We are offered, by the terms of this Vendue, Six Months' Credit; and that, perhaps, has induced some of us to attend it, because we cannot spare the ready money, and hope now to be fine without it. But, ah, think what you do, when you run in debt? _You give to another, power over your liberty!_ If you cannot pay at the time, you will be ashamed to see your creditor! You will be in fear, when you speak to him! You will make poor pitiful sneaking excuses! and, by degrees, come to lose your veracity, and sink into base downright lying! For, as _Poor RICHARD_ says, _The second vice is Lying, the first is Running into Debt_: and again, to the same purpose, _Lying rides upon Debt's back_. Whereas a free born Englishman ought not to be ashamed or afraid to see, or speak to any man living. But Poverty often deprives a man of all spirit and virtue. _'Tis hard for an Empty Bag to stand upright!_ as _Poor RICHARD_ truly says. What would you think of that Prince, or the Government, who should issue an Edict forbidding you to dress like a Gentleman or Gentlewoman, on pain of imprisonment or servitude. Would you not say that "You are free! have a right to dress as you please! and that such an Edict would be a breach of your privileges! and such a Government, tyrannical!" And yet you are about to put yourself under that tyranny, when you run in debt for such dress! Your creditor has authority, at his pleasure, to deprive you of your liberty, by confining you in gaol for life! or to sell you for a servant, if you should not be able to pay him! When you have got your bargain; you may, perhaps, think little of payment, but _Creditors_ (_Poor RICHARD_ tells us) _have better memories than Debtors_; and, in another place, says, _Creditors are a superstitious sect! great observers of set days and times_. The day comes round, before you are aware; and the demand is made, before you are prepared to satisfy it: or, if you bear your debt in mind, the term which, at first, seemed so long, will, as it lessens, appear extremely short. TIME will seem to have added wings to his heels, as well as shoulders. _Those have a short Lent_, saith _Poor RICHARD, who owe money to be paid at Easter_. Then since, as he says, _The Borrower is a slave to the Lender, and the Debtor to the Creditor_; disdain the chain! preserve your freedom! and maintain your independency! Be industrious and free! be frugal and free! At present, perhaps, you may think yourself in thriving circumstances; and that you can bear a little extravagance without injury: but _For Age and Want, save while you may! No morning sun lasts a whole day,_ as _Poor RICHARD_ says. Gain may be temporary and uncertain; but, ever while you live, Expense is constant and certain: and _'tis easier to build two chimneys than to keep one in fuel_, as _Poor RICHARD_ says. So _rather go to bed supperless, than rise in debt!_