Christian ethics -- Fiction; Christian fiction; Conduct of life -- Fiction
Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a great and a small;
{107f} that is one to buy by, and another to sell by, as Mr. Badman
had. Thou shalt not have in thy house divers measures, a great and a
small, (and these had Mr. Badman also) but thou shalt have a perfect
and a just weight; a perfect and a just measure shalt thou have, that
thy days may be lengthened in the land which the Lord thy God giveth
thee. For all that do such things, (that is, that use false Weights and
Measures) and all that do unrighteously are abomination to the Lord.
See now both how plentiful, and how punctual the Scripture is in this
matter. But perhaps it may be objected, that all this is old Law, and
therefore hath nothing to do with us under the New Testament. (Not
that I think you, neighbour, will object thus:) Well, to this foolish
objection, let us make an Answer. First, he that makes this objection,
if he doth it to overthrow the authority of those Texts, {108a}
discovereth that himself is first cousen to Mr. Badman: For a Just man
is willing to speak reverently of those commands. That man therefore
hath, I doubt, but little conscience, if any at all that is good,
that thus objecteth against the Text: but let us look into the New
Testament, and there we shall see how Christ confirmeth the same: Where
he commandeth that men make to others good measure, including also that
they make good weight; telling such that doe thus, or those that do it
not, that they may be encouraged to do it; Good measure, pressed down,
shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom;
for with the same measure that ye mete withall, it shall be measured
to you again: {108b} To wit, both from God and man. For as God will
shew his indignation against the false man, by taking away even that
he hath, so he will deliver up the false man to the Oppressor, and the
Extortioner shall catch from him, as well as he hath catched from his
neighbour; therefore another Scripture saith, When thou shalt cease to
deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee. That the
New Testament also, hath an inspection into mens Trading, yea even with
their weights and measures, is evident from these general exhortations.
{108c} Defraud not; lye not one to another; let no man goe beyond his
brother in any matter, for God is the avenger of all such: whatsoever
you do, do it heartily, as unto the Lord, doing all in his name, to his
glory; and the like. All these injunctions and commandments do respect
our life and conversation among men, with reference to our dealing,
trading, and so consequently they forbid false, deceitful, yea all
doings that are corrupt.
Having thus in a word or two shewed you, that these things are bad; I
will next, for the conviction of those that use them, shew you, where
God saith they are to be found. {109a}
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account