A61398:209
The trades-man's calling being a discourse concerning the nature, necessity, choice, &c. of a…
The trades-man's calling being a discourse concerning the nature, necessity, choice, &c. of a calling in general : and directions for the right managing of the tradesman's calling in particular / by Richard Steele ...
London: printed by J.D. for Samuel Sprint, 1684
Title page typeset from the transcription.
THE Tradesman's Calling. › Chapter 5 › Section 3: Of Justice in a Trade.
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.
And as the Seller should use no other but exact Weights and Measures; so the Buyer should be contented with them, and not desire or endeavour to have more than he buys; for thereby he strives to his Ability to make them greater, as the Seller would make them less, than the Law requires, which is equally abominable unto God. For the same Law of Justice and Equity should govern both of them; and what Arts or Tricks soever are used by either of them for their own Advantage, to the Prejudice of the other, are criminal ⟨p. 105⟩before the Lord. Hearken what he saith, Ezeck. 28. 16. Thou hast defiled thy Sanctuaries by the multitude of thine Iniquities, by the Iniquity of thy Traffic: therefore will I bring forth a Fire to devour thee, &c.
And as the Seller should use no other but exact Weights and Measures; so the Buyer should be contented with them, and not desire or indeavour to have more than he buys; for thereby he strives to his Ability to make them greater, as the Seller would make them less, than the Law requires, which is equally abominable unto God. For the same Law of Justice and Equity should govern both of them; and what Arts or Tricks soever are used by either of them for their own Advantage, to the Prejudice of the other, are criminal ⟨p. 105⟩before the Lord. Hearken what he saith, Ezeck. 28. 16. Thou hast defiled thy Sanctuaries by the multitude of thine Iniquities, by the Iniquity of thy Traffique: therefore will I bring forth a Fire to devour thee, &c.
And among other Frauds False Lights are justly reckoned; when Men do so contrive the Lights in their Shops, as to represent their Commodities to be better than they are; when the honest Chapman comes home, they are quite another thing. What can be more fraudulent? It is no other than picking thy Neighbour's Purse of so much as is extorted hereby from him, above the real worth of that Commodity. How can you rejoice or sleep with such dishonest Gain? Is not the Lord the Avenger of all such? Be not deceived, God is not mocked, tho thy harmless Neighbour be trapanned. If thy timely Repentance and Restitution prevent it not, he will take thee from thy false Lights, and thrust thee without Bail or Main-prize into true and endless Darkness.