Heavenly merchandiseHeavenly merchandize

1. All your own carnal conceits, and fleshly wisdom: there is naturally in the children of men an high and over-weaning opinion which they have taken up of themselves, and their own understandings, then which there is not a greater opposite or enemy to saving wisdom, and the Truth will never find room to be entertained in such an heart, as long as that is there abiding: it sets it self directly against the Truth, and endeavours to persuade the man that he hath no need at all of it, but that he hath a sufficient light within, knowledge enough ⟨p. 135⟩of his own to direct his steps, and lead him right: yea, and besides that, it raiseth in him prejudices against the Truth, and seeks how to render it suspected of falsehood. He that will buy this wisdom that is from above, must first let go that which is from below, which is earthly, sensual, devilish; and must become a fool in his own sense and acknowledgement, 1 Cor. 3. 18. Let him that thinks himself wise, become a fool, that he may be wise; and truly this is an hard saying, and cannot readily be born by men of great natural Parts, and rich acquired endowments; it is a debasing thing, and that which Flesh and Blood cannot well resent, but looks upon with reluctancy, to come out of all, to come back after such a progress as they have made, and begin again at their A B C, in the Spirits School: and without question, this is not the least of the stumbling blocks that lie in such mens way, and makes it a sad truth, that not many wise men of this world are made savingly wise unto God.

1. All your own carnal conceits, and fleshly wisdom: there is naturally in the children of men an high and over-weaning opinion which they have taken up of themselves, and their own understandings, then which there is not a greater opposite or enemy to saving wisdom, and the Truth will never find room to be entertained in such an heart, as long as that is there abiding: it sets it self directly against the Truth, and endeavours to perswade the man that he hath no need at all of it, but that he hath a sufficient light within, knowledge enough ⟨p. 135⟩of his own to direct his steps, and lead him right: yea, and besides that, it raiseth in him prejudices against the Truth, and seeks how to render it suspected of falshood. He that will buy this wisdom that is from above, must first let go that which is from below, which is earthly, sensual, devilish; and must become a fool in his own sense and acknowledgment,