The Heavenly Trade, Tract · Application 2
ƲSE II.
Secondly, This calls to mourning over the great decaies of this Heavenly Trade, in the times and places wherein we live: Loſs of Trade is eaſily reſented as an evil caſe, a matter of trouble. Men uſe to be affected with hard times, when a death lies on their intereſts, and their earthly concerns are at a loſs; and this is the caſe of moſt men this day; all places are full of complaints about their affairs in the world; there's a moth in mens labours and dealings, and it is eaſily ſeen and felt; the heavy looks, and heartleſs carriages of many, do plainly demonſtrate a ſenſe of their temporal waſtes, and their mouths vent ſuch-language: The times are hard, and the trade of the Nation gone: But alas! where are the mourners of Sion? and who is afflicted at the decaies of godlineſs, and death on this Heavenly Trade? Though there is nothing more viſible and lamentable than the faling back in Religion; yet who laies it to heart? and who is rightly affected with this important evil?
Now towards the cure of this inſenſibleneſs, and to awaken our hearts to a due apprehenſiveneſs of our evil caſe, by reaſon of the decaies of godlineſs; I ſhall
1 Lay down ſome ſymptomes evidencing it to be our caſe, that there are real and great decaies of this Heavenly Trade in the time and places wherein we live.
2 Shew why this ſhould be for a lamentation.
Firſt, That this Heavenly Trade goes back and decaies, is ſo evident, that he is a ſtranger in our Iſrael, and hath too much of a ſpirit unconcern'd in theſe matters, who doth not plainly ſee Religion, and the power of Godlineſs dying and languiſhing in moſt places and perſons. Now the better to evince this ſad truth, I ſhall proceed in a plain and familiar method, keeping to the metaphor in the text, and the uſual ſymptomes of decay'd Trading.
Six things uſually ſhew the decaies of earthly Trading, all which are concluſive of the point in hand, and diſcover bad times for piety, and great waſtes of Religion.
Firſt, When the price of things is much fal'n, and the rates very low, and goods are worth little or nothing; then men ſay, it's bad trading: So is it now in this Heavenly Trade; the rate and value of divine things is much abated; Wiſdom's goods ſeem little worth to many: There was a time when Heavenly Wares were highly prized; the Word of God was precious to ſouls, far better to Saints than thouſands of gold and ſilver; they could have parted with all the world, to enjoy God in Ordinances: eſtate, eaſe, credit, were nothing to a place in God's houſe; and one view of his countenance was better than life: Oh how ſweet were the words of his mouth? much ſweeter than the honey and honey-comb: Men could let their own ploughs ſtand ſtill, to ſet their hands to God's plough; with Mary, they could neglect any buſineſs to ſit at Chriſt's feet, Luke 10. 39. leave their appointed food, and moſt pleaſant delicacies, for one draught of Sanctuary-waters; yea but for one ſip of divine ſweetneſs, they could break their reſt, leave all for Chriſt's company; bear frowns, threatenings, loſſes, ſufferings, with wonderful eaſe, for ſome fellowſhip with God and his people; they would not loſe a praying or hearing hour, whatever it coſt them; they would ſtick at no hardſhips; price ſhould never break between Chriſt and them; ſubſcribe any terms, and count it a cheap bargain too, if at any rate they might obtain grace, and ſome ſpiritual good to their ſouls. But alas! now the caſe is altered; few will bid much for the precious things of Sion; even they that could have plucked out their eyes, and have given them to the Meſſengers of Chriſt, now think it too dear to pluck their hands out of their boſomes to open the door to Chriſt himſelf: Now ſoulpriviledges are worth little or nothing; Sermons, ſociety of Saints are ſcarce counted worth the parting with a little time, eaſe, buſineſs, or friend, to enjoy them. A ſhop, a market, is better than the ſolemn Meeting with moſt: few can ſtep over a ſtraw, and forbear to gather a little ſtubble, though it be to get the unſearchable treaſure of Chriſt: This is the ſad temper of moſt Profeſſours this day, they have loſt their eſtimation of Chriſt and ſpiritual things; they do not value (let men talk what they will) God, above the world; Chriſt, above reſt; one day in his Courts, above a thouſand elſewhere; his precious Word, above their appointed food: moſt think it more adviſeable to take ſeaſons for the world, than for Heaven; rather to baulk many Sermons, than loſe a little profit and opportunity, though but of very ſmall advantage in the world: Men are full, and rich, and have goods enough; they think they know enough already; have heard enough, prayed enough; they feel no want of, nor ſee worth in ſpiritual things; and therefore offer ſo little for ſoul-advantages; and this beſpeaks manifeſtly the decay of this Heavenly Trade.
