I. To sell, or bargain for that which is not saleable. Of this kind, I. Is the gift of the holy Ghost, which cannot be bought with money. Act. 8.18. When Simon saw, that through laying on of the Apostles hands, the holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 16, Saying, give me also this power, that on whom soever I lay the hands, he may receive the holy Ghost. 20. Then Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou thinkest that the gift of God may be obtained with money. II. Church goods are not saleable. Therefore it is not to be allowed, for men to fell or alienate them from the Church. Prou. 20.25. It is destruction for a man to devour that which is sanctified, and after the vows to enquire. Malac. 3.8. Church goods are the possession of the Lord. III. Whatsoever is unprofitable either to the Church, or common-weal, must not be sold.
II. All coloured forgery & deceit in bargaining. Luk. 19.8. Zaccheus stood forth, & said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor: and if I have taken ought from any man by forged cavillation, I restore it four fold. This deceit is used, I. when men sell that, which is counterfeit, for good: as copper for gold, and mingle any ways bad with good, making show only of the good. Amos 8.4,5,6. Hear this, ye that swallow up the poor, saying, when will the new month be gone, &c. that we may sell the refuse of the wheat. II. When men falsify measures & weights. Deut. 25.13. Thou shalt not have in thy bag two manner of weights, a great and a small. 14. But thou shalt have a right and a just weight: a perfect, and a just measure shalt thou have. Levit. 10.35. Ye shall not do unjustly in judgement, in line, in weight, or in measure. 36. Ye shall have just balances, true weights; a true Epha, and a true Hin. Amos 8.4. Hear this, ye that say, When will the Sabbath be gone, that we may sell corn, and make the Epha small, and the shekel great, and falsify the weights by deceit.
III. When the buyer concealeth the goodness of the thing, or the seller the faults of it, and blindfoldeth the trueth with counterfeit speeches. Matth. 7. 12. Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, even so do to them: for this is the Law and the Prophets. Prou. 20.14. It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone apart, he boasteth.
IV.
I. To sell, or bargaine for that which is not saleable. Of this kind, I. Is the gift of the holy Ghost, which cannot be bought with money. Act. 8.18. When Simon saw, that through laying on of the Apostles handes, the holy Ghost was giuen, he offered them money, 16, Saying, giue me also this power, that on whome soeuer I lay the handes, he may receiue the holy Ghost. 20. Then Peter said vnto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou thinkest that the gift of God may be obtained with money. II. Church goods are not saleable. Therefore it is not to be allowed, for men to fell or alienate them from the Church. Prou. 20.25. It is destruction for a man to deuoure that which is sanctified, and after the vowes to enquire. Malac. 3.8. Church goods are the possessiō of the Lord. III. Whatsoeuer is vnprofitable either to the Church, or common-weale, must not be sold.
II. All coloured forgerie & deceit in bargaining. Luk. 19.8. Zaccheus stood foorth, & said vnto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the halfe of my goods I giue to the poore: and if I haue taken ought from any man by forged cauillation, I restore it foure folde. This deceit is vsed, I. when men sel that, which is counterfeit, for good: as copper for gold, and mingle any waies badde with good, making shew onely of the good. Amos 8.4,5,6. Heare this, ye that swallow vp the poore, saying, when wil the newe moneth be gone, &c. that we may sell the refuse of the wheate. II. When men falsifie measures & weights. Deut. 25.13. Thou shalt not haue in thy bagge two manner of weights, a great and a small. 14. But thou shalt haue a right and a iust weight: a perfit, and a iust measure shalt thou haue. Leuit. 10.35. Ye shall not doe vniustly in iudgement, in line, in weight, or in measure. 36. Ye shall haue iust balances, true weights; a true Epha, and a true Hin. Amos 8.4. Heare this, ye that say, When will the Sabbath be gone, that we may sell corne, and make the Epha small, and the shekell great, and falsifie the weights by deceit.
III. When the buyer concealeth the goodnes of the thing, or the seller the faults of it, and blindfoldeth the trueth with counterfeit speeches. Matth. 7. 12. Whatsoeuer ye would that men should doe to you, euen so doe to them: for this is the Lawe and the Prophets.
