434 CHRISTIAN MORALITY, VIZ. JUSTICE, &C. rSERM. XXVi. I willing my neighbour should deal thus` with nie, and spend my substance for his daily support ?" Here let it be observed, that I would always except from this accusationsuch as are mere children, and cannot work, or such as are aged, and past all ability of labour, such as are weak and sick, and rendered.thereby utterly incapable of working, and such as seek work withhonest diligence, and would be glad to be,employed. in any thing they can do, if they could find others to employ them. Some of these indigent and necessitous persons are in every city, and they seem to be marked out by provi- dence as the proper objects of compassion and. bounty, and are not to be blended with the slothful and idle crea- tures in the general charge of unrighteousness. Fifthly, The next spring of injustice is malice an envy. This is the vilest of all, and the most like the de- :vil: for it contrives mischief, and brings injury upon others, without seeking gain and advantage to self. This is a vile iniquity, and has a great deal of the spirit of cruelty and ofhell in it, where ill-nature and spite reign and triumph. Though envy and malice awaken and excite the sinner to acts of unrighteousness and violence, and tempt us to rob our neighbourofwhat is his due; yet these vicious principles aim more frequently to disturb the peace, or health, and good name of our neighbour, than to injure his estate. It is wrath and hatred that boils up the blood into fury and revenge, and moves us to smite our neigh- bour with the fist of wickedness; nor is the guilty passion allayed till it has practised mischief to his body, or his reputation, or his family, or to something that belongs to him. Hence proceed murders and death, and all the train of evils and injuries of the cruel and bloody kind. It was from this principle that Cain slewAbel his brother, that the sons Of Jacob sold Joseph into slavery: It was from this principle that Sanballat and Tobiahjoined their rage and their counsels against the Jews, that they might hinder the rebuilding of Jerusalem, and endeavour to destroy the builders, and throw down the work, 10. I hope there are no examples of this flagrant injustice to be found among us who profess piety. But are there
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