Secondly, Fewneſs of buyers argues bad trading: Among men, when Chapmen are ſcarce, few take off any goods; wares lie on mens hands, and will not off; then men ſay, Trade is fal'n: Thus it is in this Heavenly Trade; there are few buyers of Wiſdom's Wares; choice goods lie on ſellers hands, and will not off; may not the Lord Jeſus complain as formerly Wiſdom did, Prov. 1. 24. I have called, and ye refuſed; I have ſtretched out my hands, and no man regarded; you have ſet at nought all my counſels, and would have none of my reproof. And as the Servants of God in the parable, Mat. 11. 17. We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned, and ye have not lamented. Markets are full in many places; the Lord Jeſus hath much goods expoſed to ſale, and there are many Chapmen, but few buyers; perſons come to Religious Aſſemblies and Sermons, as many do to Fairs, to ſee, and be ſeen; to gaze on goods, but not to buy; few will take Chriſt's wares on his own terms, and come up to the ſelling-price; God, grace and glory, are too dear for many mens money; they like ſome goods, but the price is too high; ſome could be content to have Chriſt; but to deny themſelves, take up their Croſs, leave all, and follow Chriſt; that they think is too dear, and break for price, Mat. 16. 24. Heaven is deſirable at laſt, but the world at preſent; they could be content to take Heaven in reverſion, when the leaſe of their worldly intereſts is expired; and to receive their portion there, when all is gone here; but to trade above now, and tranſport their earthly treaſures to Heaven, while they enjoy them on earth, that's too hard for them; ſuch goods, ſuch overtures will not off; perſons will not receive the Word of God as the Word of God; they will not take threatnings to fear them, warnings to regard them, promiſes to believe them, precepts to obey them. May not moſt Miniſters complain, Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? Iſa. 53. 1. Moſt like and commend ſermons, but few receive and obey them; it's lamentable to conſider how little of a Sermon is carried away, remembred and practiſed: This is the ſin of Profeſſours, and ſome that paſs for more than ordinary, and yet are guilty of this careleſs, forgetful and unprofitable hearing; perſons entertain truths, as they do their acquaintance; when they meet them on the way, ſhake hands and embrace them; be exceeding glad to ſee them, and then bid them farewel; that's the reaſon the Lord Jeſus carries back ſo much goods from Markets; his wares will not off; men buy not: And hence it is alſo that Chriſt turns back their duties; he will not receive the goods of ſuch neither, and this makes bad trading for Heaven.
Thirdly, Want of employment is a ſign of bad trading: When Trade is good, every man's hand is full of work; but when men are out of employment, and have nothing to ſet their hand to, but ſtand idle in the Market-place, this ſhews a decay of Trade: And is it not ſo with Wiſdom's Labourers now? Perſons profeſſing God were once active in Religion, but are now grown ſlothful in ſpiritual buſineſs. Where are the works of faith, the labours of love, the fruits of the ſpirit among Chriſtians this day? who is fervent in ſpirit? Epheſ. 6. 18. who ſtrives in prayer, watching thereunto with all perſeverance? Joh. 6. 27. where are they that labour even unto wearineſs for the bread that endures? Heb. 12. 1. running even unto fainting in the race that is ſet before them? Rev. 7. 15. Serving God day and night in his Temple, and being diligent that they may be found of him in peace, 2 Pet. 3. 14. What Pharaoh charged on the Hebrews, when attempting liberty to ſerve God, may be with much more juſtice reflected on thoſe that profeſs to ſerve God; and though they may, yet do not: Ye are Idle, ye are Idle: and hence it is mens hearts go a whoring after the world, and the fleſh, with the luſts thereof; it is becauſe they are ſlothful in ſpirit; a death is upon their hearts, and this cauſeth the work of God to ceaſe, Neh. 4. 11. It is but little work moſt do for God this day; how cold, dead, formal, ſlighty, are many in duty, doing the work of God deceitfully, their own conſciences being Judges? Jer. 48. 10. few labour with their hearts before they come to hear, in hearing, and after hearing, to get ſome ſoul-good by it: Men are uſually pleaſed with a Lamp, though there be no oyl in it; cannot be contented without ſome duty, but well pleaſed with bare duty: To be nothing in Religion troubles them; but to be ſomething, though never ſo little, ſatisfieth them: and if this be Popery to reſt in the work done, how many Papiſts have we amongſt us this day? Certainly Profeſſors are generally aſleep, or ſlumbering; they do their work ſo badly and heartleſly, their work falls out of their hand, as things do from men aſleep; active for the world, as if they could never do enough; but ſoon tyr'd in the work of God; diſpatch but little of heavenly work from day to day, from one Sabbath to another; little heart-ſearching, ſoul-watching work is done; little in-door employment is carried on; the exerciſe of faith, hope, humility, patience, zeal, ſelf-denial, ſeems a ſtranger to a great many this day; not for want of occaſions or encouragements to work, (the Lord is ſtill calling upon his Labourers to make haſte) but for want of hearts to work: And this ſpiritual ſloth proves that the Heavenly Trade is much loſt.
