N00348:83
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.
2. There would greater harm arise to them from parting with it, then all that the worlds malice can bring upon them for keeping of it. They are too precipitant who think that every thing is presently to be thrown away as useless, which hath some little inconveniences that attend it, for upon this score men must sooner or later put themselves out of all: but all circumstances and consequences are to be weighed, and men must set the advantage over against the damage. The Merchant will bear many a puff of wind, and suffer great difficulties and dangers before he will cast his Wares Over board, especially if they be of great worth; and here are two points of wisdom which have great sway with him in the deliberating on this case, viz.
1. That if he keep the Truth safe, it will plentifully reward him for all these sufferings. Why did Moses prefer Affliction for Truths sake, before the Egyptian Crown? see Heb. 11. 26. The man is well satisfied that earth and hell can never undo him so long as he keeps the Truth, he can ⟨p. 62⟩never be ruined whilst this is his portion. This will pay for estate, credit, liberty life; make plentiful amends for revilings, confiscations, reproaches, imprisonments, bonds, and the cruellest tortures which the spiteful wit of man can invent or inflict; hence none of all these things moved Paul, but his whole care was (whatever befell him) not to forgo the Truth, Acts 20. 22, 23, 24. and in the midst of all fore: and bitter oppressions, the Church comforteth her self with that, that she had not forsaken the Truth, Psal. 44, 17. […] that is come upon us, yet have we not forgotten thee, nor dealt falsely in thy Covenant.
1. That if he keep the Truth safe, it will plentifully reward him for all these sufferings. Why did Moses prefer Affliction for Truths sake, before the Egyptian Crown? see