Life and Death of Mr. Badman by John Bunyan (most life changing books TXT) 📕

When Abraham would buy a Burying-place of the Sons of Heth, thus he said unto them. Intreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar, that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he hath, in the end his field. For as much as it is worth shall he give it me. Gen. 23. 8, 9. {110c} He would not have it under foot, he scorned it, he abhored it: It stood not with his Religion, Credit, nor Conscience. So also when David, would buy a field of Ornon the Jebusite: Thus he said unto him: Grant me the place the threshing-floor, that I may build an Altar there unto the Lord. Thou shalt give it me for the full price. {119d} He also, as Abraham, made conscience of this kind of dealing: he would not lie at catch to go beyond, no not the Jebusite, but will give him his full price for his field. For he knew that there was wickedness, as in selling too dear so in buying too cheap, therefore he would not do it.

There ought therefore to be good conscience used, as in selling, so in buying; for ‘tis also unlawful for a man to goe beyond or to defraud his neighbour in buying; yea ‘tis unlawful to doe it in any matter, and God will plentifully avenge that wrong: as I also before have forewarned and testified. See also the {119e} text in the margent. But,

Secondly, if it be lawful for me always to sell my commodity as dear, or for as much as I can, then it is lawful for me to deal with my neighbour without the use of {120a} charity: but it is not lawful for me to lay aside, or to deal with my neighbour without the use of charity, therefore it is not lawful for me always to sell my commodity to my neighbour for as much as I can. A man in dealing should as really design his Neighbours good, profit, and advantage, as his own: For this is to exercise Charity in his dealing.

That I should thus use, or exercise charity towards my Neighbour in my buying and selling, &c. with him, is evident from the general command: [Let all your things be done in charity:] {120b} But that a man cannot live in the exercise of charity, that selleth, as afore, as dear, or that buyeth as cheap as he can, is evident by these reasons.

1. He that sells his commodity as dear, or for as much money (always) as he can, seeks himself, and himself only; (but charity seeketh not her own, nor her own only {120c}:) So then, he that seeks himself, and himself onely, as he that sells (as afore) as dear as he can, does; maketh not use of, nor doth he exercise charity, in his so dealing.

2. He that selleth his commodity (always) for as much as he can get, hardeneth his heart against all reasonable entreaties of the buyer. But he that doth so, cannot exercise charity in his dealing; therefore it is not lawful for a man to sell his commodity, as afore, as dear as he can.

Thirdly, If it be lawful for me to sell my commodity, as afore, as dear as I can, then there can be no sin in my Trading, how unreasonably soever I manage my calling, whether by Lying, Swearing, Cursing, Cheating; for all this is but to sell my commodity as dear as I can: but that there is sin in these, is evident, therefore I may not sell my commodity always as dear as I can. {120d} {120e}

Fourthly, He that sells, as afore, as dear as he can, offereth violence to the law of Nature: {121b} for that saith, Doe unto all men, even as ye would that they should doe unto you. {121a} Now, was the Seller a Buyer, he would not that he of whom he buyes, should sell him always as dear as he can; therefore he should not sell so himself, when it is his lot to sell, and others to buy of him.

Fifthly, He that selleth, as afore, as dear as he can, makes use of that instruction, that God hath not given to others, but sealed up in his hand, {121c} to abuse his Law, and to wrong his neighbour withall: which indeed is contrary to God. {121d} God hath given thee more skill, more knowledge and understanding in thy commodity than he hath given to him that would buy of thee. But what! canst thou think, that God has given thee this, that thou mightest thereby make a prey of thy neighbour? that thou mightest thereby goe beyond and beguile thy neighbour? No, verily; but he hath given thee it, for his help; that thou mightest in this, be eyes to the blind, and save thy neighbour from that dammage, that his ignorance, or necessity, or fondness would betray him into the hands of.

Sixthly, In all that a man does, he should have an eye to the glory of God, {121f} but that he cannot have that sells his commodity always for as much as he can, for the reasons urged before.

Seventhly, All that a man does, he should doe in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ; {121g} that is, as being commanded, and authorized to doe it by him: but he that selleth always as dear as he can, cannot so much as pretend to this, without horrid blaspheming of that Name, because commanded by him to doe otherwise.

