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CiIRIsTIAN' MORALITY,
VIZ.
JUSTICE,
ErC.
[sEXM.
X7LIV.
are
equally
obliged to
confer
those benefits
on
persons
of
a
lower character,
which the
law
of
God, and the light
of
nature require
;
but
some
of
the cases
I
have mentioned,
will fall
in
naturally under the
following
particulars:
II.
Another instance of
commutative
justice,
is
the.
particular
kindness
that
is
due
to
near
relations. This
is
a
very
beautiful and
a
pleasant
part
of
life,
where
it
is well
managed, this affectionate
and
delightful
exchange
of
good
turns
one for
another.
Now that it
is
due
to
near
relatives,
according
to
The
appointment of
God,
will
be
made evident
in this
man
-
ner.
God,
the
great Creator
of
all things, could
have
pro-
duced
all men immediately
by
his own
power, and
have
made
them
arise up in several
'successions
of
time,
with
out
such
a
propagation or dependance
one upon
another,
if
he
had
pleased
;
and
then'
there would
have
been
none
of
these
tender
and engaging
relations of
father,
son,
and
brother. But
the
wise
Creator
bath ordained otherwise;
he
hath appointed
such
methods for
the building
of
fami-
lies,
and
continuing mankind
in
the
world,
as
binds every
soul
of
us by
the
ties
of nature
to one 'another.
Acts
xvii. 26.
"
Of
one blood
hath God
made
all
the nations
of
the
earth."
And those
that
are
nearer
a-kin
to one
another,
especially in the
same
family, as
brethren and
sisters,
ought to look upon
themselves
under
more
peal-
.
liar
and
mutual
obligations.
to do
kindnesses for each
other
in
the first
place,
according
to
their capacity. The
obligation
lies on each
party, because
it
lies
upon
the
other. My brother
is
bound
to love and help
me,
there-
fore it
is
my dirty
to
help and
love
my
brother: For
a brother
is
born
for
adversity.
",
Prov.
xvii.
17.
It
is
the
sovereign
will
of
Heaven,
that
there should
be such
near
relations,
who
should
be
bound
by
the
law
of
crea-
tion
and
duty
to
protect,
to
support, and
assist one
ano-
ther
in a time
of
adversity
:
This
is
the design
of God
the
Creator,
in
the
course
of
his
providence,
its
his
subdivi-
sion and
propagation óf
all
the
families
of
the
earth.
And
as
it
is
a
piece
ofjustice
to
confer
this
mutual
help
which
is
due to
near
relations, so there
is
something
of
justice
too
in
our
distinguishing acts
of
kindness and
assistance
according
to
difference
of
necessity, and ac-
cording
to difference
of
merit.
I
cannot
believe
I