N00348:152
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.
1. That we are all of us by nature mere strangers, to the Truth; that is spoken of all natural men, Rom. 3. 17. The way of peace have they not known. As to other inferior Truths, though there are none that are born Artists in them, yet there are such common Principles, and natural powers in us, as are able to grasp them, and receive them in by teaching or instruction; there is an inbred or congenerate ability to receive these notions, and the reasons of them, provided we have one skilled to inform us, and hence they are gotten with the more ease, because there is in our Soul a receptivity of them, or a passive principle that can entertain them: But as to these Divine Truths, we are not only without them actually, or habitually, but are also incapable of them in our natural estate, 1 Cor. 2. 14. The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. For though there are some Relics of the old Law or Covenant left upon the Consciences of the Children of men; yet for those Truths which are truly Evangelical and Saving, there is not to be found the least footstep ⟨p. 126⟩of them in us by nature; yea, they do indeed transcendently surpass the comprehension of all our natural reasonings: so that there must be a change wrought in our very powers or faculties before we can be capable of them.
1. That we are all of us by nature meer strangers, to the Truth; that is spoken of all natural men, Rom. 3. 17. The way of peace have they not known. As to other inferior Truths, though there are none that are born Artists in them, yet there are such common Principles, and natural powers in us, as are able to grasp them, and receive them in by teaching or instruction; there is an inbred or congenerate ability to receive these notions, and the reasons of them, provided we have one skilled to inform us, and hence they are gotten with the more ease, because there is in our Soul a receptivity of them, or a passive principle that can entertain them: But as to these Divine Truths, we are not only without them actually, or habitually, but are also incapable of them in our natural estate,