58. To Heavenly Merchantmen.

Buy the truth, and sell it not. - Proverbs 23:23.

WHEN describing the pilgrims passing through Vanity Fair, Mr. Bunyan says: "That which did not a little amuse the merchandisers was, that these pilgrims set very light by all their wares; they cared not so much as to look upon them; and if they called upon them to buy, they would put their fingers in their ears and cry, 'Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity'; and look upwards, signifying that their traffic was in heaven.

"One chanced, mockingly, beholding the carriage of the men, to say unto them, 'What will ye buy?' But they, looking gravely upon him, said, 'We buy the truth.'"

The true Christian is like the merchantman who sought goodly pearls: he sought them to buy them; he bought the? with all that he had.

Let us carefully consider:

I. THE COMMODITY: "the truth."

1. Doctrinal Truth. The Gospel. The three R's — Ruin, Redemption, and Regeneration. The doctrines of grace.

· These are the genuine articles, but counterfeits are in the market.

· A gospel buyer must learn to discriminate, so as to reject

o Salvation without Christ as God.

o Pardon without an atoning sacrifice.

o Life without the new birth.

o Regeneration without faith.

o Faith without works.

o Safety without perseverance in holiness

2. Experimental Truth. The new birth and the heavenly life are real gems. But of these there are base imitations.

· Discriminate between true religion and

o Faith without repentance.

o Talk without feeling.

o Life without struggles.

o Confidence without examination.

o Perfection without humility.

3. Practical Truth. Truth as a matter of act and deed.

· Take care not to seem what you are not.

· Never do what you are ashamed of.

· Never be willfully ignorant of what you should know.

II. THE PURCHASE: "buy the truth." Here let us at once:

1. Correct an Error. Strictly speaking, truth and grace cannot be either bought or sold. Yet Scripture says, "Buy wine and milk without money and without price."

2. Expound the word. It is fitly chosen; for in order to be saved we should be ready to buy truth if it were to be bought:

· To give up every sin, fulfill all righteousness, and give that which we have, if such were the price.

· To be right with God by earnest watchfulness as much as if everything depended upon ourselves.

· To be ready to endure every test, make every search, etc.

· To run every risk, bear every cross, give up every worldly pleasure in order to be true to Jesus.

3. Paraphrase the Sentence.

· Buy what is truly the Truth

· Buy all the Truth

· Buy only the Truth.

· Buy the Truth at any price.

· Buy now the Truth.

4. Give reasons for the Purchase.

· It is in itself most precious.

· You need it at this moment for a thousand useful purposes.

· You will need it in time and in eternity.

5. Direct you to the Market.

"Buy of Me," saith Christ.

The Market-day is now on; "Come, buy."

6. Repeat the Text: "Buy the Truth."

· Not merely hear about it.

· Nor rest content with commending it to others.

· Nor satisfied just to know about it.

· Nor content with heartily wishing for it.

· Nor be content with intending to buy it.

But, "Buy the Truth": down with the cash, conclude the bargain, secure the estate.

III. THE PROHIBITION: "sell it not." Purchase it as a permanent investment, not to be parted with.

· Some sell it for a livelihood; for respectability; for repute of being scientific and thoughtful; to gratify a friend; for the pleasure of sin; for nothing at all but mere wantonness; but you must hold to it as for life itself.

· Buy it at any price and sell it at no price.

· You still need it.

· It has well repaid you hitherto.

· You cannot better yourself by bartering it for the whole world.

· You are lost without it. Sell it not!