408 C$RISTIAJI MORALITY, VIZ. JUSTICE, áTC. [SERM: XXIV. reason to hope that his justice or mercy will condescend to accept We have heard these various instances of justice, this large and particular account what is due to our neigh- bour, in the manifold relations and businesses of life. I grant there are several difficulties that may attend some of these instances in the particular practice of them, by reason 9f the infinite variety of circumstanceswhich may surround our actions, and the unforeseen occurrences of human life. The strictest rules of equity or justice, in some cases, require a mitigation: and it is impossible to say before-hand what shall be precisely and exactly due to our neighbour in every new accident or occur- rence. But a sincere, love ofjustice wrought deep into the heart, and a sacred regard to the golden rule of equity which Christ bath given us, will Iead us through most of these perplexities into the paths of righteousness and truth. It is time now to have the question put close to con- science : " Has this been the manner of our life ? Has this been our conduct toward our fellow-creatures? Are we children, and have we paid all due honour and obe- dience to our parents? Has the father no cause to corn, plain that we have disobeyed his authority? Has the mother no reason to say, that we have scorned her ad- vice, or abused her tenderness and compassion? Are we servants, have we never wasted the goods of our master, nor spent that time in idle company, in folly, or in sin, which should have been employed in bis ser- vice ? Have we dealt with our relatives in the same fa mily as becomes a brother, a sister, or a near kinsman, and fulfilled the duties to which we were born? Do we never neglect to make due acknowledgments for favours received ? Have we loved those that love us, and practised the law ofjustice and gratitude to those who have rescued our souls and bodies from distress and danger, or laid obligations upon us by peculiar benefits ? Am I a trader, and do I practise strict justice and truth, in all that I buy, and in all that I sell ? Have I been, carefully solicitous to wrong no man, to defraud no man, to cheat and cozen no man ? Do I hate the arts áf falsehood and knavery ? Have I raid the full due tó
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