The young man's guide through the wilderness of this world to the heavenly Canaan…

Haply you will say, you took it for good money. Though you did, yet except you can return it to the parties from whom you received it, it is a branch of deceit. Better it is to suffer wrong, than to do wrong in any kind. Because one hath wronged thee, will that be thy warrant to wrong another? whatever palliations or pretences men may have, yet the thing is palpably injurious: Justice requires that there be an equal and true value betwixt the price, and the commodity. When thou knowest the commodity thou buyest ⟨p. 66⟩to be good, and the money thou payest for it to be naught, where is thy justice?

Thus you see what mysteries of iniquity there are in most Trades, which are too well known, and too much practised by many Tradesmen. For the preventing of which, I shall briefly give you some few general Rules to be observed in your dealing with men.

1. Ever observe that Golden Rule of our Saviour, Matth. 7. 12. Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them. As thou wouldst not have mixed wares sold thee for that which is pure: nor that which is sophisticated and naught, for that which is perfect and good: do not thou offer the like to others. As thou wouldst not be wronged, nor over-reached by others, do not thou go about to wrong, or over-reach others. But whatsoever thou wouldst that men should do thee; do thou even so to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets, that is, This is that which every Book of the Law and Prophets require of us; this is the sum of that which in the Law and Prophets, is delivered concerning our carriage and behaviour towards our Neighbour.

1. Ever observe that Golden Rule of our Saviour,