And is it not more savoury to ask no more than you will have for your commodity[2]; to keep yea and nay in your communication, and here will be an equal balancing of things and a consideration before you utter words and a using of this world as though you used it not; and a possessing as though you possessed not.
(Works, IV., p. 100, slightly condensed.)
Honesty in Business.
But at the first convincement when friends could not put off their hats to people nor say you to a particular but thee and thou, and could not bow nor use the world’s salutations, nor fashions, nor customs. And many friends being tradesmen of several sorts, they lost their custom at the first. For the people would not trade with them nor trust them; and for a time people that were tradesmen could hardly get money enough to buy bread. But afterwards when people came to see friends, honesty and truthfulness and yea and nay at a word in their dealing and their lifes and conversations did preach and reach to the witness of God in all people and they knew and saw that they would not cozen and cheat them for conscience sake toward God; and that at last they might send any child and be as well used as themselves at any of their shops.
(C.J., I., p. 138.)
The Reputation of Friends.
Now that Friends are become a good savour in the hearts of all people, lose it not but rather increase it in the life. For at first ye know that many could not take so much money in your trade as to buy bread with. All people stood aloof from you, when you stood upright and gave them the plain language and were at a word. But now that through the life you come to answer that of God in all they say that they will trust you before their own people, knowing that you will not cheat, nor wrong, nor cozen nor oppress them. For the cry is now where is there a Quaker of such and such a trade? O, therefore, Friends, who have purchased this through great sufferings lose not through great favour which God hath given unto you.
And now, Friends, if there be any oppression, exaction or defrauding by making a prize, through the freedom which God hath given you the world will say, The Quakers are not as they were; therefore such should be exhorted to equity and truth.
(Epistle, p. 231.)