SERMON XXIV. 339 holding his due so long as may turn to his prejudice ; let not his 'hire, which is detained by f`aud, cry against thee, for the Lord of hosts, the God of Justice will hear the cry of the oppressed. Andnot only in the case a poor labourer, but in every other instance make conscience of paying that which you have borrowed,'or what you owe to your neighbour, and that not only _ in full measure, but at the appointed time of payment : The time is part of the contract as well as the money. Do not say, 'F I intend to be honest, but I will not pay this week, or this month)' Do not withhold what is due, and say to thy neighbour, Go, pad comeagain, when thouhast it by thee; With- hold not good rorn him to whom it is due, when it is in the power of `thine hand to doit. This is forbid by the inspired preacher Solomon ; Prov. iii. 27, 28. Nor is this agreeable to the golden rule of our Saviour, Do to others as ye would that others'should do unto you. V. Help to our fellow-creatures in cases of great necessity, seems to be another piece of human justice, even though they have never done any thing actually for us. We are bound to defend our neighbour from apparent injury, so far as is consistent with our own safety, and sometimes farther too. It is our 'duty to direct him in the' right way, when he is wan- dering or uncertain. It is a piece of justice to warn him óf approaching danger grid to ivè him some assistance in case of suddencalamity or distress attending him. When we see his soul, ór his body, or his estate in imminent hazard, we ought to give him notice of it ; we should put forth some efforts of kindness for his security, and :pluck him as a brand' out of the fire. Our own conscience dictates this to us, 'since we should think it 'a very reasonable thing to expect the same kind- ness from our neighbou , wwhen we are found in the like dir- ëumstances. Can we suppose that the law of God should appoint us to lift the ex 'or the ass' of our neighbour out of a pit; dr to restore his sheep to him when going astray; Deut. xxii. 1. and yet that. We are not bound tò fultifthe samedutyof love towardOur neigh- bour himself ? Nay, the command of Moses reaches still farther ; Lx, xxiii. 4. If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his assgoing astray, thou 'shalt ,surely ¿rind it buck to 'him again. Howmuch-more should this be practised toward, the soul or the body of. a fellow- Christian ? If the law ofjustice require us to secure the cattleor posses= lions of our neighbour; surely then we are obliged to..deal as kindly with his reputation and goodname, which in someeases is the best partof aman's estate, and is almost as dear tomany astheir z3
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