Fourthly, The poverty of Traders plainly ſhews Trading is not good; when a Trade doth not maintain the Trader, but he ſtill goes back, and becomes poorer, then ſurely trading is not good: The diligent hand makes rich, Prov. 10. 4. When trading is good Traders uſually thrive, and live well upon it, but when they waſte and become poor, then trading decaies: So is it with Heavenly Traders, when they drive a good Trade for Heaven they grow rich apace towards God, and in their own ſouls: Wiſdom's wares are ſoul-enriching wares: My fruit is better than gold, yea than fine gold, and my revenue than choice ſilver, Prov. 8. 19. Men account thoſe to be rich who have much of gold and ſilver; but Wiſdom's fruit is better than gold, and therefore muſt needs be enriching: they that have this gold cannot be poor: Hence it is Chriſt counſels Laodicea to buy of him gold tryed in the fire, that ſhe might be rich, Rev. 3. 1. But alas how poor in ſpirituals are perſons generally this day! Therefore I ſaid, Sur ly theſe are poor, they are fooliſh, for they know not the way of the Lord, nor the judgement of their God, Jer. 5. 4. Unacquaintedneſs with the way of God, when men walk wide from Religion, and loſe their ſtrict and cloſe walking with God, they ſoon become poor and fooliſh: And this is the caſe of many every where; they give a carnal liberty to themſelves, and indulge a freedom to walk after the fight of their own eyes, and not by rule; and where this is, there is ſoulpoverty, which is too viſible in moſt this day. Chriſtians, do but obſerve your own hearts and others, and you will find this ſpiritual poverty abounding every where. Little thrivings appear under the beſt of means, choiceſt Priviledges do little more than keep up a name to live; they convey but little quickenings to the ſoul: A ſhew of Religion, and a meer skeleton of profeſſion, is the common fruit of Ordinances in moſt places, whereas all the while decaies are on the vitals of Chriſtianity; abatements in grace appear every day, and a viſible alteration in the whole frame, and internal vigour of the ſoul, faith, love, humility, patience, ſelf-denyal, and every grace becomes weaker every day; Former daies were better than now, Eccleſ. 7. 10. Speak Chriſtian, are not matters worſe with thy ſoul, than they were? and abatements appear in every part.
There was a time when thy mind was beam'd over with Divine Light; the Candle of the Lord did ſhine in thy tabernacle: Thy eye was quick to diſcern good and evil; thou couldeſt once ſee an excellency in the knowledge of Chriſt; O how choice were ſermons! priviledges were to thee the uncasking of Jewels, and the opening of hidden glory; thou did'ſt dwell in the Land of Viſions, and ſtill ſome new diſcoveries of light and grace did meet thee in thy affectionate attendance upon God. But now it is not ſo; thy Candle burns dimly, and thy right eye is darkened; now thou ſeeſt but little beauty in grace, or deſireableneſs in truth: things under thy feet th'other day, that ſeem'd nothing compar'd with Chriſt; now through the multiplying-glaſs of thy deceived mind, ſeem great and lovely.
Formerly thy affections were warm and lively after God, his word and ways: O! how precious were his appointed Feaſts, and his Tabernacles amiable? thou couldſt delight in approaching to God, and talk of a bleſſedneſs in his preſence. O the pleaſure, ſweetneſs and joy thy heart did find in thy Cloſet, in ſpiritual Converſes, and Duties, and publick Ordinances! thou couldſt weep over ſin, and bedew thy prayers with tears, and find thy heart burn within thee while Chriſt was ſpeaking, and melted under the warm beams of divine love. But, alas, now it is not ſo; now thy affections are dead, thy heart as cold as a ſtone; all the while thou art ſpeaking to God in Prayer, or God ſpeaking to thee in his Word, thou findeſt no more ſavour in Ordinances, Duties, and Chriſtian Converſes, than in the white of an Egg, Job. 6. 16. Thou findeſt not that delight in God as formerly, and the night of thy pleaſure is turned to fear unto thee, Iſa. 21. 4. This is Soul-poverty.
