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

(4.) Make no Bargains with such as have no just Propriety in that which you are contracting about. Some Care is due in this case, in those that sell; that they encourage not Children, or other weak People, who cannot rationally be thought to be trusted with Money, to barter with them. But especially this concerns those, that are frequently tempted to buy such Goods as they know, or have vehement suspicion to be stolen from the right Owner. It's true, your Gain by such Bargains may be great, but the Sin of it is manifest; you encourage them in an evil way, you assist them in a wicked course, and so become Partakers with them; Psal. 50. 18. When thou sawest a Thief, then thou consentedst with him. Why should your Gain blind your Eyes? He that knowingly connives, assists, and any way furthers an ill Action, shares in the Guilt of it. And as the Sin, so the Danger; you are in danger of the Law of Man, and of the Wrath of God; if the one miss you, the other will reach you, either here or hereafter. Say not, that your Shops are your Markets; for what honest Man will buy a stolen Horse in the Market, if he know, yea or suspect it? Say not, If you buy them not, another will: for the Folly or Wickedness of another will never justify, nor excuse yours. What Man in his Wits will say, If I go not to Hell, another will, and therefore I'll step before him. Perhaps you'll plead Ignorance, at least Uncertainty in the matter. Indeed, if there be no rational cause to doubt, you are not culpable; but tho you be not certain, yet if there be reason to suspect it, you should not meddle with them, unless it be to retain them ⟨p. 112⟩for the Owner, and to bring the Thief unto deserved Punishment: For who will buy a Suit of Clothes, if he have but any ground to think the Plague in them? Away therefore with all such dishonest Gain, lest it bring a Curse upon all the rest; and rather resolve to be poor with Integrity, than rich by Unrighteousness.

(4.) Make no Bargains with such as have no just Propriety in that which you are contracting about. Some Care is due in this case, in those that sell; that they incourage not Children, or other weak People, who cannot rationally be thought to be trusted with Money, to barter with them. But especially this concerns those, that are frequently tempted to buy such Goods as they know, or have vehement suspition to be stollen from the right Owner. It's true, your Gain by such Bargains may be great, but the Sin of it is manifest; you incourage them in an evil way, you assist them in a wicked course, and so become Partakers with them;