he that seeks himself, and himself only, as he that sells (as afore) as dear as he can, does, maketh not use of, nor doth he exercise charity in his so dealing.

(2,) He that sellethhis commodity (always) for as much as he can get, hardeneth his heart against all reasonable intreaties of the buyer; but he that doth so, cannot exercise charity in his dealing: Therefore it is not lawful for a man to sell his commodity, as afore, as dear as he can.

3. If it be lawful for me to sell my commo dity, 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, or 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.

4. He that sells, as afore, as dear as he can, offereth violence to the law of nature: For that saith, "Do unto all men, even as ye would that they should do unto you." Now, was the seller a buyer, he would not that he of whom he buys, 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.

5. 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 hand, to abuse his law, and to wrong his

neighbour withal; which indeed is contrary to God. 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 go 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 damage that his igno rance, or necessity, or fondness, would betray him into the hands of.

6. In all that a man does, he should have an eye to the glory of God, but that hecannot have, that sells his commodity always for as much as he can, for the reason urged before.

7. All that a man does, he should do in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ; that is, as being commanded and authorised to do 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; be cause commanded by him to do otherwise.

8. 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: 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 trial of that day.

"If thou sell aught unto thy neighbour, or buyest aught of thy neighbour ye shall not oppress one another.

Atten. But why do you put in those cautionary words? They must not sell always as dear, nor buy always as cheap as they can; Do you not thereby intimate that a man may sometimes do so?

Wise. I do indeed intimate, that sometimes the seller may sell as dear, and the buyer buy as cheap as he can; but this is allowable only in these cases, when he that sells is a knave, and lays aside all good conscience in selling; or when the buyer is a knave and lays aside all good conscience in buying. If the buyer therefore lights of a knave, or if the seller lights of a knave, then let them look to themselves; but yet so as not to lay aside conscience, because he that thou dealest with doth so; but how vile or base soever the chapman is, do thou keep thy commodity at a reasonable price: Or, if thou buyest, offer reasonable gain for the thing thou wouldst have; and if this will not do with the buyer or seller, then seek thee a more honest chapman. If thou objectest, but I have not skill to know when a pennyworth is before me; get some that have more skill than thyself in that affair, and let them in that matter dispose of thy money. But if there were no knaves in the world, these objections need not be made.

And thus, my very good neighbour, have

I given you a few of my reasons, why a man that hath it, should not always sell too dear, nor buy as cheap as he can; but should use good conscience to God, and charity to his neighbour in both.

Badman used to laugh at them that told him of his faults.

Atten. But were some men here to hear you, I believe they would laughyou to scorn, Wise. I question not that at all, for so Mr Badman used to do when any man told him of his faults: he used to think himself wiser than any, and would count, as I have hinted before, that he was not arrived to a manly spirit, that did stick or boggle at any wickedness. But let Mr Badman and his fellows laugh, I will bear it, and still give them good counsel. But I will remember also, for my further relief and comfort, that thus they that were covetous of old, served the Son of God himself. It is their time to laugh now, that they may mourn in time to come. And, I say again, when they have laughed out their laugh, he that useth not good conscience to God, and charity to his neighbour in buying and selling, dwells next door to an infidel, and is near of kin to Mr Badman.

Atten. Well, but what will you say to this question? You know that there is no settled price set by God upon any commodity that is bought or sold under the sun; but all things that we buy and sell do ebb and flow, as to

price, like the tide; how then shall a man of a tender conscience do, neither to wrong the seller, buyer, nor himself, in buying and selling of commodities?

Wise. This question is thought to be frivolous by all that are of Mr Badman's way; it is also difficult in itself; yet I will endeavour to shape you an answer, and that first to the matter of the question; to wit, How a tradesman should, in trading, keep a good conscience; (a buyer or seller either) Secondly, How he should prepare himself to this work, and live in the practice of it.

Preparations to be a goed dealer.

For the first: He must observe what hath been said before, to wit, he must have conscience to God, charity to his neighbour; and I will add, much moderation in dealing. Let him therefore keep within the bounds of the affirmative of those eight reasons that before He urged to prove, that men ought not in the dealing, but to do justly, and mercifully betwixt man and man; and then there will be nreat fear of wronging the seller, buyer, or self. But particularly to prepare or instruct a man to this work.

T

1. Let the tradesmen or others consider, that there is not that in great gettings, and in abundance, which the most of men do suppose for all that a man has over and above what serves for his present necessity and supply, serves only to feed the lusts of the eye;