That I should thus use, or exercise charity towards my Neighbour in my buying and selling, &c. with him, is evident from the general command: [Let all your things be done in charity:] [120b] But that a man cannot live in the exercise of charity, that selleth, as afore, as dear, or that buyeth as cheap as he can, is evident by these reasons.
1. He that sells his commodity as dear, or for as much money (always) as he can, seeks himself, and himself only; (but charity seeketh not her own, nor her own only [120c]:) So then, he that seeks himself, and himself onely, 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 selleth his commodity (always) for as much as he can get, hardeneth his heart against all reasonable entreaties 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.
Thirdly, If it be lawful for me to sell my commodity, 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, 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. [120d] [120e]
Fourthly, He that sells, as afore, as dear as he can, offereth violence to the law of Nature: [121b] for that saith, Doe unto all men, even as ye would that they should doe unto you. [121a] Now, was the Seller a Buyer, he would not that he of whom he buyes, 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.
Fifthly, 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 his hand, [121c] to abuse his Law, and to wrong his neighbour withall: which indeed is contrary to God. [121d] 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 goe 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 dammage, that his ignorance, or necessity, or fondness would betray him into the hands of.
Sixthly, In all that a man does, he should have an eye to the glory of God, [121e] but that he cannot have that sells his commodity always for as much as he can, for the reasons urged before.
Seventhly, All that a man does, he should doe in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ; [121f] that is, as being commanded, and authorized to doe 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, because commanded by him to doe otherwise.
Eightly, 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. [121g] 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 tryal of that day, If thou sell ought unto thy neighbour, or buyest ought of thy neighbour, ye shall not oppress one another. [122a]
Atten. But why doe you put in those cautionary words? They must not sell [always] as dear, nor buy [always] as cheap as they can: doe you not thereby intimate that a man may sometimes do so?