Heavenly merchandiseHeavenly merchandize

1. When they have in an open profession owned and acknowledged the Truth of the Gospel; when they have attained unto a literal understanding of, and give an historical assent and credit to the Doctrines of life ⟨p. 25⟩laid down in the Word of God, and do declare for them openly. Or,

2. Which is the best and surest title; when they have received the Truth in Love, and heartily embraced it by a saving faith; when they receive it, as it is in Jesus; when they are really built upon it: for then the Truth is indeed theirs by such a sure claim, as can never be justly questioned; they have bought it, and it is their own; God himself hath made it over to them, and sealed up the Sale.

2. Selling imports our letting go or parting with our propriety altogether in the thing; what a man hath sold, he can no longer lay any claim to, or challenge any right in it; he puts himself wholly out of the possession of it, and alienates it to another: and hence from that time forward, he disowns, disclaims, looks not after it, concerns not himself about it: thus a man hath then sold the Truth, when he hath relinquished the Profession of it, which sometimes he had made: when a man once comes to disown the Truth, as to an outward Profession, and either will not stand by it, or openly renounceth it, when he either will not ⟨p. 26⟩own it, or is bold to deny it, though once he challenged an interest in it, this man hath sold it.