A guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties wherein it consisteth, the helpes inabling & the reasons parswading vnto it ye impediments hindering ye practise of it, and the best meanes to remoue them whereunto are added diuers prayers and a treatise of carnall securitie by Iohn Douname Batcheler in Diuinitie and minister of Gods Word.

§. Sect. 3 That in all our dealings and bargainings we must carry our selues vp∣rightly and ho∣nestly.

In our contracts and bargaines, whereby we alienate or exchange the things which of right appertaine vnto vs vpon some equall and honest conditions, diuers duties are to bee obserued of all Christians, who haue trading and dealings one with another, some whereof are generall to all contracts, and some more specially respect selling and buying. In all our contracts and dealings, there is generally required, that we carry and be∣haue our selues simply and vprightly, honestly, and with a good consci∣ence, as in the sight and presence of God, who seeth not onely our out∣ward actions and dealings, but also the inward thoughts of our hearts, and our most secret and hidden intentions, according to that of the Apostle, We trust we haue a good conscience in all things, willing to liue honestly. And contrariwise in all our contracts, we must carefully shunne and auoyd all guile and deceit, all hollow and double dealing, tending to the vndermi∣ning and circumuenting of our neighbours. So the Apostle exhorteth, that no man goe beyond or defraud his brother in any matter, because the Lord is the auenger of all such; for as the Psalmist saith, he abhorreth the deceitfull and blood thirstie man. More especially we must in all our dealings obserue truth in all our words, and not onely speake it from our lips, but also from our hearts, hating & auoyding all subtill equiuocations, and mentall reser∣uations, as tending to circumuent and deceiue those with whom we deale. Secondly, fidelity in all our promises, performing them, although it be to our owne hindrance, vnlesse he to whom they are made doth release vs of them. Thirdly, iustice in all our actions, giuing euery man his due, and dea∣ling with others, as we would haue them to deale with vs. Fourthly, charity and compassion in remitting our right in whole or in part, when as the bargaine prooueth hard, and to the great losse and hinderance of our poore neighbours, who are not able to beare it. And lastly, patience and contentednesse, when we sustaine any damage and detriment, or be other∣wise crossed or ouer-reached in any of our contracts, either purposely by those with whom we deale, or by some casualty or accident which could not bee foreseene. Contrariwise in all our contracts we must auoyd lying, and that which is equall vnto it, equiuocation; For the getting of treasures by a lying tongue, is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seeke death. And againe, Wealth gotten by vanity, shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour, shall increase; yea though a man could by lying, get the whole world, what would this profit him, seeing thereby hee shall lose his owne soule? For liars shall not onely be excluded out of the Kingdome of heauen, but also haue their portion in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. With like care wee must auoid in our dealings all perfidious∣nesse

and breach of promise, although it tend to our great aduantage, seeing God will not blesse goods gotten by breach of couenants, and though we should thriue by such courses, our worldly gaine will in no sort recompence our spirituall losse. We must shun also all kinde of vniustice in our contracts, seeing though it bring in present gaine, yet no profit in the end; For the treasures of wickednesse profit nothing; but righteousnesse de∣liuereth from death. Likewise we must auoyd all vncharitablenesse, raysing our gaine out of our neighbours losse, but as fellow-members of the same body, we must aduance, as much as in vs lieth, our mutuall profit, and in some equality thriue together. Finally, we must not, through impatiency, murmure and repine, fret and fume, when wee meete with any crosses or losses in our contracts, but be content sometime to lose as well as gaine; and to this end we must not haue our eyes too much fastened vpon secon∣dary causes and inferiour meanes, which perhaps are exceeding crosse and faulty, but lift them aboue the earth, and fixe them vpon the most wise prouidence of our good and gracious God, who gouerneth all things which seeme most contingent and casuall, and so disposeth of them, as is most for his owne glory, and the spirituall good and euerlasting salua∣tion of all those that loue and depend vpon him.

Notes

• Heb. 13. 18.
• Micah 7. 2.
• 1. Thes. 4. 6.
• Psal. 5. 6.
• Zach. 8. 16. Psal. 15. 2.
• Ʋers. 4.
• Pro. 21. 6.
• Pro. 13. 11.
• Apoc. 22. 15. & 21. 8.
• Pro. 10. 2.