The allusion in our Text is borrowed from Traffic or Merchandise: a thing that is well known to, and more or less practised by all sorts of men. In it we may observe, 1. The Ware or Commodity which is here represented to us, which is Truth. The Spirit of God doth (as it were) look upon the worlds market, and observe how men are dealing for many sorts of Wares, and very busy in their Trading; and call out to them, and say, here is one ⟨p. 3⟩Commodity that you are very little mindful of, and yet I do commend it to you, as above all worth your purchasing, viz. Truth. The Hebrew Word signifies, That which may be believed, or to which Credit may be given. 2. The direction which is here given about it, and that is double; 1. Positive, Buy it, or possess it, as some read the word, it firstly and most properly signifies to get a thing into our possession; and because that is usually done by making a purchase of it, hence it is often used for buying: and this advice intimates to us, 1. That there is such a Commodity as Truth, else it were a great cheat to advise us to seek for it. 2. That we have it not of our own; that it doth not descend to us by inheritance, but if we would have it, we must purchase it. 3. That it is to be obtained by us, if we will but go to the cost, that there is a market in which Truth is set to sale, and offered to such as come there. 4. That it is not to be had for nothing, but men must be at some expense for it. 2. Negative: Sell it not; the word here used firstly signifieth, to deliver a thing, and hence to sell, by a peculiar appropriation; because that which men have sold, they are wont to deliver up the possession of to him that hath bought it; ⟨p. 4⟩the meaning therefore of it is, that we must never alienate, or deliver up the Title and Possession of it out of our hands, thus intimating and plainly insinuating the transcendent or incomparable value of it. 3. We may consider the Buyer, or the persons who are invited to trade in this sort of Merchandise, though not expressed, yet included in the expression, i. e. every one of what rank or degree soever; Scripture Counsels, when directed indefinitely, are for the most part, intended universally; where the Spirit of God doth not set any limitations, neither should we: Hence,
The allusion in our Text is borrowed from Traffick or Merchandize: a thing that is well known to, and more or less practised by all sorts of men. In it we may observe, 1. The Ware or Commodity which is here represented to us, which is Truth. The Spirit of God doth (as it were) look upon the worlds market, and observe how men are dealing for many sorts of Wares, and very buisy in their Trading; and call out to them, and say, here is one ⟨p. 3⟩Commodity that you are very little mindful of, and yet I do commend it to you, as above all worth your purchasing, viz. Truth. The Hebrew Word signifies, That which may be believed, or to which Credit may be given. 2. The direction which is here given about it, and that is double; 1. Positive, Buy it, or possess it, as some read the word, it firstly and most properly signifies to get a thing into our possession; and because that is usually done by making a purchase of it, hence it is often used for buying: and this advice intimates to us, 1. That there is such a Commodity as Truth, else it were a great cheat to advise us to seek for it. 2. That we have it not of our own; that it doth not descend to us by inheritance, but if we would have it, we must purchase it. 3. That it is to be obtained by us, if we will but go to the cost, that there is a market in which Truth is set to sale, and offered to such as come there. 4. That it is not to be had for nothing, but men must be at some expense for it. 2. Negative: Sell it not; the word here used firstly signifieth, to deliver a thing, and hence to sell, by a peculiar appropriation; because that which men have sold, they are wont to deliver up the possession of to him that hath bought it; ⟨p. 4⟩the meaning therefore of it is, that we must never alienate, or deliver up the Title and Possession of it out of our hands, thus intimating and plainly insinuating the transcendent or incomparable value of it. 3. We may consider the Buyer, or the persons who are invited to trade in this sort of Merchandize, though not expressed, yet included in the expression, i. e. every one of what rank or degree soever; Scripture Counsels, when directed indefinitely, are for the most part, intended universally; where the Spirit of God doth not set any limitations, neither should we: Hence,
