Heavenly merchandiseHeavenly merchandize

It may be some of you can call to your remembrance, that the best and most profitable Bargains that ever you made in all your lives, were some that you lighted upon unexpectedly, and never dreamt of them before: I am sure God himself hath said in our present case, I am found of those that sought me not, Isai. 61. 1. the Grace of God evermore prevents the wills of men, and begins the happy Bargain between them and him, for which they shall bless his Holy Name for ever: and therefore, what though you are come hither on no such errand, nor had the least intent of buying any thing that is here to be sold, but it was the furthest thing from your thoughts; yet what if God and you should make a match before you part? suppose you ⟨p. 67⟩should buy up truth, and get a sure Possession of it as your own before you leave this place; what harm? why may it not be so? I am sure God (whose the Truth is) is willing to it; & I am resolved (by his help) to do the utmost that I am able to set it forward: give me leave therefore to do these two things. 1. To commend this Commodity to your buying. 2. To instruct you in or about the buying of it.

1. By way of Motive: And here I might preface this commendation, by blowing upon all other Commodities whatsoever, and telling you what poor, empty, unprofitable trash they are in comparison with this: what childish Baubles and Rattles all the Worlds Honours are; What Shells and Husks, and Chaff are all its Riches; What Shadows and insubstantial things are all its pleasures; that he who labours for them, doth but labour for the East-wind; he that lays out Money for the procuring of them, doth it for that which is not bread; he that purchaseth and possesseth them, inherits nothing but vanity and vexation of spirit: & he that hath taken the greatest pains, and been followed with the best success inquest of them, after all his toil, travail and expense, sits down in the conclusion as unsatisfied as ⟨p. 68⟩