SERM. XXIV.] .EItRISTIAN MORALITY, VIz. .JffSTICE, B:c. 403 ments : He may require most unreasonable returns, and think he is never sufficiently recorrïpensed. There are cases also wherein the benefactor may repent of his past services, may endeavour to take away the benefit be- stowed,- may without reason commence a resolute enmi- ty, and do what in him lies to cancel all former obligà- tions : In such circumstances as these, the obligation of gratitude may be diminished, and perhaps may cease al- together. And though sometimes, in these very cases, there. may be high and heavy charges of ingratitude brought by the first benefactor against a person of a very grateful mind ; yet these accusations may be utterly un- just in the sight of God, who knoweth and weigheth all circumstances in a righteous balance. But where no such bars are laid in the way, it is evident that the prac- tice of gratitude, and a mutual return of benefits, is but a piece of naturaljustice. The verypublicansand sinners do good .to those that do good to them. Mat. v. 46. Luke vi. 32. :I.Y:. Another piece of justice is, the payment of the full due to those whom we bargain ordeal with, whether the contract be made formally in words, or implied in the nature of things, according to the customs of mankind. And under this head, not only those who buy and sell, who lend and borrow ; but all ranks and degrees of mankind, who have any commerce with each other, are included, from the prince upon the throne, to the day- labourer in the high-ways and the hedges. The very notion of commutative justice implies the giving one good thing in barter or exchange for another. And all commerce amongst men was originally carried on this way, .viz. the husbandman gave corn, the grazier cattle ; the draper gave cloth ; the artificers and labour- ers their skill and work.; the prince and rich man gave food and protection ; the poor and the subject gave their attendance and.service : And thus mankind lived by an exchange of benefits. But when they found many incon- veniences arise from this manner of dealing, they con- trived another way of exchanges, and that is by money ; which by universal agreement is made the common mea- sure of all things in contract : And since that time, skill and labour, attendance and services are exchanged for money, as well as goods and merchandizes. Now herein °D2
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