412 CHRISTIAN MORALITY, VIZ. JUSTICE, &C. SEAM. XXV. will appear to be a natural duty of the social life . And God, as he is the governor of the world, will take ven- geance of any neglect or violation of this duty, either in this world, or in the other. Commutative justice, as it is described in the former discourse, is built upon this foundation, that one man has need of another's assistance : Nor is there any the meanest figure amongst mankind so very worthless, use- less, and contemptible, but he may be capable of doing us some service either now or hereafter. It is possible we may be in such circumstances, as to stand in need of the help of the meanest, as well as of the mighty; and therefore the duty of social life obliges us to practise the rules ofjustice toward all. The rich stand in need of the poor to perform the meaneroffices for their convenience, as much as the poor stand in need of the rich to supply themwith food or money. The master bas need of the servant to assist and obey him, as well as the servant stands in need of maintenance or wages from the hands ofhis master. One man can never procure for himself all the necessaries, and all the conveniences of life; it is indeed impossible. The same man cannot sow his own corn, reap his own harvest, keep his own sheep, make his own bread, form all his own garments, build his own bouse, fashion his own furniture, and secure his own possessions; no man can provide for himself in all respects, without the assistance of his fellow-crea- tures. Now those fromwhom he expects to receive help in any of these instances, it is necessary he should give them help inother instances wherein they stand in need of his. This is one foundation ofjustice between man and man ; that so every man may have the necessaries and conveniences of life by his neighbour's assistance. Thus the king himself, as Solomon says, is served by the held, Eccles. v. 9. The prince stands in need of the ploughman: The ploughman gives food to the prince, and the prince gives to the ploughman protection and safety. I might run through the various instances wherein, jus- tice is to be practised, and shew how the higher and lower orders and characters of men have mutual need of each other : The buyer and the seller, the artificer and the merchant, the teacher and the scholar; and thus ,
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