The Combat Between the Flesh and Spirit, Sermon 8
SERM. VIII.
1 Cor. 7 30.
—And they that buy as though they poſſeſſed not.
WEe now come to the third part of the Apoſtles direction, in theſe words, and they that buy as though they poſſeſſed not. I ſhall ſpend only two or three Sermons upon this third branch, and then come to the latter part of the Apoſtles direction, and they that uſe this world as not abuſing of it. We ſhall begin with the firſt. If your livelihood and ſubſiſtence conſiſts in buying and ſelling, in turning and winding of mony, then your duty is, to buy as if you poſſeſſed not; whether you buy or ſell, for both are included in this phraſe, whatſoever you get by buying and ſelling, and trading in the world, you muſt have your hearts ſo weaned from what you have, as if you had got nothing at all, they that buy, muſt be as if they poſſeſſed not, Poſſeſs your wealth, you may, but you may not be poſſeſſed by it, rebus non me trado ſed commodo, ſaid Seneca.
And here (beloved) being to preach in a City of trading, and to an auditory, that live by buying and ſelling, and trafficking in the world; I ſhall a little enlarge my ſelf upon this point. But before I come to handle it directly, I ſhall draw out ſuch collaterall Doctrines, as the words will afford. As firſt, from the conſideration of the ſcope that the Apoſtle aims at in bringing in of this expreſſion, they that buy as if they poſſeſſed not: the Apoſtle had all along before, in this Chapter ſpoken of Marriage, and the duty of people in that eſtate: and here he treats of trading, of buying and ſelling; from whence I note.
Doct. 1 1. That thoſe to whom God hath given a charge and a Family, he commands them more eſpecially to buy and ſell, to be diligent in their Callings, for the maintenance of thoſe that belong unto them, 1 Tim. 5.8. He that provides not for his own, and eſpecially thoſe of his own houſe, hath denyed the faith, and is worſe then an Infidell.
2. From the variety of the matter, the Apoſtle here handles, whether men are in an afflicted and ſorrowfull, or in a proſperous and joyfull condition, whether they buy or ſell, or what ever their condition be, here is matter of advice for them; from whence I note, Doct. 2 That the Scripture is large, and reaches to the ſeverall and various Callings and conditions of men in the world. There is not any Calling, condition, kind or ſex of people in the world, but there are either generall or particular directions that the word of God affords them, and therefore well might the Pſalmiſt ſay, Thy Commandements are exceeding broad, Pſal. 119.96.
3. From the tearm the Apoſtle here uſeth, they that buy: now buying you know is a giving a valuable ſumme of mony for a Commodity, which the ſeller hath profit, and advantage by; hence I may note, Doct. 3 that the Apoſtle was againſt the Doctrine of community, or having all things common amongſt men: the very mention of buying and ſelling, intimates, and denotes a propriety in what a man hath. A man hath a propriety in his Eſtate, or whatſoever he hath lawfully gotten; and therefore the Doctrine of Court paraſites who ſcrue up Monarchy ſo high, as if the King may by power and force, take away all that a Subject hath, is falſe and erroneous. This is tyranny, and not Soveraignty. And hence it was, that Ahab though he were a covetous King, yet he would not take away Naboths Vineyard by force and violence, but would buy it of him: this therefore makes againſt a community, for buying and ſelling argues a propriety in the ſeller of what he hath.
Doct. 4 4. And they that buy as though they poſſeſſed not; I obſerve from them further, That a man may lawfully get wealth, and lay up an Eſtate by his Trade and Calling.
5. Obſerve further, That when a man hath gotten an Eſtate, and much wealth and riches by Trading, buying and ſelling in the world, yet they muſt uſe them with ſuch weaned affections from them, as if they had gotten nothing at all.
I do not intend to inſiſt particularly upon any of theſe points, but ſhall draw out two generall Doctrines from the whole bulk and body of the Text.
They that buy, the Apoſtle does not only preſcribe Rules about Marriage, and to men in a conjugall eſtate; but likewiſe about buying and ſelling, and negotiating in the world: from whence obſerve,
Doct. That Chriſtians ought to take heed, that they do not tranſgreſs Scripture Rules, in buying and ſelling.
2. And they that buy as though they poſſeſſed not; from whence obſerve.
Doct. That Chriſtians ought to carry ſuch weaned affections, to what they have gotten by buying and ſelling, as if they poſseſſed nothing at all.
I ſhall be but brief in this latter point, but ſhall expatiate, & be more large in the former, That Chriſtians ſhould take heed that they do not tranſgreſs Scripture Rules in their buying and ſelling.
And now beloved, will you follow me a little, and lend me your attentions in the handling of this point. I ſhall this morning lay you down ſome Scripture Rules which are to be obſerved in buying; and in the afternoon, ſhall give you ſome Scripture Rules, which you are to take heed that you do not tranſgreſs in ſelling.Severall Scripture Rules and Cautions concerning buying.
1. I ſhall ſpend this hour in giving you ten particular Scripture Rules, which you are to take heed that you do not tranſgreſs in your buying. As
1. If you would not tranſgreſs Scripture Rules in buying, then take heed that you do not diſcommend thoſe commodities, that you are about to buy, thereby to bring down the price of the Commodity, and ſo to get it cheaper, and for leſſe then it is worth. There is a known place for this in Prov. 20.14. It is naught, it is naught, (ſaith the buyer) but when he is gone his way, then he boaſteth. In Solomons time, men were ſo wicked, that when they came to Market to buy any thing, the buyer would ſay, it is naught, it is naught, though the Commodity were very good and vendible, and the price demanded by the ſeller, reaſonable; but when he is gone then he boaſts, that is, he boaſts of what a good penyworth he had, and what a good Bargain he had made, or the like: this then is the firſt caution, in buying a Commodity, do not diſcommend it, thereby to have it cheaper, when it is good and vendible.
2. Do not make Vowes and Proteſtations that you will give no more for a Commodity then what you have firſt offered, when afterwards you muſt, and do give more. This is a common practice among men, to come to a Shop, and bid money for a Commodity, and the buyer to ſay, I will not give a peny more, and the ſeller not to take a farthing leſſe; and yet both the buyer gives more, and the ſeller takes leſſe, then what the one firſt bid, and the other firſt profered it for. This though frequently practiſed, yet cannot be juſtified. It is a very palpable lie, and a great ſin, and therefore take heed of it, if once thy promiſe be paſt, thou art bound up, thou ſinneſt if thou give a peny more.
3. Do not give counterfeit money for thoſe Commodities you buy. It is ſaid of Abraham, whoſe juſt dealing and actions are recorded to be an example and pattern to ſucceeding Generations, when he was to buy the field of Machpelah of Ephron, the Son of Zohar the Hittite, Gen. 23.16. the Text ſaies, he gave him for it 400 ſhekells of ſilver, currant money with the Merchant; and therefore (beloved) you tranſgreſs Scripture Rules, in buying Commodities, if you give braſſe money for ſilver, or counterfeit God for right, when you know it to be ſo: it is no better then meer cozenage. I mention this, becauſe there is a world of deceit now amongſt us, in paying baſe and counterfeit money.
4. Obſerve this Rule, do not give for a Commodity leſſe then in your Conſcience you think it is worth, it is an oppreſſion in buying, when you ſeek to bring a Commodity under its due value: you ought to give for it, as much as in conſcience you think it is worth. Gen. 23 9.And thus did Abraham, when he was to buy the Cave of Machpelah of Ephron, ſaies he, I will give thee the worth of it in money: and ſo David when he was to buy the threſhing floore of Ornan the Jebuſite, ſaies he, give me the floore, and I will give thee the full valne of it, 1 Chron. 21.22.
