Heavenly merchandiseHeavenly merchandize

2. We must add diligence and attention unto this constancy, if we will make any work of it. It is not enough to be frequent in our coming to the means, but we must take a great deal of pain with our selves when we do come, Isa. 15. 3. Incline your ear, and come unto me; hear and your Souls shall live: and this is an hard work, which requires labour. It calls for a wakeful body: God doth nor ordinarily in these days reveal his mind to his people in dreams, to be sure not in his house where they are called to hear him speaking ⟨p. 130⟩to them: It would be a ridiculous thing to find men sleeping in the market place and at market; and yet how many such sights doth this heavenly mart present us withal? as if men expected visions instead of instructions; and there must also be an attentive ear, and that accompanied with a mind intent upon the present business: he that brings his body to the House of God, and leaves his heart behind him, or sends it abroad from thence, to be wandering in the corners of the earth, and roving after vain objects, is like to make but a poor purchase of it, and might ever as well have tarried away, for any benefit that is like to accrue to him by coming: the purchase of the Truth requires the intense activity of the whole Soul about it, Psal. 110. 10. With my whole heart have I sought thee.

2. We must add diligence and attention unto this constancy, if we will make any work of it. It is not enough to be frequent in our coming to the means, but we must take a great deal of pain with our selves when we do come, Isa. 15. 3. Incline your ear, and come unto me; hear and your Souls shall live: and this is an hard work, which requires labour. It calls for a wakeful body: God doth nor ordinarily in these days reveal his mind to his people in dreams, to be sure not in his house where they are called to hear him speaking ⟨p. 130⟩to them: It would be a rediculous thing to find men sleeping in the market place and at market; and yet how many such sights doth this heavenly mart present us withal? as if men expected visions instead of instructions; and there must also be an attentive ear, and that accompanied with a mind intent upon the present business: he that brings his body to the House of God, and leaves his heart behind him, or sends it abroad from thence, to be wandring in the corners of the earth, and roving after vain objects, is like to make but a poor purchase of it, and might ever as well have tarried away, for any benefit that is like to accrue to him by coming: the purchase of the Truth requires the intense activity of the whole Soul about it, Psal. 110. 10. With my whole heart have I sought thee.