N00348:111
Heavenly merchandiseHeavenly merchandize
Heavenly merchandise; or The purchasing of truth recommended and the selling of it dissuaded; as it was delivered in several sermons upon Prov. 23. 23. / By Samuel Willard, teacher of a church in Boston. ; [Three lines of Scripture text]Heavenly merchandize; or The purchasing of truth recommended and the selling of it disswaded; as it was delivered in several sermons upon Prov. 23. 23. / By Samuel Willard, teacher of a church in Boston. ; [Three lines of Scripture text]
printed by Samuel Green, 1686
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. You must also believe that you have it not in your own possession by nature: it is a Rule which the Apostle lays down, and it is to be applied universally, 1 Cor. 3. 18. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. It is the everlasting undoing of a great many men, that they are blown up with a fond conceit that they are born possessed of the Truth; that they have in them naturally a sufficient light to direct them in the right way, and guide them safely home to blessedness, see Job. 11. 12. Vain man would be wise though man be born like the Wild Asses Colt▪ Vain▪ Hebr. Empty; i. e. empty of wisdom, ⟨p. 86⟩of knowledge, and of Truth; viz. that which is Divine and Saving. Would be wise; i. e. he would be thought so to be, he challengeth it to himself as his privilege: Wild Asses Colt; which are reported the most sottish, stupid and foolish among all the sensitive creatures; and this is one great reason why so few came to draw water at these wells of Salvation, to buy Truth at this Fair, because they are conceited that they have it already: and who will lay out his money to buy that of which he hath store enough at home? This will either keep men from coming at all to Wisdoms School (and some there be who have said, why should we go to the Ordinances? we can hear no more there than what we already know as well as the Preacher,) or else if they do come, because it is the custom so to do, it will carry them forth, to carp, scoff, flout, & deride at every thing that is there offered; and so they are far from being like to barter: they are the thirsty that are invited to come; Isa. 55. 1. but he that is full cannot thirst; the full soul loathes the honey comb.
2. You must also believe that you have it not in your own possession by nature: it is a Rule which the Apostle lays down, and it is to be applied universally, 1 Cor. 3. 18. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. It is the everlasting undoing of a great many men, that they are blown up with a fond conceit that they are born possessed of the Truth; that they have in them naturally a sufficient light to direct them in the right way, and guide them safely home to blessedness, see