Where he commandeth that men make to others good measure, including also that they make good weight; telling such that do thus, or those that do it not, that they may be encouraged to do it;1 Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom; for with the same measure that ye mete withal, it shall be measured to you again: To wit, both from God and man. For as God will show his indignation against the false man, by taking away even that he hath, so he will deliver up the ⟨p. 197⟩false man to the Oppressor, and the Extortioner shall catch from him, as well as he hath catched from his neighbour; therefore another Scripture saith, When thou shalt cease to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee. That the New Testament also, hath an inspection into mens Trading, yea even with their weights and measures, is evident from these general exhortations. Defraud not; 2lye not one to another; let no man go beyond his brother in any matter, for God is the avenger of all such: whatsoever you do, do it heartily, as unto the Lord, doing all in his name, to his glory; and the like. All these injunctions and commandments do respect our life and conversation among men, with reference to our dealing, trading, and so consequently they forbid false, deceitful, yea all doings that are corrupt.
Having thus in a word or two showed you,3 that these things are bad; I will next, for the conviction of those that use them, show you, where God saith they are to be found.
⟨p. 198⟩1. They are not to be found in the house of the good and godly man,4 for he, as his God, abhors them; but they are to be found in the house of evil doers,5 such as Mr. Badmans is. Are there, saith the Prophet, yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abomination? Are they there yet, notwithstanding Gods forbidding, notwithstanding Gods tokens of anger against those that do such things? O how loth is a wicked man to let go a sweet, a gainful sin, when he hath hold of it! They hold fast deceit, they refuse to let it go.
2.6 These deceitful Weights and Measures are not to be found in the house of the Merciful, but in the house of the Cruel; in the house of them that love to oppress.7 The Balances of deceit are in his hand, he loveth to oppress.
Where he commandeth that men make to others good measure, including also that they make good weight; telling such that doe thus, or those that do it not, that they may be encouraged to do it;1 Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom; for with the same measure that ye mete withall, it shall be measured to you again: To wit, both from God and man. For as God will shew his indignation against the false man, by taking away even that he hath, so he will deliver up the ⟨p. 197⟩false man to the Oppressor, and the Extortioner shall catch from him, as well as he hath catched from his neighbour; therefore another Scripture saith, When thou shalt cease to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee. That the New Testament also, hath an inspection into mens Trading, yea even with their weights and measures, is evident from these general exhortations. Defraud not; 2lye not one to another; let no man goe beyond his brother in any matter, for God is the avenger of all such: whatsoever you do, do it heartily, as unto the Lord, doing all in his name, to his glory; and the like. All these injunctions and commandments do respect our life and conversation among men, with reference to our dealing, trading, and so consequently they forbid false, deceitful, yea all doings that are corrupt.
Having thus in a word or two shewed you,3 that these things are bad; I will next, for the conviction of those that use them, shew you, where God saith they are to be found.
⟨p. 198⟩1. They are not to be found in the house of the good and godly man,4 for he, as his God, abhorrs them; but they are to be found in the house of evil doers,5 such as Mr. Badmans is. Are there, saith the Prophet, yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abomination? Are they there yet, notwithstanding Gods forbidding, notwithstanding Gods tokens of anger against those that do such things? O how loth is a wicked man to let goe a sweet, a gainful sin, when he hath hold of it! They hold fast deceit, they refuse to let it goe.
2.6
- 1Luke 6. 8•.
- 2Pat Scriptures for our purpose.
- 3Where false weights and measures are to be found.
- 41. With evil doers.
- 5Mic. 6. 12.
- 62. With the […] and Oppressors.2. With the 〈…〉 and Oppressors.
- 7Eos. 12. 7.
