The Heavenly Trade, Table of contents
THE TABLE.
THe occaſion of the Diſcourſe, and Introduction to the Word Page 1, 2
The terms opened, and ſcope of the Scripture cleared 4
The Doctrine rais'd, That the Heavenly Trade is the beſt Trade; no Merchandiſe like Wiſdoms Merchandiſe, and traffiquing about ſpiritual and eternal things 9
Reaſons to prove the Point, take
1 From the nature of thoſe things about which Wiſdoms Merchants deal
2 The Perſon they deal with
3 The terms they trade upon
4 The gains that come by it 9
Three things prove Heavenly Ware to be the beſt in their own nature
1 Scripture 11
2 Experience 12
3 Reaſon 15
4 Things prove even to enlightned Reaſon, that Heavenly Wares are the best Wares, cauſe of
1 Their rarity 16
2 Their price 18
1 They coſt Chriſt dear ibid.
2 They are oft-times coſtly to Receivers 19
3 As their price is high, ſo their worth is great; good in themſelves, good to thoſe that have them 20
4 Their duration proves them excellent 21
Reaſ. 2. The Heavenly Trade is the beſt Trade, in regard of the Perſon traded with, the Lord Jeſus, who is moſt excellent, as to his
1 Greatneſs 24
2 Goodneſs 25
3 Ability ibid.
4 Faithfulneſs 24
Reaſ. 3. The terms on which this Trade is driven, proves it the beſt Trade
1 Goods to trade upon ſhall be freely given 28
2 Wiſdom to manage them, ſhall be freely imparted 30
3 A bleſſing on the improvement of them ſhall be inſured ibid.
4 The glory of all ſhall be returned to God 31
Reaſ. 4. 'Tis the moſt profitable Trade, cauſe it brings
1 Great returns: Three things prove it.
1 Religion has excellent fruit
2 Abundant fruit 33
3 Durable fruit
2 Sure returns; four things prove it 35
1 The Juſtice of God inſures it. 2 The Blood of Christ ingages for it. 3 Theſe returns are the work of his own Spirit. 4 The Lord Jeſus is an Adventurer with Believers in this Heavenly Trade 36, 37
3 Quick returns 38
Ob. Why then do the people of God complain of his delays to hear and help them? 39
Anſw. 1. God will anſwer and help in due time
2 If he ſtay long, he will pay well for it ibid.
3 The Saints themſelves are oft-times the cauſe of their not receiving quicker returns 40
U…e 1. Of information, if the Heavenly Trade be the beſt Trade, 'tis ſtrange that ſo few do ſet upon this Trade, the evil of which is aggravated ibid.
Uſe 2. Of lamentation over the great decays of this Heavenly Trade; where are
1 Six Symptoms of this decay
2 Abatement of price, when heavenly goods are not valued 45
2 Fewneſs of Buyers 47
3 Little imployment and ſlothfulneſs of ſpirit in heavenly things 49
4 The poverty of heavenly traders, largely opened and proved 50
5 Small adventures for God, proves bad trading in Religion 56
6 Breaking ſhews bad trading 57
2 Sad effects and dangerous iſſues of decays in this heavenly trade
1 It begets a growing ſtrangeneſs between God and that ſoul 59
2 Soul poverty and waſtings in mens ſpiritual interests 61
3 It brings a blaſt on mens earthly trades and intereſts 63
4 'Tis a ready way to ruine 65
5 It renders the Traders account heavy 67
Uſe 3. Of reprehenſion of mens too inordinate purſuit of their earthly trades and intereſts 69
Queſt. How may we know when perſons do inordinately purſue their earthly trades and intereſts?
Anſw. 1. When thoſe ingroſs too much of their time 70
2 When they take up too much of their hearts 71
Six ſigns when the World takes up mens hearts.
1 When the deſires do greedily go out after them 72
2 When their thoughts are earthly 73
3 Their reſtleſs labours after the world 76
4 The delight and pleaſure they take in it 78
5 Loathneſs to part with their earthly comforts and intereſts, ſhews an earthly heart 81
6 When their truſt and dependance is on earthly things 83
2 Aggrevation of the evil of an earthly mind
1 The ſtate of ſuch is dangerous 84
2 Their fall is great 88
Uſe 4. Of Exhortation.