Again, there was a time alſo, when thy Will, like the great Wheel in the Clock, could move regularly after God; thou couldſt chooſe God for thy chiefeſt intereſt, and Chriſt for thy only treaſure; preferring an intereſt in him above ten thouſand Worlds: thou couldſt have voted for communion with God, before thy meat and drink; and one hours fellowſhip with Chriſt, beyond all the delights on Earth: thou couldſt chooſe the things that pleaſe God, and deny thy own pleaſure to give content to him: thou couldſt once ſtick to thy firſt choice, and find the purpoſe of thy heart cleaving to God, Act. 11. 23. Thou couldſt once reſolve, and keep thy reſolutions; 'twas eaſier to take thy heart out of thy body, than to gain thy conſent to part with Chriſt, his preſence and ways. But now thy will is hardly drawn after pure and conſtant enjoyments of God in his ways: O! how difficult a thing is it to perſwade thy will to let go all for Chriſt, to leave every thing to attend on God, to part with the world and ſelf to wait on God, to throw all over-board to take in Chriſt! How hard is it now, to conſent that Chriſt ſhall have all the command of thy Soul, and diſpoſe of thy deareſt intereſts! now thou findeſt it a work above thee, to keep thy heart in order one hour, or to perform the purpoſes of thy Soul to God and Godlineſs; thou reſolveſt, and changeſt every day; thou voweſt, and breakeſt thy vows continually; there is no ſtedfaſtneſs in thy ſpirit: this alſo beſpeaks thy Soul-poverty.
There was a time alſo when thy Conſcience was tender, thy heart could ſmite thee for the leaſt ſin; thy Conſcience could hold thee to the greateſt duty, and bind thee to thy good behaviour: thou could'ſt not go againſt the light and checks of thy regulated Conſcience, were it to gain the whole World. But now 'tis dead and quiet, it can bear the ſharpeſt ſtrokes of the two edged Sword, and not feel it, or bleed; it makes little or no bones of ſin againſt knowledg, and mercy; ſins that were before troubleſome, now go down eaſily; it can digeſt threatnings and terrors with little trouble, and ſleep while the arrows of the Lord's wrath flie about its ears; it can let go mercies without regarding, and truths to paſs away without entertainment: this is Soulpoverty.
This thou can'ſt ſay too, there was formerly an activity in thy Soul for God, and the ſpring of thy heart was ſtrong, and it ſet every wheel a going: thou couldſt run, and not be weary; walk, and not be faint: no religious duty was tireſome to thee; no commands of God were grievous, 1 Joh. 5. 3. no journeys ſeem'd long that led to God, nor Sermons tedious that ſpake of God: thy ſpirit was all life, when in holy company, and work: did any ſay, Come, let us go up to the mountain of the houſe of the Lord, Zech. 8. 21. thou wouldſt ſay, I will go alſo: If God did but ſay, Seek thou my face, Pſal. 27. 8. thy heart would preſently anſwer, thy face, Lord, will I ſeek. But now a deadneſs ſeizeth upon thee, and ſlothfulneſs gathers in over thy whole Soul: thou art ſoon weary of well-doing, and canſt not hold out with God in conflicts and difficulties, as heretofore: thou art not ſo diligent to prepare thy meat in Summer, Prov. 30. 25. nor to lay in proviſion for a Winter ſpending-ſeaſon: thou turneſt on thy bed as a door on its hinges, and takeſt little pains with thy heart and converſation: thou loſeſt many an opportunity and advantage for thy Soul through thy deadneſs and indiſpoſition to good works: And doth not this beſpeak Soul-languiſhing, and poverty?
There are decays and poverty in thy life alſo, as well as ſpirit: how unprofitable is now thy converſation, to what it was? there was a time when thy bow did abide in ſtrength, thy lips did diſperſe knowledg, Prov. 15. 7. thy ſteps did drop fatneſs: it was good to be in thy company, few came from thee but were better'd. But, alas! now, how dwindling is thy light? how jejune and ſapleſs is thy converſe? thy company little lovely, thy communications little profitable; thy words eat as doth a Canker, it ſears as a hot Iron, and deadens thoſe that hear it; thy breath freezes all that come hear it, ſo unprofitable a burden is thy company. We turn all Religion Mr. Sedgwick's Chriſt's counſel to his languiſhing Church.(ſaith one) into a diſcourſe, cenſure or diſpute: We can eat, and drink, and talk, and ſin as freely. This is a ſad caſe indeed, and beſpeaks great decays of godlineſs, when perſons become more poor, and impotent in their Souls.
