A Guide to Godliness, Book 3 · Chapter 30
CAP. XXX.
Of thoſe duties which concerne our workes and actions one with another, both out of contracts, and in our buying and ſelling.
§. Sect. 1 That we muſt labour both to do and receiue all the good we can, in our dealings with others.
AND thus much concerning thoſe duties which are to be performed in our ſociety and conuerſation, reſpecting our ſpeeches and conferences. Now we are to ſpeake of thoſe which concerne our workes and actions. And theſe either reſpect our ſimple and ordinary dealings out of contract, or thoſe which are to bee obſerued in contracts and bargaines one with another. Concerning the former, I ſhall not neede to ſay much more then I hauehave written before of thoſe duties, which are generally to be performed in our whole conuerſation and ſociety with our neighbours. Only let vsus obſerue this principall rule, that when wee come in any company with our brethren, wee indeuour by all good meanes, both to receiue, and doe all the good wee can vntounto our ſelues and them, improouing our ſociety for the beſt aduantage to all parties. And firſt for our ſelues, we muſt not idly and vainely ſpend our time, when we are in company, but labour as much as in vsus lyeth, to reape what fruit and benefit we can by it, ſetting our ſelues to liſten vntounto, and lay vp for our vſe the good ſpeeches, inſtructions, counſels, exhortations, admonitions or reproofes, which we ſhall heare from any, and thoſe eſpecially which are ſuperiour vntounto vsus in Gods gifts and graces; as alſo to take notice of thoſe good examples of piety or Iuſtice, faith, affiance in God, humility, meekeneſſe, patience, and ſuch other vertues, that they may ſerue as patternes for our imitation; according to that of the Apoſtle; Brethren, be followers together of mee, and marke them which walke ſo as ye hauehave vsus for an example; and elſewhere hee exhorteth the Hebrewes Phil. 3. 17.to follow the faith of thoſe who were ſet ouer them, and had ſpoken vntounto them the Word of God. But becauſe ſuch rules through humane frailty Heb. 13 7.doe ſometime faile, we are not hand ouer head to conforme our ſelues to ſuch enſamples, but in any doubtfull caſe to bring them to the maine Standard, the Word of God, and to conſider, if they agree or ſwarue from it; and to our chiefe Patterne and Precedent Ieſus Chriſt, to ſee how their example agrees with his; ſeeing the Apoſtle, though excellently graced, would not propound himſelfe as an abſolute patterne to be followed in all things; but onelyonly ſo farre foorth as he was a follower of Chriſt.1. Cor. 11. 1.
§. Sect. 2 That we muſt take all occaſions of gayning others to Chriſt.
And as we muſt labour when we are in company to receiue, ſo alſo to doe what good we can vntounto thoſe who aſſociate vsus. Eſpecially, wee muſt indeuour to take and ſeeke all good occaſions and opportunities, of ſpeaking or doing any thing which may further their ſaluation, and to vſe all good meanes, both to gaine them vntounto Chriſt, if we ſee no ſignes of their conuerſion; or to build them vp in him, to inrich them with all ſpirituall graces, and to confirme and ſtrengthen them vntounto all Chriſtian duties, if being conuerted, they belong to the ſame houſhold of faith. Of the former, we hauehave the Apoſtle Paul a worthy example for our imitation, who though 1. Cor. 9. 19. to 22.(as he profeſſeth) he were free from all men, yet he made himſelfe ſeruant vntounto all, that he might gaine the more. To the Iewes hee became a Iew, that hee might gaine the Iewes (that is, as he expoundeth himſelfe in the next words) to them that were vnderunder the Law, as vnderunder the Law, that hee might gaine them that were vnderunder the Law; to them which were without Law, as without Law (though hee were not without Law to God, but vnderunder the Law to Chriſt) that hee might gaine them that were without Law. To the weake hee became as weake, that hee might gaine the weake; and in a word, made himſelfe all things to all men, that he might by all meanes ſaue ſome. And in the next Chapter he ſaith, that he indeuoured to pleaſe all men in all things, not ſeeking his owne profit, but the profit 1. Cor. 11. 33.of many, that they might be ſaued. In reſpect of our brethren, which are already conuerted, we muſt, when we keepe them company, performe all Chriſtian duties which may inrich, or confirme and ſtrengthen in them all the gifts and graces of Gods holy Spirit. To which end, we muſt obſerue and watch ouer one another, not as curious buſie-bodies, to intermeddle with their affaires, which belong not vntounto vsus, or to ſpie out their infirmities, that wee may blaze them abroad to others; but ſeeing their weakeneſſes, that we may helpe and ſupport them and their wants, that we may vſe all good meanes to ſupply them, and in the meane time, to couer them vnderunder the vaile of charity. And finally, that we may prouoke and ſtirre vp one another, to the imbracing of all holy vertues, and the practiſing of all Chriſtian duties, according to that of the Apoſtle, Let vsus conſider one another, Heb. 10. 24.to prouoke vntounto louelove and good workes.