1 To ſuch as are ſtrangers to this heavenly trade, where are four Arguments to perſwade them to this bleſſed Calling.
1 Their wants and neceſſities while without this trade 95
2 The danger that attends their preſent ſtate 101
3 Their duty to ſet upon this trade, and the obligations upon them to do it 102
4 The advantage that comes by it in five things 104
1 Religion will maintain you in the hardeſt time ibid.
2 Godlineſs will ſecure you in the moſt dangerous times and places 106
3 Holineſs will inrich you in impoveriſhing times ibid.
4 Piety will chear you under greateſt diſconſolations 107
5 Wiſdoms trade will make you truly honourable ibid.
Seven Directions how to get this trade
1 Get a capacity and heavenly nature for this heavenly trade 109
2 Ceaſe from your own works 111
3 Make over your ſelves to the Lord in an everlaſting Covenant 113
4 Come over into the Family of Chriſt 115
5 Be mortified to this preſent world 119
6 Submit to all the inſtructions the Lord gives you, in order to it 121
7 What you do, do quickly; make haſt about it 124
2 Bran. of Exhort. To ſuch as profeſs this Calling, exhorting them to follow it 126
Quer. Wherein lies this heavenly trade, and what is it you would have us follow:
Anſw. There are ſeven things in which this heavenly trade lies 127
1 To have and keep up a heavenly ſpirit 128
2 Properties of a heavenly ſpirit
1 It ſees heavenly things 130
2 It ſavours heavenly things 133
Directions to keep up a heavenly ſpirit.
1 Beware of thoſe things that weaken it 134
3 Things do greatly weaken a heavenly ſpirit, and what they are ibid. to 140
2 Dir. Get all the nouriſhment you can to ſtrengthen it
3 Be much in communion with the Father of Spirits 141
4 Cheriſh heavenly motions in your heart 143
5 Dwell much in the meditation of heaven 144
Be much exerciſed in heavenly graces 146
2 Another part of this heavenly trade is, to ſecure your intereſt in heavenly treaſures 147
Queſt. How may I know that heavenly treaſures are mine?
Anſw. 1. By your communion with the heir of heaven, are you married to Chriſt or no? 151
Que. What are thoſe Evidences that will aſſure this Conjugal Ʋnion with Chriſt?
Anſw. Five things prove Marriage to the Lord Jeſus.
1 Peculiar acquaintance with Chriſt, ſuch as no ſtranger hath, they know his ſecrets, and have intimate converſe with him 156
2 Conjugal love to Chriſt 158
3 A ſoul eſpouſed to Chriſt, will leave all for Chriſt ibid.
4 A ſoul married to Chriſt, ſtays and lives on Chriſt 164
5 Fruitfulneſs to Chriſt, proves Marriage to him 166
2 Your intereſt in heavenly treaſures is known by the naturalneſs and ſupremacy of your love to them 167
3 By your care for, and purſuit of them 169
4 If heavenly treaſures be yours, you'll find your ſpirits ſuited to them 170
3 Another thing wherein this heavenly trade lies, is, in getting in of heavenly goods, and what they are, and how to be obtained 171
Que. How may I do to get my ſoul furniſhed with heavenly goods?
Anſw. 1. Maintain a ſenſe of your own wants 187
2 Get a believing ſight of Chriſts fulneſs 188
Que. What ground may I have for hope that Chriſt will ſupply me?
Anſw. This is fully ſpoken to pag. 190, 191.
Another part of this heavenly trade, is to carry on heavenly work ibid.
Four Motives perſwading to it, and what they are 192 to 203
Que. What is this heavenly work that Chriſtians muſt do in this trade of godlineſs?
Anſw. 1. All that work which is of a heavenly nature, matter, manner and end 203
1 All that work which has God for its Author, as acts of Religious Worſhip ibid.
2 All that work which hath more eſpecial reſpect to your ſelves, as 209
1 Heart-work ibid. to 216
2 Mortification work 217
Que. How ſhall I do to get ſin mortified; I am convinced 'tis my duty, but find it not my capacity?
