MOst lamentable it is to see mens eager pursuit of earthly vanities , and their wofull neglect , and contempt of true saving grace , which is durable riches . To which two , may be fitly applyed that which was said of Saul and David ( the two first Kings of Israel ) sc. that the one hath slaine thousands , and the other tenne thousands : both which arise chiefely ( as I conceive ) from mens ignorance , or the want of the knowledge , of the worth and excellency of piety and true feare of God , or saving grace . For ( as our Saviour said to the woman of Samaria , Ioh. 4. 10. ) If thou knewest the gift of God , &c. So if they knew these gifts of God , in the true resplendent nature of them ; if men were but acquainted with the worth , and excellency of this precious , and golden commodity of true saving grace , they would not labour so immoderately for the meat that perisheth , but for the meate that endureth to everlasting life ( as our Saviour himselfe speaketh , Ioh. 6. 29. ) yea , they would not be so cumbred ( with Martha ) about many things , whilest , in the meane time , the one thing needfull is neglected ; but rather ( with Mary ) choose the better part , which should never be taken from them , Luk. 10. 42. To this end , I at first fastened my meditation upon this portion of Scripture , and tooke into my serious consideration this clause of holy Writ , yea , and have still fixed my saddest thoughts upon this golden Counsell of our blessed Saviour , wherein the great Counsellor of heaven and earth doth give his blessed advise to the sonnes of men , whom hee generally findeth like the Church of Laodicea , sc. wretched , and miserable and poore , and blinde , and naked ; now unto all such , whom he findeth in this wofull and wretched condition , He propoundeth this sweete and heavenly counsell and direction ( which is the ground of this ensuing discourse ) contained in the words of this Text , Rev. 3. 18. I counsell thee to buy of mee gold tryed in the fire , that thou mayest be rich . Wherein our Saviour directeth us unto the true riches indeed , and commendeth unto us , the worth and excellency of Himselfe , his merits , and graces of his Spirit , that they are all of a right precious nature , and of great worth and value , even gold tryed in the fire , and such as will truely enrich us unto life eternall . In prosecuting of which Text , I have runne this course , and endeavoured to shew the great worth , and transcendent excellency of true saving grace , that it is most fitly resembled to Gold tryed in the fire , yea , indeed to be farre preferred before it , and that in sundry respects ; yea , not only the worth and excellency of grace it selfe , but also the admirable worth of such as do enjoy this precious Iewell , that all such are most excellent , and golden persons indeed , as comming of golden parentage , having a golden portion and inheritance , and also golden attendants , having the holy Angels of God daily to pitch their Tents round about them , for their safety . Farther , by way of application , I have earnestly pressed , and perswaded unto the duty of examination , that wee should all try , what metall our graces are made of ; whether they be of a right golden nature , yea , or no. And because herein we are all of us naturally backward , I have therefore endeavoured to enforce the duty by sundry Motives , drawne from the consideration of the difficulty of the duty , the danger of being mistaken , as also , the possibility of performance , and comfort that will hereby redound unto us , when the worke is once throughly performed . And that we may not bee deceived about it , nor gul'd with Sathans devices , in a businesse of such importance , I have therefore also endeavoured to manifest and discover the true markes and characters of this golden metall ; together with the comfortable , and happy estate and condition of all such , as doe enjoy this precious commodity . 2. I have endeavoured to prove , that all such as have true grace , are absolutely , and incomparably the richest persons in the world ; and that piety is the best , and surest way to make us truly and spiritually rich . So that , if there be any that are ready to say ; Who will shew us any good ? Let such come , and see the shortest , and yet the surest way to get wealth , yea , durable riches , and righteousnesse . Lastly , if any be so farre wrought upon , as to cry out with those in the Gospell , Lord , evermore give us this bread , this wealth , this precious treasure ; I have therefore , in the last place , endeavoured to discover the direct meanes to obtaine it , and that is , Buying . And the rather to encourage us , to the making of this happie bargaine for our soules ; I have here described the excellency of the Chapman , that is readie to sell us this rare commoditie of saving grace . Here you shall also finde a description of all the particulars , requisite to the making up of this bargaine with Christ . Here you shall finde the price of true grace , and the great varietie of such customers , as are readie ( in appearance ) to bargaine with this spirituall and heavenly Chapman : Here have you the summe and substance of this TREATISE . Whereunto I have adjoyned another of like argument ; shewing the worth and excellency of the time that is spent in Gods service , or in the use of the means to get grace ; which seemeth fitly annexed to the former Treatise : for if true saving grace be a jewell of such worth ; then time spent in the use of the best meanes to get grace , must needs be the best spent time : For how can any ( that earnestly thirst after saving grace ) spend their time better , then in diligent attendance upon the Word of Gods grace , which is able to build us up farther and farther , and to give us an inheritance among all them that are sanctified , as the Apostle speaketh , Act. 20. 32 ? Oh how justly may a man take up a lamentation , in regard of the general defect amongst men , in the wofull mis-spending of their precious time ! Men doe even take care , how to passe away that precious time , which is never to be recalled , but of it selfe passeth away as the most swift Ships . Now the desire of my soule , is not onely to bewaile this dangerous sinne of wasting and mis-spending of precious time ; but also to doe my best endeavour , to reform this generall and monstrous abuse this way . To this end , I have endeavoured to stop the streame , and to turne the water into the right channell , by giving direction for the right spending of our precious time ; and have earnestly laboured to evince thus much , sc. That time spent in Gods service , is absolutely and incomparably the best spent time ; and therefore have earnestly perswaded , that we should not only begin to serve God betimes , even in our youth , &c. but also that we should be constant and abundant in the duties of Gods worship and service , after we have once begun . Concerning all which , I have given sundry motives and directions . Loe here the summe and substance of the whole booke , and of both these Treatises ; which as they seeme fitly united together ; so being ( upon occasion ) to look abroad in publike , they seem to be most fitly Dedicated to you , the Worshipfull Company , or bodie of the Company of the mysterie of Mercers . To you therefore ( Right Worshipfull , the Master , and Head of this beautifull and comely bodie , consisting of great varietie of Worshipfull and worthy members , ) doe I offer and present this my poore and unworthy present : which ( notwithstanding ) if the manner of handling , was correspondent to the matter it selfe , I durst then presume to say , t' was right worthy of you ; though in respect of the manner of illustration of them , I have justly and fitly called unworthy . To you therefore are these fruits of my poore labours dedicated , by whose encouragement , the Author himselfe hath beene supported , and better enabled to proceede in the worke of his Ministery . Accept therefore , I pray you , of this poore paper , as a publike testimony to the world , of my thankefull acknowledgement of your noble favours towards me , and kinde and speciall respect unto me . By perusall whereof , you may happily be encouraged to proceede in the good worke , which you have begunne , so mainely importing , not onely my good in particular , but also the good of sundry others , who will have cause ( I hope ) to blesse God for you , that he hath beene pleased to make you the worthy instruments of upholding the meanes of grace among them ; yea , and to establish for their good , the spirituall Market of their soules , that they may now come and buy freely , bread , milke , and wine , without money , and without price , as the Prophet speaketh , Isa. 55. 1 , 2. Yea , the desire of my soule is , that these first fruits of my labours may taste and relish so sweetly in the palate of your soules , that you may hereby see cause , never to repent you of the pains which you have take , and the cost which you have this way expended ; but may still be perswaded to continue your loving respects towards me , and your zeale to the cause of God , which is hereby greatly advanced and furthered by you , and so discharge the trust committed to you by that late famous , and admirably charitable and worthy Gentleman , Mr. Richard Fishburne , who committed money to your trust , to be both religiously and charitably employed . Which trust , how faithfully you have discharged , ( as it is best knowne to God , and to your owne consciences , which are as so many thousand witnesses ) so I my selfe am not ignorant of your noble & worthy proceedings ; but out of my experience , to my comfort , and your credit , am able both to speake , and to write of your fidelitie and liberalitie , which you are wont to use in these cases : besides also , that I am well acquainted with your dealings with others besides my selfe , on this behalfe . Most gladly therefore do I take hold on this opportunitie , to manifest unto the world , my thankefull acknowledgment of your speciall respect to me , in this case , and of this your noble courtesie . As the benefits therefore which I have received from you are publike , and manifest unto so many : so likewise doe I desire , that my acknowledgement hereof should not onely be reall and heartie , but publike also . For I have not yet forgotten ( though so many yeares agoe ) how freely and kindely I was chosen by you , to participate in the fruits and pledges of your love , after ( with all diligence ) you had sufficient tryall , both of my sufficiency , and also of the unblameablenesse of my life and conversation ; as touching both which , I trust you have ever since been fully satisfied . In most gratefull manner also I doe acknowledge , with what peace and quietnesse , for sundry yeares together , I freely did partake in ●he fruits of your love towards me ; neither was I ever at any time sithence disturbed , or molested by you ; but rather most kindely supported by you , against the molestation of others ; yea , and for the present , amidst the dangers and difficulties , wherewith I am not only pressed , but oppressed also , my chiefe hope and expectation of reliefe in this case , ( next under God ) is wholly from you ; neither doe I well know what to doe , but mine eyes are upon you ; and not onely mine , but also the eyes of sundry others , both in Citie , and Countrey , are steadily fixed on you , expecting what the issue and event will be . Goe on therefore nobly still , and with your wisedome and undaunted courage , vindicate the cause in hand , and cleere those difficulties and great encumbrances , which are lately fallen upon the Rectorie ( which I do enjoy ) and consequently , upon my selfe : whereunto let these poore labours of mine encourage you , together with the goodnesse and amiable beautie of the cause it selfe . For if true saving grace , be of such rare worth and value ; then surely the cost and paines that is bestowed to uphold the means of grace , must likewise needs be well employed . These Treatises were severall Sermons , preached in the Countrey among the people committed to my Charge : and good reason me thinketh it is , that I should give some speciall account of my labours to you , from whose hands , I have received the greatest part of my maintenance , and that constantly , for more then seven yeares together . Which endeavours of mine , if plaine and homely , are notwithstanding thus far justly to be excused , namely , that they were preached to a plaine Countrey people , which though of good affection and inclination towards pietie , ( I hope ) are yet but of meane and small capacitie , and understanding in the things of God . Besides , my care hath ever beene , rather to speake to the hid man of the heart , in a plaine way , then tickle the eare with a neat discourse , perhaps not understood , and therefore without all benefit and profit . Besides , no marvell if these Sermons want ornaments , when the Anthour himselfe was scarce supplyed with necessaries ; the greatest part of my meanes , at that time , being wholly taken from me ; so that some small pittance onely of outward meanes was left me ; though God in his goodnesse hath graciously ( by your hands principally ) provided for me . This I propound , not onely by way of just excuse , for these my impolished labours , but also to preserve alive , and keepe awake your pitie and compassion towards me , and to stirre up your zealous care and diligence in the cause of God , which seemeth some way endangered : yea , hereby you shall deeply engage a number of poore soules to pray for you , when they perceive the constancie of your love , towards both them , and me , in supporting of me , by way of maintenance , that I may still impart the Word of life among them , and goe on still to fulfill the Ministery , which I have received of the Lord IESUS . Thus leaving these things to your grave and loving consideration ; I commend the booke unto your reading , and your Worships to the protection of the Almightie , and both your selves , and it , unto his blessing . I humbly take leave , and rest