Fifthly, Small adventures in Traders, do uſually beſpeak bad Trading; when times are hard, and Goods go not off, Sellers buy but little, and drive a leſs Trade when improvements fail; men are loath to adventure the principal, but preſently contract their Trade, and leſſen their dealings. So 'tis in this ſpiritual Trade, when Souls begin to decay in it, and Trading is bad, they narrow up their Trade, and lay out leſs of their heart and ſtrength about it; little of their Soul goes out after God, and things above; they cannot adventure for God, as formerly; nor ſpare time for prayer, hearing, reading, holy conference, as once they could; the ſtream of their affections begins to run another way; now they are all for the world, ſelf, and vanity; buſineſs and intereſt eats up all their time; or at leaſt, they ſay to Chriſt, as David did to Mephiboſheth, (Thou and Zibah divide the Land;) So, thou and the world, thou and pleaſures, thou and reputation divide my heart, time and ſtrength: this is too evident; God hath not ſo much of mens hearts, deſires, love, delight, faith, hope, zeal, as heretofore: 'tis low waters all the year long with many; no heart to duty, as the Prophet complains; Whoredom and Wine take away the heart, Hoſ. 4. 11. So luſt, ſloth, the world, and ſelf, take away the heart; few breathings after God, when abſent; or delight, when preſent; indiſpoſed to duty, cold, formal in duty; put off God with any thing; keep the beſt of the flock, the prime of their ſtrength for themſelves and the world; and turn off the Lord with a corrupt thing, the reſidue of their waſted affections and ſtrength, Mal. 1. 14.
Sixthly, Breaking ſhews bad Trading, when men can hold it no longer, but are forc'd to give over; they go back, and waſte ſo faſt, that at laſt they ſhut up ſhop, and are gone. The times we live in are a manifeſt inſtance of this truth; men breaking ever and anon, now one, then another; declares plainly Trading is bad. And thus 'tis with Wiſdom's Merchants this day; how many that have driven a brave trade of Profeſſion, made a great ſhew of Religion, were famous in their generation for Parts, and ſeeming Piety; but are now come to nothing, quite fallen and gone; great apoſtaſies from the truth, ſad ſhipwracks of Faith and Conſcience can theſe late times ſpeak of! Men that ſeem'd like Stars, to give a blaze for a while, and then turn'd to falling Meteors at laſt: or, with the Sun, that riſeth in a ſplendour, and ſets in a cloud: The viſible apoſtacy, and groſs debauchery of men profeſſing God in theſe latter times, is great; but the ſecret degeneracy, and backſlidings of heart, are much more: many break, but more do warp. 'Tis far eaſier to obſerve, than to be affected with mens great declenſions in Religion; ſome in principle, but moſt in practice; ſome with the fallen Angels have left their habitation, and fallen from their firſt ſtate; others faulter in their profeſſion, and are fallen in their ſtation: ſome with ſtormy winds are ſhaken down; others fully ripe, and gotten to the height of their profeſſion, looſen by degrees, and drop away: ſome fall from the tree, others rot where they hang; ſome trees have loſt their fruit, others their very leaves, and are become twice dead: where can you caſt your eye, and not ſee fallings away either from Faith, or faithfulneſs? Men take up notions, and as eaſily leave them; moſt build upon the ſand, little rootings in the truth: how eaſy is it to draw men from their opinions? little ſtedfaſtneſs in love: how ſoon doth the labours thereof ceaſe? a little trouble makes men let go their profeſſion, others loſe their ſtrictneſs in Religion, and grow more remiſs and lame in duty, leaving their firſt love, and cloſe walks with Gods: And are not theſe ſuch manifeſt ſymptomes of decaying godlineſs, that he who runs may read, and ſee that the Heavenly Trade is almoſt come to nothing this day?
