Heavenly Merchandise, Sermon (1 of 3)
Proverbs 23. 23. Buy the Truth, and Sell it not.
THe Proverbs of Solomon (not to mention their independency … which we are often told of; nor yet their singular excellency in couching of much matter in a few words,) are for the manner of their composure, of two sorts: 1. Doctrinal, being delivered in the form of Axioms or Sentences, for the information of the Understanding in many weighty Truths. 2. Hortatory; presented in way of exhortation, or dehortation, to engage the Will and Affections, either to a closure with, or an avoidance of such things as are of moment for them so to do. Of the latter sort of these, is this of our Text, and it is compounded of a Counsel, and a Caution. There is something advised to, viz. Buy the Truth; and something dehorted from, i. e. Sell it not. The words are Metaphorical; a form of Speech which the Holy Ghost makes frequent use of in the Holy Scriptures; therein dressing up of Heavenly Matter in Earthly Language, and thus accommodating of himself to our capacity: A Metaphor being nothing else but a contracted comparison, by which he represents the things of God under the resemblance of things here below; with which our constant converse among them gives us better acquaintance.
The allusion in our Text is borrowed from Traffick or Merchandize: a thing that is well known to, and more or less practised by all sorts of men. In it we may observe, 1. The Ware or Commodity which is here represented to us, which is Truth. The Spirit of God doth (as it were) look upon the worlds market, and observe how men are dealing for many sorts of Wares, and very buisy in their Trading; and call out to them, and say, here is one Commodity that you are very little mindful of, and yet I do commend it to you, as above all worth your purchasing, viz. Truth. The Hebrew Word signifies, That which may be believed, or to which Credit may be given. 2. The direction which is here given about it, and that is double; 1. Positive, Buy it, or possess it, as some read the word, it firstly and most properly signifies to get a thing into our possession; and because that is usually done by making a purchase of it, hence it is often used for buying: and this advice intimates to us, 1. That there is such a Commodity as Truth, else it were a great cheat to advise us to seek for it. 2. That we have it not of our own; that it doth not descend to us by inheritance, but if we would have it, we must purchase it. 3. That it is to be obtained by us, if we will but go to the cost, that there is a market in which Truth is set to sale, and offered to such as come there. 4. That it is not to be had for nothing, but men must be at some expense for it. 2. Negative: Sell it not; the word here used firstly signifieth, to deliver a thing, and hence to sell, by a peculiar appropriation; because that which men have sold, they are wont to deliver up the possession of to him that hath bought it; the meaning therefore of it is, that we must never alienate, or deliver up the Title and Possession of it out of our hands, thus intimating and plainly insinuating the transcendent or incomparable value of it. 3. We may consider the Buyer, or the persons who are invited to trade in this sort of Merchandize, though not expressed, yet included in the expression, i. e. every one of what rank or degree soever; Scripture Counsels, when directed indefinitely, are for the most part, intended universally; where the Spirit of God doth not set any limitations, neither should we: Hence,
Doct Truth is a Treasure which every one ought to purchase, whatever it costs him; and having once gotten it, never to forego it again. In pursuit of this Doctrine we may enquire, 1. What we are here mainly to understand … Truth, together with the evidence that there is such a thing? 2. What of duty is recommended to us under the notion of buying it? 3. Why every one ought to buy it? 4. What is the import of the phrase of selling? 5. Why it is not to be sold. A few words to each of these in order.
1. What we are here mainly to understand by Truth, &c.
A. The right knowledge to this is the Key to the whole discourse; it will therefore be worth the while to make some enquiry after it. There are many notions about Truth, which have more of curiosity than common profitableness in them, which I shall therefore designedly avoid, and only touch at such as are more necessary. Concerning Truth in general, I shall only intimate thus much, viz. That as there are two principal Faculties in the Soul of Man, helping him in his rational closure with his objects; so there are two Affections in things, … and accommodating of them, for the closure of these faculties with them. These Faculties are the Understanding and Will; and those Affections of things are Truth and Goodness: for as Goodness is the attractive of the Will, so is Truth of the Understanding. Truth then is considerable in a treble notion; either as it is rooted in the thing, or as it is taken into the Understanding, or as it is communicated unto others. Truth in the thing is nothing else but the distinct nature of it, considered as it is knowable, and that either generically, specifically, or individually. It adds nothing really to the nature of the thing; but is only a relative affection, by which the Understanding may be helped to close with it, and discern it in its nature, causes, and effects. Truth in the Understanding, is properly the right conception which it hath entertained of things: when it forms in the mind a conception of the thing, just as it is in it self, that is Truth. Truth in communication is, when having a right notion of things, we do rightly express and impart them unto others; now according to these various notions which we have of Truth, it hath its various contraries: If we consider Truth as it is in the thing, then its contrary is falshood; if we look upon it as in the Understanding, its contrary is error: if we respect it as it is held forth in communication, then either a man speaks as he thinks, but erringly, and that is a mistake; or else he speaks wittingly and wilfully otherwise then the thing is, and with a purpose to deceive, and that is a lye; which is the thing most directly and immediately forbidden in the Ninth Commandment,
I might here add many distinctions about Truth, but I shall wholly wave them; only let us summarily observe, that Truth is manifold: So many Things as there be, so many Truths we may suppose there are at least; and every Truth is precious: There is no Truth but what is of worth; but yet there are some that do excel: It is therefore worth the while to enquire, that we may find out the best, and we may be sure that is it which is here recommended to us.
Some Interpreters observe, that the word (Truth) used in the original Text, is put without the usual emphatick prefix, and hence suppose him to understand every kind of knowledge, both Natural, Moral and Divine: but this cannot be the meaning, for God hath not given to all men that advantage, nor yet is it necessary that every one be acquainted with all the inferiour Truths of subordinate Arts and Sciences. Some again interpret it of Gospel Ordinances, in which the great saving Truths are dispensed; and by buying of them, they understand, a being at the charge of upholding and maintaining a Gospel Ministry: but this is also too narrow an interpretation for the Text; for there is many an one that doth so, and is yet for all this a through stranger to the Truth, though this may be included. Truth in the Scripture is used in divers sences, and it would be both tedious, and not necessary, to enumerate them all; I shall therefore pitch upon this conclusion, viz. The Doctrines of the true Religion, as they are delivered by God himself, and contained in the Holy Scriptures, directing us the way to Eternal Life and Salvation, are properly that Truth which the Holy Ghost here exhibits, and adviseth to be bought.
