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C$RISTIAJI
MORALITY,
VIZ.
JUSTICE,
áTC.
[SERM:
XXIV.
reason
to
hope
that
his
justice
or
mercy
will
condescend
to
accept
We have heard these various instances
of
justice,
this
large and particular account what
is
due
to
our
neigh-
bour,
in
the manifold relations and
businesses
of
life.
I
grant
there are several
difficulties
that
may
attend
some
of
these
instances
in
the
particular
practice
of
them,
by
reason
9f
the infinite variety
of
circumstances
which may
surround our
actions,
and
the
unforeseen occurrences
of
human
life.
The
strictest rules
of
equity or
justice,
in
some
cases,
require
a mitigation: and it
is
impossible
to
say before
-hand what
shall
be
precisely
and exactly
due
to
our
neighbour in
every
new
accident or occur
-
rence. But
a sincere, love
ofjustice
wrought deep into
the heart, and a sacred regard
to
the golden rule
of
equity
which
Christ bath
given
us, will
Iead us
through
most
of
these
perplexities into
the
paths
of
righteousness
and truth.
It
is
time
now
to have the question
put
close to
con-
science
:
"
Has
this been the
manner
of
our
life
?
Has
this
been our
conduct
toward
our
fellow
-
creatures? Are
we
children, and have we paid
all
due
honour
and obe-
dience to
our parents? Has
the
father
no cause to
corn,
plain
that
we
have disobeyed
his
authority? Has the
mother
no reason to
say,
that
we
have scorned
her ad-
vice,
or abused
her
tenderness and compassion?
Are
we
servants, have
we
never
wasted the goods
of
our
master,
nor spent
that
time
in
idle company, in
folly,
or
in
sin, which
should
have
been employed
in bis
ser-
vice
?
Have
we
dealt
with
our
relatives in the same
fa
mily as becomes
a brother,
a
sister,
or a near
kinsman,
and
fulfilled
the duties
to which
we
were
born?
Do
we
never
neglect
to make
due acknowledgments for
favours
received
?
Have
we
loved
those
that
love
us,
and
practised
the law
of
justice
and gratitude
to those
who
have rescued
our
souls
and
bodies from distress
and
danger,
or
laid obligations
upon
us by
peculiar
benefits
?
Am
I
a trader, and
do I
practise
strict justice
and truth,
in
all
that
I
buy,
and
in all
that
I
sell
?
Have
I
been,
carefully solicitous to wrong no man, to defraud no
man,
to
cheat
and
cozen no
man
?
Do
I
hate
the
arts
áf
falsehood and knavery
?
Have
I
raid
the
full
due
tó