2 And this is cauſe of mourning, and to be greatly laid to heart; who can ſee theſe things and not be affected: If there be any quick fleſh, how can it but bleed? if any waters are left, ſurely our eyes ſhould run down tears, and we pour out waters in Miſpah before the Lord abundantly, for waſting, gaſping piety, that is even giving up the ghoſt: For where this Heavenly Trade decaies,
Firſt, There is a growing ſtrangeneſs between God and ſuch ſouls: While Trade is kept up among men, there is much acquaintance, converſe and intimacy between them; there are ever and anon occaſions of writings, meetings and diſcourſes while trading holds; but when once that is let down, then communion ceaſeth; they have little buſineſs one to another; no more letters paſs, or viſits given; ſeldome ſee one another, and ſo at laſt grow out of acquaintance with each other: And thus 'tis between God and ſouls; when once this Heavenly Trade is let down, a ſtrangeneſs begins between God and them, they are ſeldomer in his company, neither are there ſuch enquiries after God as before: There is none that calleth upon thy Name, that ſtirreth up himſelf to take hold of thee; for thou haſt hid thy face from us, and haſt conſumed us becauſe of our iniquities, Iſa. 64. 7. They were ſtrange to God, they did not call upon him as they uſe to do; and if they did, it was in ſuch a general, cold way, that it ſignified little; they did not take hold of him: The word ſignifieth, To aforeign, Apprehendere retinere.hold with all their ſtrength, as men do that are drowning that will not let go what they hold: it ſignifies alſo (ſaies a Learned Critick) not onelyonly to hold a thing, but faſter and faſter to wax ſtrong in the holding it: But alas! they did not ſo take hold of God, as ſuch who were like to periſh without him: They did not ſtir up themſelves: They did not waken and rouze up bforeign, Evigalare vel excitare ſeipſum occultavit ne videatur.themſelves: (as the word imports) They were grown more remiſs in duty; they did not ſtrive with God for help as they did: And God was ſtrange to them; he hid his face from them; he concealed himſelf, that he might not be ſeen, (as the word ſignifies) he ſeems not to care for their company: This made the Prophet cry out, Why ſhouldeſt thou be as a ſtranger in the Land, and as a wayfaring man, who turneth aſide to tarry but for a night? Jer. 14. 18. Seldome viſits, and ſhort ſtayes, ſhews ſtrangeneſs in them that have been intimate; and ſo 'tis between God and ſuch who neglect this Heavenly Trade; the Lord ſeldome viſits them, nor hath ſuch warm converſes with them as before: And is not this cauſe of mourning, when ſuch a friend as God hath been to his people, and one on whom all their hope lies, and in whom all their help is, ſhall look ſtrange upon them, and take no notice of them? This is enough to break an ingenuous heart, and one that knows what it is to enjoy God: Neither is it onelyonly the preſent want of God is their ſuffering; but by this means they are in danger of loſing him quite: The Lord is with you while you are with him; and if you ſeek him, he will be found of you; but if you forſake him, he will forſake you, 2 Chron. 15. 2. Hence the Prophet, when he apprehended a change in God's carriage towards Iſrael, the next thing he fears, is his departure from them; he no ſooner complains of God's ſtrangeneſs, but preſently praies, Leave us not, Jer. 14. 9. When once it came to a ſtraitening, and loathing between God and his people, then terrible judgments follow; My ſoul loathed them, and their ſoul abhorred, me, Zach. 11. 8, 9, 'Tis in the Original, My ſoul was ſtraitened in them: God's heart was not towards them as formerly; he could not bear with them as formerly: And then, I will not feed them, that that dies, let it die, and that that is to be cut off, let it be cut off; he matters not what becomes of them: Do but think in what a caſe are ſuch a people: This ſhould be for a lamentation.
Secondly, Soul-poverty, and waſtings of their ſpiritual intereſts, do uſually attend neglect of this Heavenly Trading. When men come to ſpend upon the ſtock, and have no comings in, they muſt needs waſte apace: So it is where trading for Heaven is neglected; ſuch have no recruits of their waſted graces, nor ſupplies of their impoveriſhed ſouls, when the fountain is ſhut up, and all communication of grace withheld; no entercourſe between God and them; he will not receive their goods, nor impart his treaſure but all waies of relief are blocked up; then they muſt needs waſte apace in ſpirituals, and become poorer every day. The way to be rich, is to have ſtore of Chriſt's tryed gold: I counſel thee to buy of me gold tryed in the fire, that thou mayeſt be rich, Rev. 3. 18. Laodicea was poor, becauſe ſhe wanted Chriſt's tryed gold, the real graces of his Spirit; and this ſhe loſt by letting down her Spiritual Trade; ſhe did not buy of Chriſt; ſhe did not come to, and deal with Chriſt in his own waies, and upon his own terms, and that made her poor: And ſo 'tis with every ſoul that neglects this Heavenly Trade; he ſoon comes to know what ſoul-wants are: Once let down a life in godlineſs, and preſently poor in graces, poor in experiences, poor in comforts, poor in hopes, want ſtrength, and want peace, fare hard, lodge badly, caſt out from among men; as Job deſcribes poor and mean perſons: Who cut up mallows by the buſhes, and Juniper roots for their meat, Job 30. 4 5. 6. Very mean fare; little pleaſing or nouriſhing food; bitter and ſalt herbs: ſome take them for nettles, poor food;Herbas amaras & ſalſas. Merc. and yet the uſual feeding in thoſe parts, of thoſe that were low in the world; neither was their lodging better: They dwelt in the clefts of the Valley, in caves of the Earth, and in the Rocks: Suitable alſo was their reputation; They were driven from among men, they cried after them, as after a thief. Such is the condition of poor perſons full of ſtraits, and meanly eſteemed; and ſo 'tis with ſuch as decay in their Heavenly Trade; they have loſt their ſweet morſels, and marrowy bits; their pleaſant fare, and ſoul-refreſhments they once had, and feed on dry bones, and ſapleſs Ordinances: They are not maintain'd at that rate of comfort and experience they once had: They have hard lodging alſo; loſe that ſweet reſt and peace they ſometimes found in Chriſt, and in their ſincere walkings after him: Fal'n in reputation too; neither God nor good men think ſo well of them as once they did. This is the caſe of ſuch as fall back in Religion; they ſoon fall into ſuch poverty, and ſpiritual wants come upon them, as armed men: In the fulneſs of their ſufficiency they are in ſtraits, Prov. 24. 34. Job 20. 22. And this is cauſe of mourning; wants and poverty do fill men with trouble, perplexity and grief: Oh the diſtractions and diſtreſſing thoughts that ſtraits commonly beget! and no ſtraits like to ſoul-ſtraits; Chriſtians, you your ſelves be my Judges.