Truth primarily and eminently is a Divine Property; hence God is called a God of Truth, Psal. 31. 5. and Jesus Christ as he is God, is the Truth, John 14: 6. Now God is not only True in his Essence, and hence called, The only True God, John 17. 3. but he is also True in his Word and Works: and herein he makes the creature to communicate in his Truth; but still, it is Firstly in him, and in them only Derivatively. The Eternal Idea which God had in his own Infinite Understanding, of all things that were to be in time, and all the several managements of them, is the Exemplary Truth. That which they have in themselves, is but a Copy of this: Truth in the Creature being its Conformity unto that Idea which God had of it in himself. Now in this Idea there were contained, not only the Rules of their Creation, according unto which they were to be made; but the Rules also of Providence, by which the Creatures were to be guided to their ends, which are therefore Eternal Truths: and among these, in special there was that Rule by which man was to be led as a Rational Agent, or cause by Counsel, to an Everlasting Estate: This is that which we call Divinity or Religion, and is comprized in the Plat-form of sound words, shewing to man the way in which he may come to the favour of God, and a Kingdom of Glory. This Rule is contained in the Holy Scriptures, which are therefore called the Scriptures of Truth, John 17: 19. Col. 1. 5. Dan. 10. 21. the summe of what is contained in it, Solomon gives us in Old Testament Language, Eccl. 12. 13. fear God, and keep his Commandments, and Paul in New-Testament words, 2 Tim. 1. 13. Faith and Love▪
That there is such a Truth as this I am speaking of, we must believe, or else we must utterly despair of the happiness of man at all, much more of fallen mans Salvation. If God had not found out a way for mans felicity, he had been lest most miserable. If it were not a regulated way, (contained in sure Rules and Precepts) he could never have known it, but must always have lived in the dark about it; and if it were not drawn into infallible maxims, he could not possibly have gained any assurance of knowledge, when he was in the right. But God hath shewn unto man the way, Mich. 6. 8. and his word gives them sufficient direction, whence▪ it is called, a Lamp, and a Light, Psal. 119. 105. and it is safe and secure to them that follow it, verse 165. In a word; if there were no Truth, the understanding of man must needs want an object; and if there were no Divine and Saving Truth, it would want an happifying object; but the Goodness and Grace of God hath plentifully provided for it, both the one and the other; hence that Prov. 2. 10, 11.
2. What of Duty is recommended to us under the notion of Buying?
A. Buying in general refers to Commutative Justice; and is that wherein a man purchaseth to himself the right and possession of one thing, by the exchange of some other thing for it, with the consent of the former owner; which is accepted as a valuable price. This Metaphor is here used by the Holy Ghost, not by way of proportion, but meerly of similitude; for man hath nothing to give for it, that is equivalent to its worth, and is therefore said to buy without money, and without price, Isa. 55. 1. Only there is something to be done by the man in this transaction, which hath some little Analogy with, or resemblance to such a thing among men; which what it is may be made to appear in several particulars.
1. Buying of any thing intimates that a man hath it not of his own; what a man hath already at home in his proper possession, he needs not go to the market to buy it; and thus it is with fallen man, in his Natural Estate: Truth doth not fall to him by inheritance, but he is born a meer stranger to it; see Psal. 58. 3. They go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies. It is not to be denied, that there are some broken fragments of the ancient inscriptions of the Law, which was fairly engraven upon Adams heart, to be found in the consciences of his Posterity; and these are called Truth, Rom. 1. 18. Who hold the Truth in Unrighteousness. But they are but like to so many shattered pieces of a broken vessel, that cannot be put together again, and do serve only to witness unto the wofulness of his fall: But the Truth which contains in it the saving knowledge of God in Christ, is a thing which the world is a stranger to, and no natural man hath it, Rom. 3. 17. The way of peace they have not known; and he must go wholly out of himself for it, if ever he hopes to get it into his possession.
2. Buying argues the thing is to be sold, and that there is one that hath it to sell. A man may have a commodity, but if he resolves to keep, and hath purposed not to part with it, we can have no hopes of buying it: But Truth is to be had, if men were but willing to come up to the price of it; for though it is our duty to buy it, and then not to sell it again, so that one man cannot buy it of another, (the Wise Virgins can spare none of their Oyl to the foolish) yet God hath it for all such as want it, and are willing to hearken to his advice, and take his direction about it. Neither doth he only keep it in the chambers, to bring down to such as are making enquiry after it, but he lays it forth upon the Shop boards of the Ordinances, and offers it to all that come; nay, more than so, he (in pity to poor man) sends out a Cryer to proclaim it in markets and streets, that if there be any among them that hath any mind to Truth, if they will come to him for it, they shall have it on fair and rational terms; see how this is emphatically described in Prov. 8. begin. and cap. 9. 3, 4.
3. Buying presumes a desire of having the ware, raised by the apprehension of the suitableness, worth and excellency there is in it: though the natural man be a very fool in spiritual things, yet he hath a rational principle in him, which teacheth him not to be at cost for that which he hath not any esteem of, but reckons to be of no worth or use: The estimate which he sets upon any thing, is that which inwardly prompts him to barter for it; and just up to his esteem, so will his bidding be, rather than he will part with it: hence it is, that till God sheds light into mens minds, and convinceth them of the preciousness of Truth, they let it lye by, and will not so much as cheapen it; but when once they begin to have the right conceptions of it, and discern how advantageous a thing it is to him that hath it; now they will cry out earnestly after it, and then there is like to be a bargain made, Prov. 2. 3, 4, 5. if thou cryest after knowledge, &c.
4. A prudent buyer will see his wares, & try them before he will buy them. Men do not love to traffick in the dark, or take things upon trust, because they know that there is a great deal of falshood and deceit in the world, false wares are sold for true, bad things are put off for good; they would therefore know what they pay for, and are exceeding loath to be cheated; and thus (to be sure) must he do that would buy the Truth, and not be imposed upon: for there are no such cheats used again in the whole world, as there are in matters of Religion. As God hath his Factors (the faithful Gospel-Ministers) who use their utmost endeavour to set forth nothing to men, but the Saving Truths of the Gospel, those undeceiving verities of Jesus Christ, and such as will bear the trial, and stand before the exactest scrutiny: and hence they dare not deliver any thing at random, but with greatest solemnity weigh before hand, all that they make offer of unto men as Truth, proving all things: So Satan hath his broachers of false wares, his Merchants that have the ballances of fraud in their hands, who with a great deal of falsehood and cousinage, and with many fair speeches, deceive the hearts of the simple. They have an unknown deal of hellish art, and take great pains to set a specious gloss upon their commodities; hence Mat. 24. 24. if it were possible they should deceive the very Elect. So that they who would be sure to get the Truth, and not be put off with a lye in the stead of it, must not be over credulous, but exceeding wary; and labour to be well skilled in the rules of distinction, and be able to make application of them with great curiosity: Such is Pauls advice, 1 Thes. 5. 21. prove all things; and it was the Bereans commendation, that they tried all by the Scriptures, Acts 17. 11.
