A26892:8894
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.
§. 12. Quest. 11. May I take advantage of another's Necessity to buy for less than the worth, or sell1 for more: As e. g. a poor man must needs have money suddenly for his goods though he sell them but for half the worth: and I have no need of them: Am I bound to give him the worth when I have no need? and when it is a great kindness to him to give him any thing in that straight? So also when I have no desire to sell my Horse, and another's necessity maketh him willing to give more than he is worth, may I not take it?
§. 12. Quest. 11. May I take advantage of anothers Necessity to buy for less than the worth, or sell1 for more: As e. g. a poor man must needs have money suddenly for his goods though he sell them but for half the worth: and I have no need of them: Am I bound to give him the worth when I have no need? and when it is a great kindness to him to give him any thing in that straight? So also when I have no desire to sell my Horse, and anothers necessity maketh him willing to give more than he is worth, may I not take it?
- 1Quest. 1•.
Answ. To the first case: You must distinguish between an act of Justice and of Charity: and between your need of the thing, and the worth of it to you. Though you have no need of the poor mans goods, yet if you buy them, both Justice and Charity require that you give him as much as they are worth to you, though not so much as they are worth in the market: yea, and that you buy them of him in his necessity: For if you give him but what they are worth to you, you are no loser by it: And you should do another good, when it is not to your own hurt or loss. By (what they are worth to you) I mean, so much as that you •e no loser. As if it be meat or drink, though you have no present need, perhaps you will shortly have need, and if you buy not that, you must buy as much of somewhat else. In strict Justice you may be a saver, but not a gainer, by buying of the poor in their necessity. 2. But if you buy a durable commodity, for less than it is worth, you should take it but as a pledge, and allow the seller liberty to redeem it, if he can, that he may get more after of another. 3. And to the poor in such necessity, Charity must be exercised as well as Justice. Therefore if you are able to lend them money to save them the loss of underselling, you should do it: (I account that man only able who hath money which no greater service of God requireth). And if you are not able your self, you should endeavour to get some others to relieve him, if you can without a greater inconvenience.