namely that when their poor workmen (by whose art and skill, labours and endeavours they are enriched) come unto their shops and offer them their work and wares to sell for the relief of themselves and families, they put them off and slight their commodities, telling them that they need them not, because they would beat them down to a low and base price, by working upon their pressing necessity; whereas in truth they want and need to buy them, and to procure them would run to their work-houses, if their urgent wants (as a goad in their sides) did not enforce them to outrun them and prevent their haste. Yet howsoever these men deserve to be pitied as oppressed, yet they cannot be cleared as innocent, seeing they likewise use the same arts and slights of lying which I have before condemned in the other, and having made false and deceitful work and wares, they cover usually their faults and defects in workmanship with untruths, affirming them to be perfect and good, durable, profitable and every way for their turn that buy them, when as themselves know that they are bad, slight and good for nothing. So that in respect both of the one and other, we have just cause to ⟨p. 11⟩complain of our Citizens and towns-men in this land, as Ezekiel did sometime of Jerusalem: She hath wearied her self with lies, and her scum went 1not forth out of her. And therefore all that are plain and simple hearted had now, if ever, need to hearken to Jeremies warning: Take ye heed every 2one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity. Thy habitation 3is in the midst of deceit, &c. And yet let me not be here mistaken, as though I judged all men in these places alike and under the same guilt; for I know that there are many of them that truly fearing God, do make conscience of all their words and ways, dealing as they would be done by, and in their trading and conversation, abhorring to seek their advantage by lies and deceit; but I speak only of the greater part, and of the usual and common practice of the most in these days.
namely that when their poore workemen (by whose art and skill, labours and endeavours they are enriched) come unto their shops and offer them their worke and wares to sell for the reliefe of themselves and families, they put them off and slight their commodities, telling them that they need them not, because they would beat them downe to a low and base price, by working upon their pressing necessity; whereas in truth they want and need to buy them, and to procure them would runne to their worke-houses, if their urgent wants (as a goade in their sides) did not enforce them to outrunne them and prevent their haste. Yet howsoever these men deserve to be pitied as oppressed, yet they cannot bee cleared as innocent, seeing they likewise use the same arts and slights of lying which I haue before condemned in the other, and having made false and deceitfull worke and wares, they cover usually their faults and defects in workemanship with untruths, affirming them to bee perfect and good, durable, profitable and every way for their turne that buy them, when as themselves know that they are bad, slight and good for nothing. So that in respect both of the one and other, wee have just cause to ⟨p. 11⟩complaine of our Citizens and townes-men in this land, as Ezechiei did sometime of Jerusalem: She hath wearied her selfe with lyes, and her scumme went 1not forth out of her. And therefore all that are plaine and simple hearted had now, if ever, need to hearken to Ieremies warning: Take ye heed every 2one of his neighbour, and trust yee not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speake the truth: they have taught their tongue to speake lyes, and weary themselves to commit iniquity. Thy habitation 3is in the midst of deceit, &c. And yet let me not bee here mistaken, as though I judged all men in these places alike and under the same guilt; for I know that there are many of them that truely fearing God, doe make conscience of all their words and wayes, dealing as they would bee done by, and in their trading and conversation, abhorring to seeke their advantage by lyes and deceit; but I speake onely of the greater part, and of the usuall and common practice of the most in these dayes.
- 1Ezec. 24. 12.
- 2Jer. 9. 4, 5.
- 3Quid Romae faciam? mentiri nescio. Juvenal. Satyr. 3.