§. Sect. 3 That in all our dealings and bargainings we muſt carry our ſelues vprightly and honeſtly.
In our contracts and bargaines, whereby we alienate or exchange the things which of right appertaine vntounto vsus vponupon ſome equall and honeſt conditions, diuers duties are to bee obſerued of all Chriſtians, who hauehave trading and dealings one with another, ſome whereof are generall to all contracts, and ſome more ſpecially reſpect ſelling and buying. In all our contracts and dealings, there is generally required, that we carry and behaue our ſelues ſimply and vprightly, honeſtly, and with a good conſcience, as in the ſight and preſence of God, who ſeeth not onelyonly our outward actions and dealings, but alſo the inward thoughts of our hearts, and our moſt ſecret and hidden intentions, according to that of the Apoſtle, We truſt we hauehave a good conſcience in all things, willing to liue honeſtly. And Heb. 13. 18.contrariwiſe in all our contracts, we muſt carefully ſhunne and auoyd all guile and deceit, all hollow and double dealing, tending to the vndermining Micah 7. 2.and circumuenting of our neighbours. So the Apoſtle exhorteth, that no man goe beyond or defraud his brother in any matter, becauſe the Lord 1. Theſ. 4. 6.is the auenger of all ſuch; for as the Pſalmiſt ſaith, he abhorreth the deceitfull Pſal. 5. 6.and blood thirſtie man. More eſpecially we muſt in all our dealings obſerue truth in all our words, and not onelyonly ſpeake it from our lips, but alſo from Zach. 8. 16. Pſal. 15. 2.our hearts, hating & auoyding all ſubtill equiuocations, and mentall reſeruations, as tending to circumuent and deceiue thoſe with whom we deale. Secondly, fidelity in all our promiſes, performing them, although it be to Ʋerſ. 4.our owne hindrance, vnleſſe he to whom they are made doth releaſe vsus of them. Thirdly, iuſtice in all our actions, giuing eueryevery man his due, and dealing with others, as we would hauehave them to deale with vsus. Fourthly, charity and compaſſion in remitting our right in whole or in part, when as the bargaine prooueth hard, and to the great loſſe and hinderance of our poore neighbours, who are not able to beare it. And laſtly, patience and contentedneſſe, when we ſuſtaine any damage and detriment, or be otherwiſe croſſed or ouer-reached in any of our contracts, either purpoſely by thoſe with whom we deale, or by ſome caſualty or accident which could not bee foreſeene. Contrariwiſe in all our contracts we muſt auoyd lying, and that which is equall vntounto it, equiuocation; For the getting of treaſures by Pro. 21. 6.a lying tongue, is a vanity toſſed to and fro of them that ſeeke death. And againe, Wealth gotten by vanity, ſhall be diminiſhed: but he that gathereth by labour, Pro. 13. 11.ſhall increaſe; yea though a man could by lying, get the whole world, what would this profit him, ſeeing thereby hee ſhall loſe his owne ſoule? For liars ſhall not onelyonly be excluded out of the Kingdome of heauen, but alſo hauehave their portion in the lake which burneth with fire and brimſtone, which is the Apoc. 22. 15. & 21. 8.ſecond death. With like care wee muſt auoid in our dealings all perfidiouſneſſe and breach of promiſe, although it tend to our great aduantage, ſeeing God will not bleſſe goods gotten by breach of couenants, and though we ſhould thriue by ſuch courſes, our worldly gaine will in no ſort recompence our ſpirituall loſſe. We muſt ſhun alſo all kinde of vniuſtice in our contracts, ſeeing though it bring in preſent gaine, yet no profit in the end; For the treaſures of wickedneſſe profit nothing; but righteouſneſſe deliuereth Pro. 10. 