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shhNi. cV.)
CfIRLSTIAII
M(STidLtiÍ',
VI7.
JUSTICE,
ácc.
41ß
might make it appear,
that
unless a
due exchange of
be
refits
be
maintained, and the
practice
of
justice
se-t,
cored, none
of
us
could
enjoy
the
safety,
the
ease,
or the
conveniences of
life.
Where there
is
no practice of
justice
amongst
men,
no man can
live safe by his
neighbour
:
Every
one
that
is
mighty
and malicious,
that
is
proud or
covetous,
that
is
envious
or
knavish, would
rob
another of
his
due,
and
either
assume the possessions
of
his
neighbour
to
him-
self,
or make havoc
of
them,
and destroy them.
There
would
be
everlasting confusion amongst
men,
slander
and theft, cheating
and
knavery; plunder
and slaughter,
and bloody violence
would reign among all the
tribes
of
mankind
;
if
justice
were banished from
the
earth:
for
neither
life,
nor
liberty,
nor
peace, or any
of
our pos-
sessions,
nor
our
good name, can be
secured
without
it.
Therefore
the light and
law
of
nature
sets
a sacred
guard upon justice, and
has
written
the
necessity
of
it
in
the
consciences
of
all men, who have
not
seared
those
consciences as with
a red
-hot
iron, and rased
out
so
much
of
human nature
from
their
souls.
The
practice of justice
has
so
extensive
an influence
into the
whole
conduct
of
our
lives,
and the welfare
of
mankind,
that
some
of
the
heathen writers
have made
it
to
be
comprehensive
of
all
virtues.
But
because
sinful
men
are ready
to
break
the bonds
of
commutative justice, and invade the property,
the
peace,
or
the
life
of
their neighbours, therefore
govern
-
ment
is
appointed, and magistrates are ordained to
maintain peace and equity amongst
men,
and
to punish
the breakers
of
it.
This
is
the
greatest reason
why
there
must
be
such
a thing
as
magistracy
and distributive
jus-
tice amongst
mankind; that
those
who
commit
outrage
upon
their
neighbours, and
practise
injustice toward
them, may
be
punished
by
the
laws
:
For,
as
the
apos-
tle
says
to
Timothy, the
law
is
not
made for the
righte-
ous,
but
for
the disobedient, for the ungodly,
and for
sinners
;
for
murderers, stealers,
and
liars,
&c.
That
it
may be
a strong
restraint
upon
the violent
inclinations
of
men,
and
bring
just
vengeance upon them, when they
bring injury upon
their
neighbours.
Therefore
it
is
for
the
welfare
of
the
innocent
and the righteous,
that
the
laws
have
ordained
vengeance_
for the
guilty;
that
those