413 CHRISTIAN MORALITY, VIE. JUSTICE, &C. [SERM. XXy our neighbour, and to dwell amongst us, that he might teach us to love our ,neighbours as ourselves. Behold the glorious Son of God subjecting himself to his earthly parents, to Joseph the carpenter, and to Mary his mother, that he might instruct us how to pay obedience to our superior relations. See how the King of kings pays tribute toCcesar, whenhe was so poor, that he was forced to send Peter a fishing, to procure the tri- bute-money bya miracle. And though the beasts of the field were his, and he couldhave commanded the cattle upon a thousand hills, to make provision for his fol- lowers; yet, he would not dispossess the owners of them, but created food on purpose to feed four and five thousand in the wilderness. III., If we consider Christ as a glorious benefactor, who has taken care to provide for us the necessaries of this life, and bath purchased for us, at the hands of God, the eternal treasures of heaven and glory. Has not this blessed consideration force enough to guard us against all temptations to injustice ? Shall a christian break the rules ofequity, and steal, or cheat, or plunder his neighbour to gain money or rnerchandize, who has the promises of God for his support in a way of diligence and humble faith ? Shall we sully our consciences, and defile our souls with knavery and injustice for a little of the pelf of this world, when we have the unsearchable riches of '.Christ made over to us in the gospel, and the inheritance of heaven in reversion ? IV. Let us consider the very nature and design of the gospel of Christ, it is to make sinners holy, to make the unjust righteous :. The new man of christianity must be created in righteousness and true holiness. Therefore are we purchased with the blood of Christ, that we might be a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Tit. ii. 14. It is a shame and scandal to the christian name, when one who wears it is unrighteous or dishonest. An unjust christian, what a contradiction is it in itself, and how it di:,graces the profession of the gospel. F Hear how the great apostle treats his Corinthian disciples when such sort of sins were found amongst them ; 1 Cor, vi. i, K. " Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust and the infidel. Dare any
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