“Firstly, If the gospel and the riches of it be this great, then buy it. ‘Buy the truth, and sell it not.’ (Prov. 23:23) He names no price, for you are not likely to lose by it, cost what it will.
This place (i.e. Cambridge) has been the greatest marketplace of truth, and of the mystery of the gospel, that I know under heaven. Wisdom hath as it were cried all her wares at this great cross. This truth has been purchased for you, and that dearly.
It cost the blood of many martyrs to derive it to you, the sweat of many preachers, the prayers of many saints, and cost God the riches of hHs patience to see it contemned. Buy it therefore at any rate.
Especially you who are scholars, you come hither and live under those, read those who are wholesale men, and you should, while you are here, treasure up as much and as many precious truths as you can, and grace withall to vent by retail in the country, when you are sent abroad.
Inquire and learn where these treasures are to be had, even in the Scriptures. The merchant who knew the pearl, was fain to buy the field. Timothy, from a child had known the Scriptures, and so should you do, ‘they are able to make a man wise unto salvation, and make the man of God perfect.’
As the books of nature, when thoroughly known, make a perfect physician for the body, so does this book of Scripture make a perfect divine. ‘Search the Scriptures,’ says Christ, ‘for they speak of me.’ As Christ is the treasury of all knowledge, so the Scriptures are the treasury of Christ.
These treasures lie scattered in all the veins of the prophets and apostles. Dig for them as for silver, take pains and travel to understand them, as Dan. 12:4, when he was bidden to seal up his prophecy in the letter, ‘Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.’ That is, by doing as merchants do, travelling from place to place, comparing one with another, knowledge will be increased.
Secondly, Go to the markets and warehouses of those who have laid in or discovered much of this treasure; that is, use the help of godly men’s writings and conferences. The angels do learn of the church, and why not we? Even Paul desires to see them at Rome, that he might be comforted by their mutual faith. Therefore exchange, and truck one with another to that end. Christ hath given several gifts to perfect his body in knowledge, Eph. 4:12.
The knowledge of any one man is imperfect, some have more skill in one point, and some in another, and so in several ages several truths have been delivered and revealed, Heb. 1:1, πολυμερῶς, by fragments and by pieces, and therefore use the help of all. None of us are as Paul, to whom nothing can be added.
Thirdly, Go to him above all who hath the key of knowledge, Jesus Christ, Rev. 3:7, pray to him. In 1 Peter 1:10, ‘they searched and inquired,’ that is, they studied and prayed; use both. And so the apostles did spend the time in both, Acts 1.
Fourthly, Highly prize and esteem every truth. If a fool hath a price in his hand, he hath no heart to use it, Prov. 17:16, because he esteems it not. Count all dross and dung for the excellent knowledge of Christ, dote not on human learning too much, lest it spoil and rob you of this.
Fifthly, Exchange all for it, sell all for it, sell all that you have for it, your sins; no saving truths can be yours whilst sin is yours John 17:17; 1 Peter 1:22, they ‘purified their souls by obeying the truth;’ for if you receive the truth as you ought, it will cast out all.
Especially lay down pride of parts, Ps. 25:12, He will teach the humble His secret, He will not teach proud scholars. God will not deal nor trade with a wicked man, 1 Tim. 6:4; men being corrupt of dispositions, are destitute therefore of the truth.
Sixthly, Carry all home, and make them your own. It is not your own whilst it is in your brains, as no more meat is your own but what you eat; Let it be ‘the ingrafted word,’ James 1:21. Be you evangelised.”
–Thomas Goodwin, The Works of Thomas Goodwin, Volume 4 (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage, 1861/2006), 4: 246-248.
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