Thirdly, Neglect of Trading for Heaven will blaſt all other Trading, and breed a moth to conſume even your temporal ſubſtance: When Iſrael began to let down their Heavenly Trade, and to mind their own concerns and houſes above God's, preſently God blaſts their temporal intereſts; he makes holes in their moneybags, and blows upon their encreaſe: All their tuggings in the world (with neglect of God and his Worſhip) came to nothing; they ſowed much, and it brought in little; looked for much, and it came to little; wrought hard, earned great wages, laid up money, but it fell out again, through ſome ſecret hole in their bags, which divine jealouſie opened, conſuming their ſubſtance, to let them know, that men may make more haſte than good ſpeed; and they that reckon without God, muſt reckon twice. And may not this be one thing that cuts this Nation ſhort in their outward intereſt this day, becauſe they have forſaken God, neglected his ſervice, loſt the power of godlineſs? certainly though outward proſperity be no token of God's favour, nor any Goſpel-promiſe to his people; yet when the Lord does fight againſt a people by ſucceſſive rebukes, and ſend in a ſecret mildew, waſting and conſumption on their intereſts, and this becomes general and national, it ſhews diſpleaſure in God, and ſhould be laid to heart; the want of which is ſet forth as an additional aggravation to ſuch a peoples ſin: Who gave Jacob for a ſpoil, and Iſrael to the robbers? did not he againſt whom we have ſinned? for they would not walk in his waies, neither were they obedient unto his Laws: Therefore he poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the ſtrength of battel, and hath ſet him on fire round about, yet he knew not, and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart, Iſa. 42. 24, 25. It was the not walking in the way of God, neglect of obedience and practical holineſs, a letting down the Heavenly Trade that brought thoſe ruining judgments on Iſrael; loſſes on their intereſts, verſ. 21. They were robbed and ſpoiled, firing their houſes, verſ. 25. It hath ſet him on fire round, it burned him. Now in this miſerable caſe there was yet a greater judgement on them, a ſtrange ſtupefaction and inſenſibleneſs of ſpirit; they did not ſee God's anger in it, yet, Yet he knew it not; (viz.) Whence it came, and who did all this; they looked to Chaldeans, and enemies, but 'twas God did it; and yet they laid it not to heart; they were not rightly affected with all theſe deſolations, and their near approach to ruine: And is not this our caſe? God hath warned us by his Word this many years, threatened us by prodigious ſigns in Heaven and Earth, begun to execute them already, by Plague, Sword and Fire, dreadful waſtes in the great City, and many other places, to the undoing of many families, made a breach upon the Trade of the Nation, to the impoveriſhing of the whole Land; and yet we are as inſenſible as Pharaoh and the Egyptians were, as if the Lord had ſent the ſpirit of ſlumber upon us; impoveriſhed, yet fell it not: This ſhould be for a lamentation.
Fourthly, The decay of this Heavenly Trade, if not cured, is the ready and certain way to ruine: The deſtruction of the poor is poverty, Prov. 10. 15. Mens poverty fills them with conſternation and dejecting fears, and does alſo expoſe them to many evils, and take down their external defence from injuries, being made a prey to their oppreſſours. The rich man's wealth is his ſtrong City, Prov. 18. 11. Rich men protect themſelves from injuries; their riches are Advocates for them to men; but poor men lye open to all invaſions; when men grow poor every man treads upon them: So is it when the Heavenly Trade decaies, and ſoul-poverty ſprings out of its ruine; then deſtruction makes haſte to ſuch places and perſons: For this the Lord Jeſus threatens to take the Kingdom from a people, becauſe they bring not forth the fruit of it, Matth. 21. 43. they did not render to God the fruit of all his dreſſings and waitings on them: Barrenneſs and decaies in Religion uncured, are a certain forerunner of Deſolation, Luke 13. 7, 9.
