Scriptures opened and sundry cases of conscience resolved, in plain and practical answers to several questions, upon the proverbs of Solomon, Ecclesiastes, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel / by that faithful servant of Jesus Christ, William Thomas ...

Prov. 11. 26.

He that with-holdeth Corn, the People shall Curse him: but Blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth Corn.

Qu. IS it absolutely unlawful to lay up Corn; or to keep it at any time from the Market?

Answ. The Answer may be Affirma∣tive and Negative.

1. Affirmative]; In divers Cases Corn may be laid up and with-held from publick Sale; As

1. In a way of prudence for the publick good; so in great Cities (as in London) there are several Granaries for the Supply of poorer people at an easier rate if Dearth should arise; unto which may be referred the taking in of Corn in a greater quantity, into a City like to be besieged; for, in such a case Nature and Reason teacheth Men to keep what they can from the Enemy, 2 Chron. 32. 4. and to get and store up all that is needful for themselves, 1 Kings 20. 22.

2. Every Man is to lay up and keep what is necessary and convenient for the sustenance of himself and Family, and Relations (though out of his Fa∣mily); for, not to do so is against the Humanity of Heathens, and the Faith of Christians, that teacheth to love and take care for, those especially that are more nearly related to us, 1 Tim. 5. 8. Prov. 27. 27. 1 Tim. 5. 16. Joseph had reason out of a special respect to his Fa∣ther and Brethren, that their lives might be preserved, to keep in store the Corn of Egypt, as well as for other publick uses, Gen. 45. 7.

3. Even in time of Scarcity, Men are not to have all that they would have, but to be stinted, that Provision may hold out the better if the Dearth should continue and grow to a greater height, Gen. 45. 6.

2. Negative]; Corn should never be with-held.

1. Out of infidelity, and distrust of any return of plenty, 2 Kings 7. 1, 2, 3. 1 Kings 17. 13, 14. especially when there is a pre∣sent and grievous want of Provision a∣mong many poor people, 1 John 3. 17. To keep from others ready to starve that

I may get more is murther ; their ne∣cessity is to be preferred before my gain and utility; yea, their extremity before my lesser necessity, 2 Cor. 8. 2. 1 Kings 17. 9, 11. See Jer. 37. 21. even in a starved City, a Jeremy (though a Pri∣soner) should have Bread, Prov. 3. 28.

2. Nor out of Covetousness , and a greedy desire of a greater price: To pro∣ject to sell any thing dearer, meerly be∣cause a man gapes after gain is unlawful at any time; for it sets up a self-end, Jer. 47. 5. Luke 12. 21. Jam. 4. 14. To be provident to discharge a Duty is good, as to make honest provision for my self and Family; to pay debts, 2 Kings 4. 7. to help those in necessity. And to trouble a mans house for want of judgment or care to order things dis∣creetly, is a sinful thing, Prov. 11. 29. & 13. 13. But providence to discharge a Duty is one thing, projecting and fore-casting to satisfie a lust, is another thing, and a wicked thing, Luke 12. 18, 19. See 1 Kings 21. 7, 8. Micah 2. 1, 2. Jam. 4. 3.

And to this evil with-holding and With-holder, that which followeth in the Text is to be applied, viz. the people

shall curse him; which they oft do, sin∣fully, but yet, if they do not curse caus∣lesly, it may light heavily on them that give occasion to it, as that Scripture shews, Exod. 22. 23.—Mal. 2. 2. Job 31. 16, 22.

But Blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth Corn; Albeit (perhaps) not from the poor (who are more ready to curse when they want than to bless when they abound), yet it may be expected from God, on them that out of Conscience and Charity, sell Corn; for God useth to supply those more abun∣dantly, who freely part with that they have for others support, as Prov. 3. 9, 10. 2 Chron. 31. 10. Mal. 3. 9, 10. This is more considerable in our Land, where Corn is Meat and Drink both.

Quest. May I not take my opportunity to sell when things be at the best Rate?

Answ. Yes, So it be without my detaining from others (with others that do as I do) that sustenance which at present they dearly want. And there∣fore I may do so, and take the advan∣tage of a greater price, because I am to

use all lawful providence for my main∣tenance, and the increase of my Estate, Prov. 27. 23.

Obj. But if I with-hold to a dearer time, then the Market will be dearer at present than if I brought in, and so the poor will fare the worse.

Answ. 1. If every man should bring out at one time, it would be so much dearer for poor people at another, be∣cause there would be less to be brought or bought.

2. If Corn-Masters should still bring in to the Market, and sell away their Store when there is more Plenty, this would make people groan the more if God should send Scarcity, because there would be less to supply their need when it's grown far greater.

3. It's very fit that the Husbandman should live (by whose Industry all o∣ther men live, Eccles. 5. 9.) as well as they that have nothing to husband, (which even the Scripture it self minds us of, 1 Cor. 9. 7. 2 Tim. 2. 6.) which yet he could not do (with that advan∣tage to his Estate that is needful for

his encouragement) if he sold off all at the lowest rate.

Out of what hath been spoken, there may be observed for our further use, these following Things.

1. The wretchedness of many poor people; If you with-hold Corn, they quickly curse; But if Sermons be with-held from them, What complaint is there? though the one be a perishing, the other an ever-enduring nourishment, (John 6. 27.) yea, How many have declared a lust to the old Law, that is, to Popery, because then all was cheap, and they might have Corn and Belly-stuff at an easier rate than now, though their Souls starved? But if a Man after Gods own heart (Acts 13. 22.) will curse for any thing, it is for being unjustly kept off from Gods own House and spi∣ritual Table, 1 Sam. 26. 19. See Job 23. 12.

2. See here what a fearful thing it is in Ministers (and woful to them, 1 Cor. 9. 17.) to with-hold from poor people (that receive the Gospel) the Corn of Heaven, Psal. 78. 24. Isa. 30. 24. and not bring it forth on the Lords Market-day

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day, Rev. 3. 18. Oft People curse where God doth not; but in this Case, God will curse though People do not Mal. 2. 2, 7, 8, 9. Isa. 56. 9, 10.—Fa∣mine is the worst of Judgments, Lam. 4. 9. a Famine not of Bread but of the Word of God, is the worst of Famines▪ Amos 8. 11, 13. because the Soul is the best of Man, Mat. 16. 26. To affamish the Soul therefore, is the worst of Mur∣thers, to the least of which the curse of God is due, and denounced, Deut. 27. 24.

3, And this also shews that it is not a safe but a sad and dangerous thing for any righteous persons (whose lips should feed many, Prov. 10. 21.) to with-hold from their Company that holy Confe∣rence which (like the Staff of Bread) might be a great stay to them, and keep them from fainting. If thou (saith Ber∣nard ) being adorned with the gifts •••• knowledg and eloquence, dost through fear sloth, or an indiscreet humility, bind up by an unprofitable and damnable silence that good Word which may profit many truly thou art cursed, because thou hide•• Corn from the People.

4. If the Blessing of God shall be on him that selleth Corn, and takes Money

for it, How much more on them that cast their Bread upon the Waters, Eccless. 11. 1. and give Bread-corn to them that cannot live without it, and yet have no Money to give them for it?

Notes

• 1 John 3. 15, 17.
• Luk. 12. 15.
• Super Cantic. Serm. 18. Fol. 134.