5. He that really intends to buy, will first cheapen; every one hath such a principle, that he would buy at the best rates; to have a thing good, and have it cheap, is most mens ambition; a man may look upon a thing, and like it well enough for the kind, and be desirous to have it, but may be afterwards discouraged, when he hears the price: he may either not be willing, or not able to come up to it; and truly let men look, talk, and commend, yet he never intends to make a real purchase of the true Religion, who doth not first compute the cost; he that takes up a profession on a sudden, and never enquires what it must stand him in, never took it up sincerely; nor doth he intend either to keep it, or to pay for it. Our Saviour Christ, when he had plainly told them what the true Religion must cost them, he urgeth upon them to cast up the account, and see whether they could be content to be at the expence, intimating, that otherwise they might fall off from it with shame, and this by the parables of a Builder and Warrior, Luke 14. 28. &c.
6. He that buys a thing, comes to a price, and indents for it; in buying a bargain is driven home: It is not enough to cheapen; there are a great many that do so, and after that, blow upon the commodity, turn their backs, and go away; but the man who is resolved to have it, though at first he may for a while stickle at it, yet at last he comes to an agreement, accepts the terms, consents to the proposal, both in quantity and specie. There are many that lend an outward ear to the tenders of the Gospel, and wait till they hear what tearms Christ propounds, but when they understand what they are, they cry out this is an hard saying, with them John 6. 60. and so they soon go away, vers. 66. but those that are for Christ and Truth, stand by it, and say with Peter, verse 68. Whether shall we go, thou only hast the words of Eternal Life.
7. Buying is the parting with something in exchange for that which we buy: that which a man buys, he is at cost for; so, though the Truth be not the proper recompence of any expense that we can be at, (being infinitly more worth than all that we can lay down) but is the meer free gift of God; yet there is something that we must let go for it. Now in humane contracts, a man either pays money or labour, or exchangeth one commodity for another; so here all these are requisite in the purchasing of the Truth. It requires labour, and it is an hard work to procure the Heavenly Wisdom, Prov. 2. 4. If thou diggest for her as for Silver, &c. yea, and he must pay money too for it, if he will have it, that which a man accounts his best, and is most loth to let go; he must sell all that he hath, Mat. 13. 44. yea, he is sometimes called to part with all his Relations, all his Comforts of this life, his liberty, yea, and Life it self for the Truth: and if this be the price that God sets it at, he must not murmur at it, nor withdraw from his bargain, but venture upon it; as Luke 14. 26.
8. Buying gives interest and propriety in the thing which is bought; what a man hath bought, that he owns enjoyes and possesseth. So the word (Buy) in our Text plainly intimates. Such is the buying of the Truth. Now a man then possesseth the Truth, when he can truly call it his own; and that is, when he is come to the saving knowledge of it; Truth is not to be laid up in Chests, and Coffers, as the worlds riches may; but it is the Understanding of man, which is the only subject of Truth: we have it, when we know it; and it is here to be observed, that knowledge is of two sorts; either literal, or saving; the former of these alone, is not worthy the name of Buying; it doth not really impropriate or take possession of the Truth; it is only the latter that doth so; and hence is only honoured by Christ with the name of knowledge; John 17. 3. This is Life Eternal, to know thee, &c: and the Truth is thus purchased by a man, when the Soul, discerning of a transcendent beauty in it, and perswaded of the incomparable worth of it, prefers it before all other things whatsoever, and parting with every thing else, in heart and affection, closeth in with it, and Christ in it, as his only Soul satisfying portion: he that doth so, buys: every one else, who comes short of this, let him profess never so fairly, he hath but trifled.
3. Why every one ought to buy the Truth.
A. There are three things, which if they be put together, will sufficiently clear up the Reason of this duty, and they are.
1: The necessity which all men stand in of it; the well being of every man hath a real dependence upon his having of it, without a spiritual and saving knowledge of the great Truths of the Gospel, there is no Salvation to be expected by any of the children of men, Hos. 4. 6. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, without Truth in the Understanding, there can be no moral goodness in the will; without the knowing of God and Christ, there can be no believing on him; till the eyes of the mind be enlightned; the enmity of the heart will still remain in it, and there can be nothing but estrangedness from God: they, and none but they that know him, will put their trust in him, Psal. 9: 10. where Divine Truth is not exhibited, there Perdition reigns and rageth, Prov. 29. 18. Where there is no Vision, the people perish. If a man could gather together all the wealths and delights of this lower world, and enjoy them in the fullest measure of content that he is capable of, if yet he be without the Truth, he is for all this a poor and a miserable man. He cannot live well without it; for his whole life can be nothing else but one perpetual wandring out of the paths of peace, and stragling in the way that leads to destruction. Truth is the only directrix of a mans life, so as to make it regular, and guide it safely, hence that, Psal. 86. 11. Teach me thy way, O Lord, I will walk in thy Truth; without this no man can dye well: there is nothing else that will stick by a man in the hour of distress, to afford him any of the least comfort then, but this will; Hezekiah had happy experience of it, Isa. 38. 3. I have walked before thee in truth. The dying man can see nothing but darkness before him, except Truth enlighten him; this is that which alone can discover to him the life after death, and the fullness of Joyes that is at Gods right-hand, when all his earthly comforts are bidding him a final adieu. This only will stand a man in stead for eternity; the man that hath lived a long while, and driven a great trade in this world, and seemed to gain in it, if among all those many things which he hath here bin bartering for, he hath neglected to deal for, and so hath not made sure of this, that man hath laid in nothing for afterwards, hath no assurance of any thing that will accompany him beyond the grave, and meet him in the next life.
2. That they who do intend to have it must buy it; no man is born into the world possest of it: no godly man leaves it as an unfailing inheritance to his children; nor do any of the Sons of men come by it without pains and cost▪ it is a pearl of a vast price, and all that a man hath must go for the purchase; all our lusts, all our lyes, all our false opinions, and foolish confidences must be relinquished; it is an hid treasure, and if we would come at it, and find it out, we must dig for it; and it lies deep, and therefore great pains must be taken before we can obtain it; the promise of it is Hypothetical, Hos. 6. 3. Then shall we know, if we fellow on to know; and Dan. 12. 4. They shall run too and fro, and knowledge shall be encreased. Though all grace be the free gift of God, and a fruit of his meer bounty, and can no way come within the reach of our merit; yet it is the pleasure of God to command men to buy it, if they will have it; which is to let us understand, that it is not the negligent, but the diligent and self denying person that is in the way to the obtaining of it: hence buying is recommended, in Isa. 55. 1. Rev. 22. 17. and Prov. 4. 4. Get Wisdom, it is the same word with this which is read, buy, in our Text: and Paul in a parallel expression, tells us that he suffered the loss of all for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ, Phil. 3. 8. he sold every thing; he parted with his esteem of, and renounced his right to all that he had sometimes placed any value upon for this knowledge.
