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###### Heavenly Wares Are Rare

{Proof That the Heavenly Trade is the Best Trade

The Nature of Those Things about which Wisdom’s Merchants Deal

Reason Proves That Heavenly Wares Are the Best in Their Own Nature

Heavenly Wares Are Rare}

First, heavenly things are rare and therefore excellent.173 Scarcity increases the price of things. Diamonds and precious stones are greatly valued because they are scarce and are obtained only with difficulty. Plenty usually beats down the price of things, while rarity makes them costly. And such are heavenly wares; they are the greatest rarity in the world. They are less known, hard to come by, and more seldom enjoyed than anything this earth affords. There are few parts of the world where wisdom’s goods ever come. How many countries are there where the Gospel is not known? No sights of God or eternal things are ever to be had except what is discernible by the dim light of nature. Of those places daylight has visited, to few has the brightness of the light of Christianity appeared. Few places have had the mysteries of the Gospel opened to them or the deep things of God purely, fully, and powerfully preached to them. It has been the privilege of this nation above many174 to have a particular and special share of the proclamation of the Gospel and of truth, and these more spiritually and practically shown forth than to most. And yet, how few here or in other places have any acquaintance with these glorious secrets. So few arrive at this excellence of the knowledge of Christ and divine mysteries.175 What a veil there is on the minds of most, even under the purest ministries of the Gospel. They see, but do not perceive. They understand some facts, but what they know does not affect them inwardly. The spiritual beauty and inward worth of this divine knowledge is hidden from them. Most people who hear sermons see heavenly goods with eyes half opened like Balaam (Numbers 22:30–31),176 and thus they do not value and pursue them. If the worth of wisdom’s treasures were truly known and believed, would the poor, beggarly, dirty things of the world be so preferred in people’s affections and so lovingly hugged? Would so much time be consumed on them with the consequent neglect of God and the things above? We may certainly complain, without breach of charity: “Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” (Isaiah 53:1 NASB). Heavenly things are rare in the sense that few know and believe the worth of them and people seldom perceive their worth and excellence.

Also, few trade with heavenly goods. It is a rare thing to see people who are very knowledgeable about heavenly things and pursuing a trade of godliness. Various people may barter for some of wisdom’s goods: knowledge, peace, comfort, ability, external duties,177 and so on. But there are few who carry on a full trade of godliness. An Enoch, a Noah, a Caleb, a Joshua, a Job, a David, a Paul, a Barnabas—here and there are people in their different times who are thoroughly with God, and universal178 in the duties of godliness, heart purity, godly guilelessness, universal holiness, communion with God, meditation on the things above, tenderness of conscience, self-denial, deadness to the world, heavenly-mindedness, spiritual conversations—these are commodities in which few deal this day. A Christian who gives his all to God is a marvel in the place in which he lives and more seldom seen than a sparkling diamond in the dark night in which we live. Few seek heavenly goods in as much earnest as they do the world and their own things. Fewer obtain these heavenly goods (Philippians 2:21).179 I fear that few live in the daily exercise of their graces and have heartfelt aspirations of their souls for God and spiritual things. There are few who find the white stone (Revelation 2:17),180 who live in view of their having been forgiven and have conscious enjoyment of divine grace. Therefore these heavenly goods are rare things, seldom found, seldom known, seldom pursued, and seldom enjoyed. And because they are rare, they are excellent and desirable.

173In the opinion of the editor, this section (or subchapter) as stated is unworthy of Ashwood or the rest of his book. The value of the Gospel, salvation, and heavenly glory is not diminished, but increased, as more people are born again in Christ. An infinite God cannot have a finite supply of anything. The law of supply and demand is entirely inapplicable here. It is true, however, that God chose only a certain number of people for eternal life. “For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14 NASB). Salvation is an uncommon and most glorious and precious gift; the recipients of the gift of saving faith have every reason to be the more humble and thankful as they sadly observe how few others come to know Jesus Christ. This is especially true when we consider that not only do we not deserve our redemption in Christ, but even now by our sin deserve not grace, but wrath. Nonetheless, the law of supply and demand remains inapplicable in this case.

174Although Ashwood refers to the England of his day, this is also abundantly true of twenty-first century America. The United States has a rich Christian heritage, a vast number of English translations of the Holy Bible (while many people groups have not even one), access to vast information resources and media, and many other blessings, including material prosperity, which prosperity gives us the leisure time in which we well ought to pursue the things of God and Heaven. We stand self-condemned by our neglect and ill use of these blessings.

175This was true in England in Ashwood’s time. How much more is it true today in modern America. Americans have wantonly and carelessly abandoned and thrown into the trash heap treasures of infinite value.

176“And the donkey said to Balaam, ‘Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Is it my habit to treat you this way?’ And he said, ‘No.’ Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face” (Numbers 22:30–31 ESV).

177external duties: things done for show, oneself, tradition, or selfish reasons, and not from a heart seeking to glorify, please, and obey God.

178universal: in this context, complete in everything required, leaving nothing out.

179“For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 2:21 ESV).

180“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it” (Revelation 2:17 NASB).

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