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CRAM.
)(XV.] CHAISTIAN MORALITV, V12,
)USTICE,
áÇ,
423
some persons
than
he does
of
others for
the
same
mer-
chandize;
for
he
may
treat
some
of
his
customers fa-
vourably, though
he
must
deal
righteously and
justly
with
them
all.
But-let hiin see to
it
that
he use
ingenuity
to
wards the poor,
the necessitous, and the
unskilful, as
well
as
moderation
towards
all men.
The
circumstances
of
things
are
so
various,
that
much
of
the
practice
ofjustice
must
be
left to the
court of
equity
in every man's breast,
under
the
sacred
influence
of
this rule,
"
Do
that
to
others
which
you think reasonable
that
others
should
do
to
you."
It
is
best in all-doubtful
and
difficult cases
tó
practise
what
is
fair
and
honourable
in the sight
of
men;
and what
is
safe
and
innocent
in the
sight
of God
;
for
a
good
conscience
is
better than
the
largest
gain
;
But
where the sacred principles
of
virtue are over-borne
by
corrupt
inclinations, the moral
powers
of
the
soul
are
stretched
at
first to the lengths
of moderate
iniquity,
and
conscience
is
strained
to the
indulgence
of
some
smaller
unrighteousness;
but virtue
-will
die
by
degrees,
and con-
science
will
learn
in time
to
allow
bolder
injustice. And
then,
though
it
may be
stupified and senseless
for
a
sea-
son,
yet let the
`sinner know,
that
it
will
have its feeling
return
again,
and the guilt
of
knavery and
falsehood
will
torture
the soul with unknown agonies here or
hereafter.
But
the wretched influence
of
this vice
of
covetousness
is
not
confined only to
traffic
and merchandize
:
It
spreads
its
unrighteousness much
farther and
wider
:
It
tempts
the
sons
and daughters
of
men to
with
-hold due honour
and
necessary supplies
from
their
aged
parents, and ex-
poses to
great
hardships
in the
latter
end
of
life,
those to
whom
we owe
our
life itself,
and
the comforts
of
it
in
our
younger
years.
It
with
-holds
wages from
the
servant,
and salary
from
him
that
has
earned
it.
It
forbids those
who have
received
benefits
to
make a
grateful
return
to
their
benefactors.
It
will
teach a man to stop
his
ears
at
the cry
of
his
neighbour
in
distress,
lest
it
should
cost
some money for his relief.
It
refuses an alms to the
starving poor, and
finds
an
.excuse
for
the churl, lest
he
stretch
out
his
hand
of
bounty
to
a perishing
family.
It
is so
wrapped up
in
self,
that
it never considers what
is
due
to
another;
and ventures
to
break all
the rules
of
righ-
teousness
rather than
diminish its
own
estate,
or
part
with
any
thin;
it
can call,
MINE.
It
would
suffer
a