Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a great and a small; {107f} that is one to buy by, and another to sell by, as Mr. Badman had. Thou shalt not have in thy house divers measures, a great and a small, (and these had Mr. Badman also) but thou shalt have a perfect and a just weight; a perfect and a just measure shalt thou have, that thy days may be lengthened in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. For all that do such things, (that is, that use false Weights and Measures) and all that do unrighteously are abomination to the Lord. See now both how plentiful, and how punctual the Scripture is in this matter. But perhaps it may be objected, that all this is old Law, and therefore hath nothing to do with us under the New Testament. (Not that I think you, neighbour, will object thus:) Well, to this foolish objection, let us make an Answer. First, he that makes this objection, if he doth it to overthrow the authority of those Texts, {108a} discovereth that himself is first cousen to Mr. Badman: For a Just man is willing to speak reverently of those commands. That man therefore hath, I doubt, but little conscience, if any at all that is good, that thus objecteth against the Text: but let us look into the New Testament, and there we shall see how Christ confirmeth the same: Where he commandeth that men make to others good measure, including also that they make good weight; telling such that doe thus, or those that do it not, that they may be encouraged to do it; Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom; for with the same measure that ye mete withall, it shall be measured to you again: {108b} To wit, both from God and man. For as God will shew his indignation against the false man, by taking away even that he hath, so he will deliver up the false man to the Oppressor, and the Extortioner shall catch from him, as well as he hath catched from his neighbour; therefore another Scripture saith, When thou shalt cease to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee. That the New Testament also, hath an inspection into mens Trading, yea even with their weights and measures, is evident from these general exhortations. {108c} Defraud not; lye not one to another; let no man goe beyond his brother in any matter, for God is the avenger of all such: whatsoever you do, do it heartily, as unto the Lord, doing all in his name, to his glory; and the like. All these injunctions and commandments do respect our life and conversation among men, with reference to our dealing, trading, and so consequently they forbid false, deceitful, yea all doings that are corrupt.
Having thus in a word or two shewed you, that these things are bad; I will next, for the conviction of those that use them, shew you, where God saith they are to be found. {109a}
1. They are not to be found in the house of the good and godly man, for he, as his God, abhorrs them; but they are to be found in the house of evil doers, {109b} such as Mr. Badmans is. Are there, saith the Prophet, yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abomination? {109c} Are they there yet, notwithstanding Gods forbidding, notwithstanding Gods tokens of anger against those that do such things? O how loth is a wicked man to let goe a sweet, a gainful sin, when he hath hold of it! They hold fast deceit, they refuse to let it goe.
2. These deceitful Weights and Measures are not to be found in the house of the Mercifull, but in the house of the Cruel; in the house of them that love to oppress. {109d} The Ballances of deceit are in his hand, he loveth to oppress. {109e} He is given to oppression and cruelty, therefore he useth such wicked things in his calling. Yea he is a very cheat, and as was hinted before, concerning Mr. Badmans breaking, so I say now, concerning his using these deceitful weights and measures, it is as bad, as base, as to take a purse, or pick a pocket; for it is a plain robbery, it takes away from a man that which is his own, even the price of his money.
3. The deceitful Weights and Measures are not to be found in the house of such as relieve the belly, and that cover the loyns of the poor, but of such as indeed would swallow them up. {109f} Hear ye this, ye that swallow up the needy, and that make the poor of the land to fail, saying, When will the new Moon be gone that we may sell corn, and the Sabbath that we may set forth Wheat, making the Ephah small and the Sheckle great, (making the Measure small, and the Price great) and falsifying the Ballances by deceit, that ye may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shooes, and sell the refuse of the Wheat. The Lord hath sworn by the excellencie of Jacob, surely I will not forget any of their works. {109g} So detestable and vile a thing is this in the sight of God.