SERM. 1. FIRST, I would begin with laying beIX. fore you the true meaning and defign of the Apoftle in these words: Owe nor man any thing. Such is the neceffity of human affairs that we have frequent occafions for each others affiftance, and whilft no one has enough in himfelf to fupply all his wants, we are all forced to look out for the help of other people, and afk of them the relief of our various neceffities. But as they, on the other hand, have wants of their own, which we are perhaps in condition to affift, it is not ordinarily to be expected that they fhould spare us their fuperfluities, without fome return or commutation of our own. Whether this matter be managed by the payment of money, or exchange of goods, the quantity demanded may not always be at hand, and therefore mutual traffick and commerce cannot well be fupported but by mutual credit. There are likewife fome ftations or conditions of life (as the Apostle obferves in the foregoing part of this chapter) which have juft demands and engagements upon others. In both cafes we perceive the neceffity of owing fometimes, or being indebted to other people; and therefore it is not to be imagined, when the Apoftle enjoins us to owe no man any thing, that he fhould mean to discountenance those offices offices whofe rights and dignity he had be- SER M. Much lefs may we fuppofe that he meant to cancel all fuch debts and obligations, to teach that every man had a right to what he laid his hands on, and had no need to reckon himself a debtor for it. This, as it deftroys all notions of property and right, fo it is the most oppofite that can be to the Apoftle's defign, who is here convincing his Romans of their bounden duty to render unto all their dues. Nor, laftly, can it be fufpected to be in this place any part of his meaning, that the Creditor ought not to exact his debt, but take care that there be nothing owing, by releafing the debtor from all his obligations. This, if infifted on as always neceffary, would effectually destroy all commerce with one another, and run us into much the fame confufion, as if it were exprefly forbidden. But the Apoftle has far better confulted the welfare and advantage of fociety, by requiring us to render unto all their dues. And he does, in effect, but repeat the fame injunction, which he advifes in the Text, to owe no man any thing, that, whenever the neceffity of our affairs fhall make us debtors to other people, we should not be Q 2 back SERM. backward to difcharge the obligation; that IX. whether our neighbour's property has fal len into our hands by his own compact and agreement, or by our fraud or violence, or, laftly, by fome cafual event, we should in all cafes be careful to reftore it, as foon as opportunity serves, and the circumstances of the thing fuggeft it to be reasonable or expedient. Such were the cafes in which the Jews were bound to reftitution. He shall restore that (fays their law) which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the loft thing which he found; be fball even reftore it in the principal, and Shall add the fifth part more thereto *. Which words, tho' relating only to reftitution for injuries, and not to the payment of debts honeftly contracted, will deferves to be briefly confidered by us in this place, be caufe both are founded in the fame reason of the owner's property. And, 1. First then, a punctual reftitution is required of that which had been taken away by violence; which includes not only thofe manifeft and open robberies, which are done in contempt and defiance of the laws, but all thofe acts of extortion and oppreffion, whereby the rich and potent men of the world do oftentimes abuse their wealth * Lev. vi. 4, 5. and and power, to crush and trample upon fuch SER M. as are indigent and helpless.. WIX. bo The exceffive ufurer, and whoever takes advantage of his brother's neceffity, or his want of friends or intereft, to opprefs and impofe hardships on him, is in truth no better than a publick Robber, and however he may appear lefs fcandalous in the eye the world, yet will he be found equally guilty before God, and therefore is he by the law required to make such reftitution. of So again in monopolies, or the engrossing of commodities in trade, and taking that occafion to raise the price to an exorbitant height, I fear it will be impoffible for men to preferve that fimplicity and innocence which is neceffary to approve them before God, and excufe them from the charge of violence. But, befides these open and notorious acts of injustice, the law extends, 2. Secondly, To the most secret methods of fraud and treachery, and requires reftitution of all that which had been gotten deceitfully. When men use their skill and cunning to impofe on, and over-reach one another, to reprefent their goods as much better than they are, and fet an unreasonable value on them, this is getting from their brethren deceitfully, and mixing the wealth of others with their own. And how grating muft it be to a chriflian ear to hear SERM.men boafting of fuch acts of injuftice, of IX. putting off their goods to advantage (as they term it). e. in truth, of abufing the undeferved confidence which had been placed in them. It is the imperfection of human laws, which cannot well take cognizance of fuch involved wickedness, that lets it efcape at prefent with impunity. But the law of God, before whom all the mazes of iniquity lie openly in view, extends to every act of injuftice, however artfully conceal'd, and requires a punctual reparation of every. injury. "Tis impoffible to number up the various frauds and artifices of defigning men; but, by what has been offered, you perceive that as well the lefs infamous methods of deceit, as the more fhocking ones of fubornation and forgery, and private pilfering, are plainly obnoxious to this law of Mofes, which had its primary foundation in the law of nature. Again, 3. Thirdly, The next thing mentioned for the fubject of reftitution is, That which was delivered him to keep. Why this should be annexed to the foregoing acts of violence and fraud, is evident from the verfes immediately before, where the cafe is put of a man having a matter committed to his keeping, and then lying to his neighbour, or denying he had ever received it. In this 7 A cafe, |