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pay unreasonably, because thou feeft he extreamly wants it, and must have it. An unreasonable price is that which exceeds the true worth of the thing, confidered with thofe moderate gains which all tradesmen are prefumed to be allowed in the fale of their commodities. Confider foberly what the thing is worth, and for what thou wouldst afford it to another (of whom thou hadft no fuch advantage) and accordingly rate it to him. Do nothing to any man, but what thy felf, or any honeft-minded man (according to right reafon, and common juftice) would be content to have done to him. The truth is, in the whole bufineffe of traffick, there are so many op portunities of deceit, that a man had need fortifie 1 himself with firm refolutions, and have in his heart a great love of justice, or he will be in danger to fall under temptation.

VI. Do not ingroffe corn in a time offcarcity, Prov.11.26. He that withholdeth corn, the people fhall curfe him. And that both buyers and fellers may be perfwaded to make Confcience of thefe things, let them confider,

1. The commonneffe of injustice is a reproach to Christianity. The Name of Christ is blafphemed among Turks and Infidels, by the injustice, fraud, and deceit that is practifed among too many that call themselves Chriftians: And methinks, this very reafon should make us abhor

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2. A fecret curfe ufually goes along with ill gotten goods, and a strange unprofperoufnelle (for the most part) attends ill gotten eftates: Whereas the bleffing of God doth wonderfully accompany juft and righteous dealing; and makes that which is fo got to proper.

3. What will it profit a man to gain never fo much, and lofe his foul? Thou thinkeft ( may be) thou hast been very cunning, when thou haft over reached thy Neighbour, but confidereft not, there is another all the while overreaching thee, and cheating thee of that which is infinitely more precious, even thy immortal foul. And alas! What will it eafe thee in Hell, to think thou haft left a great deal of wealth behind thee upon Earth?

4. Remember, what is unrighteously got by defranding and injuring another, must not only be repented of before God, but reftitution thereof, or other fatisfaction made to the party wronged. For God pardons no fin we will pertinaciously retain and live in, Prov.28.13. He that covereth his fins, fhall not profper, but whefo confeßeth and forfaketh them, fhall find mercy And he that re Storeth not ill gotten goods, liveth ftill in his fin, and repenteth not of it; leeing reftitution is an infeparable fruit of true repentance. Take heed therefore of all unjust getting, and all unjust detaining: For in fuch cases, reftitution is to be made in kind or value to the perfon wronged, if

alive: If he be dead, to his heirs: If they cannot be known, to the poor. And equity requireth that the time be confidered, wherein his right has been detained from him.

For reftitution we have,

1. Gods Command. God requireth if any thing be gotten either by violence, fraud, or dea ceit, reftitution should be made to the true owner, Lev.6.2. If a foul fin, and commit a trespasse against the Lord, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep,or in fellowship or in athing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour; V.3. Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falfly, in any of all these that a man doth, finning therein: 3 V.4. Then it fhall be, because he hath finned and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the loft thing which he found.

2. We have examples for it. Fofephs brethren reftored the money found in their Jacks, Gen.41. 12. Zacheus practifed it, Luke 19.8. And Zacheus ftood, and faid unto the Lord, behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor, and if I have taken any thing from any man by falfe accufation, I restore him fourfold. Yea, Fudas himself, being convinced of his fin, made reftitution, Matth. 27.3. Then Fudas which had betraied him, when he faw that he was condemned, repented Cc 3

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himself, and brought again the thirtypists of ver to the chief Priests and Elders.

3.There is this great reafen for it: For on pentance is not fincere, if we do not labour tax do our fins again: Now he that reftoreth m gotten goods, liveth ftill in his fin, and doth labour to retract and revoke it, as he ongi do. And because many are loath to come to: hard duty of reftitution, for fear of shame w proach that may acrue to them thereby; they defire fome Godly Minifter, or fome f Christian friend to tranfact that befe them; who (if they fee caufe) may com names, and yet prefent the fatisfaction tion by them fent to the injured pers. whoever in fingleneffe of heart, and and prefence of God, do thus labour to their fin, and clear their fouls of guilt by rather to part with some of their fubftan to retain what they ought not; I am mot s will find abundance of comfort in fo daing. i Upon all thefe confiderations labour to that which is the root of all injustice, Covetousneffe. And remember, that ap tional accounts, true Piety and exact Hom the best policy. A little righteously got iss then the great treafures of the wicked.

1 Tim.6.6. Godlinese with contentment 5 gain.

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V.9. But they that will be rich fall into temptati. on, and a fnare, and into many foolish and hurtful lufts, which drown men in deftruction and perdition.

V.10. For the love of money is the root of all evil, which while fome coveted after, they have erred from the Faith, and pierced themselves through with many forrowes.

1 Thef.4.6. Let no man go beyond, or defraud his brother in any matter, because that the Lord is the avenger of all fach, as we also have forewarned you, and teftified.

Eph.5.5. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean perfon, nor covetous man who is an Idolater, hath any inheritance in the Kingdom of Chrift, and of God.

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Lev.25.14. And if thou fell ought unto thy neighbour, or buyeft ought of thy neighbours hand, ye shall not oppreffe one another.

Ezek. 33. 15. If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he hath robbed, walk in the Statutes of life without committing iniquity, he fhall farely live, he shall not die.

Numb. 5.6. Speak unto the Children of Ifrael, when a man or woman fhall commit any fin, that men commit, to do a trespaß against the Lord, and that perfon be guilty,

V.7. Then they shall confeffe their fin which they have done, and he shall recompenfe his trefpaffe with the principal thereof,& add unto it the fifth CC 4

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