A good man, out of the good treasure of the
heart
"A good man", is a regenerated man, one that is renewed by the
Spirit of God, a believer in Christ, a sincere lover of him, and
one that follows him, wheresoever he goes, and who has the grace
of God implanted in him: for "the good treasure the heart", is
not what he is naturally possessed of, but what is put into him:
and is no other than the superabundant grace of God, or that
grace for grace, which he has received out of Christ's fulness,
and the rich experience of it he is blessed with: and may well be
called a "treasure"; for as a treasure is a collection of riches,
so this consists of various graces, each of which is more
precious than gold, silver, and precious stones; a "good" one,
both from the quality and quantity of it; and "of the heart",
though this is left out in many copies, from the seat and subject
of it; and out of this the gracious man
bringeth forth good things;
tells his experience, speaks of what God has done for his soul;
says many things to the glory of the grace of God; of the person,
offices, blood, righteousness, and fulness of Christ; and of the
operations and influences of the blessed Spirit; and which are
pleasant, profitable, useful, and edifying to the saints:
and an evil man, out of the evil treasure bringeth forth
evil
things.
The "evil man", is a man as he was born; who is wholly flesh,
carnal, and in a state of nature; destitute of the Spirit, and
having no principle of grace in him: "the evil treasure", is the
corruption of his nature, the desperate wickedness of his heart;
and those swarms of lusts, and all manner of sin that dwell
there; from whence are continually proceeding evil and corrupt
communications, which not only defile himself, but others; and
among the rest, not only vain words and unprofitable talk, but
blasphemies against God, Christ, and the blessed Spirit; all
which men will be accountable for another day.
