N00348:141
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. Every Truth pays some honour to God; if the great business of Religion be to teach men how to live to God, as we are assured that it is, 1 Pet. 4. 2. i. e. how to please him, to glorify him, to do that which is acceptable to him; then every part of it must of necessity reflect some honour upon him, give him some praise: it must either discover him to us in some of his glorious perfections, or direct us to such courses wherein we may be fitted to advance his declarative glory. As God did at the first make all things for himself, so he particularly appointed reasonable creatures to glorify him actively; and that they might not miss it in this design, he hath directed them to the way wherein they may rightly accomplish it, and this Direction of his, is that which we do by way of preeminence ⟨p. 115⟩call Truth: Truth therefore is our guide, Psal. 43. 3. Send forth thy Light and thy Truth, let them lead, (or guide) me, from thence we infer, that every Doctrine which speaks of God unbecomingly, which in any point derogates from his Prerogative, and Divine Perfections, which reflects any dishonour upon any of his Works, and denies him his just right in any one thing that is his due, is false: And such also is that to be esteemed by us, that dischargeth man from any part of his homage and subjection to God, and opens any door of licentiousness to him, or would give him the least encouragement to do any of those things by which Gods Holy Name may be dishonoured by him; that indulgeth him in any sinful way or course.
2. Every Truth pays some honour to God; if the great business of Religion be to teach men how to live to God, as we are assured that it is, 1 Pet. 4. 2. i. e. how to please him, to glorifie him, to do that which is acceptable to him; then every part of it must of necessity reflect some honour upon him, give him some praise: it must either discover him to us in some of his glorious perfections, or direct us to such courses wherein we may be fitted to advance his declarative glory. As God did at the first make all things for himself, so he particularly appointed reasonable creatures to glorifie him actively; and that they might not miss it in this design, he hath directed them to the way wherein they may rightly accomplish it, and this Direction of his, is that which we do by way of preheminence