The Arraignment of Covetousness and Ambition, Chapter 2
CHAP. 2.
I Need not tell you of his procuring Monopolies, to rob the Common wealth: a wicked way to inrich one man, by beggering, or defrauding a multitude. Nor how politick he is, to ingrosse a Commodity in the plenty, and neglect of it: that he may inrich himself when a time of dearth shall come. Nor of his hoording up Corn in a dear year: which is to make a private gain, of Gods Iudgments, and to starve the Poor. For he does what he can to starve them. He curses the Hollanders, for supplying us in times of scarcity: wishes that Danske were as far as the Molockoes. And had rather have the frame of the World fall, then the price of his Corn. And the like in whatsoever this Cormorant deales; For he will be sure to make the most of it. And not only in the price, but otherwise. For, for the emptying of other mens purses, and filling of his own: he buyes by one ballance, and sells by another. hath false weights, false measures, false wares, false lights, a false finger, a false tongue, a false heart, &c. Nor can you well make any bargain with him, without being overreached by him. As a bargain may sometimes be as unmercifull, as a robbery: and hasty selling (which many poor men are oft put unto,) is commonly more disadvantagious, then interest.
Let him be put in trust; as Ioseph was by Potiphar: who committed all he had to him, Gen. 39.6 to 10. he is so far from dealing faithfully as he did: Or those mentioned, 2 Kings 22. whom Iosiah found so honest, that he would take no reckoning of them, verse 4. to 8. That he falls short of the unjust steward, Luke 16. who cheated his Master, but of fifty, in an hundred. vers. 6. For whatsoever he catcheth in his clawes, he will be sure to hold: like the Fish Polipus, Or a drowning man; that holds all he can take hold on. And not onelyonly so, but he will laugh in his sleeve, and esteem it a good jest; to see how his subtilty, hath cousened your simplicity in earnest. But he is a fool, in thus playing the knave: for honesty though it gain but little at once, yet it gains that little oft, and long. whereas nothing but mere necessity, will bring a man into a Trap; wherein he hath once been taken. Nor make him joyn with a known theef, in his own robbing. I have known some, that by wronging, and cousening a Customer of a few shillings: have hindered themselves the taking, of half so many thousand pounds. And others that by their honest, and square dealing: have gained such credit; that the mere report thereof, hath procured them customars from all parts of the Land. And certainly a wise man would be honest: if it were but for his own ends. But God hath justly ordained, that he who will be a knave in one thing: should be a fool in another. But to go on,
Suppose he shall be brought upon his Oath, when his cousening cannot be proved: as in Israel, when any thing was delivered to a Neighbour in trust; and he refused to restore the same; pretending it was stolne, Exod. 22.7, 8, 10, 11. he will absolutely forswear himself; rather then acknowledg it, or make satisfaction. And the like is his dealing with Orphanes; if any shall be so simple, or unhappy; as to put him in trust with their estates; and leave the care of their children to him: (though the greatest obligation to a good mind, is anothers trust: which to disappoint, is matchlesse perfidiousnesse,) he will discharge his trust with a witnesse. Much like that Taylor: who like a Knave as he was shrunk a Freeze Gown, to three dozen of Buttons. For he hath a Conscience like a Barn Door: and can disgest gold, and silver, as the Ostridge doth Iron. Yea so vast is the gorge of his Conscience: that he can swallow the greatest crimes, and find no strain in the passage. Yea he can carry them as lightly away, as Sampson did the Gates of the City; and his back never complain of the burthen. Not can you expect he should be faithful to men: that is so unfaithful to God.
If he be a great dealer, and growes not rich that way: he will effect it another way. he will study tricks to uphold the credit of his wealth: and still the nearer he comes to poverty; the more shew he will make of sufficiency, untill he hath got twenty mens estates, perhaps ten thousand pounds into his hands; And then in knavery he breaks, and gets more by this one trick, then if he had thrived never so well in his calling. For he will, if it be possible, so conceal his estate; that his Creditors shall be glad of two shillings, or ten groats in the pound.