Part 62 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
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Part 63 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
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[6.] Sixthly and lastly, Consider that spiritual riches, which are the best of riches, do commonly attend the poorest saints. Usually there are none so rich in spirituals, as those who are poorest in temporals; there are none who have so much to show for the eternal world as those who have least to show of this earthly world: James 2:5, "Hearken, my beloved brethren, Has not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to those who love him?" Though they have never a penny in their purses, nor never a rag to hang on their backs, nor ever a bit to put in their bellies—yet they are rich heirs, and their heads are destined for the diadem. Usually the poorest saints are the richest Christians in comforts, in graces, in promises, in experiences, and in spiritual enjoyments, etc., 2 Cor. 8:1-5; Romans 5:3. The holy soul drives the freest and the greatest trade heavenwards; the holy soul may sail to any port that lies in God's dominions, and trade freely—and what enriches men like a free and a full trade? There are infinite treasures laid up in precious promises, and all these treasuries lie open to the holy soul. A Christian may laden his soul as deep as he pleases with the precious commodities of heaven.
I have read of Tiberius the emperor, in 577, who, seeing a cross set in a marble stone lying in the ground, commanded it to be dug up; and when it was dug rip, he found a rich treasure under the cross. O sirs, under the cross of poverty there are treasures, spiritual treasures, lasting treasures, and satisfying treasures to be found. Though holiness may be attended with cross upon cross, loss upon loss, and misery upon misery, and calamity upon calamity, and sorrow upon sorrow, and vexation upon vexation, etc.—yet under every cross and every loss, etc., a Christian shall be sure to find such spiritual and heavenly treasure, that for weight, worth, use, delight, and duration, all the treasures of the world are not to be compared to it.
O sirs, what is a cup of pleasant wine to a condemned man? Or a ship's lading of gold to a drowning man? Or a sumptuous feast to a sick man? or royal robes to a diseased man? etc. No more are all the riches or treasures of this world, compared to those spiritual riches and heavenly treasures which attends the poorest saints. Austin has long since told us that, "Earthly riches are full of poverty." They cannot enrich the soul, for oftentimes where the purse is full of gold, the heart is empty of grace; and under many silken coats there are threadbare souls to be found. Now what are all the riches of this world, compared to those riches of consolation, and riches of sanctification, and riches of justification, and riches of salvation, and riches of glorification—which attends the poorest saints? Suppose that poverty should break in upon you like an armed man while you are in the pursuit of holiness—yet if the best of riches, if spiritual riches, shall attend your poverty, as certainly they shall, what cause have you to be discouraged? Surely none! And let thus much suffice for answer to this fifth objection.
Objection 6. But sixthly, Some may further object, and say, "Should we pursue after holiness, it would be a disgrace, a disparagement, and dishonor to us who are high, and great, and rich, and honorable in the earth. We are gentlemen, we are well-bred and high-born, and holiness seems to be too poor and too low a thing for such as we are to look after, etc."
Now to fence and arm you against this objection, give me permission to propose to your most serious thoughts these following considerations, etc.:
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Part 63 HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness
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