sERM. XXIV.3 CIIRISTIAN MORALITY, VIZ. JÚSTICEy áCC. 405 a practice the apostle reproached in his days ; James v. 4. The law of Moses is very strict in this matter; Deut. xxiv. 14, 15. Thou shalt nog oppress a hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or a stranger. To. express it in modern language ; whether he be a christian or not, a good man or an evil man, let him have his hire. if Ile is so poor that he cannot tell how to provide for himself to answer the ne- cessities of the evening, then see that thou pay him the hire of the day, nor let the sun go down upon it, for be is poor, and sets his heart, or depends upon it. Tres- pass not upon his poverty by thy with-holding his due so long as may. turn to his prejudice : let not his hire, which is detained by fraud, cry against thee, for the Lord of hosts, the God of Jgstice, will hear the cry of the oppressed, And not only in the case of a poor labourer, but in» every other instance, make conscience of paying that which you have borrowed, or what you owe to your` neighbour, and that not only in full measure, but at the appointed time ofpayment: The time is part of the con- tract as well as the money. Do not say, " I intend to be honest, but I will not pay this week, or this month. " Do not with-hold what is due, and say to thy neigh-, bour, Go, and come again, when thou hast it by thee With-hold not good from him to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it." This is forbid' by the inspired preacher, Solomon, Prov. iii. 27, 28. Nor is this agreeable to the golden rule of our Saviour, " Do to others as ye would that others should do unto you" V. Help to our fellow-creatures in cases of great necessity, seems to be another piece of human justice, even though they have never done any thing actually for us. We are bound to defend our neighbour from appa- rent injury, so far as is consistent with our own safety, and sometimes farther too. It is our duty to direct him in the right way, when he is wandering or uncertain. It is a piece of justice towarn him of approaching danger, and to give him some assistance in case of sudden cala mity or distress attending him. When we see his soul, or his body, or his estate, in imminent hazard, we` aught to give hiir notice of it; we should put forth somo D
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