N00348:184
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.
2. Beware of being frighted by the apprehension of the hazards which the preserving of the Truth may expose you unto: They are unto Flesh and Blood terrible and scaring things, but to a rightly informed and spiritual judgment ⟨p. 162⟩they are but bug-bears and scare-crows: they cannot of themselves make a divorce between you and the Truth; and as long as they cannot do that, they can do you no real harm; the Apostle Peter seeks to quiet the Spirits of those he writes unto with such a consideration, 1 Pet. 3. 12. and who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? they might readily reply, Devils will, and the enemies of God and goodness will the rather do it for this; Peter knew all this, but he would have you to understand that it is out of their reach, that though they would, yet they cannot do it: do you but keep the Truth and that will keep you; it will be a Garrison that can never be subdued. There is indeed an evil in these things, and therefore it is lawful to desire (if it may stand with divine counsel) that they may be kept from us; but whither they shall or no is with him who knows what is best; and this is sufficient for us, that the God of Truth hath engaged his Word and Faithfulness to turn it unto good in the operation; and you may safely trust him with it, for he is able to do it. Be not slavishly afraid; what saith the wise man, Prov. 29. 25. The fear of man bringeth a snare, but whosoever trusteth in the ⟨p. 163⟩Lord shall be safe. They are poor revenges that the World can wreak upon us, and therefore, in the judgment of our Saviour Christ, not worthy of a Christian fear, Mat. 10. 28. Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. When the three Children were threatened with a fiery Furnace, they thought it not a thing worth the answering, Dan. 3. 16. O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter: the proud King thought to have scared them into a lie, but he was greatly mistaken; the fear of God, and love of the Truth, had put them beyond such puny fears.