The trades-man's calling being a discourse concerning the nature, necessity, choice, &c. of a…

(1.) It requires only a reasonable Proportion of Gain, from what you buy or sell. It is not easy to determine, by any particular standing Rule, the measure of that Gain which a Tradesman may receive. For it cannot always be measured, by what the Commodity Cost him, which he is about to sell; sith he might by surprise or otherwise buy it too dear, and why should another pay for his Folly? Or he might by some special Providence obtain at an under-value; and, why should he causelessly make another partaker of his Advantage? For without doubt a Man may take greater Gain at one time than at another, and may take the Advantage the Providence of God puts into his hands, so be it he use it moderately. The Rates at which some Others sell, cannot always be a measure of a Tradesman's Gain; for many of them may be necessitated to sell at an under-rate; and why should other Mens Indigence prejudice him? Or some of them may under-sell others, to gain a Customer, and so may take too little for one Commodity, that they may have too much for another; and why should any such indirect Designs regulate him that is above them? What a man hath Formerly sold for, can be no Rule; for every one knows, that Commodities ebb and flow, and that which was worth a Shilling the last Month, may not be worth Six-pence this. Again, so much Profit as may comfortably Maintain the Tradesman and his Family, cannot always be a right measure of his Gain; because Twelve-pence in the Pound may sufficiently ⟨p. 108⟩maintain him that is in Health, or hath a small Family; whereas twice as much will not answer the necessary Expenses of another, that is sickly, or hath a numerous Family to provide for. Again, the Utmost of what he can get for his Commodity cannot always be a sure Rule whereby to measure his Gain; for it is possible for him to obtain of an unwary Customer, double the true worth of his Commodity; which yet in Justice he ought not to do. Nor lastly, can the Intrinsic worth of a thing be a sufficient Rule, whereby to measure his Gain; since that in divers Commodities cannot be determined; and in many others, the Buyer's Fancy only makes them valuable.

(1.) It requires only a reasonable Proportion of Gain, from what you buy or sell. It is not easy to determine, by any particular standing Rule, the measure of that Gain which a Tradesman may receive. For it cannot always be measured, by what the Commodity Cost him, which he is about to sell; sith he might by surprize or otherwise buy it too dear, and why should another pay for his Folly? Or he might by some special Providence obtain at an under-value; and, why should he causelesly make another partaker of his Advantage? For without doubt a Man may take greater Gain at one time than at another, and may take the Advantage the Providence of God puts into his hands, so be it he use it moderately. The Rates at which some Others sell, cannot always be a measure of a Tradesman's Gain; for many of them may be necessitated to sell at an under-rate; and why should other Mens Indigence prejudice him? Or some of them may under-sell others, to gain a Customer, and so may take too little for one Commodity, that they may have too much for another; and why should any such indirect Designs regulate him that is above them? What a man hath Formerly sold for, can be no Rule; for every one knows, that Commodities ebb and flow, and that which was worth a Shilling the last Month, may not be worth Six-pence this. Again, so much Profit as may comfortably Maintain the Tradesman and his Family, cannot always be a right measure of his Gain; because Twelve-pence in the Pound may sufficiently