Dir. 1. Do nothing that may ſtrengthen it 221
Eight things help to ſtrengthen ſin 222 to 227
Dir. 2. Go not out in your own ſtrength againſt ſin ibid.
Not in the ſtrength of your purpoſes, nor of your frames, nor in the ſtrength of your duties, nor in the ſtrength of your graces 228
Dir. 3. Get the Ʋnion between your heart and ſin broken 229
There are ſeven things that help to break the hearts union with ſin ibid.
Dir. 4. Strike at the root of ſin 234
Four helps towards it 236
Dir. 5. Give no place to the leaſt motions of ſin 238
2 Helps towards it ibid.
Dir. 6. Keep up the life of grace 239
3 Carry on Renovation work; ſome helps towards it 240
4 Keep your Evidences for heaven fair 243
3 Carry on all thoſe natural, moral, and religious duties that concern others; in your houſe, in the houſe of God, in your callings and dealings with men 244
2 Another part of your heavenly work, is to do earthly things in an heavenly manner 247
This lies in three things.
1 To do earthly things by heavenly rule
2 With heavenly hearts 248
3 To heavenly ends
Ten Rules about doing of earthly things.
Rule 1. Be ſure the matter of your imployment be good, that your callings and recreations be according to the Will of God 249
Rule 2. Set on earthly things in their proper place and order 251
Rule 3. Keep your earthly buſineſs within the bounds of due time 252
Rule 4. Be diligent in the uſe of your working time 255
Rule 5. While your hands are about the world, ſet a guard about your hearts 257
Rule 6. Attend your earthly affairs with a calm and quiet ſpirit ibid.
Rule 7. Follow your duty, but caſt your care on God 261
Rule 8. In all your labours pray for a bleſſing 262
Rule 9. Though you live in the world, yet be dead to the world. 10. Do all your work in the view of Death, Judgment, and Eternity, 263, 264
2 Then do you earthly work in a heavenly manner, when you do it with a heavenly heart 266
Que. How may I know when my heart is heavenly in my earthly work?
Anſw. 1. A heavenly heart is enlightned to ſee heavenly things 267
2 A heavenly heart ſavours heavenly things 268
3 A heavenly heart deſires and longs after heavenly things 269
4 A heavenly heart has heavenly thoughts 270
5 A heavenly heart will be full of heavenly projects ibid.
6 A heavenly heart is acted and influenced by heavenly motives 271
7 A heavenly heart lives upon heavenly things 272
5 Another part of this heavenly trade lies in keeping up heavenly thoughts 274
6 If you would drive on the heavenly trade, keep up heavenly converſes 278
7 Then do you carry on this heavenly trade, when you improve every thing to heavenly advantages
There are nine things eſpecially that Chriſtians ſhould improve to heavenly advantage
1 Priviledges: 2 Ordinances. 3 Providence. 4 The World, and things thereof. 5 Your Callings. 6 Your Company. 7 Your Retirements. 8 Occaſional Objects. 9 Your falls and miſcarriages.
1 Get good from your priviledges.
1 Natural Priviledges 283
2 Providential 285
3 Spiritual 287
2 Get good from Ordinances, 4 helps towards it 288
1 Preparation before you come to them 489
2 Attention 290
3 Retention 291
4 Obedience ibid.
3 Get all the good you can from Providences, from ſmiling Providences, and from frowning, from giving and taking Providences 292, 293
4 Get good from the World, and the things thereof 294
5 Get good from your Callings and Imployments 297
6 Get good from your Company 299
7 Get good from your Retirements 303
8 Get good from occaſional objects and occurrences of Providence 307
9 Get good from your falls and miſcarriages 309
Ob. If ſouls may get good from their ſins, then why ſhould perſons be troubled for ſin, or watch againſt it?