3. That God makes an offer of the Truth to all that live under the Gospel; or come within the sound of it: and there are none of these but have a price in their hand to purchase it, if they have but an heart to it. As there are none in the world that are so rich and wealthy, as to be able to bring to God, and lay down at his feet the full value of it, its worth being more than Crowns and Kingdoms; and we have an illustrious and yet not in the least hyperbolical setting it forth, and challenge made to find any thing fit to be given in exchange, Job. 28. 15. to 19) so there are none so poor and despicable but they have wherewithal to obtain it upon evangelical terms, if they do but embrace them, Mat. 11. 5. The poor have the Gospel preached to them. It is a mans all that God requires, be it more or less; he demands all of every man, and but all of any man: and there is no person but hath some high conceits of his own wisdom and excellency, some carnal confidences and self-boasting, some vain opinions, and foolish lusts, which they place a great deal of esteem in, and set very much by; something or other, which though it be of no worth at all in it self, but is meer dirt and dung; is yet in their own opinion of great worth, to part with all for the sake of Christ and Truth. It is true, men hold these things too fast, and are so glewed in heart and affection to them, that they cannot part with them of themselves, except God affords them grace to do it, and powerfully divide them from them, Hos. 4. 17. Ephraim is joined to Idols: but yet every one is capable of this grace, and therefore ought not to reject the offers of it which are made unto him, as a thing beyond his capacity and hope; but to wait upon the Lord to enable him of his mercy, to drive this happy bargain, to buy and get possession of the Truth.
4: What is the import of the phrase of Selling?
A. Buying and Selling are relates, and so they are contraries; the word (we have observed) firstly signifies the delivering of a thing up. Selling, according to the common use of the word, is properly the parting with a mans propriety in a thing, for some other thing which is given him in exchange for it: A man is both a buyer and seller at the same time, in divers respects: that which he purchaseth a right to, that he buys, and that which he parts with his right in for it, that he sells: but a little more particularly.
1. Selling implies an intrest in a thing; a man must have a thing before he can sell it: he must be some way or other possest of it. Now men may two ways be said to be possest of the Truth; either,
1. When they have in an open profession owned and acknowledged the Truth of the Gospel; when they have attained unto a literal understanding of, and give an historical assent and credit to the Doctrines of life laid down in the Word of God, and do declare for them openly. Or,
2. Which is the best and surest title; when they have received the Truth in Love, and heartily embraced it by a saving faith; when they receive it, as it is in Jesus; when they are really built upon it: for then the Truth is indeed theirs by such a sure claim, as can never be justly questioned; they have bought it, and it is their own; God himself hath made it over to them, and sealed up the Sale.
2. Selling imports our letting go or parting with our propriety altogether in the thing; what a man hath sold, he can no longer lay any claim to, or challenge any right in it; he puts himself wholly out of the possession of it, and alienates it to another: and hence from that time forward, he disowns, disclaims, looks not after it, concerns not himself about it: thus a man hath then sold the Truth, when he hath relinquished the Profession of it, which sometimes he had made: when a man once comes to disown the Truth, as to an outward Profession, and either will not stand by it, or openly renounceth it, when he either will not own it, or is bold to deny it, though once he challenged an interest in it, this man hath sold it.
3. Selling imports a willingness to part with a thing. There are some things which may be taken away from men by an hand of violence, and against their wills; they that are too strong for them, may wrest them out of their hands forcibly, and this cannot be called selling; for that is ever done by consent, it being always acted in a contract which is made between two parties, to the making up and determining of which the will must of necessity yeild. There may indeed be a lothness in a person to part with such a thing, and by reason of this averseness, he may give a great many denials to him that is urgent upon him to move him to sell it, but all this while there is a demurr, there is no bargain made till it comes to this, for that always waits for consent; he may indeed come to this with reluctancy, yet he is prevailed upon to yield; and truly the Truth is such a commodity, as no man that hath it, can be robbed of it, nor can he lose it, except he be willing to it; it must be a voluntary act of his own: Men may lose their liberties, they may lose their estates, their credit or reputation among men, their visible enjoyment of the Gospel and Ordinances thereof, all these may be taken away from them whether they will or no: but they cannot lose the Truth, except they deliver it up; they may indeed be bewitched with enticements, so were the Galatians; Gal. 3. 1. but it is their own folly that they are so, as he there gives them to understand. O Foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the Truth?
4. Selling also intends that men receive something in exchange for that which they part withal, and that they let it go upon that consideration; men always take something for that which they sell, either in hand, or in a promise, or else it is not selling; and the Spirit of God in this prohibition of his presumes that there will be those who will offer to buy the Truth off mens hands, and that will urge them with temptation to part with it, yea, and will make them seemingly large and tempting offers to move them to consent and drive up a bargain: not that they have any desire of having it themselves, or of making any profit to themselves by buying it off their hands; but meerly because they envy others the possession of it; and there are two things which frequently become Temptations to men to let go the Truth for them, viz.
1. Mens outward peace and quietness. There are times wherein Persecutions arise for the Truth, and if men will own it, and stand by and maintain their title to it, it will cost them a great deal of molestation: The Disciples of Christ must look to be hated of all men for Christ and Truths sake; and oftentimes there are pretendedly fair offers made unto them; that if they will baulk the Truth but a little, and part with but a few, grains of this pearl, they shall have peace and liberty in exchange for it; whereas, if they will not give their consent, they shall suffer all manner of opposition, and be exposed to violence and rage; and when the case is such, the heart of man, which naturally loves ease and immunity from trouble, is too ready to be ensnared, and give a most unhappy consent to such a proposal as this, and rashly to buy their peace with the sale of the Truth.
2. The gratification of some fleshly lust; the truth is an enemy to all these; and many times it is so, that men cannot hold the Truth in a consciencious profession of it, but this will prevent the aims, and curb in the reachings of carnal concupiscence: sometimes Covetousness craves after the world, and its desires are so large and boundless, that they cannot be kept pace withal, except a man remit some part of the Truth which concerns honesty, and some rules of piety too, or Religious Duties; and now if he will get the world, he must sell these Truths, so did Dem…s, 2 Tim. 4. 10. sometimes a mans ambition reacheth after preferment, and so much of honour and command, as may be procured in a way of truth, will not content him: if he will rise in the worlds favour, and climb to its dignities, he must let go some of the Truths of his profession, or dissemble them, and not openly own them, nay, possibly (as the times may be) he must renounce, and take upon him the contrary profession: and the weak mind of man is often wofully exposed by such Temptations, as are so suited to his carnal inclinations:
From the Premises we may gather this Conclusion, viz. That when we are bidden not to sell the Truth, we are thereby enjoyned to maintain the belief, and answerable profession of it, and by no means to be prevailed upon to renounce, or so much as dissemble it: neither to be tempted with the menaces on the one hand, nor wound in with the flatteries of the world on the other, to part with the Truth in exchange either for life, or liberty or favour, or grandure, or any Flesh pleasing error whatsoever.
