A Body of Practical Divinity

(5.) The Shop-Thief, he steals in selling, (1.) Who useth False Weights and Measures, and so steals from others what is their due. Amos 5.8. Who make the Ephah small. The Ephah was a Measure the Jews used in Selling; they made the Ephah small, gave scant measure, which was plain stealing. Hos. 12.7. The Balances of Deceit are in his Hand. Men by making their Weights lighter, make their Accounts heavier. (2.) He steals in selling, who puts excessive Prices on his Commodities. He takes thrice as much for a Commodity as it cost him, or as it is worth. To over-reach others in selling, is to steal Mens Money from them. Lev. 19.13. Thou shalt not defraud thy Neighbour, neither rob him. To defraud him is to rob him. This over-reaching others in selling, (which is a cunning way of stealing) is both against Law and Gospel. 1. It is against the Law of God. Levit. 25.14. If thou sell ought to thy Neighbour, ye shall not oppress one another. And, 2. Against Gospel. 1 Thess. 4.6. Let no Man go beyond, or defraud his Brother. It is stealing.

(5.) The Shop-Thief, he steals in selling, (1.) Who useth False Weights and Measures, and so steals from others what is their due. Amos 5.8. Who make the Ephah small. The Ephah was a Measure the Jews used in Selling; they made the Ephah small, gave scant measure, which was plain stealing. Hos. 12.7. The Ballances of Deceit are in his Hand. Men by making their Weights lighter, make their Accounts heavier. (2.) He steals in selling, who puts excessive Prices on his Commodities. He takes thrice as much for a Commodity as it cost him, or as it is worth. To over-reach others in selling, is to steal Mens Money from them. Lev. 19.13. Thou shalt not defraud thy Neighbour, neither rob him. To defraud him is to rob him. This over-reaching others in selling, (which is a cunning way of stealing) is both against Law and Gospel. 1. It is against the Law of God.