98 Qlieflions andAnfweres 8.Command. for our wares what poJfb y we may with æn -utter neglea and refufall ofequality. And thefore we fill as we may bee fafe though we neuer bee paid abouehalfe,wefelltoday witha pinching price,we make accompt God marfend vs fame lcffe, and therefore betimes we wrecks, our feint's upon our brethren, and fo take ofthem forthat which we doe fell, and that if it happen that God doe fo deale with vs, we maybe reuenged before hand,andable to abide it if it benot great.To conclude,weart merie/i when we have robbed mofl,and thin gee tiefinging home when wehauegiuenaecafionto the mofttocry. So did and dead are our heartes within vs, and fohatha greedymind torakevp riches fpoyledvsof home or any thought therofto- wards our brethren ,4nd as little confcience there is often in the buyer, who efhemight haue for a penny that is worth.eo pound,could well er. ouch digeftit. And therefore if one in his need come vnto vsforprefent moray, we willnone of bit comma - dity , we want it not , we efleome it not,we lookelightly both of the man and the matter till we haue brought him tomir mvne price,and Godknowes far far vnder the value ofthe thing. So that he which of charity in his needfhonl dbe helped ,ti of-vs commonly byreafon ofhis neede, praied upon and moft cruelly robbed.Andyet we be no thceues.Ah,God be mercifull to vs and awake vs and neuer dealewith vs according to our iniquities for his (hrifls fake. Bit: pale we now onto other branches of this commädement,er fofhallwefarther fee what manner of men Oppreffion. a women we are in obedience to the Lord. Who feeds not, who knowethnot,that all opprefon ofmybrother in hisgoods is contrary to that lose that I ought to beare to him and hi goods ? óS.ieruarits. And how (land me in this matter ? Haue we nester detainedthe poore feruants wages , and wrecked ouranger vponhim to his harme, further than a merciful! heartfhould haue done? Haut wenot taken euen the flower ofhisyouth , the flrength of hisyeares, and the very inyce and fappe o fhit body to fern ourturneswithall , andthen eytberturned him off vnrewarded, ortakertfrom hirn,or diminybedwithoutcaufe,otherthan our ownecouetoufneffe,thtreward that our ancefior gave to his feruice before? if we haue done it, alas st is agreat oppreffwn, a great wrong, and it flandeth not with that loue that I am chargedwithal towards him in this commandement. But a man muff ftrfl know fin before be Can fly it,and now weknow it,I tree; Strangers. we hate it. Haut we neuer againe dealt vnkndly with aflranger, but mien foasifGodfhould baniflo vsfrom our warme home to a forren coafl, we would be glad to feele oarfelues at their Widdow and hands? Ifwehaue ;this üopprefon &wefhould not doit for any thing. Haue we not hurt fathaleite. the defolatewidow, thefatherleffe child, or any whole might wasleffe thanours tobeare offthe hardnes of our hands? Haue we not lift vp ourfarce againfitbemwhen we fawwe might haue Iob,I.22. helped them in the gate ? If wehale,what can wefay why wefhau!denorrotte in pecces for it, and onr armes bee broken from the 6ones,as Iobmilked to him in fuch a cafe? Haue we neuer re/paled the perfon more of one than another in tau fe of iuflice,a firong meanes to drawees to Bribes. oppreffón?Haste we neuer fuferedthefehandes tofeele the weight ofabribersguifttodraree vs toopprefón? Ofpare not tofpieyonrfinnemen roamfie!lifyouhaue offended, and yet accufe notyour felues if you dare boafi of mnocencie. Happie were our connerie and a thou- fand comfortt were it to euerie one of vs if thedulnefe of our heartes in thefedeadlie Finn: pulled not vpon vs the often offending in them , and then fuck fine fuchwrath again from Heaven abone as id moll due varo it. eArlas we fee not neyther ever will bee madetofee,what loue by this lave we oweto all men in their goods , but we robbe them , we fpoyle them ,and we take gif to doe it, andyetwebenotheeues. But God is Godas beeSaueewer,finneisfnne though we willnotfee it , anda Will day ofa iufl reward to merit man for every matter muff there be.WYe beleene tt,we fay it in.aur Articles often,sandyet wedeale as ifwe neuer thought it. what fhoulde I fay ofthat cloaks and cotter and tauft ofmuch opprefan the cloath and li- I.iueries. uerios of Superiours? Am I theginer or the taker? ifI be the giuer, haue I nester blaßred my eognifance out to dea thething that r O D forbiddeth? Haue I hearkened about to fee and learnt bow they vfe the crédite that isgiuen them?God knowes we haue neede to be chargedwith other mensfnnes, no doubtfetch aMafler /l.allwithfucha mans offences. For we 'ball newer be able to beare inour felstes theburthen of our owne.Am I the taker? what then fayeth ray con fcience,haue I fought it and feedfor itfor a feltion , andtree disetie in my heart to him that glues it ?doe I weare it and wi'h to weare it to have my heave knowne to him or her the better wham with heart andband,bodie and goods, powerand might tillmy death in right I . honour andferue and wif h and will dootuer? Orratherafalfe fayth feeðafairefbewe, and
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