406 CHRISTIAN MORALITY, VIZ. JUSTICE, &C. ISERM. XXIV. efforts of kindness for his security, and pluck him as a brand out of the fire. Our own conscience dictates this- to us, since we .should think it a very reasonable thing to expect the same kindness from our neighbour, when we are found in the like circumstances. Can we suppose that the law of God should appoint us to lift the ox or the ass of our neighbour out of a pit, or to restore his sheep to him when going astray; Deutr xxii. 1. and yet that we are not bound to fulfil the same duty of love toward our neighbour himself? Nay, the commandof Moses reaches still farther; Kv. xxiii. 4. If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surelybring it back to him again. How much more should this be practised toward the soul or the body of a fellow-Christian ? If the law of justice require us to secure the cattle or possessions of our neighbour ; surely then we are obliged to deal as kindly with his reputation and good name, which in some cases is the best part of a man's estate, and is almost as dear to many as their health or life. 'When we happen therefore into such company as give their tongues a loose to scandal, and we hear .our neigh- bour vilified and reproached, we ought to ward off the calumny, and to refute the scandal, where we know that our neighbour does not deserve' it. This piece of justice or duty, to assist a suffering neighbour, arises from the social nature of man, who by the law of nature is so far born for a social life, as to come into the worldwith this claim, and under this sort of obligations; for a naked exposed infant may claim the patronage and protection of every eye that beholds him. Andwhere other circumstances are equal, those who are most capable of affording help, seem to be most obliged. Now if it be a work of human justice to preserve such a, helpless piece of human nature from death, surely every infant grown up to any degrees of capacity and manhood, ought in like manner to esteem himself obliged to afford some assistance to his fellow-creatures, according to their distress, and his capacity welt consi- dered and adjusted. Therefore, my assistance or relief of an injured or perishing creature, is a sort of duty to mankind, though the person himself be an utter stranger to me: The his- - d
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