7.31 SAINTS COMPARED TO MERCHANTS. BookiV. S I M I L ·E. Jl. The befr and greareft Mer– <:hanrs trade and deal in the richeft :ind choiceftThings on Earth, 'ljiZ. Jewels, Pearls, &c. Ill. Merchants in theirfirftTrad– ·ing are not fa Jkilful in their Mer– chandize, as they are afterwards, \vhen by commer.cing with other Merchants, they have found out the true Worth of their Merchan– dize, and the Manner of their Dealings. I V. Merchants are moft careful of their Concerns, when they have met with fame Lofs; then they be– gin to fear they lhall be undone, if Juch Lolfes encreafe upon them. V. Merchants that deal in pre– .:ious Stones, are very careful left they fhould be deceived with coun– rerfeit Stones, which are very like the true Ones. VI. Merchants trade to foreign Parts or Countries; their chief Concerns come from thence, where– by they grow rich. VII. Merchants haveCorrefpon– dents in thofe Countries to which they trade, who receive their Mer– chandize which they fend, and make Returns of more gainful Things. VIII. Merchants are firongly engaged by the ProfJtablentfs of their Trade, to follow it very clofe. 0 how diligent are Merchants, . •vhen they find Riches come in apace upon them ! IX. Merchants are diligent in attending the Exchange, where they have an Account of thtir foreign Affairs, and alfo an Opportuni ty to trade further, either in felling or buying; and they that are neg– ligent in this Matter, do give juft Caufe of Sufpicion, that they will loon fail, and ceafe to be Mer– chants. X. Merchants are very careful in keeping their Accompts ; they are ,,ften in their Compting· Houfes. They who are wife, will be lure their Books are well kept, I PARALLEL. 1!. The true Chrifiian d~fireth, and feeketl1 after the Riches of Grace, and Riches of Glory, called Pearls, which are of the greatelt Value and Worth, in which he may be moft happy. He feeketh for Pearls, but he fixeth mofi upon the Pearl of greateft Price, Jefus Chrift, Matt.xiii. 46. Ill. So the true Chriftian, when he is firft con– cerned in the Matters of Chriftianity, is not fo fkilful as afterward, when he hath by Chriftian Converfe found out the Worth of fpiritual Things, and the Deceitfulnef• of Satan, the World, and his own Heart, together with the faithfulnefs of God. lV. Chriftians are moft careful in their fpiritual and eternal Concernments, when they have met with fame fpiritual Lo!fes, and are attended with a holy Fear, left eternal Ruin lhould follow. V. The true Chriftian is very careful left he fhould be deceived in his fpiritual Ties, viz. have a falfe Fai1h, a falfe Repentance, and fal!e Obe– dience, and counterfeit Grace, which may be very like the true. VI. True Chriftians have their chief Concerns irom Heaven, whereby they grow fpiritually rich. Heaven is called afar_Country, Luke xix. VI!. The trueChrifiian hath his Correfpondent in Heaven, who manageth all his Concerns, viz. Jefus Chrift the Righteous; he is their Advocate and Interce!for, he appears in Heaven for them, Heb. ix. 24. He receives their Duties, and makes Returns of Mercy; he will receive their Tears of Godly Sorrow, and return the Oil of Joy. '!'bott puttefl my '!'ears into thy Bottle, &c. VIII. So fhould it be with true Chriftians; the Gainfulntfs of Godlinefs ll10uld engage them ro follow the heavenly Trade more clofety, becaufe it hat h the l'romife of the Life that now is, and that which is ro come. 1 'l'im. iv. S. for Time and Erernity is little enough to make up the Revenues of a godly Life ; what Time cannot do, Eternity JlJall. IX. True Chriftia!ls do make Confcience, and exrrcife a godly Care in attending the Meetings of the Saints, in their folemn worlhiping of God, whereby they get Underftanding and Knowledge of their Affairs in Heaven, as managed by Jefc1s Chrift. And there they have the Opportunity ta put off fpiritual Duties, and receive heavenly Bldlings, Heb. x. 25. And fuch as do neglect this PraCtice, may jc:ftly be fufpe<'led that in a little Time they will ceafe ta be Chriftians. X. True Chrifiians are, and ought to be very careful in keeping up their Clofet and fecret Com– munion with God, by private Prayer, and ~elfExamination, that fa they may give rheir Ac– count up to God with Joy, and not with Grief; and
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