N01536:39
Fair dealing between debtor and creditor. A very brief essay upon the caution to…
Fair dealing between debtor and creditor. A very brief essay upon the caution to be used, about coming in to debt, and getting out of it. Offered at Boston-lecture; 5. d. XI. m. 1715/16. / By Cotton Mather, D.D. & F.R.S. ; [Two lines of quotation]
Boston: printed by B. Green for Samuel Gerrish, 1716
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
The Fifth MAXIM.
The Man that is got into Debt, ought to get out of it, as fast as be can, and as if it were for his Life.
Unto a Man that is fallen into the Toils of Debt, there is this Advice given; Prov. VI. 5. Deliver thy self as a Roe from the hand of the Hunter, and as a Bird from the hand of the Fowler. What is a Debt, but a Load: An honest Man should feel it as a Load, and groan under the Load; But not cry for, more Weight!—as the Miserables that are Pressing to Death use to do. He that is in Debt, should be in Pain, to get out of it. Especially, if the Time when the Payment becomes due, be arrived, it should be like the Pain of a Broken Bone unto him. For indeed, it is a very true Assertion; Minus Solvit qui minus tempore Solvit; A Man does not Pay the Sum, if he don't pay it in the Time that is agreed for. Debtor, Be thou so Solicitous in Complying with Time for every Payment; and be so Indefatigable in turning every Stone for the Satisfaction of thy Creditor, that he may have no manner of reason to Reproach thee, for ⟨p. 19⟩any Carelessness, and Slothfulness, any Tendency to the least Appearance of Evil in thee. And here occurs one thing to be more particularly animadverted on. When a Poor Man has done any Work for a Rich Man, whom he has much dependence on, and he comes for his Dues; the Rich ought not now to answer him roughly, and put him off time after time, and make him Lose, I know not how much Time, in giving Attendance on him. Detained Wages will anon make a Cry that will reach the Heavens. 'Tis Enjoined,