435 / 514
BERM.
$XVI.,
CHRISTIAN MORALITY, VIZ. JUSTICE,
&C.
427
concerning oppression. They gripe
those
that
are poor,
because
they themselves
are
mighty.
They
refuse to pay
the
just
demands
of
their
neighbours, they speak
loftily,
and
stand
it out
with them
against
all
right
and justice,
because
they
are
great
in the world.
It
is the rule
of
justice
to
change places with
our
humble neighbour,
and
ask
ourselves
what
we
should think
due
to us,
if
we
were
in
his
place.
Or
at
least
we
should set
ourselves
and
our
neighbour
upon
the
level,
and
consider what
is
just
and
right.
on
both
sides. But
the heart
of
pride cannot bear
such a
rule,
it
exalts itself far
above
the level
of man-
kind,
and practises toward
those:
that
are around
it with
a
superior
insolence and injustice. Cursed pride,
the
.first
-born
of
hell
!
It
seized
our
first
parents, and
tempted
them to aim
at
godhead, to practise injury
to
God
himself;
and
assume
a right
to
the
fruit
of
the for-
bidden tree
!
Vile iniquity,
that
hath tainted
all
the seed
of
Adam
!
It
is
a
haughty poison
that
was
infused
into
our
veins with
the first
sin;
and
where shall
we
find
the
son
or.
daughter
of
Eve
that
is
not
infected
with
it?
Blessed
be
the grace
of
God, wheresoever
its
dominion
is
broken,
so
that it
does
not
break out into
all
the works
of
unrighteousness
The
third spring
of
injustice among
men
is
profuseness
and luxury. When persons
affect to live
in
a
manner
above what
their
circumstances
will
afford, they
are
tempted
to
intrench upon the property of their
neigh-
bour,
either by.cheating or
by
violence.
It
is
the language
of
luxury,
" I
must indulge
my
ap-
petite,
my
table must
be
furnished
with a costly variety,
and
I
must
eat and drink
with elegance,
as
is
the modish
phrase.
I
must
treat
my
friends,
when
they visit me,
with
fashionable entertainments
;
*I must
keep
fine
co:o-
pang,
and make
a
figure
in the
world;
I
must
appear
in such an
equipage as
my
neighbour
allows himself,
though he
be
ten times
richer than Ì
am.
I
must have
many changes
of
raiment,
for
it
is
a
mean and vulgar
thing
to
appear
too often
in
the
sane
dress:
My house
must
be
furnished
after
the
mode,
and
I
-must
shine
at
home
and
abroad
in silks
or
in
silver
;
for
L
cannot
bear
the
thought
that such
or such
a one
should outshine and
over-top me."
Then
the
patrimony
is
sold
or mortgaged
tó raise
present
supplies, and the rich
food
and
clothing,