2.from death. Likewiſe we muſt auoyd all vncharitableneſſe, rayſing our gaine out of our neighbours loſſe, but as fellow-members of the ſame body, we muſt aduance, as much as in vsus lieth, our mutuall profit, and in ſome equality thriue together. Finally, we muſt not, through impatiency, murmure and repine, fret and fume, when wee meete with any croſſes or loſſes in our contracts, but be content ſometime to loſe as well as gaine; and to this end we muſt not hauehave our eyes too much faſtened vponupon ſecondary cauſes and inferiour meanes, which perhaps are exceeding croſſe and faulty, but lift them aboue the earth, and fixe them vponupon the moſt wiſe prouidence of our good and gracious God, who gouerneth all things which ſeeme moſt contingent and caſuall, and ſo diſpoſeth of them, as is moſt for his owne glory, and the ſpirituall good and euerlaſting ſaluation of all thoſe that louelove and depend vponupon him.
§. Sect. 4 That we muſt ſell only things ſaleable.
More eſpecially, there are diuers duties required of vsus in our buying and ſelling. As firſt, that the ſeller be the true and lawfull owner of that hee ſelleth, or his deputy appointed by him; and that the buyer doe not for priuate gaine buy any thing from any man, whom he thinketh not to hauehave any right to ſell it. In which reſpect, they grieuouſly offend, who buy or ſell ſtolne goods if they know of it, and they who ſacrilegiouſly ſell and buy the liuings of the Church, and ſuch things as are freely conſecrated to the ſeruice of God. Secondly, the ſeller ought to ſell, and the buyer to buy ſuch things onelyonly as are vendible, and may iuſtly bee bought and ſold. In which regard, they offend, who ſell or buy the gifts of the Spirit, as Simon Magus, or holy things which belong to God; and thoſe who ſell and buy Iuſtice or iniuſtice by bribery giuen or taken, either to fill their owne purſes, Amos 2. 6. Eſa. 5. 23. Eſa. 1. 23.or to peruert right. They alſo who ſell and buy truth and lyes, as falſe witneſſes, and they that hire them to giuegive falſe teſtimony. But they moſt of all, who for corruptible things ſell their ſoules vntounto ſinne, as Achab did, which Chriſt redeemed with his moſt precious blood. Thirdly, wee ought to ſell onelyonly ſuch things as are fit for ſale, or knowing them to bee otherwiſe, to acquaint the buyer with it, and ſo to pitch a lower price, according to their leſſer value. Otherwiſe wee are not to ſell things falſified in reſpect of their ſubſtance, and ſuch as are mixt and corrupt, for ſuch as are pure and good, which is a common fault among Merchants and Tradeſmen in theſe dayes, who for their greater gaine adulterate their wares, and iumble and intermingle things of a different degree in goodneſſe, ſelling them all at the beſt rates. Fourthly, we are bound to ſell thoſe things only which are ſome way profitable for the Church and Commonwealth, either for neceſſary vſe, or for ornament and delight. Neither ought wee to benefit our ſelues by ſuch things as are vnprofitable vntounto others, and much leſſe by ſuch as are in their owne nature hurtfull and pernicious, vncharitably raiſing our owne gaine out of our neighbours loſſe. As thoſe that ſell popiſh pardons, and bookes, to ignorant people, who are likely to be ſeduced by them, ſuch alſo as further them in their ſuperſtition and idolatrie, obſcene pictures and bookes full of ribaldry and all prophaneneſſe, fit for nothing but to poiſon and corrupt ſuch as ſee and reade them.
