makes it fit to receive the Spirit of GOD, is that better part chosen. By this faith it is, that the whole ever-blessed Trinity enters into the heart, and takes possession of it. Ephes. 3: 17. John 14:23. In this one article is contained the whole sum of Christian religion. - This is the fountain and original of charity, and of all virtues. For faith produceth love; love produceth hope; and hope patience; patience worketh meekness; and meekness humility; humility produceth the fear of God: and the fear of God teaches us to pray to him; to crucify the flesh; to deny ourselves; to hate our own life; and to despise the world. Upon which account St. John calls faith, " The victory that ovcrcometh the world."
9. And this was that one thing which our Lord recommended to the rich young man in the gospel, when he asked him, saying, " Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life" Luke 18:18. When he had first commanded him to keep the laws of GOD, he answered, "All these have I kept from my youth up. Jesus hearing him, said, one thing lackest you yet. Go, sell all that you hast, and give to the poor, and come, follow me, and you shall have treasures in heaven." In which words, God directs him to choose that one thing, that better part by faith; and by this forsaking himself and his worldly possessions, to return to God the true fountain of happiness. From this one thing proceeds the whole Christian life, and all the commandments, like a stream from its fountain; not by compulsion or violence, but from love and freedom of spirit. " For it is God that worketh in us both to will and to do, according to his good pleasure." Neither will he own any thing in us as his, which himself has not wrought. So that there is no need of laws, no need of commands or prohibitions. For faith by its free motion and spirit, does every thing in us that is necessary to be done; that is, it surrenders itself freely and entirely to GOD, and to the operations of his grace. And this is what the prophet Isaiah means, when he invites us, "to come unto GOD, to buy wine and milk, without money, and without price," Chapter 4: 1.
10. All that God requires, in order to accomplish his work in us, is a humble and quiet spirit. And whenever he finds such an habitation, there he dwells with an high manifestation of his wisdom and power. The eternal wisdom of God cannot unite with the wisdom of man; but when the human soul is entirely submitted unto GOD, there does God entirely rest in her. But if you wilt engage thy will, thy understanding, memory, and affections, in the service of thy own fleshly mind, then are they no longer proper instruments for the work of God. For in every union of two beings, it is supposed, that one must of necessity be active, and the other passive. But God is an eternally active mind, an essential, pure act; perpetually operating in thee, unless hindered by thee.
This may be illustrated by the following similitude; as the eye cannot fix upon any object, nor receive any impressions from it, unless it be free from all other images; (for otherwise one will hinder the other) so the soul, with all her powers, understanding, will, memory, and appetite, can receive no impressions or influences from GOD, if it be not empty and disengaged from the world. The ear cannot receive or enjoy the sweetest musick, whilst it is employed and filled with other sounds; so neither can the soul receive the Divine sweetness, whilst it is clogged with created comforts. So then the more a soul withdraws from the world, the nearer it approaches unto God; the more it renounces the pleasures of the flesh, the nearer it comes to the participation of the Divine nature. A soul thus pure and unspotted is, "as the king's daughter, all glorious within," enriched with hidden treasure.
But how can the soul be married to CHRIST, that is betrothed to the world "I am come (says our blessed Lord, Luke 12:49,) to send fire upon the earth." This is the Divine fire of love; and oh! that it would so burn in us as to consume all our dross of worldly passions and affections, that nothing might live and move in us, but the pure and holy love of God! he adds, verse 51, " I am come not to send peace, but a sword." Would to God the sword of the Holy Spirit might so mortify and destroy all our carnal concupiscence, that God alone might move and operate in us! A PRAYER. MY heart says unto thee, O GOD, I seek thy face yea, it is thy face, and the light thereof that I seek. Now then teach my heart, I beseech thee, my Lord GOD, how it may seek thee, and how it may find thee. Lord, if you be not here, where shall I seek thee when you art gone Or, if you be every where, why see I not thee here Certainly, you dwellest in unapproachable light.
And how shall I approach thee then Or, who shall lead me, or bring me thither, that I may see thee there For when I seek thee, my GOD, I seek a light above all lights, which no eye can comprehend; a light which shineth in the darkness of my nature, and is the light of life both to men and angels. O lift you up the light of thy countenance upon me, my Lord and my GOD, that I may live! Too late, indeed, have I sought thee, the light of my mind, the treasure of my soul, the life of my life, the spirit of my spirit; yet will I not give over seeking thee, till I find thee. You vast within me, and yet I was not with thee. These things held me far from thee, which could not be without thee.
For I went all about seeking thee. Then came I again to myself, and entered into myself, and said to myself, what art thou And what is the fountain of thy being And what manner of treasure is that which is hidden in_ thee Verily, I am nothing without thee, the light and life of the world, and the fountain of every being. You only art my fountain, and you art the hidden treasure in my soul to be revealed. O reveal thyself unto my heart, that I may know thee to be my God and my Lord, through thy Son, Jesus CHRIST, whom you has sent, and who says unto my soul, I am thy salvation. Amen