5. Do not long defer the time of paying for thoſe Commodities you buy upon truſt, when thou haſt wherewith to pay it. This Rule you have in Prov. 3.27.28. withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it: ſay not to thy Neighbour, go and come again, and to morrow I will give thee, when thou haſt it by thee: this is ſpoken here in reference to buying and ſelling. When a man hath ſold a Commodity, and is forc'd to go again and again for his money, and yet cannot get it. That this is the meaning of the phraſe, appears by theſe words, withhold not good from them to whom it is due: though this Text be referred to works of mercy, yet it hath relation likewiſe to Trading in the World, or buying of Commodities. If you owe a man money for a Commodity you have bought of him, you ought to pay what you owe, and not let the Creditor come day after day for his money, and yet go without it, when thou haſt it by thee. This makes againſt Banckrupts that borrow mony take up goods, and make no conſcience of paying what they owe for them: if men had but any ſparks of ingenuity and good nature in them, they could never be joviall and jolly in the World, when they have not paid every man his own. Phocion vvould not feaſt till he had paid C…llicles vvhat he owed him. Eliſha the Prophet vvas ſo conſciencious in this particular, that vvhen he made the poor Widovvs oyle to increaſe in the 2 King. 4.7. he bid her ſell it, and firſt pay her debts, and then live ſhe and her Children upon the reſt,. It is laid dovvn as a badge of a vvicked man in Scripture, not to pay vvhat a man ovveth, Pſal. 37.21. the wicked borroweth and payeth not again. To borrovv money, or to buy a Commodity, is all one; it is the Character of a vvicked man to ovve money, and not to pay it.
Rule 6 6. Do not engroſſe a Commodity, my meaning is, do not buy all of a Commodity into your ovvn hands alone, that none ſhall have any beſide thee, that by that means you may ſell it at your ovvn rate: this is a great oppreſſion, deſtructive to a Common-vvealth, and all Trading therein. You ſhall find the Scripture condemns this in Prov. 11.26. it is ſpoken in reference to Corn-mongers, thoſe that had money enough to buy great quantities of it. Saies the Text, he that withholdeth Corne, the People ſhall curſe him; but bleſſing ſhall be upon the head of him that ſelleth it. There vvere at that time Corn-mongers, that vvhen Corn vvas cheap, vvould buy up all they could get, and keep it till it grevv dear again, they vvould vvithhold their corn till it vvas dear, and then ſell it. Now ſaies Solomon, he that does thus, the People ſhall curſe him, but he that ſelleth it the people ſhall bleſs him, ſo that it is no ſin in its ſelf to engroſſe a Commodity, if you ſell it cheap and at the ordinary rate, this is no ſin; but for a man to engroſſe a Commodity, meerly to advance and enhance the price of it, this is ſuch an oppreſſion, that the people ſhall curſe the man that does it. Men in this caſe of ingroſſing, may be very well compared to the great Oak, which does ſo ſpread and dilate its branches, that no little Tree can thrive under it. So do many men ſo much engroſſe Commodities, that poorer men cannot live by them, which is a groſſe oppreſſion, and a great wickedneſs.
7. If you would not tranſgreſs Scripture Rules, do not in buying a Commodity, take any advantage of the miſtake or over-fight of the ſeller. As ſuppoſe you ſhould come to a Shop, and there buy ſo many yards of Cloth, and the Shop-keeper ſhould either give you more Cloth then is your due, or take leſſe mony of thee then is his due; you muſt take no advantage againſt him in this particular; for if you take any thing more of him then you have bought, it is theft, or if you give him any thing leſſe then you bargain for, it is theft. And this you have in Gen. 43.12. Jacob when there was a Famine in the Land, he ſent his Sonnes into Egypt to buy Corn; when they came there, Joſeph knowing his Brethren, what does he do but put the money they brought for their Corn into the mouth of their Sacks again, and ſent them home; where when they found their money in their Sacks, they told their Father of it, who bid them go back again, and carry him the money they brought away in their Sacks mouth; for ſaith he, peradventure it was an over-ſight. Here was conſcienciouſneſs, when a man ſhall either give thee more then is thy due, or thou give him leſſe then is his due: in neither of theſe caſes muſt you take advantage againſt him; for if you do, the Lord looks upon it as no better then cozenage and deceit.
