SEAM. X1ITI.1 CrTRrSTIAV M6'ItALITT, V IZ. JIISTICTi, &c. 397 we converse with hath something due to him ; and this we are bound to pay as men, and much more as chris- tians. But since cases and circumstances are infinite, and it is impossible for any book to contain, or any man to re- ceive and remember so many special rules for justice, as there may be occurring circumstances in the world, which require the practice of it ; our Lord Jesus Christ has therefore given us one short rule whereby to judge what is due to.every man, and fitted it to every purpose : Mat. vii-. 12. All things whatsoever ye would that men should do untoyou, doye even so to them : For this is the law and the prophets. I confess there may happen in human affairs some cases of such exceeding intricacy and difficulty, that very few persons have skill enough to determine precisely what is due, or what would be strictly-just and righteous: Nor will this rule infallibly lead us into the perfect know- ledge of it ; but even in such cases, a sincere honest man consulting his own ponscience, and asking, . what he thought reasonable that his neighbour, in the like case, should do to him, would seldomwander far from strict justice ; and bypractising agreeably to this general law, he would approve his conduct both in the sight of God and.men. Thus our blessed Saviour bath set up- a court of equity in the breast of every man. This rule is easy to be under- stood, and ready to be applied upon every occasion. The meanest of them may learn and practice it, and the highest are bound to 'obey it. This is that divine and comprehensive-rule of justice or righteousness, by which you must egulate all your actions, and give every one their due : Do to others, as you would have them do to you; Not as an unreasonableself-love would wish to re-, ceive from others; but as your own conscience would think it reasonable others should do tip you, as I have explained it at large in a sermon on that text.* The second thing proposed, was to discover invarious instances what those things are which are just, or wherein our righteousness must appear. iJere it is necessary to distinguish justice into that See Sermon XXXIII.
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