Wise. I doe indeed intimate that somtimes 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 layes 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 dearest 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 wouldest 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 skil to know when a pennyworth is before me: Get some that have more skill than thy self 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.
Atten. But were some men here, to hear you, I believe they would laugh you to scorn.
Wise. I question not that at all, for so, [122b] Mr. Badman used to doe, 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 fellowes 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. [122c] 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 dore to an Infidel, and is near of kin to Mr. Badman.
Atten. Well, but what will you say to this question? [123a] (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 ebbe and flow, as to price, like the Tide:) How (then) shall a man of a tender conscience doe, 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. Badmans way; ’tis also difficult in it self: yet I will endeavour to shape you an Answer, [123b] 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.
For the first: He [123c] 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 were urged to prove, that men ought not in their Dealing, but to do Justly and mercifully ’twixt man and man; and then there will be no great fear of wronging the seller, buyer, or himself.
But particularly to prepare, or instruct a man to this work:
1. Let the Tradesman 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. For what good is there to the owners thereof, save the beholding of them with their eyes? [123d] Men also, many times, in getting of riches, get therewith a snare to their soul: [123e] But few get good by getting of them. But this consideration, Mr. Badman could not abide.
2. Consider, that the getting of wealth dishonestly (as he does, that getteth it without good conscience and charity to his neighbour,) is a great offender against God. Hence he says, I have smitten mine hands at thy dishonest gain, which thou hast made. [124a] It is a manner of speech that shews anger in the very making of mention of the Crime. Therefore,