Works of John Bunyan - Complete

tle to go on. We have a great many people in the country too that live all their days in the pr

enpence damage to him, and that is something to a poor man.[54] So he goeth to one of his masters or dames for what he wanteth, and asks them to help him with such a thing; yes, say they, you may have it; but withal they will give him a gripe, perhaps make him pay as much or more for it at home, as they can get when they ha

piecemeal; they are got into a way, after a stinging rate, to play their game upon such by extortion: I mean such who buy up butter, cheese, eggs, bacon, &c. by

a grievous sin. 'He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.' Therefore he saith again, 'Rob not the

estate, yea and of the soul too, of them that oppress the poor. Their soul we shall better see where, and in what condition that is in, when

fall into their mouths, and are necessitated to have, as they can, for their need, and they are resolved they shall pay soundly for it. Perhaps some will find fault for my meddling thus with other folks' matters, and for my thus prying into the

ere is abundance of

es called pawnbrokers, that lend money and goods to poor people, who are by necessity forced to such an inconvenience; and will make, by one trick or other, the interest of what they so lend amount to t

it for the society of men; but methinks by some of those things you discoursed bef

And if I should say the contrary, I should justify Mr. Badman and all the rest of that gang; but that I never shall do, for the Word of G

for me, in my dealing with others, to lay aside good conscience, &c. Therefore it is not lawful for me always to sell my commodity as dear, or for as much as I can. That it is not lawful to lay aside good consc

an. But that he cannot do with a good conscience, for that is to overreach, and to go beyond my chapman, and is forbidden (1 Thess 4:6

t he cannot do with a good conscience, for that is to go beyond and defraud his neighbour, contrary to 1 Thessalonians 4:6. Therefo

fondness; but that a man cannot do with a good conscience, for that is still a going beyond him, contrary to 1 Thessalonians 4:6

eth, thus he said unto them: 'Intreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar, that he may give me the cave of Macphelah, which he hath-in the end of his field; for as much-as it is worth' shall he give it me (Gen 23:8,9). He would not have it under foot, he scorned it, he abhorred it; it stood not with his religion, credit, nor conscience. So also, when David would buy a field of Ornan the Jebusite, thus he said unto him, 'Grant me the

o go beyond or to defraud his neighbour in buying; yea, it is unlawful to do it in any matter, and God will plent

. 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 nei

from the general command-'Let all your things be done with charity' (1 Cor 16:14). But that a man cannot live in th

t charity seeketh not her own, not her own only (1 Cor 13). So then he that seeks himself, and himself only, as he

all reasonable entreaties of the buyer. But he that doth so cannot exercise charity in his de

nably soever I manage my calling, whether by lying, swearing, cursing, cheating, for all this is but to sell my commodity as de

ye would that they should do unto you (Matt 7:12). Now, was the seller a buyer, he would not that he of whom he buys should s

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 hath given thee this that thou mightest thereby make a prey of thy neighbour? that thou mightest thereby go beyond and

y of God, but that he cannot have that sells his commodity

and authorized to do it by him (Col 3:17). But he that selleth always as dear as he can, cannot so muc

(Acts 24:15,16). 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 h

t not sell always as dear, nor buy always as cheap as they ca

ave, 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 dealest 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 wouldst have, and if this w

man that hath it should not always sell too dear nor buy as cheap as he can

re to hear you, I believe t

But let Mr. Badman and his fellows laugh, I will bar it, and still give them good counsel (Luke 16:13-15). 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 n

at is bought or sold under the sun, but all things that we buy and sell do ebb and flow, as to price, like the tide; how then