Thesethingsdulyconsidered,andmadeuseofbytheetothepreparingofthyhearttothycallingofbuyingorselling;Icomeinthenextplacetoshewtheehowthoushouldestliveinthepractickpartofthisart。Artthoutobuyorsell?
1。Ifthousellest,donotcommend;ifthoubuyest,donotdispraise,anyotherwise,buttogivethethingthatthouhasttodowith,itsjustvalueandworth;forthoucanstnotdootherwiseknowingly,butofacovetousandwickedmind。Whereforeelsearecomoditiesover-valuedbytheSeller,andalsounder-valuedbytheBuyer。Itisnaught,itisnaught,saysthebuyer,butwhenhehathgothisbargainheboasteththereof。{124e}Whathaththismandonenowbutlyedinthedispraisingofhisbargain?andwhydidhedispraiseit,butofacovetousmind,towrongandbeguiletheseller?
2。Artthouaseller,anddothingsgrowdear?setnotthyhandtohelp,orholdthemuphigher;thiscannotbedonewithoutwickednessneither;forthisisamakingoftheshecklegreat:
{125a}Artthouabuyer,anddothingsgrowdear?usenocunningordeceitfullanguagetopullthemdown:forthatcannotbedonebutwickedlytoo。Whatthenshallwedo?willyousay。WhyIanswer:
LeavethingstotheprovidenceofGod,anddothouwithmoderationsubmittohishand。Butsince,whentheyaregrowingdear,thehandthatupholdstheprice,is,forthetime,morestrongthanthatwhichwouldpullitdown;Thatbeingthehandoftheseller,wholovethtohaveitdear,speciallyifitshallriseinhishand: