Fair dealing between debtor and creditor. A very brief essay upon the caution to…

The first MAXIM.

A Man that is going into Debt, should keep the Eye of Prudence Open, upon every Step that is before him. To run in the Dark, when One is going into Debt; This is Folly in the Exaltation of it: One going into Debt, should with a Rational Prospect, be able to see his whole way Plain before him. People without Foresight should never go into Debt; without Foresight, of what in the Progress of their way they may meet withal. It was an ancient Prayer; Psal. V. 8. Because of my Observers, make thy way strait before my Face. My Friend, Because of thy Creditors, Be sure of a Strait way, and go not into Debt, without a Way lying Plain before thy Face, for every step of thy Motions. The Jews have ⟨p. 10⟩a Tradition, that our Father Adam was the Author of that Saying, No Man would Sin if he saw from the Beginning to the End. Most certainly very many among the Children of Adam, would not run into Debt, as they do, if they did but see from the Beginning to the End. Going into Debt, make a Pause, and think, Will it not be Bitterness in the Latter End? The conduct of Prudence, is that; Prov. XX••, A Prudent Man foresees the Evil and hides himself. Sirs, When you are going into Debt, thoroughly weigh the Matter. If you can foresee any remarkable Evil, in which you are like to be Entangled by what you do; Then Stop; then stay; then look about you. If you are So Simple, as to pass on, you deserve to be Punished for what you do. The Thing I press for is, That before you go into Debt, you advise with an Ingenious Man that once prevented a deal of Mischief at Ephesus; I mean him, who did a World of Good by that Memorable Saying, Ye ought to do nothing Rashly. When the Temptation of going into Debt comes upon you, [And, there often appears too much cause to Justify my Term, when I call it, of Temptation!] it will be but Prudently done of you, to think; What will be the Consequence of what I am now a doing? Shall not I run my self into inextricable Snares? Am not I pulling on my self insupportable Miseries? Cares