§. Sect. 5 That we muſt ſet and ſell our wares at an equall price.
Fifthly, we ought in ſelling and buying, to ſet our wares at an equall price; the beſt rule whereof for the moſt part is the ordinarie price of the market, which valueth things not ſimply in their owne worth, but with conſideration of all circumſtances, as ſcarcity, plenty, time and place; and not according to the price wee gaue leſſe or more, nor onelyonly reſpecting whether we gayne much or little, whether we get nothing or loſe thereby. For as of neceſſity, through the change of prices, we muſt ſometimes loſe, ſo it is alike neceſſary, that we ſhould gain at another time, to repaire theſe loſſes, and maintaine our ſtate. And as wee muſt not, when wee hauehave an ill bargaine, exceede the market, and ſo transferre our loſſe from our ſelues vponupon our neighbour, but patiently beare our owne croſſe as impoſed of God, till hee afford vsus lawfull meanes to free vsus of it; ſo when wee hauehave made a good bargaine in reſpect of the difference of places or times, wee may not, vnleſſe wee would be vncharitable vntounto our ſelues, put off our gaine to others, but receiue it thankefully as the bleſſing of God vponupon our labours. But here wee muſt take heede, firſt, that wee be not ouer ſtrict in this kinde, ſeeking only our owne gaine and aduantage, without reſpect to the Common wealth, nor vncharitable towards the poore, in ioyning with others to keepe vp things in times of ſcarcity at the higheſt prices. But when wee can afford it, wee ought to abate ſomething, and by our example to bring downe others to reaſonable rates, all circumſtances being conſidered, that neither the Common wealth generally, nor the poore in particular receiue by our being iuſt ouer-much, any hurt or damage. Secondly, Eccle. 7. 16.we muſt take heede that wee vſe no vniuſt or vncharitable courſes to rayſe the markets, and the prices of commodities aboue their value; as to foreſtall the market, and to buy vp the things which are brought, at low rates, with a purpoſe to ſet them vp, and ſell them dearer ſoone after in the ſame place. Or to ingroſſe commodities which are offred to common ſale, that hauing them all in our hands, wee may ſell them at our owne rates. In which reſpect they chiefely offend, who, vponupon no lawfull and neceſſary cauſe, doe abuſe authority to countenance their Monopolies (I neede not to expound it, ſeeing cuſtome hath made this Greeke word familiar Engliſh) and get the ſale of ſeuerall commodities appropriated vntounto themſelues, ſo as none may ſell them but by benefit of their priuiledge, that ſo they may value them aboue their worth, and inrich themſelues with the loſſe and damage of the Common wealth. Neither muſt we (as it is the vſual fault of Companies and Corporations) combine our ſelues together to ſell our wares at a certaine rate; nor keepe in our commodities in time of plenty, to this end that we may cauſe a dearth; ſeeing by defrauding Pro. 11. 26.the people of Gods bleſſings, we ſhall bee expoſed to their curſe, as the Wiſe man teacheth vsus. And as the ſeller ought not to vent his wares aboue their worth; ſo neither ſhould the buyer deſire to hauehave them vnderunder, if at leaſt he know that the ſeller cannot ſo afford them; eſpecially when he hath to deale with the poore, whoſe neceſſities oftentimes conſtraine them to take, not what their wares are worth, but what they can get for them. In which reſpect, many ſhopkeepers in Cities and townes grieuouſly offend, which take aduantage of their pouertie who worke for them, ſhamefully to oppreſſe them, forcing them to ſell their teares, ſighes and groanes with their wares, becauſe wanting bread to put into their own and their childrens mouthes, they will not buy them off their hands, not becauſe they are vnwilling to hauehave them, but becauſe by theſe refuſals they would beate them downe to vile prices, and ſuch rates, that their curious skill and painefull labour in their art and trade, will ſcarce yeeld them ſo much as will, after the homelyeſt manner, feede & cloath them: whileſt the other, who come further behinde them in art, skill and profitableneſſe to the Common wealth then they, goe before them in ſtocke and riches, ſelling with their wares their winde and words, and doubling their price with their lies and oathes, abound in all ſuperfluous exceſſe, and yet exceedingly grow in wealth.
