N00348:69
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.
1. How many there are that have been bartering of the Truth for Error? such as have sometimes been Orthodox in their profession, how are they by degrees drawn to believe Lies instead of the Truth, and have set themselves with eager violence to oppose those things which sometimes they have resolutely maintained? they have suffered themselves to be bewitched with the enticements of error, and to drink of its poisoned cup: they have hearkened to a few fair ⟨p. 44⟩speeches, and cunningly devised fables, till they have been persuaded to let go some precious Truth or other in their room; yea, and been so foolish as not only to rest well contented with, but to make their foolish brags and boasts of the happy exchange they have made; as tho' a gilded error were of more value than a plain and solid Truth: how hath that of the Apostle been too sadly verified? Rom. 16. 18. By good words and fair speeches, they deceive the hearts of the simple; and it is to be taken notice of, as a thing most frequent, that when men once begin thus to break bulk, it is very improbable that they will stop till they have put off their whole lading.
1. How many there are that have been bartering of the Truth for Error? such as have sometimes been Orthodox in their profession, how are they by degrees drawn to believe Lies instead of the Truth, and have set themselves with eager violence to oppose those things which sometimes they have resolutely maintained? they have suffered themselves to be bewitched with the enticements of error, and to drink of its poysoned cup: they have hearkened to a few fair ⟨p. 44⟩speeches, and cunningly devised fables, till they have been perswaded to let go some precious Truth or other in their room; yea, and been so foolish as not only to rest well contented with, but to make their foolish brags and boasts of the happy exchange they have made; as tho' a guilded error were of more value than a plain and solid Truth: how hath that of the Apostle been too sadly verified? Rom. 16. 18. By good words and fair speeches, they deceive the hearts of the simple; and it is to be taken notice of, as a thing most frequent, that when men once begin thus to break bulk, it is very improbable that they will stop till they have put off their whole lading.