Heavenly merchandiseHeavenly merchandize

To speak more particularly, there are two ways, or two sorts of Temptations by which they who have bought the Truth may be endangered, viz. either of being collogued or else affrighted out of it: In the former of these we are invited by the worlds honours, profits, ⟨p. 150⟩and pleasures, which look upon us with a smiling countenance, and bespeak us in an insinuating dialect: in the latter we are seared with the Cross and Persecution, looking grim and ghastly upon us, and speaking in Thunder and Lightning to us: The one makes an offer to us of something in exchange for it, and would fain persuade us to believe that we shall be no losers by the bargain: the other tries all it can to discourage us from the keeping of it, and urge us to believe it our wisdom to part with it as soon as we can, and how great a folly it will be in us to resolve to maintain it, with these innumerable hazards and encumbrances that are the certain appendices of it: Now one of these two Temptations do (for the most part) make discovery of those that have made but a slightly purchase, and bought the Truth no further than in an outward profession; and they are plainly and fully characterized to us by the Lord Jesus Christ, the one in the stony, the other in the thorny ground, mentioned in that Parable, Math. 13. The former of these did (at the first preaching of it) receive the Truth with a great deal of seeming joy, but it was but an outside and flashy joy, which wanted good […], and it therein ⟨p. 151⟩manifested it self to be so because when the Sun of Persecution rose high, and beat hot upon it, all withered, which was because it had no depth, verse 20, 21. The latter took some deeper impression, but together with it there grew up thorny cares, and deceitful pleasures, and they choked all, verse 22, 23. and it is very certain, that if men can either be persuaded that they may put off the Truth to some considerable advantage, or that they cannot maintain it without some notable loss, they are prepared to make this unhappy bargain, to sell the Truth; I shall therefore essay to speak something which may afford suitable help for your establishment against the prevalency of both these Temptations, and that only in some few words of advice.

To speak more particularly, there are two ways, or two sorts of Temptations by which they who have bought the Truth may be endangered, viz. either of being colloagued or else affrighted out of it: In the former of these we are invited by the worlds honours, profits,