Serro. CXVII. of Refitatiozl. 89 by equivalent good Offices, or by Come publick good Work, which may be of common Benefit and Advantage. This is the Fifth thing I propofed to fpeak to, the Perlons concern'd in Reflitution ; both the Perfons who are bound to make Reftitution, and the Perlons to whomit is to be made. Of the ref} hereafter. SERMON C _X VI I, The Nature and Necefíity ofReß:irutión. L u ic E XIX. 8, 9. Andif Ihave taken any thing from any Man by falfe accufation, 1 re- Thefecal fiore hint fourfold. And Jefusfaid unto him, This day is Salvation'Srrman as Y this Tezr, come to this fEoufe. (N fpeaking to there words, I propofed to confider, I Firfl, TheNature of this Duty of Reftitution. Secondly, To thew the Neceffity of it. Thirdly, To perfwade Men to the difcharge of it. In treating ofthe Nature of Reftitution, I have confider'd, I. The A&. II. The Extent of it. III. The Manner how it is to be perform'd. IV. TheMeafure of it. V. The Perlons who are to make Reftitution ; and the Perlons to whom Re- ftitution is to be made. I now proceed to confider, VI. The Time when Reftitution is to be made. In thefe Cafes a Man is not tyed up to an inftant, not juft to the prefent time, unlefs the Cafe be fuch, that he can never do it, if he do not do it then. As if a Man lieupon his Death-Bed; that is a Cafe that admits of no delay, a Man fhould haften Reftitution, as he would do the making of his Will, and the difpofal of his Eftate 5 left if he do not do it prefently, he lofe his opportunity of doing it for ever : but ordinarily, a Man is not fo ftrierly tyed up to moments, and to the prefent time. It is fufficient that a Man be for the prefent refolved todo it, fo foon as morally he can, fo loon as he would do other A&ions of great moment and concernment. And to this purpofe the Text gives us an excellent Pattern ; Zacheur, the fame day he repen- ted, took up this Refolution, and to oblige himfelfeffe&ually to put it in Executi- on, he pnblickly declares it, and before all the People offers to make Reftitution to all whom he had injurd. Therefore take heed of all unneceffary delays in there matters for tho' God would accept of a firm and fincere Refolution in this Cafe, if a Perron thus refol- ved fhould, before he could bring his Refolution to effe&, happen to be cut off by Death, or be otherwife render'd incapableof doing it I fay, tho God would ac- cept fuch a Refolution as this, yet he will not interpret that to be a fincere Refo- lotion, which aMan is negligent to put in pra&ice: for every negleit of putting our Refolution in pra&ice, is a degree of quitting and altering it ; and he who did not do what he was refolved todo, when he had an opportunity and ability of doing it, is juftly prefumed to have let fall his Refolution. Therefore let no Man prefume upon his good Intention and Refolution in this kind ; for they are only acceptable toGod, fo far as theyare fincereand real ; and they are only fo tar fincere and real, as theMan that makes them, is ready to put N them
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