zo6 IV. Queßions:andCafes ofConfcience Chap. zz: Queft.What are thegeneral rules that (hri.tliansShould obferve in alltheir deal- ings with ethers ? Anfw. That we carry and behave our felves fimply and uprightly, honefily, andwith a good confcience as in the fight ofGod, who fees not only our out- ward aStions , but the inward thoughts of our hearts : and therefore they fhould do as Paul, Heb. 13. 18. We trufl that w. have a Pool confcience in all things willing to live hon: fly ; and on the the contrary , in all our contra s we mutt Elam all guile, and deceit , and all double dealing tendin to the undermining and circumventing our neighbours , as Paul exhorts , i 7 het, q.6. Let ro beyond, or d. f rand brother,& c. and David tells us, Pfnl. S. 6. that God -abhors the deceitful man. uea. Pi.lat particular rules are to be ebferved ? Firit, in all ourdealings we muff obferve truth in all our words, and not only fpeak it fromour lips, but from our hearts, hating, and avoiding all fub- til equivocations, and mental refervations tending todeceive thofe with whom we deal, Zac.8.16. Secondly, we muff ufe fidelity in all our protnifes , performing them though it be ro our own hindrance , unleiTe he towhom we make them,do releafe us, Pfal. 15. a. 4. Thirdly, jut-lice in all our anions, giving every man his due, and dealing with others as we wouldhave them deal with us. Fourthly, charity and compaflìon inremitting our right in whole, or in part when the bargainproves hard,and to th_ hindrance of our poor neighbour who is not able to bear it. Fifthly, patience, and contentedneffe whenwe fuftain damage, or be other- wife croffed, or overreached in any of our contrasts , either purpofely by thole withwhomwe deal, or by Some cafualty which could not be forefeen. deft. What evils are to beavoided inour dealings withothers? Anfw. Firft, lying, and equivocation which is as bad, Prov. 21: 6. Getting treafur.s by a lying tongue is avanity, c c. Pron. t. wealth gotten by varsi- ty (hall b: dim nijhed, Cí c.yea, thou:,h a man could get the whole world by it , what would it profit him Peeing thereby he lofes his foule, Rev. 22. 11. and 2.1. 8. Secondly, all perfideoufneffe, and breach of promife, though it tend to our great advantage, feeing God will never bleife goods gotten by fuch meanes : Or if we Should thrive by it, our worldly gaine will never recompence our fpirikial lofee, Prov. so. z. Treafures of wicbjdueffe profit nothing, d'e. Thirdly, uncharitableneffe , miring our gain out of our neighbours lofee , whereas, as fellow members, we fhould labour to thrive together. Fourthly, we muff not through impatience fret, andmurmur when wemeet with croffes and loffes inour contra&s , but be content fometirnes to lofe as well as to gain , For which end we muffnot look fo much to inferiour means, which oft are exceeding faulty , but fax our eyes upon the wife providence of our good God, who governs all things, even filch as feeme molt contin- gent , to his own glory , and the Spiritual, and eternal goodof them that love and fear him. ueff, what duties are required ofminbuying and f !ling ? 4nfw. Thefe were mentioned before, yet I (halt runne them over with force additions. 1. The feller muff be the truly , and lawful owner of the things which he fells, or his deputy appointed by him , and that the buyer do not for his privare gaine , buy any thing from any whom he thinksnot to have anyright to fell it : therefore they offend which buy ftollengoods ifthey know it, o r who
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