§. Sect. 6 That in buying and ſelling all fraud and deceit muſt be auoided.
Laſtly, in reſpect of the manner of ſelling and buying, wee ought to vſe honeſt ſimplicity, and carefully to auoid all fraud and deceit. In which reſpect, men grieuouſly offend in theſe dayes, who hauehave & vſe a thouſand deuices to circumuent and defraud their neighbours. As firſt, by blinding their mindes with their partiall and falſe praiſes of their wares, and their eyes with falſe and deceitfull lights. By concealing the knowne faults of their wares, and yet coueting to get the higheſt prices, as if they were faultleſſe. By asking for them a double price to their value, and taking it alſo, if the party be ſo ſimple to giuegive it. By abuſing their acquaintance and cuſtomers vnderunder colour of louelove and friendſhip, and ſelling their wares dearer vntounto them, then a meere ſtranger could buy them. By telling vntruths, either about the worth of their commodities, or the price which they coſt them, or the money that they hauehave beene offered, or that which they will take, and not vnderunder, and (that which is worſe, though this bee too too bad among Chriſtians) by countenancing and confirming their lyes with intermingled oathes. VntoUnto theſe, innumerable other faults might bee added, common in theſe dayes amongſt Tradeſmen, which I will onelyonly name, becauſe it is not my purpoſe to rake vp theſe filthy puddles to the bottome, but onelyonly to point at the groſſeſt of them with my finger as I paſſed by, that the conſcionable Chriſtian, who deſireth to pleaſe God in all his courſes, may ſhunne and auoyd them. As firſt, they offend in their manner of ſelling, who ſell one thing for another, and when they meete with thoſe, who being ſimple and ignorant, are apt to bee abuſed, doe thus deceiue them both in the colours and ſtuffes. So they alſo, who ſell that which is mixt, for that which is pure; that which is ſophiſticate and naught, for that which is perfect and good; that which is bad, for the middle ſort; and that which is meane and indifferent, for the beſt. They in like manner who ſet falſe gloſſes on their wares, by gumming, ſtarching, preſſing, and burning, and ſo to cauſe them to ſeeme much better then they are, make them much worſe for vſe. Finally, they who vſe falſe waights and meaſures, buying by a greater, and ſelling by a leſſer; and ſuch alſo as by their Art and skill increaſe the waight and meaſure of their wares in ſhew, aboue that which they are in truth; as by falſe fingring, ſtretching, ouer-meaſuring, deceitfull ballancing; making by their nimble trickes, the equall Scales to forget and loſe their indifferency, and inclining on their ſide, to become acceſſary to their fraud. The buyer alſo ought no leſſe carefully and conſcionably to obſerue truth and iuſtice in cheapning and buying his commodities then the ſeller, both offering an equall price to the worth of the wares according to his iudgement, and truely paying it when they are agreed. In which reſpect they offend, who, to bring downe the price vnderunder the true value, diſpraiſe and diſgrace the wares, before they hauehave bought them, which after they are gone, they are ready to commend as a good penny-worth; The which Salomon obſerued as a fault in his times: It is naught, it is naught, ſaith the buyer, and when hee is gone away, Pro. 20. 14.then hee boaſteth of his bargaine. So thoſe who offer much vnderunder that iuſt value of the wares, which their owne iudgement doth ſet vponupon them, whereby the ſeller is driuen to aske much aboue, that ſo hee falling as the other riſeth, (like the Scales, which interchangeably toſſing vp and dovvne, ſtand at laſt in their due equipoyſe) hee may bring the price to ſome indifferencie; all which vaine-ſpent time and labour might vvell hauehave beene ſaued, many idle words ſpared, and diuers abuſes ſhunned and auoyded, if on both ſides they had vſed Chriſtian ſimplicitie. Finally, the buyer much offendeth, vvhen hauing agreed vponupon the price, and comming to pay it, hee giueth not vntounto the ſeller his full due, but either wittingly miſreckoneth him in the ſumme, or tendreth vntounto him, in ſtead of currant and lawfull money, ſlippes, and baſe coyne, vvaſhed, clipped, and light gold, or pieces of leſſe value, oftentimes for thoſe of greater, vvhichwhich through ouer-ſight, by reaſon of their likeneſſe, may very eaſily bee miſtaken the one for the other.
