A26892:8878
A Christian Directory
A Christian directory, or, A sum of practical theology and cases of conscience directing Christians how to use their knowledge and faith, how to improve all helps and means, and to perform all duties, how to overcome temptations, and to escape or mortify every sin : in four parts ... / by Richard Baxter.A Christian directory, or, A summ of practical theologie and cases of conscience directing Christians how to use their knowledge and faith, how to improve all helps and means, and to perform all duties, how to overcome temptations, and to escape or mortifie every sin : in four parts ... / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons, 1673
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Answ. 1. When the Law setteth a rate upon any thing (as on bread and drink with us) it must be observed. 2. If you go to the Market, the Market-price is much to be observed. 3. If it be in an equal contract, with one that is not in want, you may estimate your goods as they cost you, or are worth to you, though it be above the common price; seeing the buyer is free to take or leave them. 4. But if that which you have to sell, be extraordinary desirable, or worth to some one person, more than to you or another man, you must not make too great an advantage of his convenience or desire; but be glad that you can pleasure him, upon equal, fair and honest terms. 5. If there be a secret worth in your commodity which the Market will take no notice of (as it is usual in a Horse), it is lawful for you to take according to that true worth, if you can get it. But it is a false Rule of them, that think their commodity is worth as much as any one will give.
§. 5. Quest. 5. Is it lawful to make a thing seem better than it is, by trimming, adorning or setting1 the best side outward or in sight; or to conceal the faults of what I am to sell.
- 1Quest. 5.
Answ. It is lawful to dress, polish, adorn or set out your commodity, to make it seem as it is indeed, but not to make it seem better than it is; except in some very few unusual cases: As if you deal with some fantastical fool, who will not buy it, nor give you the true worth except it be so set out, and made in some respects to seem better than it is. It is lawful so far to serve their curiosity or humour, as to get the worth of your commodity. But if you do it to get more than the worth by deceiving, it is a sin. And such glossing hath so notable an appearance of deceit, that for that scandal it should be avoided.