5. Why it is not to be sold.
A. There need no other reason be rendred of it, but this; Because, for a man that hath bought the Truth, to sell it again; crosseth all the rules and ends of prudent Merchandize, and this may be exemplified in two or three particulars.
1. No Understanding Man will part with that which he cannot subsist without, and if he put it out of his hands, cannot get it again; for by so doing he at once undoes himself: such a thing is Truth; it is a mans life, if he have it not, he is an undone man: without Truth no man can be saved; he who sells the Truth, hates his own soul; he is guilty of destroying himself with his own hands, it is utterly impossible that he should barter for any thing in exchange for it, that can supply the necessary use of it to him; for the world hath it not to offer him: in the very same moment wherein a man parts with the Truth, he parts with God, and Christ, and Heaven, and all grounded hope of happiness: and if men will be so foolish as to sell the Truth, God is wont to be so severe in bearing witness against them, as to give them up to believe a lye, to their own damnation; as that Awful Scripture denounceth, 2 Thes. 2. 9, 10. and what will become of such an unhappy wretch, when he hath sold the Truth that could have saved him, and purchased a lye in the room of it, that will damn him?
2. The next end of buying and selling is to get gain; and no man would willingly if he could avoid it, sell any thing to his loss, much less to his irreparable loss. A man may possibly be a loser by trading, and it may be unavoidable, but it is no mans proposed end so to be, but the contrary; but we cannot sell the Truth upon any account, but our loss by this sale will be incomputable: let the offer which is made for it look never so big, and that a man gets by his parting with the Truth be in vulgar esteem of never so great worth, yet this man that hath thus sold, hath sold to the loss; he puts off an Oriental Jewel for a pebble stone, that gives the Truth for it: Suppose a man should purchase the Lease of ten or twenty years in this world of quiet, and freedom from molestation by forsaking of it, when possibly he must have been cut off from life it self, if he would have kept the Truth: nay, suppose that he should have had the whole world as a compensation for it, yet before a man strikes up, it is good for him seriously to ponder and chew upon that of our Saviour, Mat. 16. 26. What is a man profited if he gain the whole world, and lose his own Soul? this is certain, that one Truth hath ten thousand times more worth in it, than ten thousand worlds; what wise man then would sell it?
3. A man will deny himself in parting with something to do a friend a kindness, but both to do wrong to himself, & really to gratify or advantage no other, is nothing less then madness: and so doth that man that sells the Truth. They are not friends, but the worst of enemies (because they are so to our Souls) who seek to get it from us; and that also to no benefit of theirs at all, but only to satisfie their own malignity, and to do a spite unto us. He that sells the Truth, grieves all that he had any reason to please, God and his Holy Spirit are grieved, and Gods people are thereby scandalized: and whilst he does no true good to any in the world, he quite undoeth himself; and this is always the undoubted issue of such a bargain, Prov. 8. 36. He that sinneth against me, wrongeth his own Soul.
USE I. For Reprehension; it serves to convince the folly and madness of the greatest part of men that live under the light of the Gospel, and there are multitudes that stand guilty in both the points here commended to us.
1. It is matter, as of lamentation, so of just rebuke, that the Truth hath so few Customers that are in good earnest to buy it: and there are two considerations, which highly aggravate the blame of those men that have had their lot cast in this corner of the world, viz.
1. That Truth hath been brought to their doors, and offered to, yea, urged upon them daily; and yet they do neglect it: there hath been no need to fend to the farthest Indies, to fetch it thence, and yet they will venture so far to procure that which is but dirt and trash in comparison of it: they have not been necessitated to go from Town to Town, and wander from Sea to Sea, for the Word of God, but it hath been brought home unto them, and God hath had his Criers in every place, who have called out unto men from Sabbath to Sabbath, and upon divers other market-days have exposed the Truth to their view; have opened to them the great mysteries of the Gospel, and used many earnest entreaties with men that they should give entertainment thereunto; and yet for all this, how have they slighted and disregarded?
2. That it hath been offered to them upon fair and easy terms; Truth was hardly ever a better penniworth since the world stood, than it hath been to us; and whether even it will be so cheap again in our days, as it hath been now for these so many years, the Lord knows: Truth indeed can never be an hard bargain; suppose it be attended with never so many disadvantageous circumstances, it is still good, and worth our buying, though we must have shame, reproach, and bloody Persecution as appendices to it: Truth and a Cross, Truth and a faggot are not to be rejected by him who will approve himself wise: but yet such appurtenances of it are wont to be a discouragement to flesh and blood, and relucting nature is wont to misgive at the apprehension of it: but we have had this precious pearl set in gold: Truth under all manner of advantages hath been offered unto us; peace, plenty, credit, preferment; and that notwithstanding all this, it hath still bin so slighted among us, and there have been so few that have bought it, is a plain discovery of our woful folly, and will stand against all such as have not so done to their greater condemnation: and that this use is no slanderous accusation, but a just and necessary reprehension, and that I may withal point at such as do most of all deserve to come under the conviction of it, let it be considered.
1. How many there are (especially in this place) that seldom (if ever) frequent truths market; i. e. the Publick Ordinances? Not to make mention of, or bring into this Catalogue, these who pretend themselves born possessed of Truth enough to serve their turn, and so greatly enriched with a treasure of a Light within, that they make it one principal article of their Religion, never to come there where Truth is to be bought; it is said by some who have had great advantage to make such an observation, that no Sabbath-day passeth, wherein there are not many hundreds in this very place, who have nothing of necessary hindrance, and yet do not repair to any one place of Publick Worship: and of a great many more, it is too notorious to be called into question, that if they can get forth to Gods House one part of the Sabbath, they have full enough of the Publick Worship, and think they have done some great matter: and it is certain, that such as these are no buyers; they are onelyonly such as watch daily at Wisdoms gates, and wait at the posts of her Doors, Prov. 8. 34.
