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Richard Baxter
A Christian Directory
Part 4
Chapter 19
Section 3
p. 123

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,I. CHRISTIAN ETHICS (or private Duties.)II. CHRISTIAN OECONOMICKS (or Family Duties.)III. CHRISTIAN ECCLESIASTICS (or Church Duties.)IV. CHRISTIAN POLITICS (or Duties to our Rulers and Neighbours.)By RICHARD BAXTER.Mal. 2. 7▪ 8.The Priests lips should keep Knowledge, and they should seek the Law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts. But ye are departed out of the way: Ye have Caused many to stumble at the Law; ye have corrupted the Covenant of Levi—Matth. 13. 52.Every SCRIBE which is instructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven, is like unto a man that is an Householder, which bringeth forth out of his Treasure things New and Old.Heb. 5. 13, 14.For every one that useth Milk is unskilful in the Word of Righteousness: for he is a Babe: But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age: Those who by reason of USE, have their senses exercised to discern both Good and Evil.2 Tim. 2. 14, 15, 16.Of these things put them in remembrance; charging them before God, that they STRIVE not about WORDS, to no profit, but to the subverting of the Hearers: Study to show thy self approved UNTO GOD, a Workman that needeth not to be ashamed, RIGHTLY DIVIDING the word of Truth. But shun profane and vain Babblings; for they will increase unto more Ungodliness, and their Word will eat as doth a Canker.2 Pet. 3. 16.In which (Pauls Epistles) are some things hard to be understood: which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures to their own destruction.LONDON, Printed, by Robert White, for Nevill Simmons, at the Sign of the Princes Arms in St. Pauls Church-yard. 1673.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,I. CHRISTIAN ETHICKS (or private Duties.)II. CHRISTIAN OECONOMICKS (or Family Duties.)III. CHRISTIAN ECCLESIASTICKS (or Church Duties.)IV. CHRISTIAN POLITICKS (or Duties to our Rulers and Neighbours.)By RICHARD BAXTER.Mal. 2. 7▪ 8.The Priests lips should keep Knowledge, and they should seek the Law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts. But ye are departed out of the way: Ye have Caused many to stumble at the Law; ye have corrupted the Covenant of Levi—Matth. 13. 52.Every SCRIBE which is instructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven, is like unto a man that is an Housholder, which bringeth forth out of his Treasure things New and Old.Heb. 5. 13, 14.For every one that useth Milk is unskilful in the Word of Righteousness: for he is a Babe: But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age: Those who by reason of USE, have their senses exercised to discern both Good and Evil.2 Tim. 2. 14, 15, 16.Of these things put them in remembrance; charging them before God, that they STRIVE not aboutTitle page of A Christian Directory, London, 1673

A26892:8905

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.

Richard Baxter 1615–1691London: printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons, 1673

[35], 929, [5], 214 p., [1] leaf of plates : port. · 1.2M words · Wing B1219 · ESTC R21847

Title page typeset from the transcription.

Part 4 › Chapter 19 › Section 3: Tit. 3. Special Cases about Justice in Buying and Selling.Part 4 › Chapter 19 › Section 3: Tit. 3. Special Cases about Iustice in Buying and Selling.

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.

[ Earlier:8902–8917 of 9,947

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§. 17. Quest. 16. What should I do in doubtful cases, where I am uncertain whether the thing be just or not?¹

1Quest. 16.

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Answ. Causeless perplexing melancholy scruples, which would stop a man in the course of his duty, are not to be indulged: But in rational doubts, first use your utmost diligence, (as much as the nature of the cause requireth) to be resolved: and if yet you doubt, be sure to go the safer way, and to avoid sin rather than loss; and to keep your consciences in peace.

:8904p. 123

§. 18. Quest. 17. If the buyer lose the commodity between the bargain and the payment (as if he buy¹ your Horse, and he dye before payment or presently after) what should the seller do to his relief?

1Quest. 17.

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Richard Baxter, A Christian Directory (London, 1673), pt. 4, ch. 19, sect. 3, p. 123. EEBO-TCP A26892.

