portant branch of thus doing justly, consists in the ready and timely payment of all our legal debts. We all know, indeed, him who hath said, "Owe no man any thing." Rom. xiii. 8. Every honest character, therefore, will use his utmost endeavours, by prudence, by diligence, and by prayer for the blessing of Divine Providence, to have it in his power to "render unto all their dues." If at any time through unfavorable occurrences in Providence, he is rendered utterly unable to discharge his debts at the proper period, he will convince his creditors that he feels this to be a most unpleasant circumstance, and that it is the sincere desire of his heart, and his full determination, to embrace the very first opportunity to satisfy their demands.

This duty, further, implies a willing and full discharge of all taxes levied by government. The laws of our country, protect us in the undisturbed enjoyment of all our temporal blessings, and spiritual privileges. Our property is sacred, our liberties are unrestrained, our persons are held most valuaable in the eye of the law, and every one of us, from the least to the greatest-from the poorest to the most wealthy, can sit under his own vine and his own fig-tree, as it were, none daring to make him afraid. And can we then, consistently with the claims of equity, feel backward in supporting such a. government? Surely, if we have any degree

of justice, not to say gratitude and loyalty, in our hearts, we cannot but be glad to have it in our power to contribute our lawful proportion towards its support! If it were the duty of christians, during the reign of the cruel and persecuting Nero, to render unto all their dues, tribute to whom tribute is due, and custom to whom custom*," how much more binding must this duty be, on the professors of religion in ENGLAND.

But I will turn from this particular, and advert to another of a similar description: this relates to the support of the ministers of religion. If doing justly requires us, to render unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar's; doubtless, we ought to render unto God, the things which are God's.The Almighty himself "hath ordained, that they who preach the Gospel, should live of the Gospelt." Consequently it is the duty of those persons, for whose benefit ministers are appointed to preach the gospel, readily to allow them a comfortable support. "As the ministers of religion have relinquished," says a very sensible and pious writer, "the gainful employments of life for the service of God, and the interests of religion, they have a claim to be supported in a manner becoming their office, that they may be freed from the anxieties of want, and may be examples as

• Romans, chap. xiii. ver. 7. +1 Cor. chap.ix. ver 14.

well as promoters of charity to others. And this is not only a point of religion and charity, but of justice and equity,*"

Further, this duty of doing justly implies a conscientious restitution of every lost article which may be found, provided the owner is known, and a restoring of whatever has been wrongfully taken, or dishonestly gained in time past. "He shall restore," saith God to Moses, "that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he hath found.t"

I will just add that this duty requires us to return any borrowed articles, as early as possible, and in as good a state as they were lent to us. It is the character of none but "the wicked, that borroweth and payeth not again." I conclude the explanation of this duty, by remarking that it comprehends a sincere and earnest endeavour to prevent, as much as possible, the injury of others, whether they be friends or foes. Hence says the Almighty to his creatures, "If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back

* See a work entitled "The Religious Tradesman"-a book which ought to be read by every man of bufiness.

Leviticus, chap. vi, ver. 4.

Psalm xxxvii. ver 24

to him again. If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him." Exodus xxiii. 4, 5. Having been thus particular in explaining the duty of doing justly, it is time to make

An application of it.

In doing this, allow me, first, to urge you to self-examination. Have you, my beloved brethren, duly considered the nature of the duty which we have illustrated? And have you seriously weighed in your minds, the awful consequences of not attending to this duty? From the plain statement of it, which I have made, you cannot plead ignorance in justification of your misconduct. And does not the Almighty God require you to attend to it? You know he does. When it is asked-" What doth the Lord require of thee?" the prophet replies"to do justly." Is then the character of doing justly, my dear friends, applicable to you?-to all of you?-to old and young?to rich and poor? Examine yourselves closely, I beseech you, on this important point. Call to your recollection the various particulars which have been advanced, and compare yourown experience and conduct with them. And rest assured, that as God requires you to obey this precept, he will not by any means allow you to neglect it. You may

indeed form many a vain excuse for occasi onally disregarding it; but no excuse will satisfy him. His will cannot be dispensed with at our pleasure. Whatever flattering hopes unjust men may indulge, the Lord is most assuredly "reserving them unto the day of judgment to be punished.*" Solomon declares that "the hope of the unjust man perishetht." And Saint Paul asks, "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God‡?" Take warning, then, O sinner! Remember that ere long, "the heavens shall reveal thine iniquity, and the earth shall rise upagainst thee; the increase of thine house shall depart, and thy goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath. This is the portion of an unjust man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God." O that that these weighty considerations may excite great searchings of heart; and lead every unjust character to repent without delay!

Let us make a further application of the subject for the information of certain individuals. It should be distinctly understood, that we are required to do justly from a principle of gratitude to God. Too frequently it is thought, that the acting in a just man

2 Peter, chap. ii. ver. 9. + Prov. chap. xi, ver. 7. 1 Cor. chap. vi. ver. 9. Job, chap. xx. ver. 27, 28, & 29.