The Heavenly Trade, Tract · Application 1
ƲSE I.
Firſt, If the heavenly Trade be the beſt Trade, then it's ſtrange that ſo few do ſet upon this Trade; perſons that are to enter upon ſome courſe of life, and would fain live in the World, are willing to take the beſt Trade that is attainable by them, if they can but reach it, and have wherewithal to carry it on: who would ſpend his time and ſtrength in low, ſordid and mechanick ſervices, which cannot maintain, or enrich him; if a brave, generous and wealthy Calling did offer it ſelf, and might be compaſſed? and yet ſuch is the folly of moſt under the Goſpel, who are ready to chooſe any thing but Godlineſs, and to fall in with every propoſal for their employment, rather than to engage about the work of Salvation: Men are wiſe in their generation, and know in other things how to chooſe the beſt bargains, only in the things of their Souls are fooliſh, and can be content to purſue ſhadows, and let go the ſubſtance; to lay out all their deſires, hopes and labours about a life that periſheth, neglecting the vaſt concerns of another World, and the welfare of their immortals Souls: Is not this folly? Poor Sinners, let me reaſon a little with you, if poſſible to recover your loſt underſtanding: come, be your own judges; Is it your intereſt (think you) to adventure your All, for things that cannot abide with you when obtained, nor ſatisfy you if they ſtay? things that can but bring you to your Grave, and accompany your bodies to the Houſe of Mourhing, and there leave you; unleſs they ſhew you the way to Hell alſo. Is it not madneſs to adventure your Souls for a trade, pleaſures and treaſures of ſo ſhort continuance, and little advantage? things that you will ſhortly be as weary of, as now deſirous; and throw them to the Bats and Moles of the Earth, that you may go into the Rocks to hide you from the fury of a Sin-avenging God? Will you ſpend all upon time, and lay up nothing for eternity? Or, is it rational to think that you ſhould reap where you never ſowed, and poſſeſs the benefit of that Trade you never drove? Gal. 6. 7, 8. Can you think to reach Heaven hereafter, and never walk one foot in the way to it here? Certainly, what men ſow, that they ſhall reap: Can you imagine the things of Heaven to be ſo cheap, as to be had without looking after? Alas, things far inferiour cannot be ſo eaſily obtained; it may coſt ſome of you many tuggings, much ſweat, labour and expence to get but a little of this World; and do you think to find this tried Gold without buying, and digging for it? and is it a wiſe bargain (think you) to purchaſe your deſirable Comforts with the loſs of your Souls? and that you may gain but a little of the World, to part with a poſſibility of having Heaven? What will it profit you to get the World, (were you ſure of every part of it) and to loſe your Souls? Mat. 16. 26. And what if you miſs of your hopes in this, and fall ſhort of Heaven too? never have what you look'd for on Earth, nor a place in Heaven neither; will not your caſe be then dreadful? O! fooliſh Souls! that may be happy, but will not; that may get into ſuch a courſe of life as would enrich you here, and for ever; but refuſe it, preferring a poor beggarly life before a rich and noble ſtate; chooſing rather to trade with Devils than God; to ſwap away your delightful time, for doleful eternity; your ſalvationprizes, ſwiniſh pleaſures. O ſad exchange for! to be bewailed, but not remedied: What? to barter away ſtrength for weakneſs; deſires for emptineſs; labours for vanity; hope for deſpair; precious ſouls for periſhing ſhadows; an open door of grace for a ſhut door of glory; mercy for miſery; earth for hell? O fools in grain! to let go ſuch a bargain, as being had, would for ever make you; and being loſt, may never be regained; but in the room of it, an eternity to repent your time of folly; when tears and cries will be too late, when mercy ſhall have no repentings for you, bowels themſelves no roulings over you, nor everlaſting arms any help for you, Mat. 25. 10. This is your danger, (Sinners,) this may be your caſe, who refuſe wiſdom's counſels, chooſing death rather than life: you that would have none of Wiſdom's wares, nor work; but have rather valued the Devil's Counters, before Chriſt's Gold; and the pleaſures of ſin, that are but for a ſeaſon, before the treaſures of grace and glory, that are eternal; walking after the fleſh, and ſerving divers luſts, till your trading time for Heaven be almoſt over. Alas, Sinners, there may be, for any thing you know, but few Merchandiſing hours left for you in this World; it may be ſcarce a Sabbath more between ſome of you, and hell: in what a caſe then are you like to be, who never ſet upon this heavenly Trade to this very day? and ſhould you now go out of this World ſtrangers to this employment, in what a doleful ſtate will your Souls be for ever? when you come to poſſeſs the eternal fruit of your bad bargain, then could any lay their ears to Hell gates, and liſten at your cries, they would hear ſuch language as this from your trembling lips, Folly, Folly, Woe, Woe, Eternity, Eternity.