2. The unsuitable behaviour of many under them, who do come to the Ordinances, proves them not to be in earnest: not to say, but that there may be reason sufficient to think that there are many who outwardly profess, and make shews of much reverence and attention, who may yet be such as the Lord complains of to the Prophet, Ezekiel 33. 31. Come as the people cometh, &c: and with their mouth, they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their Covetousness. What shall we judg of those who come to the house of God to sleep out the time wherein they should be hearing the Oracles of God, or stand gazing up and down to observe persons and garbs, or are whispering and laughing together, when they should be yeilding attendance to the things that are spoken? All of which are too notoriously common and observable, to be charged as fansies and surmises. Or,
3. The woful deficiency there is in many, in regard of the fruits of profitable attending upon Gospel Ordinances: if men do really buy the Truth, it will enrich them, and it will not be hid; but what shall we say, to,
1. The gross ignorance of such great numbers, even in the main and principal points of Religion? those very staple truths of it; the most main and necessary things of all? that of the Apostle is too true of them Heb. 5. 12. When for the time ye ought to be Teachers, ye have need that one teach you again, which be the first principles of the Oracles of God, and if in a place where there hath so much of light shone, and the Truth hath been so easy to come by, men have all this while gotten so little of it into their hands, what shall we then think they have in their hearts? if they had any heart to it, it could not possibly be so.
2. The vain and foolish conversation of multitudes: We may say of the Truth, when men have indeed bought it, as Solomon speaks of Wisdom, which is the same thing, Prov. 2. 10, 11, 12. When Wisdom entreth into thy heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy Soul, discretion shall preserve thee, &c. and therefore wickedness is in Scripture called folly, and ungodly men fools; so that when we see sin daily abounding among us, and men living without any care or regard to their lives and ways, walking in the paths of death, and going in the road-way to destruction, it is a clear witness against them, that they have rejected the Truth; and our Saviour tells us, This is the Gospel Condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men chuse darkness rather than light, because their works are evil, John 3. 19.
3. The little care there is to instruct and bring up children in the knowledg of the Truth; if men had indeed bought the truth, they could not but be engaged in heart and affection to it, and if so, they would desire that others might get it too; especially their children, for whose wealth and prosperity nature it self teacheth them to be sollicitous, when therefore they can altogether neglect them, and neither take any pains to instruct them themselves, nor send them carefully to those places where they may be instructed, they grosly discover themselves, to be at least strangers to the saving knowledge of the Truth; else they could never rest content till they had brought theirs to the market, and used their best endeavour that they might purchase it too; how often is the wise man in the Proverbs calling upon his Son to seek after Wisdom?
Now for the greater conviction, give me leave to fasten this nail of reproof with these three blows: Consider,
1. By this neglect you put an high affront upon the God of Truth: God accounts that he hath made you the greatest and most liberal offers that can be, when he hath set before you his Gospel▪ and published the great Truths of Salvation in your hearing, together with the inviting you to come and get them for your own; for you therefore after all this to neglect them, and have no regard to them, is a carriage most contemptuous, and argues that you look upon them as not worth the seeking after: and God looks upon himself to be set at naught by these carriages, and hence you must needs thus irritate his anger, and engage him against you, and how woful a folly is that?
2. If you neglect to buy the Truth now, shortly it will not be to be bought; not only will the price rise, as there is abundant likelihood that it will, if Truths enemies may obtain their will; and how far God may permit it thus to be, to make those who have thus slighted it, to see and feel their own foolishness, I cannot tell: but the market will in a little time be quite over with you; see Eccl. 9. 10. There is no wisdom in the grave whether thou goest; you may live to see the time when that complaint will again be verified, Psal. 74. 9. We see not our signs, there is no more any Prophet. However, it is certain, that there are no offers made of it to those that are gone down into silence; hell is not priviledged with having the proclamations of the Gospel made in it, and the spiritual teachings of the Truth there applied; when the present life ends, there will thenceforth be no advantage to buy, for God will not then sell the Truth to any: and least you should despise this motive, and think it no such infelicity to lose the opportunity of purchasing it: Consider,
3. There will a time certainly come, wherein you will repent of this great neglect; although you please your selves with lies for the present, yet they will not do always: you will erelong be unavoidably convinced, that in all your other dealings in the world, you have bin laying out your money for that which is not bread. When a man comes to leave this world, and must then leave all his worldly gettings behind him, and none of all his gain must descend with him into the grave, then will he wish, (and it may be too late) Oh that I had not fool'd away my precious advantages! that I had not spent all my time about that which cannot profit! had I but laboured for the Truth as much as I have done for these perishing things, it would not thus have deserted me, I should not have gone thus naked into an amazing eternity. Scorn these warnings now as much as you please, yet this I dare to pawn my credit, yea and life upon, that all those who despite the saving Truths of Jesus Christ, will sooner or later be powerfully convinced of their excellency, and their own desperate madness, in contemning of them, and be enforced whether they will or no, with heart-breaking ejulations to cry out of their own unhappy foolishness, so carelesly to miss of heavens market, and triflingly to lose the once fair opportunity of buying the Truth, when there was a price in their hands, and there wanted nothing but an heart to it; but Oh that you were now wise, that you understood this, and would consider the latter end.
2. They also do as deeply deserve this reproof, that are as forward to sell the Truth as the other were backward to buy it. Truth doth not only lye upon Gods hands (as a neglected drug, and needless commodity) for want of customers, but many that have bought it are ready to turn it upon his hands again, beginning to repent of their bargain. Nor doth this reproof only reach unto such as have bought it no more than in a visible profession, and by a literal knowledge, but even those that have savingly bought too: for although there is no truly believing Soul that shall so fall from grace, as finally to relinquish the great things of Life and Salvation, yet they may, and often do unhappily pawn this or that parcel of Truth, and sometimes also come too near the making of this undoing bargain; though the Holy Spirit of God doth in great faithfulness give them such a seasonable whisper, and so effectual as shall make them to revoke it again before it be throughly driven; and it is to be observed, that when the Gospel Truth hath been embraced but in a profession, it is very rare that any such do sell it again by whole sale; there are too deep impressions of it made upon the Consciences of men, to suffer them to part with it all at once: but how many such are there that retail it out in parcells, till they have very little left behind? and for a more particular discovery of those that are found guilty upon this account: Let us but observe,
1. How many there are that have been bartering of the Truth for Error? such as have sometimes been Orthodox in their profession, how are they by degrees drawn to believe Lies instead of the Truth, and have set themselves with eager violence to oppose those things which sometimes they have resolutely maintained? they have suffered themselves to be bewitched with the enticements of error, and to drink of its poysoned cup: they have hearkened to a few fair speeches, and cunningly devised fables, till they have been perswaded to let go some precious Truth or other in their room; yea, and been so foolish as not only to rest well contented with, but to make their foolish brags and boasts of the happy exchange they have made; as tho' a guilded error were of more value than a plain and solid Truth: how hath that of the Apostle been too sadly verified? Rom. 16. 18. By good words and fair speeches, they deceive the hearts of the simple; and it is to be taken notice of, as a thing most frequent, that when men once begin thus to break bulk, it is very improbable that they will stop till they have put off their whole lading.
