N00348:90
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. Let me advise you to ask of them that have bought the Truth, and that have paid the dearest for it, how they like their Bargain, and whither ever they saw cause to repent of it. Abraham left his native Land, and his Fathers House, he turned a Pilgrim and Stranger in the Land of Canaan, where he had no possession of his own, besides a Burying place; nor had he any sixth abode, but went to and fro, dwelling in Tents, and all this for the Truth.
1. Let me advise you to ask of them that have bought the Truth, and that have paid the dearest for it, how they like their Bargain, and whither ever they saw cause to repent of it. Abraham left his native Land, and his Fathers House, he turned a Pilgrim and Stranger in the Land of Canaan, where he had no possession of his own, besides a Burying place; nor had he any fixt abode, but went to and fro, dwelling in Tents, and all this for the Truth.
Isaac and Jacob continued in the same ⟨p. 69⟩Land after him, and went through the like hardships; and did they ever study after a return? The Apostle acquaints us that they had the opportunity easily to have done it, if they had had any mind to it, Heb. 11. 15. Moses was another, and he voluntarily forewent the riches and glories of a Kingdom (and that one of the most flourishing then in the World) for the Truth and that not in a pang of rain and heady zeal, without deliberation; but he did it upon a free and premeditated Choice; he laid them together weighted them in the balance, and he refused the one on purpose that he might enjoy the other; and that was not when Truth was dressed up in outward bravery, having power, prosperity and credit attending upon it, but when it was beset with all manner of difficulties and afflictions, and he saw that he must throw himself into a world of trouble for its sake, this hindered not his Election, nor discouraged his heart in it,. ver. 24. and do we find that ever he revoked it, or so much as befooled himself for being guilty of a mistake in what he had done? No, neither he, nor any other that did as he, and with the same sincerity ever repented them. The Truth hath given unto all those that have been possessed of it such plentiful satisfaction,