Heavenly merchandiseHeavenly merchandize

7. Buying is the parting with something in exchange for that which we buy: that ⟨p. 17⟩which a man buys, he is at cost for; so, though the Truth be not the proper recompense of any expense that we can be at, (being infinitely more worth than all that we can lay down) but is the mere free gift of God; yet there is something that we must let go for it. Now in humane contracts, a man either pays money or labour, or exchangeth one commodity for another; so here all these are requisite in the purchasing of the Truth. It requires labour, and it is an hard work to procure the Heavenly Wisdom, Prov. 2. 4. If thou diggest for her as for Silver, &c. yea, and he must pay money too for it, if he will have it, that which a man accounts his best, and is most loth to let go; he must sell all that he hath, Mat. 13. 44. yea, he is sometimes called to part with all his Relations, all his Comforts of this life, his liberty, yea, and Life it self for the Truth: and if this be the price that God sets it at, he must not murmur at it, nor withdraw from his bargain, but venture upon it; as Luke 14. 26.

7. Buying is the parting with something in exchange for that which we buy: that ⟨p. 17⟩which a man buys, he is at cost for; so, though the Truth be not the proper recompence of any expense that we can be at, (being infinitly more worth than all that we can lay down) but is the meer free gift of God; yet there is something that we must let go for it. Now in humane contracts, a man either pays money or labour, or exchangeth one commodity for another; so here all these are requisite in the purchasing of the Truth. It requires labour, and it is an hard work to procure the Heavenly Wisdom, Prov. 2. 4. If thou diggest for her as for Silver, &c. yea, and he must pay money too for it, if he will have it, that which a man accounts his best, and is most loth to let go; he must sell all that he hath,