46 THE VNICÈRSAL RVLE OF-EQUITY: rSERM. XXXfIT. " There is nothing that we know, that gives a manso true and lively a sense of the sufferings of others, or re- strains him so powerfully from doing unrighteous and op- pressive things, as his having smarted formerly himself under the experience of them. Now the supposing an- other man's ill usage to be our own, is the giving ourselves a present sense, as it were, and a kind of feigned experi- ence of it; which cloth), for the time, serve all the pur- poses of a-true one.' . V. It is such a rule, as if well applied, will almost al- ways secure our neighbour from injury, and secure us from guilt, if we should chance to-hurt him.. God will not impute guilt to us, if we should happen to mistake in a point of doubtful enquiry, and to hurt our neighbour by a conscientious obedience to this rule. I say, it Nvill'almost always secure us from injuring our neighbour, I cannot say, it is' always an absolute, infal- lible, and certain rule of right and wrong; for our know- ledge of the eternal soles of right and wrong, is but im- perfect ; neither our own heads or hearts, are furnished with-all the various and particular principles of equity. A mere enquiry into our own hearts or consciences, can never give us a perfect knowledge of the abstracted rules ofjustice : Nor can it determine us to the certain prac- tice of it, in all- the most intricate cases, unless these per:- - feet rules of justice were fully -written in the heart of every man. But under the present circumstances of mankind, in this poor, ignorant, and corrupt state of hu- mran nature, it appears to be the best, the most righteous, the most secure, and the most universal rule that ever could be invented or given to men; for it will certainly secure and prevent every man from injuring his neigh bour in all cases, except where he himself is willing and content to receive equal injury : And I am sùre, self-love will tell us, that these cases are exceeding few. It is evident therefore, that an honest man will scarce ever mistake in keeping-close to this rule. And if I should then happen todo an injury to my neighbour, in- stead of strict equity, yet I can appeal to God, and say, - Iendeavoured to apply this rule to my conscience, in the present circumstances, with the utmost sincerity, I acted no otherwise to my neighbour,. than I desired or judged it reasonable for my neighbour to act towards me in the
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