Christian ethics -- Fiction; Christian fiction; Conduct of life -- Fiction
Thirdly, If it be lawful for me to sell my commodity, as afore, as dear
as I can, then there can be no sin in my Trading, how unreasonably
soever I manage my calling, whether by Lying, Swearing, Cursing,
Cheating; for all this is but to sell my commodity as dear as I can:
but that there is sin in these, is evident, therefore I may not sell my
commodity always as dear as I can. {120d} {120e}
Fourthly, He that sells, as afore, as dear as he can, offereth violence
to the law of Nature: {121b} for that saith, Doe unto all men, even as
ye would that they should doe unto you. {121a} Now, was the Seller a
Buyer, he would not that he of whom he buyes, should sell him always as
dear as he can; therefore he should not sell so himself, when it is his
lot to sell, and others to buy of him.
Fifthly, He that selleth, as afore, as dear as he can, makes use of
that instruction, that God hath not given to others, but sealed up in
his hand, {121c} to abuse his Law, and to wrong his neighbour withall:
which indeed is contrary to God. {121d} God hath given thee more
skill, more knowledge and understanding in thy commodity than he hath
given to him that would buy of thee. But what! canst thou think, that
God has given thee this, that thou mightest thereby make a prey of
thy neighbour? that thou mightest thereby goe beyond and beguile thy
neighbour? No, verily; but he hath given thee it, for his help; that
thou mightest in this, be eyes to the blind, and save thy neighbour
from that dammage, that his ignorance, or necessity, or fondness would
betray him into the hands of.
Sixthly, In all that a man does, he should have an eye to the glory of
God, {121e} but that he cannot have that sells his commodity always for
as much as he can, for the reasons urged before.
Seventhly, All that a man does, he should doe in the Name of the Lord
Jesus Christ; {121f} that is, as being commanded, and authorized to doe
it by him: but he that selleth always as dear as he can, cannot so much
as pretend to this, without horrid blaspheming of that Name, because
commanded by him to doe otherwise.
Eightly, and lastly, In all that a man does, he should have an eye to
the day of Judgment, and to the consideration of how his actions will
be esteemed of in that day. {121g} Therefore there is not any man can
or ought to sell always as dear as he can: unless he will, yea he must
say, in so doing, I will run the hazard of the tryal of that day, If
thou sell ought unto thy neighbour, or buyest ought of thy neighbour,
ye shall not oppress one another. {122a}
Atten. But why doe you put in those cautionary words? They must not
sell [always] as dear, nor buy [always] as cheap as they can: doe you
not thereby intimate that a man may sometimes do so?
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