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nomentanie natural Life; but O the rich incomes, O the upmaking advantages that our fpiritual mers chant purchases, even heavenlie gifts and graces,res lative to the precious immortal Soul, whereby it is enriched and made happie toeternitie: it is not im probable our Lord had this in view, when He laid, what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world, and lofs bis own Soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his Soul and as Jeremiah bath it, Chap. 23, 28 What is the chaff to the wheat, faith the Lord fo what is the bodie to the foul? what is time to eternitie? and confequentlie what are the trivial concerns of the one, to the invaluable, momentuous concerns of the other, he that is rich in faith, rich in grace, & rich towards God, though poor in the world, yet is poffeffed of more eflimas ble riches,than all the gold of Ophir, or all the riches of the Indies: godlinefs hath great gain, and is profitable to all things, having the promifes of this life, and that which is to come, I Tim. 6,6.---4.8.

2. Confid. Trading with Chrift is an bonourable Trade: manie of the Ancients (as Thales, Selon, Hippocrates, Cicero, &c.) have fpaken diminutively and opprobrionfly of Merchandizing, as being unworthie of a noble or ingenuous foul, what might have fwayed them to vent fuch fatyrical inve&tives againfi Merchandizing I fhall not divine, but the divine Oracles (peaking of the Merchants of Tyre, Ifa, 23.8. fay, whofe Merchants are Princes, and whole Traffickers are the honourable of the earth : and in thefe latter times of the world, it is v

known, that mazie of the Princes, Nobles,&

elt Perfonages, in divers Kingdoms and Cemmon wealths, think it no difparagement to interefs and concern themselves in matters of mercatore & traf fick; however, whatever difcreditable imputati ons may be cast on earthly Merchandize,farely tras ding with Chrift is very honourable, for all who are enriched with His heavenly treafures, are Kings and Priefs to our God,they are the truly honourable & excellent ones of the earth, whose great honour lyer in baving the King of Heaven to Traffick & Trade with them, as in the'Text.

Confid. Trading with Chriff is a moft pleasant delectable trade; what great pleasure do manie Merchants take in viewing forraign Countries,upon the occafion of their trading to them; but our Spi ritual Merchant certainlie hath much more, in vifi. ting Immanuals Land,for our converfation (or trade and traffick, as we have glanced before page) is in heaven, Phil, 3.10. be whiles takes a Journey (in the elevated aspirations & foaring contemplations of his mind) into the New Jerufalem, he whiles gets føretafts of the fruits and grapes of the Celebis al Canaan, which affect his Soul with fo much real fweetness and fatisfaction, that he never found the like (nor can find) in anie earthlie pleasures or pol fefions, all Chris Ways, are Ways of Pleasantness, and all His Paths are Peace, Prov. 3.17.

4. Confid. Trading with Chrift is a fure Trade: what treasures the men of the world purchase, they are liable to thousands of accidents and cafualities, and hence for diftinction fake,use to be called goods

tune, as being fubject to detriment & deftru

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&ion, nil non mortale tenemus ; but what the Chriftis an Merchant gains,is under the care and cuftodie of Him, out of whofe Hand none is able to pluck any thing, bis treasure is well fecured in heaven, where neither Thief nor Robber can break through to Steal, Matth. 6, 20.

5. Confid, Trading with Chrift is the best of trades, for a man may thereby foon be made vafly rich: fome pudle and teil all their days, and bave enough to do to keep their Credit in the world, and are fill from hand to mouth, never attaining great things: but in a moment by the purchase of one Pearl viz,Chrift, a man is made up for ever and infinitly enriched: co our purpose bere we thought fit to tranfcribe fome lines of Mr. Flavel, Husbandr. Spiritual Cap. 2.p.16. None will deny, but thefe are bleed pains, Which are attended with the richest gains. Grant this, and then mo clearly 'tis inferr'd Soul work to all deferves to be prefer'd. This is an unknown Trade, Ob, whe can count, To what the Gains of Gadlinefs amount? For one poor Shilling, O! what risks some rung Beme toiling as i'ch fire from Sun to Sun, Whereas one hour spent with God brings in Such heavenly treasures, poor Souls have been Inrich'd for ever: even as you fee

A Princes Favourite upon the knee

Gan in an hours time more Wealth obtain Than all your Lives by Labour you can gain, Pray'r gains are great,& quick returns are made; Sure then the Chriftian drives the richest Trade. As to the fecond Branch of the properties of C Wares they are thefe following:

1.

Prop. Chrills Wares are molt needfull to be bad, coft what they will; meat, drink, cloaths, &c.how can we fubfift without them; there are many things convenient that are not neceffar, and many things delirable and delectable, yea & usefull too, that yet are not needfull, as is to be feen in profufe impertinent gaudries of many light Prodigals, which may be very well wanted; but Chrifts Wares are not only of thead, but of need to us, we must have them elle we perish, therefore Luke to 42, they are called the one thing needfull.

2. Prop. Chrifts Wares are very scarce and rare to be had, which should make us fo wife & provident, ás to bargain for them while we have occafion, He bath not fet up Shop in every Nation, but more of this before.

3. Prop. Though as we have faid in fome fenfe Chrifts Wares are very scarce, yet for all that there is variety of forts, and plenty of every fort, they are fcarce, because to be had no where else but with Him, A&. 4. 12,& for the fame reafon (being all mos nopolized and enhanfed in His hand) they are most plenteous with Him, fo that all who will come and buy, fhall find whatever they call for that can be of ftead or comfort to them. Pfal. 145. 15, 16. The eyes of all trait upon bee, and thou giveft them their meat in due feafon, thou openeft thine hand and fatisfic the des · fire of every living thing See Pfal. 84. 14.5

4. Prop. Chrills Wares are contenting to every bo dy that gets of them, fo as they are well glad of the bargain, and ready to go again to His thop, Matib

with Feb 6. 14 they who have truly taffed

frow

bow good the Lord is, how rich in mercie, and bow excellent in loving kindnefs, I dare fay would not pafs from their intereft berein for all the gold of Ophit."

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5. Prop, They are of everlasting endurance,never waste or corrupt, and are beyond the reach of al dangers, Math, 6, 8,

6. Prop. Chrifts Wares are of great value, yet to be had verie cheap, but of this before,

The fecond Gifs of Motives from the danger of of not buying,

1. If ye come not to buy from Chrift, ye will unavoidablie be poor and miferable for ever, for it is onlie by trading with Him ye can be rich,

2. If ye come not to buy from Chrift, fpeciallie feeing He calls and counfels you, He will defervedly count you defpifers of the riches of His Grace, and what meature of Wrath this will amount to may eafilie be gueffed. Matth, 22, 5, 7. When the King heard that fome made light of his gracious Offers, he was wrath, and fent forth his Armies to deftroy thole Rebels.

If ye will not be counfelled by Chrift to come &bay, your own confciences will fometime charge you with folly and ingratitude for defpiling so kindly counfels: I am apt to believe that this will be one of the moft cutting confiderations to aggravat the miferie of damned confounded Chriftians, beyond the tortures of Heathens, that fometimes they had Offers of Mercie, but marred their own mercie,

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