A61398:280
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.
Answ. 1. There is no lawful Calling but may be followed with Truth and with a good Conscience: they that plead the contrary, do tacitly make the holy God to be the Author of Sin; an Inference to be abhorred as much as he abhors the thing it self. Nothing can make Sin needful. Peter's Lie to save his Life did not justify it, he wept bitterly for it. And if it were a Crime to lie to save his Life, can the pretence of a Livelihood excuse you in it? Cursed is that Trade that cannot be followed without Sin. But your case is otherwise. How many conscientious Persons are there in your very Trades, that had rather die than lie? If People will not believe you when you tell the Truth, much less will they, when you tell Lies. Be sure, whatsoever is gotten by your lying, is cursed Gain; Prov. 21. 6. The getting of Treasures by a lying Tongue is a Vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek Death. They that seek Death and Destruction, in this course are sure to find it.
Answ. 1. There is no lawful Calling but may be followed with Truth and with a good Conscience: they that plead the contrary, do tacitly make the holy God to be the Author of Sin; an Inference to be abhor'd as much as he abhors the thing it self. Nothing can make Sin needful. Peter's Lie to save his Life did not justify it, he wept bitterly for it. And if it were a Crime to lie to save his Life, can the pretence of a Livelihood excuse you in it? Cursed is that Trade that cannot be followed without Sin. But your case is otherwise. How many consciencious Persons are there in your very Trades, that had rather die than lie? If People will not believe you when you tell the Truth, much less will they, when you tell Lies. Besure, whatsoever is gotten by your lying, is cursed Gain; Prov. 21. 6. The getting of Treasures by a lying Tongue is a Vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek Death. They that seek Death and Destruction, in this course are sure to find it.
III. I come now in the Third Place, to declare how this Veracity should be exercised by the Tradesman. And that we may not strain this Duty too far; you may know that he is not obliged hereby imprudently to declare always all the Truth he knows; and consequently to discover