A20762:1141
A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties
A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the duties wherein it consisteth, the helps enabling & the reasons persuading unto it the impediments hindering the practise of it, and the best means to remove them whereunto are added divers prayers and a treatise of carnal security by John Douname Bachelor in Divinity and minister of Gods Word.A guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties wherein it consisteth, the helpes inabling & the reasons parswading vnto it ye impediments hindering ye practise of it, and the best meanes to remoue them whereunto are added diuers prayers and a treatise of carnall securitie by Iohn Douname Batcheler in Diuinitie and minister of Gods Word.
London: printed by Felix Kingstone and William Stansby for Ed, 1622
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
§. Sect. 5 That we must set and sell our wares at an equal price.
§. Sect. 5 That we must set and sell our wares at an equall price.
Fifthly, we ought in selling and buying, to set our wares at an equal price; the best rule whereof for the most part is the ordinary price of the market, which valueth things not simply in their own worth, but with consideration of all circumstances, as scarcity, plenty, time and place; and not according to the price we gave less or more, nor only respecting whether we gain much or little, whether we get nothing or lose thereby. For as of necessity, through the change of prices, we must sometimes lose, so it is alike necessary, that we should gain at another time, to repair these losses, and maintain our state. And as we must not, when we have an ill bargain, exceed the market, and so transfer our loss from our selves upon our neighbour, but patiently bear our own cross as imposed of God, till he afford us lawful means to free us of it; so when we have made a good bargain in respect of the difference of places or times, we may not, unless we would be uncharitable unto our selves, put off our gain to others, but receive it thankfully as the blessing of God upon our labours. But here we must take heed, first, that we be not over strict in this kind, seeking only our own gain and advantage, without respect to the Common wealth, nor uncharitable towards the poor, in joining with others to keep up things in times of scarcity at the highest prices. But when we can afford it, we ought to abate something, and by our example to bring down others to reasonable rates, all circumstances being considered, that neither the Common wealth generally, nor the poor in particular receive by our being just over-much, any hurt or damage. Secondly, 1we must take heed that we use no unjust or uncharitable courses to raise the markets, and the prices of commodities above their value; as to forestall the market, and to buy up the things which are brought, at low rates, with a purpose to set them up, and sell them dearer soon after in the same place. Or to engross commodities which are offered to common sale, that having them all in our hands, we may sell them at our own rates.