N00348:176
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. Endeavour to make sure and […] title to the Truth. Man is a dependant creature, and every one would willingly […] something which they may live upon, and whereunto they may safely trust: and that which is the great engagement upon men to stand by a thing, hold it fast, and utterly refuse to let it go, is (together with a persuasion in their minds of the excellency and ⟨p. 152⟩worth of it) an apprehension of an interest which they have in it; and ever the more confident a man is in this particular, the more resolute may we expect that he will be: A man may enjoy a goodly inheritance, be in the possession of it, and be exceedingly unwilling to be put out of it; and yet notwithstanding, if he suspect the validity of his deeds and evidences, and be afraid that he shall never be able to make good his title to it in Law; and may so be put to a great deal of trouble and expense, and lose all at last, this very suspicion will make him very cold in the defending of it, and put him upon the temptation to forgo it at some considerable disadvantage: many are in their judgments persuaded of the inestimable value of this Jewel, Truth; and how happy a portion they have gotten who are the true owners of it, but they are withal afraid lest they have but deceived themselves, and have not driven a through and full Bargain for it, they are doubtful whither the evidence they can produce for their title to it, will stand good; and in the mean while, to think of suffering the loss of all the outward advantages of the delights of this world, and to undergo the troubles and hazards of persecution in standing ⟨p. 153⟩by it (and how far they may extend they know not) and after all this to be disposest of the Truth too, this looks sadly upon them, and these fears do many times make them to faint, and draw back, at least put them to such stands that they know not what to do: and without question, it must needs be a fearful thing to lose credit, liberty, estate, ease and life too for the Truth, and lose the Truth at last, and the Soul by that loss, which is a possible case: That you may avoid being reduced to such a Dilemma, and prevent this distress, your work is not to rest till you see the Deeds signed, sealed and delivered; to follow that advice, 2 Pet. 1. 10.