[x\s for I/O u who fear not God, whatever ye may possess of this world, or whatever gratifications ye may enjoy, ye have a miserable portion indeed: and thougli ye abounded with every thing, like the Rich Man in the Gospel, yet were a pious Lazarus, that was destitute of all things, or even a martyr at the stake, in a preferable state to yours: and \Ne\\raa.y ye envy the poorest, the meanest saint on earth. Where will ye look for pardon, for peace, for strength, for comfort in a dying hour, and for glory in eternity ? Think ye of your misery ere it be too late ; and beg of God to implant in your hearts that fear of his name, which is the certain and the only prelude to his final approbation.]
Prov. xxiii. 23. Buy the truth ; and sell it not.
THE rich variety of metaphors contained in the Holy Scriptures gives an endless diversity to the most simple truths : and the commonness of those metaphors brings home to our minds the deepest truths, with a clearness that cannot be misinterpreted, and a force that cannot be withstood. The idea of buying and selling is familiar to every mind ; so fami- liar, that many would be offended at the application of it to the concerns of the soul. But we should not affect a squeamishness which the Inspired Writers did not feel ; except, indeed, in reference to subjects which, though not offensive to Jewish ears, the re- finement of modern ages has justly deemed indelicate. Permit me then, without offence, to shew you,
I. What it is that is here commended to us —
Truth, abstractedly considered, is of great value ; and the acquisition of it in science and philosophy is counted worthy of the most laborious researches. In astronomy, for instance, the ascertaining of the motion and mutual relation of the heavenly bodies is justly regarded as a rich recompence for a whole life of labour. But this is not the truth of which my text speaks : for that, once gained, remains with us : whereas the truth which is here commended to us may be sold as well as bought.
" The truth" here referred to is the Gospel —