SERMON XXV. 355 at first to the lengths of moderate iniquity, and conscience is strained to the indulgence of some smaller unrighteousness : but virtuewill die by degrees,. and conscience will learn in time to allow bolder injustice: And then, though it may be stupi- lied and senseless for a season, 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 wretchedinfluence of this viceofcovetousness is not confined only to traffic and merchandize : It spreads its unrighte- ousness much farther and wider : It tempts the sons and daughtersof men to withhold due honour and necessary supplies from their aged parents, and exposes 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 withholds 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 thecry of his neighbour in distress, lest it should cost some money for his relief. It refuses an alms to the starvingpoor, and findsan excuse for the churl, lest he stretch out his hand of bounty to a perishing family. It is so wrapped up in self, thatit never con- siders what is due to another ; and ventures to break all the .rules of righteousness rather than diminish its own estate, or part with any thing it can call mine. It would suffer a churchor a kingdom to sink and perish, and let the public peace bebroken, and the nation dissolved, if it might but secure itself and its own possessions in the midst of those ruins. An accursed vice. An iniquity ,big with misery and desolation ! yet it hides itself too often from conviction and reproof ; it runs like a river under ground, and attempts to conceal itself under the specious disguises of frugality and virtue, while it practises all the mischiefs we have been describing. II. Pride is another spring of injustice. But having broken up the fountain ofcovetousness as ofagreat deep, and traced it in its various streams, the labour of drying them up has employed so much time, that the pursuitof the other springs of unrighteous- 'less must be delayedtill a' further season. a3,
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