Scripture rules to be observed in buying and selling. By Mr. Christopher Love, late…

5. Do not long defer the paying for those Commodities which you have bought, when thou hast by the where with all to pay it: there is an excellent place for this in Prov. 3, 27, 28. withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thy hand to do it: say not unto thy neighbour, Go and come again, and to morrow I will give, when thou hast it by thee, This text is referred to works of mercy, but it hath relation to buying and selling, and trading in the world: If you owe a man money for a Commodity, you ought to pay him, and not to let him come day after day for it: and go without it, when you have it by you, 2 Kings. 4.7. it is the badge of a wicked man in Scripture, not to pay his debts, in Psal. 37.21. The wicked borroweth and payeth not again.

6. Do not engross a Commodity, that is, do not buy all of a Commodity into your own hands alone, that by that means you may sell the Commodity at your own price; this is a mere oppression, destructive to a Commonwealth, and to all trading; the Scripture condemns this in Prov. 11.26. it is spoken there of Corn-mongers; saith the Text. He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him; but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it. In Solomons time there were Corn-mongers that when corn was cheap, would go and buy all the corn in the country, and would keep it up, and sell none till corn was very dear; now, saith the Text, He that doth thus, the people shall curse him for it; but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it. Now, it is no sin in it-self to engross a Commodity, thereby to sell it the cheaper, but for a man to engross a Commodity, merely thereby to advance the price of it; this is such an oppression, that the people shall curse him for it.