114 Virell-9· Virt/J. re. ~·JI·2· ·Cafes about -Coi1tra8s. it more handfomely in fewer words, and be gone! And do not tempt the feller to multiply words, beoiufe you do fo. · ~· 9· Direct. 9· Have no m!Jre todo in bargaining with othtrl, tjjJtciaUy A'ith cenforious perfonr than you Heeds mujl : For in much dealing ufually rhcre will be much mifunderfianding, offence cet(: furc and complaint. ' · ~· 10. Direct. 10. In doubtful ctJfes, r:J:~ben you are uncertain what i1 lawful, cboo[t that. fide which i1 faftft to the peace of your crm{citncts hereafter; thoHgb it be againjf your comml)diry, and may prove tht lofing of yo•r right. Tic. 1. Cafes of Confcience abollt Jujlice in (ontraBs. §. r. Q!.eft. •·MV(! I al..,ayts Jo as 1•ould bt dont by? Or bath tbit Rule any ExctptionJ? Anfw. The Rule intcndcth no more but that your juft felf-denyal and love to others, be duly extrcifed in your dealings with all. And 1. lt fuppofeth that your own wiU or de– fires be honelt and juft, and rhat Gods Law be their Rule. For a finful wiU may not be made the rule of your own,a6l:ions or of other mens. He that would have another make him drunk, may not therefore ma.l<c'another drunk: And he that would abufe another' mans Wife, may not therefore dcfirc that another man would luft after or abufe his Wife. He that would not be infiructcd, re– proved, or reformed, may not therefore forbear the infiruG\:ing or reproving others. And he that would kill himfclf, may not therefore kill another. But he that would have no hurt donu to himfelf injurioufly !bould do none to others : And he that would have others do him good, .!hould be as willing to do good to them. 2. It fuppofcth that the matter be to be varyed according to your various conditions. A Parent that juftly dcfircrli his child to obey him, is not bound therefore to obey his child ; nor the Prince td obey his fubjech; nor the Maftcr to do all the work for his fervants, which he would have his Ce(· vanrs do for him. But you mufi deal by another, as you would ( regularly ) have them di,al by you, if you were in their cafe, and they in yours. And on rhefe terms it is a ·Rule of Rifh· rcoufncfs. 9· •· Q;!cft. 2· Is a Son bound by tbt coHtrallwbicb hit Parentt or Guardians mi!dt for him in hif itJjancy? . -4nf... To fome things he is bound, and to fame things not. The Infant is capable of being ob– liged by another upon four accounts: I• As he is the Parents own ; (or a Mafters to whom he ts in abfolute fcrvitude. ) 2. As he is robe Ruled by the Parents. 3· As he is a Dtbtor to his Parents for be· ndits received. 4• As he is an expcChmt or capable of future bentfits to be enjoyed upon conditi· ons to be performed by him. •· No Parents or Lord have an AbfoJutt Prnpritty in any rational crea– ture; but they have a Propritty {ecHitdr~m quid, & ~:~d IJoc : And a Parents propriety du::1 in pJ.tt ex. pire or abate, as the SOn groweth up to the full ufe of reafon , and fo b3.rh a greater propriety in himfelf. Therefore he may oblige his Son only (on this account) fo far as his propriety extend~ eth, and to fuch aCts' and to no other: For in rhofe his Will is reputatively his Sons will. As if a 'Parent fell his Son to fcrvitude, he is bound to fuch fcrvice as befeemeth one m1n to put another 'to. 2~ As he isReC'cor to his Child, he may by contra& with a third perfon pwmife' th" his child fi•all do fuch acts, as he hath power 10 command and caufe him to do: A< to read, to hear Gods Word, to labour as he is able; But lhis no longer, thm whik he is under his P.arents Government : And fa long Obedience rtquireth him to perform their contracts, in performing their commands. 3· The child having received his Being and maintenance from his Parents, remaineth obliged to them as his Benefactors in the debt of gratitude as long as he liverh: And that fo cleeply that fome have quefiioncd whether ever he can require them: (which quoad vMlorem bmeficii he can do only by furthering their falvation; as many a child hath been the caufe ofthe Parents converlion.) And fo far as the Son is thns a debtor to the Parents, he is obliged to do that which rhe Parents by contract with a third perfon fhal! irnpofe upon him. As if the Pucnts could not be delivered out of captivity, but by obliging the Son to pay a great.fumm of money, or to live in fervitude for their r<ieafe; Though they never gave him any money, yet he is bound to P•Y the fumm; if he cm get it, or to perform the fcrvitude : Becaufe he hath received more from them, even his being. 4· As the Parents arc both Owners ({tcundum quia) and Rulers and Benrfanors to their child, in all three refpects conjunct, they may oblige him to a third perfon who is willing to b: his Benefactor, by a condirional obligation to perform fuch conditions that he may poff'efs fuch or fuch benetits : And thus a Guardian or any friend who is tit to interpofe for him may oblige him. As to take a leaft in his name, in which he lhall be bound to pay fuch a rent, or do fuch a fervice, that he may re– ceive fuch a commodity which is greater. Thus Parents oblige their children under Civil G~vernmems to the Laws of the Society ox Kingdom, that they may have the proteCTion and benefi_rs of fubjeG\:s. In thefc cafes the child can complain of no injury; for it is for his benefit that he JS ob– li~ed : And the Parent (in this rcfpc&) cannot oblige him to his hurt ; For if he wil) ouic the be· netit, he m:ay be freed when he will from his obligation, and may rcfufe to fiand to rh~: Covenant if he dillike it• . If he will give up his !cafe, he may be difobliged from the Rent and ftrvice. §. 3·
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