8. In buying Commodities, do not merchandize upon the Lords day. It is true, in caſe of urgent neceſſities, as for the maintenance of life, either in man or beaſt it is lawfull; but for buying of thoſe things of which there is no neceſſity, and you may well be without them till Munday: in this caſe you ſin, if you buy any thing on the Lords day, that's Market day for Heaven, Nehem. 10.31. Nehemiah entred into an Oath, and the people with him, that if any of the people of the Land bring Ware, or any Victualls on the Sabbath-day to ſell, that they would not buy it of them on the Sabbath-day. Now though ſome may be ready to object, and ſay, that this was the Jewiſh Sabbath here ſpoken of, wherein they were ſo ſtrict; I anſwer, it is true, it was; but yet neither does the Goſpel give you leave to profane the Chriſtian Sabbath, but ought now to be kept as ſtrictly as it was then. And therefore beloved, I cannot ſee but it is a ſin for men to buy either wine, or pepper, or muſtard, or any other ſuch like trifle, that they may well be without, it muſt needs be unlawfull and ſinfull, to buy any thing that you may well be without, in that caſe you ſin, if you buy upon the Lords day; and therefore let me intreat you, rather to want ſuch triviall things, then to tranſgreſs Scripture Rules, in buying of them upon this day.
Rule 9 9. Do not in buying of a Commodity, work upon the neceſſities of a poor man that hath need of money, to make him ſell it at ſuch low tearms, as he cannot live by it, this is a very great ſin and oppreſſion. Many times rich men do work upon the neceſſities of the poor; for they muſt ſell of their Commodities, it may be to buy bread, or more materialls to ſet themſelves at work upon: now they will not buy their Commodities, unleſs they may have it cheaper then they can afford it; this is a great oppreſſion: therefore in Levit. 25.14. it is ſaid, if thou ſelleſt ought to thy Neighbour, or buyeſt ought of thy Neighbour, ye ſhall not oppreſs one another. There is an oppreſſion in buying, as well as in ſelling, when a man does work upon the poverty of a poor man, and will make him ſell cheaper then he can afford it, or elſe will not buy of him at all. O beloved, how few are there in the world, that are conſciencious in their buying in theſe regards.
10. If you would not tranſgreſs Scripture Rules in baying, then take heed that ye do not buy thoſe things that are not fit and allowable to be bought and ſold: as firſt, do not buy ſpirituall things, as the gifts of the Holy Ghoſt, Church-livings, &c. for theſe are not things to be bought. This is call'd Simony. Act. 8.20. When Simon Magus would have bought the gift of the Holy Ghoſt, thy mony periſh with thee, ſaid Peter, becauſe thou haſt thought that the gift of God may be purchaſed with money. 2. Do not buy ſtolen goods, they are not meet to be bought. If thou knoweſt that the goods which are to be ſold, are ſtolen goods, they are not to be bought; but rather to be reſtored. I am afraid that this is a ſin, that many men do not make conſcience of in this City: as we uſe to ſay, the receiver is as bad as the Thief: ſo let me tell you, the buyer is as bad as the Thief likewiſe.
3. Do not buy Monuments nor reliques of Idolatry, as Croſſes, Beads, Crucifixes, Images, and the like, theſe ought not to be bought.
4. Do not buy men for ſlaves: this is that which is reproved Amos 8.6. That we may buy the poor for ſilver, and the needy for a pair of ſhooes. So in Deut. 27.7. If a man be found ſtealing of any of his Brethren of the Children of Iſrael, and maketh merchandize of him, or ſelleth him, then that thief ſhall die: thou muſt not ſteal a man and ſell him.
And thus you ſee I have gone over very briefly theſe ten particulars. And oh beloved, let me tell you, the fear of my heart is, that there are few of you that keep within bounds in theſe particulars; but in one or other of them you have tranſgreſſed in your buyings.
I ſhall only now make a ſhort uſe of what hath been ſaid, Uſe 1 and ſo have done. Firſt, then by way of exhortation; in the fear of God, all you that buy and ſell, and trade in the world, take heed of theſe Rocks, ſplit not your ſouls upon them. I ſhall ſhew you in the afternoon, what you get by unjuſt practices, Prov. 23.23. Rev. 3.18.and therefore avoid ſuch courſes; and let me exhort you in buying Commodities, amongſt all your buyings in the world, let me intreat you to buy that which Solomon bids you buy, namely, to buy the truth and ſell it not, and that which Chriſt counſels you to buy, come buy of me gold that ye may be rich, and white Rayment that you may be cloathed; and buy that which the good Merchant ſold all that he had to purchaſe, Mat. 13.44namely, the Pearl in the field. So do you ſell all you have to buy this Pearl of great price the Lord Jeſus; but do not miſtake me, when I bid you buy ſpirituall things, do not think, they are to be purchaſed with money; but I would have you labour and endeavour after them, Eſay 5.1. Ho every one that thirſteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money: come ye, buy and eat, yea come buy wine and milk, without money, and without price: theſe are not to be bought with money, but by labours and endeavours, and earneſt prayers unto God for them: you muſt give the rags of your ſin and corruption, for this white raiment of Chriſts righteouſneſs. Oh let not the Market-dayes of your ſoules ſlip over without buying ſomething for your ſoules good, buy the truth and ſel it not, buy the Pearl of grace, look after ſpirituall things, do not think the things of the world to be worth ſo much, and grace and Chriſt, Heaven and happineſs, and glory, worth nothing. There is nothing here below but we may give too much for, we may buy gold too dear; but we can never buy Chriſt and grace too dear, we can never give too much for them; one houres enjoyment of Chriſt, will infinitely recompence all the troubles, and miſeries, and loſſes we undergoe for him here, and therefore beloved, do not ſpend ſo much time, and take ſo much pains for theſe tranſitory things here below: theſe complementall and circumſtantiall peeces of felicity, and ſpend ſo little time, and take ſo little pains after thoſe perfections, and eſſentiall points of happineſs, the getting an intereſt in Chriſt, in his righteouſneſs, merits, and ſatisfaction. Diogenes taxed the folly of men in his time, quod res praetioſas minimo emerent, venderentque viliſſimas plurimo: they valued the moſt precious things little; and the moſt vile at a great rate. Woe to thoſe that ſtop Religions Trade, Luke 11.52. That take away the key of knowledg, neither entring in themſelves, nor ſuffering thoſe that would.
2. If this be ſo, that we ought not to tranſgreſs Scripture Rules, in buying Commodities, then let this be matter of humiliation to any of you, that the word of God hath met with this day. O beloved, go home and humble your ſoules before God, and bleſs his name, that the word hath found out your tranſgreſſions: beloved, go home and do no more ſo wickedly: if you have in any of theſe particulars tranſgreſſed Scripture Rules, go home and acknowledge your ſins unto the Lord, and reform your lives, leſt the Lord breath a curſe upon what you have gotten, and ſay of your tradings, as he did of thoſe in Ezek. 28.18. Thou haſt defiled thy ſanctuari…s by the multitude of thine iniquities, and by the iniquity of thy tra…fique: therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midſt of thee, it ſhall devour thee, and I will bring thee to aſhes upon the earth in the ſight of all them that behold thee; leaſt the Lord ſay, when thou haſt gotten ſo many baggs in thy Cheſt, and ſo much wares in thy ſhop, that theſe are but the fruit of thy ſins, and the price of thy ſoule, and that thou ſhalt have death and damnation into the bargain.