2. How much baulking there is of the truth to gratifie mens own lusts, and the lusts of other men All Divine Truths are practical, and men then properly hold them, when they walk in conformity to them, so that when men once begin in works to deny the Profession which they have in word held forth, they do really make sale of the Truth, and this is usually done to give content to some lust or other: mens exorbitant courses are therefore in Scripture called Lies, because they are a practical renouncing of the Truth; & that man that lives contrary unto it, doth as openly deny it, as he who sets himself to confute it by arguments: and where ever a man doth any thing which is contrary to the light of the Word of God, and the Dictates of his own Conscience, he then foregoes the Truth; and if he doth not sell it out-right, he lays it to pawn; and how many such Mortgages may we see made in the world, from one time to another? and it is plain, that there are many who run so deep upon the account, that it is justly to be doubted, whether ever they intend to take them up again. The covetous man, who to get gain, neglects the rules of honesty; the voluptuous man who to please the cravings of his fleshly lusts, goes beyond the set bounds of sobriety; the ambitious man, who to scrue himself into preferment in the world, forgets the precepts of sincerity; when the fearful man to avoid reproach and scoffs, and to preserve his Estate or Liberty, either dissembles or suppresseth the Truth, these men are in all these things guilty of transgressing this command, and are to be looked upon as barterers of the Truth. In a word, every degree of Apostacy; all growing weary of the Gospel Ordinances, all careless or slighty attendance upon the means of grace, or neglect of performing the duties enjoyned men in the Word of God, come under this reproof: and if men once come to think the Truth a burdensome or a dangerous thing to them, they are not very far from making a sale of it; when it is as Mal. 1. 13. What a weariness is it? and in pursuit of this reproof, I might reinforce the arguments used with the former, but to pass them over, let me further urge two things.
1. Consider what a vile disparagement you do hereby cast upon the Truth: He that doth not prefer it above all things, doth certainly greatly disparage it, he that can but entertain a thought in his heart of letting it go upon any account, must needs be supposed to undervalue it: yea, such a thought as that consented unto, is a formal sale of it, for in that thought he hath indeed let it go: nay, he that makes a deliberate question about it, doth in so doing make a doubt whether there be not something better than the Truth, yea, and that very thing, how vile and base soever it be, for which he thinks of selling it, begins by his so thinking, to challenge in his understanding a preferrence to the Truth: no man can so much as debate within himself about the selling of it, until he hath entertained in his heart, vile and unworthy conceptions of it; and how high a provocation this must needs be to the God of Truth we may well suppose, when we remember that his own name and glory is concerned in it, for the vindication whereof he stands everlastingly engaged, and if men will so far trample upon his honour, as to debase his Truth unto an unworthy sale, they shall find him to be a jealous God, and one that will not so part with his Glory.
2. Consider you will thus render yourselves not only miserable, but also unpitied. You will not only be undone, but come under the deserved charge of being your own undoers: who will shew compassion to that man, that hath a Jewel of unconceivable value, enough to enrich him for ever, and yet goes and barters it away for a trifle, a worthless toy, and a thing that will never do him a real kindness? so the Lord chargeth them for doing, Jer. 2. 11. My people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. But then, for a man to put it away for misery, and that upon choise, is the most aggravated madness: so doth every one that sells the Truth, let him do it upon the most seemingly rational considerations that can be imagined for a man to forgo that which alone can guide, direct, and lead him up to the enjoyment of God, and Christ, and glory, for nothing better or more valuable, than that which will perish in a little time, and before he can well settle himself upon it, must forsake him for ever, is such a piece of foolery as cannot be parallell'd: and thus the Lord himself paraphraseth upon the Apostacy of the Jews, Jer. 2. 13. My people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of Living Waters, and hewed them out Cisterns, broken Cisterns that can hold no Water, and what could they do more, to undo themselves utterly?
USE II. For Information; and there is this only inference which I shall draw from the Doctrine, viz. we may hence learn how greatly they are mistaken, who take upon them to censure the people of God for being at too much pains to get, and being so fixedly resolved not to part with the Truth. These are the two main articles which ungodly men have to urge, and for which they pass so severe a verdict against them, and upon the account whereof they stigmatize them with many names of reproach: but the Doctrine before us will stand up for their justification, and serve to vindicate their reputation from the merit of any opprobry; let us bring them both to this touch stone.
1. The world judge it to be high imprudence in them, that they are at so much cost and charge for the purchasing of the Truth. There are some who voluntarily leave all outward advantages, which they might otherwise: have enjoyed, that so they may dwell at Truth's Market, and possess the free liberty of Gods House and Ordinances, and sit under the plain Dispensations of the Word; they do also liberally expend for the upholding of the means of-grace among them, accounting it a rich mercy to have the opportunity so to do; they take up a considerable part of their time every day▪ in conversing with God and his Word; they frequent on all occasions the publick places where Truth is opened and exhibited; and give all diligence to get more intimate acquaintance with it; and because they thus do, they are accounted a company of half witted people, silly Souls, that do not know what is for their own good: what a deal of time do they unprofitably waste away for they know not what? how many shillings, nay pounds, might they have gained in the time, whilst they were at such a Sermon, attending upon such an Ordinance? and all this to acquaint themselves with a few empty notions which they call Truth, that when they have gotten them, will neither fill the belly, nor cloath the back: But stay a little, and don't run away with all the cry, as if you were the only wise and prudent men in the world, and wisdom or folly must needs take their measures from your vote: know it then, that these persons have not only heavens approbation for wisdom, but by your own rules also, if you will fairly and impartially apply them, you shall be enforced to confess them to be men of the greatest discretion: For,
1. They drive the richest trade; they are poor and paltry things that other men are dealing in, compared with what these men deal for: hear the wisemans judgment in this case, Prov. 3. 14. The merchandize of it is better than the merchandize of silver, and the gain thereof then fine gold, and chap. 8. 19. my fruit is better than gold, yea than fine gold, and any revenue than choice silver. One Saving Truth really purchased, makes the man more than if he had engrost the treasure of both the Indies; he hath gotten a Pearl which hath more of intrinsecal worth in it than the whole world besides; that which will stand him more in stead, and do him a far greater kindness, than if he had a whole house full of gold: these be the men who are in the right way to inherit substance, whereas all other men are but in the pursuit after meer shadows. There are some men here that can make their brags how they have gotten some hundreds in a bargain, that hath not been many hours in driving▪ but he that receives one beam of Divine Truth irradiating his Soul in an Ordinance, hath gained more than many Millions in that hour; and let him who hath been so vain as to spend the time of an Ordinance in his Shop or Ware-house with the best advantage that can be thought of, compare with him who hath been the same time in the House of God, and well improved his time there, and he shall find upon a true account, that this man hath made incomparably the best bargain, for the one hath been trading for the things of time, while the other hath been dealing for those of eternity.
