Heavenly merchandiseHeavenly merchandize

1. Mens outward peace and quietness. There are times wherein Persecutions arise for the Truth, and if men will own it, and stand by and maintain their title to it, it will cost them a great deal of molestation: The Disciples of Christ must look to be hated of all men for Christ and Truths sake; and oftentimes there are pretendedly fair offers made unto them; that if they will baulk the Truth but a little, and part with but a few, grains of this pearl, they shall have peace and liberty in exchange for it; whereas, if they will not give their consent, they shall suffer all manner of opposition, and be exposed to violence and rage; and when the case is such, the heart of man, which naturally loves ease and immunity from trouble, is too ready to be ensnared, and give a most unhappy consent to such a proposal as this, and rashly to buy their peace with the sale of the Truth.

2. The gratification of some fleshly lust; the truth is an enemy to all these; and many ⟨p. 29⟩times it is so, that men cannot hold the Truth in a conscientious profession of it, but this will prevent the aims, and curb in the reachings of carnal concupiscence: sometimes Covetousness craves after the world, and its desires are so large and boundless, that they cannot be kept pace withal, except a man remit some part of the Truth which concerns honesty, and some rules of piety too, or Religious Duties; and now if he will get the world, he must sell these Truths, so did Demos, 2 Tim. 4. 10. sometimes a mans ambition reacheth after preferment, and so much of honour and command, as may be procured in a way of truth, will not content him: if he will rise in the worlds favour, and climb to its dignities, he must let go some of the Truths of his profession, or dissemble them, and not openly own them, nay, possibly (as the times may be) he must renounce, and take upon him the contrary profession: and the weak mind of man is often woefully exposed by such Temptations, as are so suited to his carnal inclinations: