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Of Duty's to our Neighbours. Of Ju∣stice, Negative, Positive, of the Sin of Murther, of the Hainousness of it, the Punishment of it, and the strange Discoveries thereof. Of Maiming, &c.
IN the Word Righ∣teousness are con∣tain'd in gross the Duties to our Neigh∣bour; and in the larger Sence it contains all kind, both of Justice and Charity. I begin with Justice, ••f which there is two sorts, Nega∣tive and Positive.
any Man; either in respect to hi•• Soul, Body, his Possessions, or his Credit; and first we must not do a∣ny manner of Injury to the Soul, either in a Natural and Spiri∣tual Sence; we mu•••• take great Care that we give no occasion 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Grief or Sadness to the Mind of an•• Man, in which Sence the Soul 〈◊〉〈◊〉 said to be naturally injur'd; and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 alike diligent not to administer 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him the Cause, either of Sin or Pu∣nishment, in which Case the So•• may be spiritually wrong'd.
Sin is the Disea•• and Wound of t•••• Soul, and the sed•• cing us to it is t•••• greatest Injury th•• can be done us. There are sever•• Means for this, both direct and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 direct; the direct Means are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 commanding us, coun∣selling, enticing assisting us; the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 direct Means by she••∣ing
us ill Examples, or by incoura∣ging us in any Wickedness; by ju∣stifying Vice, and by throwing Re∣proach upon the Duties, and strict∣ness of Religion, and by these, and ••••ch like Means, both direct and ••••direct, Men bring upon them∣selves the great guilt of injuring ••••d wounding their Brethrens ••ouls.
It would be too ••••ng to instance, the ••••veral Sins by which ••••en ensnare others: will therefore leave with this Caution, ••••at it concerns them 〈◊〉〈◊〉 near as their Souls, to consider that Injuries they have done of ••••is kind, and to bewail them with ••••e deepest Concern and Sorrow; ••id not only that neither, but as a ••ore particular Testimony of their ••••pentance, to do their best by all ••••e means they can to make Repa∣••tion.
Negative Justice in the second ••••ce binds us against all kind of
Injury to the Bodies more especially a∣gainst the Life of our Brethren. Murth•••• is a Sin of the de••••∣est Dye, and may 〈◊〉〈◊〉 committed either openly and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 rectly, or else secretly and treach•••• rously. It may 〈◊〉〈◊〉 done, either by op•••• and Publick Violen•••• or else effected und•••• the Coverture of con•••• ceal'd Malice and ••••∣venge, but which way soever it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Sin is of that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 alted hainousness, th•••• it provokes God to higher degree of A••∣ger in the Execut•••••• of his Vengeance 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Punishments upon than any other Vice in all the b•••••• and dreadful Catalogue.
It is worth our ••••∣tice by what mira••••∣lous Means God been pleas'd to di••
ver it; and indeed would we but take 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to our serious Thoughts, it must needs possess us with the greatest Horrour and Abomination of it, and engage us to watch and guard our selves against the most distant approach∣es of this Vice.
Next to the Murthe∣ring, the maiming and disabling our Neigh∣bour is a very great Sin, this we must grant, by reflecting ••ow precious our Limbs are, and ••ow miserable a thing the want of any of 'em is; especially, if it be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 poor Man; in such 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Case, though we can never make him a full Satisfaction, we are ••he most solemnly ••ound to provide for his own, and his Fami∣••ies wants.
Unlawful Wounds and Stripes are likewise highly inconsistent with
Duties to our Neighbour—Justice.
Negative Justice.
To the Soul in the Natu∣ral and Spi∣ritual Sence.
Drawing in∣to Sin, a great Injury.
Direct and indirect means of it.
This sort of Injury Men ought sadly to consider, to bewail and repair.
Negative Justice in re∣spect of the Life.
Several ways of being guil∣ty of Mur∣ther.
The hainous∣ness of the Sin, and the Punishments of it.
The strange discoveries of it.
We must Watch a∣gainst all ap∣proaches.
Maiming, an Injury which every Man dreads.
Worst in a poor Man.
A necessity of Satisfacti∣on.
Wounds and Stripes inju∣rious also.
Cruelty to others the ef∣fect of Pride