A61398:268
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 4: Of Truth or Veracity 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.
(2.) There is Commodity in it. This Veracity is so commodious, yea so necessary among Men; that all Civil Society is dissolved without it. For all Transactions and Commerce between Man and Man, do lean upon this Fundamental Point; That one Man may believe another; now if Men do not constantly speak the Truth, how can they ⟨p. 142⟩be believed? thus all human Conversation is shaken. Now Reason it self must needs enter an Action against any Course that overthrows the good of Mankind: and it were endless to transcribe the pithy Expressions of divers of the Heathens, in the praise of Truth and Veracity, and in defiance of the contrary.
(2.) There is Commodity in it. This Veracity is so commodious, yea so necessary among Men; that all Civil Society is dissolv'd without it. For all Transactions and Commerce between Man and Man, do lean upon this Fundamental Point; That one Man may believe another; now if Men do not constantly speak the Truth, how can they ⟨p. 142⟩be believ'd? thus all human Conversation is shaken. Now Reason it self must needs enter an Action against any Course that overthrows the good of Mankind: and it were endless to transcribe the pithy Expressions of divers of the Heathens, in the praise of Truth and Veracity, and in defiance of the contrary.
(3.) There in Ingenuity in it. There is a certain bravery of Spirit and true Courage in speaking the Truth, and a real cowardice in blanching and denying it. It is only some worldly Hopes, or sordid Fear that doth bias the Tongue from its true Office; which is to be an Interpreter of the Mind. Let no Man that trades in Lies, pretend to Generosity. Hence all noble Spirits are so sensible of the Imputation, that they will presently answer the Lie given them with their Sword: which tho neither true Fortitude nor Piety can ever justify; yet such their Sensibleness proves, how ingenuous a thing it is to speak the Truth, and how base a thing to pervert it.