“The Scriptures are the treasury of Christ” by Thomas Goodwin

“If the gospel and the riches of it be this great, then buy it.

‘Buy the truth, and sell it not.’ (Prov. 23:23)

He names no price, for you are not likely to lose by it, cost what it will.

This place (i.e. Cambridge) has been the greatest marketplace of truth, and of the mystery of the gospel, that I know under heaven.

Wisdom hath as it were cried all her wares at this great cross.

This truth has been purchased for you, and that dearly.

It cost the blood of many martyrs to derive it to you, the sweat of many preachers, the prayers of many saints, and cost God the riches of his patience to see it contemned.

Buy it therefore at any rate.

Especially you who are scholars, you come hither and live under those, read those who are wholesale men, and you should, while you are here, treasure up as much and as many precious truths as you can, and grace withall to vent by retail in the country, when you are sent abroad.

Inquire and learn where these treasures are to be had, even in the Scriptures.

The merchant who knew the pearl, was fain to buy the field.

Timothy, from a child had known the Scriptures, and so should you do, ‘they are able to make a man wise unto salvation, and make the man of God perfect.’

As the books of nature, when thoroughly known, make a perfect physician for the body, so does this book of Scripture make a perfect divine.

‘Search the Scriptures,’ says Christ, ‘for they speak of me.’

As Christ is the treasury of all knowledge, so the Scriptures are the treasury of Christ.

These treasures lie scattered in all the veins of the prophets and apostles.

Dig for them as for silver, take pains and travel to understand them.”

–Thomas Goodwin, The Works of Thomas Goodwin, Volume 4 (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage, 1861/2006), 4: 246-247.