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{Proof That the Heavenly Trade is the Best Trade
The Terms of the Heavenly Trade
Goods Will Be Freely Given to Heaven’s Merchants}
First, wisdom’s wares are freely offered to all who will receive them, without money or price. “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price” (Isaiah 55:1 ESV). “Then He said to me, ‘It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost’” (Revelation 21:6 NASB). Here on earth, merchants cannot get goods for nothing, nor move them off the shelf [profitably] for nothing. There is no going to the world’s markets without money or credit. Those who want goods must pay for them, and many things are painfully expensive. But the Lord Jesus imparts His treasures freely. He paid dearly for them and they cost Him His blood, but He spares His treasures freely; no silver or gold will change hands for these treasures. Simon Magus offered gold for the Holy Spirit and was rebuffed with detestation, and destruction to boot (Acts 8:18–20).215 Heavenly treasures are made available on the condition [requirement] that they are free. It is against the design of redemption grace to admit anything from fallen mankind that might look like a compensation for divine mercies. Rather, the design tends to advance the praise of the glory of grace, and cut out all boasting, that every mouth may be stopped. Nothing less than Christ’s merits can be equal to the worth of heavenly things. And alas, what do they possess that they could they part with, those who have lost their very selves? How could those who have nothing give to God, except what they have received from Him? It is therefore necessary that whatever is given in salvation must be given absolutely free. This is blessed news to poor traders; their poverty is no bar to this employment. The poorest may receive wisdom’s wares just as well as the rich since the wares are free. Whatever differences exist between creatures [people] are laid aside in the dispensing of spiritual mercies. There are no monopolies or hard impositions on this trade. There is no restraint on setting up this business or on selling wisdom’s goods in any part of the world. Cities have their boundaries and corporations have their methods216 to keep out strangers from their privileges. But in this trade, wherever they are, all who want may come over to wisdom’s merchandise and have the right to carry on this work of godliness. The heavenly trade is a free trade; goods are freely given and there is liberty to all people to set up in all places.
215“Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, ‘Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.’ But Peter said to him, ‘May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!’” (Acts 8:18–20 NASB). Ashwood uses the name Simon Magus. Magus is simply Latin for magician (an occult practitioner, not a stage magician). In the Greek, Simon offered χρηματα [khray´-mah], a word meaning price or money in general. Peter, in his rebuke, said, “May your silver perish.” In this case, the Greek, αργυριον [ar-goo´-ree-on] does mean silver. Neither gold nor “destruction to boot” are mentioned in this passage. However, multiple non-scriptural historical references to Simon Magus do occur and record that he taught heresy, making his destruction to boot highly likely.
216In Ashwood’s England, these methods would primarily have been legal monopolies and royal grants of privilege.
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