Anſw. In two particulars: 1 They that are dead to ſin cannot live any longer therein; proved by four Reaſons 310
3 They ought not to commit ſin. 1 'Tis ſlaviſh work. 2 It has bitter fruit. 3 It has doleful wages 312
3 Branch of Exhort. To earthly traders who meet with breaches and diſcouragements in their earthly trades, counſelling them
Coun. 1. To be hereby convinced of the excellency of the heavenly trade, which is not liable to ſuch diſappointments 313, 314
Coun. 2. See God in your afflictions 311
Coun. 3. Search out the cauſe of them 316
Probable Reaſons of breaches on mens earthly trades and intereſts.
1 Letting down of Religion, and decay in the heavenly trade 317
2 Declenſions in the Worſhip of God ibid.
4 Withholding their intereſts from God 319
5 Greedy deſires after the world 320
6 God doth it to bring men down to his feet, and to bring them back to himſelf 324
Coun. 4. Get the breach between God and your ſouls compoſed 326
Coun. 5. Get advantage from earthly decays, to further your heavenly trade
Four advantages hence to your heavenly trade
1 It helps to convince you of the vanity and uncertainty of all things below God 327
2 It helps to diſcover thoſe ſins that procure theſe waſtes 328
3 By this you come to ſee a neceſſity of purſuing and ſecuring better treaſure 329
4 It helps, through grace, to looſen the heart from things below 330
5 It tends to the furtherance of Soul-inlargements ibid.
6 It makes heavenly things reliſh the ſweeter 331
4 Branch of Exhort. To ſuch as have begun this heavenly trade, but are fallen back, this adviſes them
Advice 1. To be deeply affected with their evil caſe 333
Conſiderations to further it.
1 Think on the change thy decays have brought upon thee 333
2 What an unlovely and diſpleaſing object thou art hereby become in the eyes of God 334
3 It makes thee little deſirable in the eyes of men ib.
4 Thou art the greateſt loſer of any: thy caſe is dangerous, and thy recovery difficult, ſuch are hardly recovered 335, 336
Que. I fear this is my cauſe, I am fallen back in grace, and fear I ſhall never recover; How may I know whether my back-ſlidings ſhall be healed?
Anſw. There are ſix ſigns of back-ſlidings that ſhall be healed.
1 When thy back ſlidings are not upon choice, but againſt thy judgment and conſent 336
2 When they become thy Soul-trouble, and hearts burden 337
3 When they are after thy effectual calling, and ſincere choice of God 337
4 When thou art reſtleſs, until the Lord doth heal thee 338
5 When thy vitals are ſtill ſound ibid.
6 When under all thy back-ſlidings thou findeſt a humble and contrite heart 339
5 Dangerous ſymptoms of falling back that ſhall hardly be reſtored.
1 If thy falling back be before thy falling in with Chriſt 339
2 A falling off from the foundations 340
3 A making Merchandiſe of the truth, ſelling themſelves to work wickedneſs ibid.
4 Back-ſlidings in heart ſhall not be cured 341
5 When perſons are prejudiced againſt the means of recovery ibid.
Adv. 2. Search out the cauſes of thy Souls decay, and get them removed 342
Cauſ. 1. Entrance upon this heavenly trade without a ſtock to ſet up ibid.
2 Setting upon this trade, and having no skill to mannage it 344
3 Want of diligence in following it 345
4 Great and frequent loſſes in thy ſpiritual intereſts 346
5 Great waſtes, and needleſs expences 347
6 Great debts are breaking 350
Adv. 3. Compound with your Creditor
Adv. 4. Set up no more for your ſelves, but enter your ſelves Factors for Chriſt 352
Three things required in a Factor, which muſt be followed by thoſe that will thrive in this heavenly trade
1 To trade upon anothers ſtock 353
2 To be regulated by anothers advice 356
3 To drive on anothers intereſt 358
Adv. 5. Follow your trade better than you have done ibid.
5 Branch of Exhort. To ſuch as have good trading in Religion, be you exhorted
1 To bleſs God for good trading 360
1 This is a great mercy at all times ibid.
2 A ſingular mercy at this time 361
3 An earneſt of eternal mercy ibid.
Qu. How may I know whether I have good trading in ſpirituals?
