Simile. | Parallel.
A Merchant is a great Dealer in the Things of the World. | A True Christian is a great Dealer in the Things of Heaven; his Affections are set upon those Things that are above,1 where Christ fitteth at the Right hand of God.
II. The best and greatest Merchants trade and deal in the richest and choicest Things on Earth, viz. Jewels, Pearls, &c. | II. The true Christian desireth, and seeketh after the Riches of Grace, and Riches of Glory, called Pearls, which are of the greatest Value and Worth, in which he may be most happy. He seeketh for Pearls, but he fixeth most upon the Pearl of greatest Price, Jesus Christ.2
III. Merchants in their first Trading are not so skilful in their Merchandise, as they are afterwards, when by commercing with other Merchants, they have found out the true Worth of their Merchandise, and the manner of their Dealings. | III. So the true Christian, when he is first concerned in the Matters of Christianity, is not so skilful as afterward, when he hath by Christian Converse found out the Worth of spiritual Things, and the Deceitfulness of Satan, the World, and his own Heart, together with the Faithfulness of God.
IV. Merchants are most careful of their Concerns, when they have met with some Loss; then they begin to fear they shall be undone, if such Losses increase upon them. | IV. Christians are most careful in their spiritual and eternal Concernments, when they have met with some spiritual Losses, and are attended with a holy Fear, lest eternal Ruin should follow.
V. Merchants that deal in precious Stones, are very careful lest they should be deceived with counterfeit Stones, which are very like the true Ones. | V. The true Christian is very careful lest he should he deceived in his Spiritualities, viz. have a false Faith, a false Repentance, and a false Obedience, and counterfeit Grace, which may be very like the true.
⟨p. 169⟩VI. Merchants trade to Foreign Parts or Countries; their chief Concerns come from thence, whereby they grow rich. | VI. True Christians have their chief Concerns from Heaven, whereby they grow spiritually rich. Heaven is called a far Country.3
VII. Merchants have Correspondents in those Countries to which they trade, who receive their Merchandise which they send, and make Returns of more gainful Things. | VII. The true Christian hath his Correspondent in Heaven, who manageth all his Concerns, viz.
Simile. | Parallel.
A Merchant is a great Dealer in the Things of the World. | A True Christian is a great Dealer in the Things of Heaven; his Affections are set upon those Things that are above,1 where Christ fitteth at the Righthand of God.
II. The best and greatest Merchants trade and deal in the richest and choicest Things on Earth, viz. Jewels, Pearls, &c. | II. The true Christian desireth, and seeketh after the Riches of Grace, and Riches of Glory, called Pearls, which are of the greatest Value and Worth, in which he may be most happy. He seeketh for Pearls, but he fixeth most upon the Pearl of greatest Price, Jesus Christ.2
III. Merchants in their first Trading are not so skilful in their Merchandize, as they are afterwards, when by commercing with other Merchants, they have found out the true Worth of their Merchandize, and the manner of their Dealings. | III. So the true Christian, when he is first concerned in the Matters of Christianity, is not so skilful as afterward, when he hath by Christian Converse found out the Worth of spiritual Things, and the Deceitfulness of Satan, the World, and his own Heart, together with the Faithfulness of God.
IV. Merchants are most careful of their Concerns, when they have met with some Loss; then they begin to fear they shall be undone, if such Losses encrease upon them. | IV. Christians are most careful in their spiritual and eternal Concernments, when they have met with some spiritual Losses, and are attended with a holy Fear, lest eternal Ruine should follow.
V. Merchants that deal in precious Stones, are very careful lest they should be deceived with counterfeit Stones, which are very like the true Ones. | V. The true Christian is very careful lest he should he deceived in his Spiritualities, viz. have a false Faith, a false Repentance, and a false Obedience, and counterfeit Grace, which may be very like the true.
⟨p. 169⟩VI. Merchants trade to Foreign Parts or Countries; their chief Concerns come from thence, whereby they grow rich. | VI. True Christians have their chief Concerns from Heaven, whereby they grow spiritually rich. Heaven is called a far Country.3
VII. Merchants have Correspondents in those Countries to which they trade, who receive their Merchandize which they send, and make Returns of more gainful Things. | VII. The true Christian hath his Correspondent in Heaven, who manageth all his Concerns, viz.
- 1Col. 3 1.
- 2Mat. 13.46
- 3Luke 19.