2. They drive the surest trade, as their gain is by much the greatest, so it is the most certain, the Worlds Merchants run through great hazards, and deal upon the highest uncertainties; all their expectations hang. upon meer peradventures, and hence by a most proper name, they call that part of their estate which they send abroad in way of trading, their venture, for it must first run through unknown casualties, if ever it make a good return: it may be shipped in good order and well conditioned, but one dash upon a Rock, may split all his hope at once, and bury his whole treasure in a grave of Waters; one Leak breaks violently in and spoils it, a Pyrate meets it accidentally in his way, and makes a prize of it; or if it scapes all these dangers, and reach its Port in safety, a bad market loseth him all his gains at last; and therefore to scape some of these inconveniences, men deal with Ensurers, and so hope to save part; but sometimes they break too: But this man that is trading for the Truth in good earnest, hath heavens ensurance, and the security of a never failing Promise, from an able and faithful God, for his success and continued gain, Hosea 6. 3. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord, Prov. 2. 4, 5. If thou seekest her as Silver, and searchest for her as for bid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lords and find the knowledge of God.
3. It is the most Honourable Trade: He that is engaged in this. Merchandize of buying the Truth, is indeed one of the Royal Company. There are some employments, which, though gainful, are yet counted sordid and base, and generous spirits scorn to take them up in hopes of a little profit: there are others which are of credit and good repute among men; but they are all of them mean and contemptible, compared with this, and not the best of them can equall it in honour. This man hath the least need of any to be ashamed of his Occupation: yea, and it is the way to honour and preferment: wisdom exalts her Customers not only to wealth, but also to great dignity, Prov. 3. 16. In her left hand are riches and honour; and chap. 4. 8, 9. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee, &c. They are none but excellent ones that are in Partnership with these men; and they are infinitely glorious personages whom they drive their dealing with; God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
4. It is the most satisfying Trade. The great Truths of the House of God, are soulcontenting things, Psal. 36. 8. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thine house. It is a very joyful thing to frequent this market, Psal. 122. 1. I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord; and there is abundance of Reason for it for the dealing is in Soul satisfying things: they are things full of marrow and fatness, and may therefore well chear the heart; Men make a great deal of bustle and do in this world, trading and bartering, but it is all with abundance of disquiet: there is a great deal of noise made, and but a little content taken, Eccl. 1. 8. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, the ear is not satisfied with hearing. When men suffer loss, it vexeth them, and when they get gain, it doth not quiet them, and what is the reason, but because they are occupied about things that have not the matter of satisfaction in them? They spend mony for that which is not bread, and labour for that which satisfieth not, Isa. 55. 2. whereas the very discovery of this Pearl of Truth in the Gospel Field, fills the man with joy; how much more raised then must he needs be, when he hath made it his own, though in exchange for all that he had?
5. It is the most Necessary Trade. Men may do better without any thing than Truth. It is an observation which some have made, that the bigger half of trades and Merchandize in the world is occupied about trifles, or things of which there is no necessity, but it would be as well, if not better with mankind, if they were without them: and truly, if you please to add the other half too, you shall find all little better than toys, if compared with the Truth. As much as the life is better than raiment, as far as the soul excells the body, as highly as eternity is to be preferred before time; so far is the purchase of Truth more necessary than the gaming of every other thing in the world. Job therefore prizeth this, not only above his conveniences but beyond all his necessaries whatsoever, Job. 23. 12.
6. They trade for the most Durable Estate: It is that which, when once gotten, will abide by them; hence that Pro. 8. 18. Riches and honour are with me: yea, Durable Riches and Righteousness. The whole traffick of this world is occupied about perishing things: there is a moth in their garments, and rust upon their metalls, and a thief watcheth for both, ready to carry them away: all these things have wings, and are every moment ready for the flight, Pro. 23. 5. Riches certainly make themselves wings, &c. and no man ever yet had the art to clip them, or if they did, they soon grew again: but Truth is a never failing treasure; if once a man hath gotten it for his own, it will never forsake him. Truth is in it self Incorruptible, 1 Pet. 1. 23 and hence is incapable of being corroded by moth or rust, and it lies out of the reach of the Thief, he that possesseth the Truth cannot be robbed of it. There are indeed some things here below, that are more durable than others, and hence (comparatively) are more desirable, on which account the worlds prudent men endeavour to convert their estates as fast as they may with convenience, into them; such are Houses and Lands: and the Psalmist gives us the reason for it, Psal. 49. 11. Their inward thought is that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations. But the man who hath turned his all into Truth, and settled that as his proper in heritance, hath infinitely out-witted these men. Truth is an everlasting Treasure, and he that hath bought it shall have something to live on, when the other shall be like the beasts that perish; and is it so? Let then the worlds Ishmaels mock on; and let pious souls bear it patiently, until the happy time shall come, wherein all accounts shall be adjusted, and even-reckonings made up: and if then, these Merchants shall be found fools, let the wicked triumph for ever: but know it assuredly how scornfully soever they now deport themselves toward the children of Wisdom, the Upright shall have dominion over them in the morning.
2. The world is also no less prejudiced at Godly men for their tenaciousness of the Truth, to see them hold it so resolutely, and being so unperswadable to part with it, by all the utmost endeavours used to bring them off, and win them to relinquish it; when they see how many, and what cunning attempts there are made to draw them over to give consent, or to force them upon making a sale, and after all, the one is rejected with an holy scorn, and the other is born with an invincible patience, and the most politickly contrived, and industriously prosecuted endeavours do finally prove unsuccessful: when they see how many and grievous things they suffer for the Truth sake, and all cannot prejudice them against it, but rather confirms their love to it, and adds strength to their pious resolutions never to forget it; with how great chearfulness they can take the being spoyled of their goods, deprived of their liberties, yea, and being robbed of their very lives, and all this because they will not part with Truth; yea, they do the more closely hug and embrace it; they hereupon do certainly conclude these men to be far gone of a frenzy: especially when they take notice how firm they are in the maintaining of the least Truth, so as rather to pull all the world about their ears, then let a syllable of it go: will (with the Three Children) run the venture of a Fiery Furnace; rather than bow the body to an Image; hazard the sufferings of all manner of tortures before they will throw a little frankincense into the fire, (as did the Primitive Christians) lose all the favours and preferments they have enjoyed, and might otherwise have still possessed, rather than Worship God otherwise than as he hath appointed; yea dye the most cruel death rather than deny any one article of Gods revealed Will; they either rail at them as willful, turbulent, schismatical; the disturbers of Church and State; or else commiserate them as men intoxicated with conscientious niceties, whereby they become the unhappy disturbers of their own quiet; but hold; these men are neither mad not drunk, as you suppose them to be, but in their right mind, and very well able to give a truly rational account of what they do; yea such as (if you will approve of the rules that wise merchants pretend to follow) will clear up their discretion: For,