Eightly, and lastly, In all that a man does, he should have an eye to the day of Judgment, and to the consideration of how his actions will be esteemed of in that day. {121h} Therefore there is not any man can or ought to sell always as dear as he can: unless he will, yea he must say, in so doing, I will run the hazard of the tryal of that day,

If thou sell ought unto thy neighbour, or buyest ought of thy neighbour, ye shall not oppress one another. {122a}

Atten. But why doe you put in those cautionary words? They must not sell [always] as dear, nor buy [always] as cheap as they can: doe you not thereby intimate that a man may sometimes do so?

Wise. I doe indeed intimate that somtimes the seller may sell as dear, and the buyer buy as cheap as he can; but this is allowable only in these cases: When he that sells is a Knave, and lays aside all good conscience in selling; or when the buyer is a Knave, and layes aside all good conscience in buying. If the buyer therefore lights of a Knave, or if the seller lights of a Knave, then let them look to themselves: but yet so, as not to lay aside conscience, because he that thou dearest with doth so: but how vile or base soever the chapman is, do thou keep thy commodity at a reasonable price: or if thou buyest, offer reasonable gain for the thing thou wouldest have: and if this will not do with the buyer or seller, then seek thee a more honest chapman: If thou objectest, But I have not skil to know when a pennyworth is before me: Get some that have more skill than thy self in that affair, and let them in that matter dispose of thy money. But if there were no Knaves in the world, these objections need not be made.

And thus, my very good neighbour, have I given you a few of my reasons, why a man that hath it, should not always sell too dear, nor buy as cheap as he can: but should use good Conscience to God, and Charity to his Neighbour in both.

Atten. But were some men here, to hear you, I believe they would laugh you to scorn.

Wise. I question not that at all, for so, {122b} Mr. Badman used to doe, when any man told him of his faults: he used to think himself wiser than any, and would count, as I have hinted before, that he was not arrived to a manly spirit that did stick or boggle at any wickedness. But let Mr. Badman and his fellowes laugh, I will bear it, and still give them good counsel. But I will remember also, for my further relief and comfort, that thus they that were covetous of old, served the Son of God himself. It is their time to laugh now, that they may mourn in time to come. {122c} And, I say again, when they have laughed out their laugh; He that useth not good conscience to God, and charity to his neighbour, in buying and selling, dwells next dore to an Infidel, and is near of kin to Mr. Badman.

Atten. Well, but what will you say to this question? {123a} (you know that there is no settled price set by God upon any Commodity that is bought or sold under the Sun; but all things that we buy and sell, do ebbe and flow, as to price, like the Tide:) How (then) shall a man of a tender conscience doe, neither to wrong the seller, buyer, nor himself, in buying and selling of commodities?

Wise. This Question is thought to be frivolous by all that are of Mr. Badmans way; ‘tis also difficult in it self: yet I will endeavour to shape you an Answer, {123b} and that first to the matter of the question; to wit, How a Tradesman should, in Trading, keep a good conscience; (A buyer or seller either.) Secondly, How he should prepare himself to this work, and live in the practice of it.

For the first: He {123c} must observe what hath been said before, to wit, he must have conscience to God, charity to his neighbour; and I will add, much moderation in dealing. Let him therefore keep within the bounds of the affirmative of those eight reasons that before were urged to prove, that men ought not in their Dealing, but to do Justly and mercifully ‘twixt man and man; and then there will be no great fear of wronging the seller, buyer, or himself.

But particularly to prepare, or instruct a man to this work:

1. Let the Tradesman or others consider, that there is not that in great Gettings, and in abundance, which the most of men do suppose: For all that a man has over and above what serves for his present necessity and supply, serves only to feed the lusts of the eye. For what good is there to the owners thereof, save the beholding of them with their eyes? {123d} Men also, many times, in getting of riches, get therewith a snare to their soul: {123e} But few get good by getting of them. But this consideration, Mr. Badman could not abide.

2. Consider, that the getting of wealth dishonestly (as he does, that getteth it without good conscience and charity to his neighbour,) is a great offender against God. Hence he says, I have smitten mine hands at thy dishonest gain, which thou hast made. {124a} It is a manner of speech that shews anger in the very making of mention of the Crime. Therefore,

3. Consider, that a little honestly gotten, though it may yield thee but a dinner of herbs at a time, will yield more peace therewith, than will a stalled Ox, ill gotten. Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues without right. {124b}

4. Be thou confident, that Gods eyes are upon all thy wayes, and that he pondereth all thy