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The book

Title as printed: 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.
Author: Richard Baxter 1615–1691
Place: London
Printer: Robert White
Bookseller: Nevill Simmons
Year: 1673
Size: [35], 929, [5], 214 p., [1] leaf of plates : port.
Words: 1,175,050
Catalogue: Wing B1219 · ESTC R21847
Text: EEBO-TCP A26892

Passages: 9,947
Sections: 502

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Richard Baxter 1615–1691

The Reformers and Puritans in their own words, with every quotation checked against the page.

Texts transcribed from the original printings by the Text Creation Partnership (EEBO-TCP and Evans-TCP) and dedicated to the public domain (CC0).

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WORDS,

to no profit, but to the subverting of the Hearers: Study to shew thy self approved

UNTO GOD,

a Workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

RIGHTLY DIVIDING

the word of Truth. But shun profane and vain Bablings; for they will increase unto more Ungodliness, and their Word will eat as doth a Canker.

2 Pet. 3. 16.In which (Pauls Epistles) are some things hard to be understood: which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures to their own destruction.

LONDON, Printed, by Robert White, for Nevill Simmons, at the Sign of the Princes Arms in St. Pauls Church-yard. 1673.

Answ. If it were by the sellers fault, or by any fault in the Horse which he concealed, he isto make the buyer full satisfaction. If it were casually only, rigorous Justice will allow him nothing: And therefore if it be either to a man that is Rich enough to bear it without any great sense of the loss, or in a case where in common custom the buyer always standeth to the loss, mere justice will make him no amends. But if it be where custom maketh some abatement judged a duty, or where the person is so poor as to be pinched by the loss, that common humanity, which all good men use in bargaining, which tempereth Justice with Charity, will teach men to bear their part of the loss; because they must do as they would be done by.

Answ. If it were by the sellers fault, or by any fault in the Horse which he concealed, he isto make the buyer full satisfaction. If it were casually only, rigorous Justice will allow him nothing: And therefore if it be either to a man that is Rich enough to bear it without any great sense of the loss, or in a case where in common custome the buyer alwayes standeth to the loss, meer justice will make him no amends. But if it be where custome maketh some abatement judged a duty, or where the person is so poor as to be pinched by the loss, that common humanity, which all good men use in bargaining, which tempereth Justice with Charity, will teach men to bear their part of the loss; because they must do as they would be done by.

:8906p. 123

§. 19. Quest. 18. If the thing bought and sold prove afterward of much more worth than was by either¹ party understood (as in buying of Amber-chryse, and Jewels, it oft falleth out) is the buyer bound to give the seller more than was bargained for?

§. 19. Quest. 18. If the thing bought and sold prove afterward of much more worth than was by either¹ party understood (as in buying of Amber-chryse, and Iewels, it oft falleth out) is the buyer bound to give the seller more than was bargained for?

1Quest. 18.

:8907p. 123

Answ. Yes, if it was the sellers mere ignorance and insufficiency in that business, which caused him so to undersell it: (As if an ignorant Country-man sell a Jewel or Amber-chryse, who knoweth not what it is, a moderate satisfaction should be made him). But if it was the sellers trade, in which he is to be supposed sufficient, and if it be taken for granted before hand, that both buyer and seller will stand to the bargain what ever it prove, and that the seller would have abated nothing if it had proved less worth than the price, then the buyer may enjoy his gain: Much more if he run any notable hazard for it, as Merchants use to do.

Answ. Yes, if it was the sellers meer ignorance and insufficiency in that business, which caused him so to undersell it: (As if an ignorant Countrey-man sell a Jewel or Amber-chryse, who knoweth not what it is, a moderate satisfaction should be made him). But if it was the sellers trade, in which he is to be supposed sufficient, and if it be taken for granted before hand, that both buyer and seller will stand to the bargain what ever it prove, and that the seller would have abated nothing if it had proved less worth than the price, then the buyer may enjoy his gain: Much more if he run any notable hazard for it, as Merchants use to do.

:8908p. 123

§. 20. Quest. 19. What if the title of the thing sold prove bad, which was before unknown?¹

1Quest. 19.

