efteems nothing now but this jewel, this elect precious stone; and is richer in the poffeffing him, than if he had all heaven and earth without him. But the parable of which I fhall treat chiefly, is of treasure hid in a field. Should a perfon pass through your country, and pointing to a field, affure the inhabitants and neighbours that there was much money buried there; as many as were incredulous would fmile at the report, and mock those who would credit and go about to dig for it; they themselves would not fearch for it, because they could not believe it was there; nor could they help defpifing fuch as did, for the fame reafon. But if fome believed the news, they would go and dig and fearch for the treafure, till they had found it; and, having fecured it, would naturally part with all they had, to buy that field. Thus it is when the kingdom of God is preached in a land; falvation, and the love of our Saviour, pardon of fins and our Lord's prefence, is declared to be found in this life, and in our mortal ftate; Jefus is himself manifested and known: he comes and brings with him his Father, and dwells with us; his reward alfo is with him; his righteoufnefs and merits, his redemption and kingdom are revealed at his appearing. This is a treasure indeed! and this is that treasure fpoken of in the parable, which is more precious than the gold of Ophir, but it is hid; it is in the world, but yet invifible, as all the great things of our Saviour are: his kingdom is not of the world, yet it is there, and, as himself expreffes it, it is within you, it is not far from hence. His wifdom is understood fecretly; the manna that he promises, is hidden manna; his leaven is hid in the meal. It is therefore well called the fecret of the Lord, hidden wifdom, peace which. the world cannot give, joy which a stranger intermeddleth not with, happiness which no eye hath feen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man man to conceive rightly of it, till infpired from the Lamb, or till it is revealed by the Spirit. Our Saviour's kingdom is come, and many prefs into it; but fome, when they hear of this treafure, defpife it; they believe no fuch is found in this world; they think no fuch happiness is attainable in this life; and therefore they neither feek it, nor ask it, but are like people who hear of treasure hid in a field; but esteem it a dream, or fancy, or cheat, and fo never feek for it; fo all, who do not believe the kingdom attainable now, cannot poffibly enter it, because of unbelief. They cannot feek it, because they do not believe it is to be found; they cannot afk for the knowledge of falvation by the forgiveness of fins, because they think it is not got till we die: they do not feek the Lord; for they believe to expect to receive the Holy Ghoft, and know our Saviour, is prefumption. Thus pure unbelief hinders them to enter into the reft remaining for the people of God. But why do not they believe? Is it because the Lord has promifed no fuch bleffing? No; he has promifed it. All the fcriptures are filled with promifes of this kind. All was written that we might believe in Jefus, and have eternal life through his name. Is it then because none have found this treasure? By no means; for in all places there are witnesses of it; among all forts of people there are men who have found the Beloved, who know their Redeemer lives,. and who have got falvation in his blood, even remiffion of their fins. But the truth is, they neither believe Jefus nor his difciples; they put it off and fay, What is in the fcripture concerns the apoftles and firft ages of the church, and as violently oppofe. the continuation of those bleffings, as if no Bible was in the world. Let fuch take care left that happen to them which is written in the prophets, "Behold I work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though a man declare it unto you.' It is otherwife with fome; for they hear of this hidden treasure, and they feek it till they have found it. If any fhould look for other treasure, a great part of them might look in vain, and perhaps after many days and weeks labour another may find it, and all their toil be fruitlefs and loft; but it is fo ordered by him who has hid this treasure, that all who feek shall find, all that afk fhall have, and all who run in this race fhall win the prize. This treasure is found in Jefus; in him are hid all the treasures of God. Whoever wants to be rich in eternity, must have him. He is the coftly Pearl, the Pearl of great price. He is that true Treasure, "which no moth nor ruft can cornupt, and which no thief can break through and steal." Ye dead fouls, who are minded to find this true and real Treasure, this folid and lafting riches, come to Jefus, and you fhall find it there. Be not faithlefs, but believe Jefus Chrift's kingdom is yet to be found; his falvation is yet to be experienced; his love is yet to be felt in the heart. Up and feek it; be in earnest about it; remember "the kingdom of God fuffereth violence, and the violent take it by force." Whofo feeks with all his heart, shall find it, and then he will readily part with all he has, to purchase that field; he will count all other things, all gain, company, pleasures, honours, beauty, friends, and whatever elfe he valued before, fpiritual or temporal, as lofs, that he may get and win Jefus; nor need he be afraid of others getting his riches, and fo must hide it, there is enough for all; and therefore when a foul has found Christ, he is like the woman of Samaria, Philip, and others, he would call and invite every man to come and see Jesus too : he is happy he is in the kingdom, and wants all, even his enemies, to come into the fame. My My brethren, be thus minded; let all your bufinefs, your religion, your endeavours and aim be, to know and have Jefus Chrift. Let this be the mark of the prize of your high calling. Value nothing befide, love nothing, count nothing riches or treasure, defire nothing, afk nothing but to have him and his merits, and then you will be rich, the kingdom of heaven fhall be yours, the life that now is, and that which is to come, all fhall be yours for ever and ever. While others despise so ineftimable a benefit, difbelieve and fcorn it, and mock and deride the fincere. few, who are digging after this treasure, and in fearch after this riches and kingdom, continue ye in faith. Let our Saviour's promise be steadily believed, and think not well of yourfelves till ye have entered the poffeffion of this grace, fo fhall ye be happy here and hereafter. Here ye fhall be kings over fatan and the world, and foretaste and anticipate your heaven, and no man fhall be able to rob you of your crown ; you Thall have your portion fafe when the heavens vanish away, and when the earth is burnt up; you fhall then be in a continuing city, in a kingdom that cannot be fhaken, world without end. Amen. DISCOURSE XXVIII. THE OFFICES OF THE MESSIAH. LUKE iv. 18, 19. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor, he hath fent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of fight to the blind, to fet at liberty them that are bruifed, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. THIS HIS was that portion of fcripture our Saviour chofe for his text when he preached at Nazareth on a certain fabbath-day, not long after his baptifm in Jordan; and when he had read it in the fynagogue he closed the book and fat down, and said, This day is the fcripture fulfilled in your ears,' and all wondered at the gracious words which he fpake, and the eyes of all in the fynagogue were faftened on him; but before he had done fpeaking, his own doctrine was verified in himself, namely, "that a prophet is not without honour but in his own country, and among his own kindred;" for they were offended with his doctrine, and thruft him out of their fynagogue, and attempted to kill him, but he efcaped through the midst of them, and went away. I fhall not now make observations on what offended the Nazarenes in our Lord's difcourfe, nor fpeak of his early perfecutions, and how he used his divine power |