Before the Lord brought in that cruel Nation, the Vandals on Africa; the Chriſtians in Spain were much degenerated from their former purity (as Salvian complains) and the power of godlineſs was much decayed; he tells us, they had nothing left but the name of Chriſtianity, to which their converſation was moſt unlike. aQuid eſt in quo nobis de Chriſtiano nomine blandiamur? Cum utique hoc ipſo magis per nomen ſacratiffimum rei ſimus qui a ſancto nomine diſcrepamus. Salvi. de Gubern. lib. 3. pag. 95.What is it (ſaith he) to pleaſe our ſelves with the name of Chriſtian, when the very name does greaten our guilt, in that we are ſo unlike to it? Before the Maſſacre at Paris (ſaith Mr. Clark in his Martyrol.) ſuch a general ſtupidity ſeized upon the Proteſtants, that their minds were very wavering, and few there were that ſhewed themſelves zealouſly bent to Religion; but all, both great and ſmall, were intent upon worldly matters, building to themſelves goodly Caſtles in the air. It was obſerved by ſome, that before the change of Religion and Martyrdom in Queen Mary's daies, there was great unprofitableneſs under the Means of Grace. What the iſſues of theſe great decaies in Religion may be amongſt us, we know not; but ſuch ſymptomes have uſually foregone great changes, and ſevere ſtroaks, on ſuch perſons and places: And is not this matter of lamentation? Phyſitians uſe to cure a Lethargy by a Fever; the one hath been our diſeaſe, O that the other, if no means elſe will do, may be our cure.
Fifthly, At the beſt decaies in this Heavenly Trade will render the Traders account heavy in the day of Chriſt. Into what ſtraits did the ſenſe of an abuſed truſt put the Prodigal Steward, Luke 16. 13? He had been unfaithful in his place, waſted his Maſters goods, and now was in danger of being turned out; a reckoning was call'd for, and he unable to render it; and in perplexing thoughts how to give in his accounts, and to ſecure his future welfare: And this will be the caſe of ſuch as are negligent and unfaithful in their Heavenly Trade; it will expoſe them to ſoul-trouble one day, how to anſwer it before God: Firſt or laſt God will call for an account how his goods have been improved: He hath given you a ſtock to trade upon for him: Light, Grace, Parts, Capacities, Goſpel-priviledges and Opportunities, Liberty, Peace, Experiences, with many mercies and afflictions, which are all your Lord's goods, and muſt be accounted for; upon the paſſing of which depends your eternal ſtate, or much of your ſoul's peace: The Lord Jeſus hath a double audit, or accounting with his ſervants: In this life in the Court of Conſcience; and in the Judgment-Day at the bar of God: In the firſt your preſent peace and ſoul comfort is much concerned, and your eternal welfare in the laſt: Alas! how will you anſwer conſcience now when that book is opened, and the Lord Jeſus brings in his bill of ſo many mercies expended, with skill and capacity to improve them; and ſuch a charge of debt iſſuing thence: So much due for ſuch goods, and for other wares; for Sermons, Sacraments, Graces, Comforts, Frames, Prayer Returns, Gracious Providences and Protections; ſo many perſonal mercies, ſo many family mercies, ſo many bodily mercies, ſo many ſoul mercies, ſo many Church mercies, ſo many National mercies, ſick-bed mercies, health mercies, journey mercies, habitation mercies, caring mercies, ſparing mercies, giving mercies, forgiving mercies, ſeen mercies, unſeen mercies; and little or no return yet made for all theſe: How can the conſcience ſtand up under ſuch a charge, or lift up his face without ſpot, when it ſees its guilt in all, and cannot anſwer one of a thouſand? How ſhall man be juſt with God, if he contend with him? How ſhall he anſwer him one of a thouſand? And if you cannot carry it in the Court of Conſcience here, where God reckons by a Proxy; and it may be doth give but a general charge, what will you do at the bar of God, where the Lord will judge righteous judgment, and determine your eternal ſtate, as you are approved or diſapproved in that day? What think you ſouls, will not ſo much neglect of duty? ſuch decaies of grace? ſo frequent breach of Covenants? ſo great unfaithfulneſs in your places and relations? ſo many daies and weeks, and not a ſtroke of work for God? ſo much bad work, ſo much waſte of goods; will not all this look wiſtly upon you, and without repentance and a ſealed acquittance, render your caſe dangerous at the judgment ſeat? And if ſo, is it not matter of lamentation? O lay this to heart!