:8909p. 123

Answ. If the seller either knew it was bad, or through his notable negligence was ignorant of it, or did not fully acquaint the buyer with so much of the uncertainty and danger as he knew; or if it was any way his fault that the buyer was deceived, and not the buyers fault, he is bound to make him proportionable satisfaction. As also in case that by Law or bargain he be bound to warrant the title to the buyer. But not in case that it be their explicit or implicit agreement that the buyer stand to the hazard, and the seller hath done his duty to make him know whats doubtful.

Answ. If the seller either knew it was bad, or through his notable negligence was ignorant of it, or did not fully acquaint the buyer with so much of the uncertainty and danger as he knew; or if it was any way his fault that the buyer was deceived, and not the buyers fault, he is bound to make him proportionable satisfaction. As also in case that by Law or bargain he be bound to warrant the title to the buyer. But not in case that it be their explicite or implicite agreement that the buyer stand to the hazard, and the seller hath done his duty to make him know whats doubtful.

:8910p. 123

§. 21. Quest. 20. What if a change of Powers or Laws do overthrow the title, almost as soon as it is¹ sold (as it oft falls out about Offices and Lands;) who must bear the loss?

1Quest. 20.

:8911p. 123

Answ. The case is near the same with that in Quest. 17. It is supposed that the seller should have lost it himself if he had kept it but a little longer; And that neither of them foresaw the change: And therefore that the seller hath all his money, rather for his good hap, than for his Lands or Office, (which the buyer hath not.) Therefore except it be to a rich man that feeleth not the loss, or one that expressly undertook to stand to all hazards, foreseeing a possibility of them; Charity and humanity, will teach the seller to divide the loss.

Answ. The case is near the same with that in Quest. 17. It is supposed that the seller should have lost it himself if he had kept it but a little longer; And that neither of them foresaw the change: And therefore that the seller hath all his money, rather for his good hap, than for his Lands or Office, (which the buyer hath not.) Therefore except it be to a rich man that feeleth not the loss, or one that expresly undertook to stand to all hazards, foreseeing a possibility of them; Charity and humanity, will teach the seller to divide the loss.

:8912p. 123

§. 22. The same is the case of London now consumed by fire: where thousands of suits are like to rise between the Landlords and the Tenants. Where the providence of God (permitting the burning zeal of some Papists,) hath deprived men of the houses which they had hired or taken leases of, humanity and charity requireth the Rich to bear most of the loss, and not to exact their Rents, or Re-building from the poor, what ever the Law saith, which could not be supposed to foresee such accidents. Love your neighbours as your selves: Do as you would be done by; and Oppress not your poor brethren; and then by these three Rules you will your selves decide a multitude of such doubts and difficulties, which the uncharitable only cannot understand.

:8913p. 124

Tit. 4. Cases of Conscience about Lending and Borrowing.

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§. 1. Quest. 1. May a poor man borrow money, who knoweth that he is unable▪ to repay it, and hath¹ no rational proof that he is very likely to be able hereafter?

§. 1. Quest. 1. MAy a poor man borrow money, who knoweth that he is unable▪ to repay it, and hath¹ no rational proof that he is very likely to be able hereafter?

1Quest. 1.

:8915p. 124

Answ. No: unless it be when he telleth the lender truly of his case, and he is willing to run the hazard: Else it is mere thievery covered with the cheat of borrowing: For the borrower desireth that of another, which he would not lend him, if he expected it not again: And to take a mans money or goods against his will, is robbery.

Answ. No: unless it be when he telleth the lender truly of his case, and he is willing to run the hazard: Else it is meer thievery covered with the cheat of borrowing: For the borrower desireth that of another, which he would not lend him, if he expected it not again: And to take a mans money or goods against his will, is robbery.

:8916p. 124

Object. But I am in great necessity.

:8917p. 124

Answ. Begging in necessity is lawful: but stealing or cheating is not, though you call it borrowing.

PuritansEngland

Pastor at Kidderminster and prolific nonconformist author.

Transcription key

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