Sol. There are ſeven ſigns of good trading in evil times 364
1 When men go not back ibid.
2 If Wares go off well 365
3 When men are richer in ſtock 366
4 Are you leſs in debt 368
5 Have you more owed you, and is it ſure 367
6 That is good trading, when the preſent incomes maintain the trader 369
7 Laying up, as well as laying out, beſpeaks good trading 371
Complaint. This is my caſe, I ſee I am this languiſhing ſoul, what ſhall I do to get my condition mended, and my languiſhing ſoul revived, and attain unto true thrivings in this holy Calling?
Sol. There are ſix things that help to thrive in their trading.
1 A provident care 373
2 A diligent hand 375
3 Driving a ſecret trade 376
4 The bleſſing of God on mens labours ibid.
5 There are alſo proſpering graces to be kept up
1 Faith is a Soul-proſpering grace 377
2 Love to God, his name and ways 379
3 Humiltty is a Soul-thriving grace ibid.
4 Sincerity is a Soul-thriving fruit of the Spirit 381
6 Take proſpering courſes 382
There are four Soul-thriving courſes.
1 Keep up Self-examination ibid.
2 Be much with God in prayer 383
3 Ingage God with you in all your undertakings 385
4 Follow Divine Counſel in all you do 386
Ob. My fear ſtill remains that I am a barren ſoul, and ſhall periſh at laſt 388
Sol. 1. Thou mayſt thrive in Religion, and not know it ibid.
Try thy change ibid.
Ob. But may not a hypocrite go ſo far, and all this but change from darkneſs to conſcience light, and from ſin to common grace 389
Sol. This is anſwered in four particulars ib. to p. 391
Ob. But change from nature to grace is not growth in grace; I may have the firſt fruits, though not the after-fruits of the Spirit 391
Sol. This is anſwered in three particulars 391 to 393
Advice 2. Inlarge your trade
Nine Motives to ingage Christians to Soul inlargements 393 to 399
Advice 3. Lay in for bad times 402
There are four ſeaſons when Chriſtians will need all their ſtore
1 Times of temptation 403 Mat. 2. 1. Cauſe they are certain they will come 403
2 They are ſhaking when they are come 407
2 Times of deſertion 408
3 Times of great affliction 410
4 The time of death 413
Advice 4. Lay out for God; this is
1 Reaſonable work 417
2 Pleaſing work 419
3 Honourable work 420
4 Profitable work ibid.
5 'Tis a proof of your love to God 422
Dir. 1. Lay out your time for God.
Mot. 1. Your time is not yours, but Gods
Mot. 2. Much of your time is lost already 424
Mot. 3. Your time is ſhort and uncertain ibid.
Mot. 4. You can't put it to better profit 425
5 You muſt give an account of your time 426
6 How can you bethink a little time for God, who hath not thought an eternity of mercy too much for you 427
2 Lay out your ſtrength for God ibid.
3 Lay out your gifts and graces for God 428
4 Lay out your earthly intereſts for God 430
1 Elſe all your Religion is vain 432
2 Acts of charity are parts of Religious worſhip 433
3 God is much glorified by duties of charity 434
4 Sincere charity will evidence your right to glory 435
5 'Tis the ſure way to bleſſings here 437
Coun. 5. Lay up for glory 440
1 Lay up ſound hopes for glory 441
With Motives thereto ibid.
Que. What are theſe ſure hopes of glory?
Sol. 1. They iſſue from ſaving Ʋnion with Chriſt 445
2 They are the fruits of true grace 447
3 There will be a mortifiedneſs to this world 448
4 Right hopes are active hopes 449
5 Then will your converſation be in heaven 454
2 Lay up deſires for glory 455
3 Lay up all the treaſures you can to greater glory 457
Several things tend to greater glory 458
Lay up preparations for glory; for which 461
1 Get your hearts more looſe from the world 462
2 Preſs after more maturity in your graces 463
3 Get and keep the teſtimony of a good Conſcience ibid.
4 Maintain walks with God daily 464
5 Diſpatch your work on earth 465
Laſtly, Be always ready for the coming of the Lord ibid.
FINIS.
End of the text · Bartholomew Ashwood, The Heavenly Trade (1678)