§. Sect. 7 How to auoid the faults commonly cōmitted betweene buyers and ſellers.
All which faults among buyers and ſellers, which ſo intolerably raigne in theſe times, would eaſily bee auoyded; if, as wee profeſſe, wee would preferre Iuſtice and charity before deceit and ſelfe-louelove, and accordingly would labour to mortifie the one as hurtfull and pernicious, and magnifie the other as moſt excellent and profitable, both for the ſetting foorth of Gods glory, and the furthering and aſſuring of our owne ſaluation. If wee would but conſider that God is preſent, and beholdeth all our dealings, and will one day, as a righteous Iudge, call them to account, to reward them if they bee vpright and iuſt, or to puniſh 1. Theſ. 4. 6.them, if they bee wicked and deceitfull. If finally, when wee come to ſumme vp our gettings in our Trades at the yeeres end, wee would put all our gaines in the one Scale, and our ſoules which wee hauehave hazzarded to euerlaſting loſſe, by our vniuſt, vntrue, and deceitfull dealing, into the other, and conſider how light they bee in compariſon of it, which, as our Sauiour hath taught vsus, cannot bee counterpoyſed by the Mark. 8. 36.waight and worth of the whole world. And ſo much concerning our dealings with one another in contracts and bargaynes; the which I thought neceſſary to bee in ſome briefe manner handled in this Treatiſe, becauſe all Chriſtians almoſt are often imployed in them, and many, whoſe callings conſiſt in trading, doe ſpend the moſt part of their liues in it: As alſo, becauſe the corruptions of the times are ſo many and grieuous, ſo backed with the multitude, and countenanced with cuſtome, that they are ſcarce thought to bee any ſinnes, inſomuch as many, which otherwiſe feare God, are often ouertaken with them, either through ignorance, walking according to the common courſe, for want of better direction; or being compelled (as they ſuppoſe) with vrgent neceſſitie to doe as others doe; becauſe there being ſo few which doe as they ſhould, and ſuch multitudes which vſe fraud and deceit; if they ſhould in their trading and dealings vſe truth and iuſtice, ſimplicity and honeſt plaineneſſe, they ſhould (as the Prophet complaineth of his times) become Eſa▪ 59. 15.a prey vntounto others, and bee expoſed to the common ſpoile. The which danger would in great part bee auoyded, if men could liue by faith, and caſt themſelues vponupon Gods prouidence in the vſe of lawfull meanes, ſeeing hee neuer faileth them that truſt in him. And alſo, if there were a generall reformation of theſe abuſes and corruptions, among them that ſincerely profeſſe Religion, and truely feare God, which might eaſily bee done without any danger to their eſtates; ſeeing what is wanting in ill-gotten gaines, would bee abundantly ſupplyed by the greatneſſe of their cuſtome; for who that is wiſe, would goe ordinarily to others, where hee is likely to be deceiued, when as hee may trade with them from whom he may aſſuredly expect honeſt and plaine dealing? And ſo much concerning thoſe duties of Chriſtian conuerſation, which are to bee obſerued in all companies and ſocieties.