Heavenly merchandiseHeavenly merchandize

1. That Truth hath been brought to their doors, and offered to, yea, urged upon them daily; and yet they do neglect it: there hath been no need to fend to the farthest Indies, to fetch it thence, and yet they will venture so far to procure that which is but ⟨p. 34⟩dirt and trash in comparison of it: they have not been necessitated to go from Town to Town, and wander from Sea to Sea, for the Word of God, but it hath been brought home unto them, and God hath had his Criers in every place, who have called out unto men from Sabbath to Sabbath, and upon divers other market-days have exposed the Truth to their view; have opened to them the great mysteries of the Gospel, and used many earnest entreaties with men that they should give entertainment thereunto; and yet for all this, how have they slighted and disregarded?

2. That it hath been offered to them upon fair and easy terms; Truth was hardly ever a better pennyworth since the world stood, than it hath been to us; and whether even it will be so cheap again in our days, as it hath been now for these so many years, the Lord knows: Truth indeed can never be an hard bargain; suppose it be attended with never so many disadvantageous circumstances, it is still good, and worth our buying, though we must have shame, reproach, and bloody Persecution as appendices to it: Truth and a Cross, Truth and a faggot are not to be rejected by him who will approve himself wise: ⟨p. 35⟩but yet such appurtenances of it are wont to be a discouragement to flesh and blood, and relucting nature is wont to misgive at the apprehension of it: but we have had this precious pearl set in gold: Truth under all manner of advantages hath been offered unto us; peace, plenty, credit, preferment; and that notwithstanding all this, it hath still bin so slighted among us, and there have been so few that have bought it, is a plain discovery of our woeful folly, and will stand against all such as have not so done to their greater condemnation: and that this use is no slanderous accusation, but a just and necessary reprehension, and that I may withal point at such as do most of all deserve to come under the conviction of it, let it be considered.