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sire or Inclination to give every one his own.

Jus

tice will induce us to pay every Debt, and to fulfil every Obligation, and perform every Promise and Engagement we are under, although we may not be compelled to do so, by human Law. It obliges us, also, to make ample Reparation for any Injury we may have, at any Time, done to our Neighbour, either in Mind, Body, Character, or Estate, as far as practicable. This Virtue should perhaps have been placed first in the Scale of moral Duties; even before Love, at any Rate. It is a Virtue indispensably necessary to be exercised by every moral Agent. Rectitude of Behaviour is really comprehensive of our whole Duty to God and Man, and to ourselves; for what more can be required of us, than always to do that which is right?

VERACITY, or strict Adherence to Truth. This is to be regarded more particularly in our Words and Promises; but should influence also our whole Conduct, in our Intercourse with all with whom we are in any way associated. All our Engagements ought to be punctually performed, whether of great or little Importance; and if our Neighbour suffer through our Neglect of this Duty, we are bound, in Conscience, to make him Restitution. This Duty extends also to our Actions. For we may act a Lie; and when any one, by his Conduct, gives another

ple, by Over-reaching, Swindling, Cheating, Defrauding, Pilfering, Stealing, Forgery, Robbing, &c. &c. All these are infamously criminal. But every Species of Wrong, is included in the Term Injustice, and should therefore be held in Abhorrence, by all who have any Regard to their moral Character. Justice is a Virtue indispensably necessary to the Well-being of every Society, whether great or small; and when in Nations it is grossly violated by the Government, is productive of the greatest Evils, as general Discontent, Insubordinations and Insurrections; and sometimes the total Subversion of the State. And when one Nation or Country is guilty of unjust Conduct towards another, the Consequence is Hostility and War. Indeed, Injustice, either real or supposed, or alleged, is the fruitful Source of all the Contentions between different Communities, as well as between Individuals.

EQUIVOCATION, SHUFFLING, FLATTERY, PREVARICATION, DISSIMULATION, TREACHERY, DECEIT, LYING. Every Deviation from Truth is faulty, and whoever is frequently, or habitually, guilty of any of these Vices, loses all Respectability of Character, for there is always a Degree of Contempt (to say Nothing worse) attached to such Dispositions. Gross Misrepresentation, whether in a Speaker, Writer, or Author, whether

Historical,

another good Reason to believe, and knows that he does believe, that he intends to bestow upon him some future Favour, that Person is certainly under a moral Obligation to fulfil the Expectation thus raised, as much as if he had given a verbal Promise.

Veracity seems to be a Part of Justice, for we wrong every one, whom we deceive by Lying, Prevarication, or Misrepresentation.

HONESTY is a Modification of Justice and Benevolence; and in its common Acceptation is confined to the Intercourse of Business. It is the indispensable Duty of every one; it gives Dignity to the mercantile Character, and is honourable in all. But in a more enlarged Sense, and considered as a Principle of Action, it includes Uprightness, Sincerity, and Fairness of Mind, and is a Virtue of the first Importance, and of extensive Application.

FIDELITY is made up of Justice, Veracity and Honesty; it ranks high in the Scale of moral Virtues. A Man of this Character may always be depended upon; he is one of the best Neighbours, and as a Friend, above all Estimation.

FAIRNESS OF MIND. A Mind open to Conviction, a Willingness to embrace the Truth, wherever we find it, notwithstanding any Prejudices or preconceived

Historical, Controversial, Political or Didactic, is grossly criminal; and justly deserves to be despised, as it generally is, by the better Part of the Community.

DISHONESTY, DOUBLE-DEALING, FRAUD. All dishonest Arts are, or ought to be, infamous, and avoided by every honest Man. Running in Debt, without any Prospect, or Hopes, or Design of Payment, is a very common, and very gross Instance of Dishonesty; and refusing to pay Debts, or to fulfil Engagements, when not compelled by human Laws, is as fraudulent as Swindling or Stealing. Such Conduct is (I am sorry to say it) certainly not so generally condemned, nor so infamous with Us, as it deserves to be. There is another Species of gross Dishonesty, which calls loudly for legislative Interference, (if such Interference is practicable,) viz: when a Man, much in Debt, fraudulently conveys away his Property to another, to avoid Payment to his honest Creditors. This is Cheating with a high Hand.

UNFAITHFULNESS.

He who is faithless, is one

of the meanest and most worthless Characters that can be imagined, and is a most contemptible Being.

SELF-WILL, WEDDEDNESS TO SYSTEM, PREJUDICATION, PARTY SPIRIT, FANATICISM, TERGIVERSATION, OBSTINACY, BIGOTRY, &c. &c. All

these,

conceived Notions, and a Freedom from every undue Bias. This Virtue consists of Honesty and Rectitude of Design and Intention; and disposes us to avoid all Chicanery or Misrepresentation, in all our Dealings, or Intercourse, or Disputes with our Neighbours. One of this Character will never give any false Encouragement, or, by his Words or Actions, raise Expectations which he does not mean seriously to fulfil; nor will such a Man easily deviate from the Path of Rectitude.

UPRIGHTNESS, OR SINCERITY. This Virtue is regarded by God as one of the highest our Nature admits of, and is always esteemed by Men, as the most respectable. It ought, therefore, to be the

Aim of every one, to obtain and preserve this Rectitude of Character, as there is no Qualification more beneficial to Society, or more truly honourable to the Individual possessed of it.

SIMPLICITY. A plain, open, honest, unsuspicious Temper, which, though it exposes one to the Frauds and Artifices of designing Men, (unless accompanied with Prudence,) yet is an amiable Trait in a Man's Character, as it implies great Innocence and Absence of Guile. To be harmless as Doves, is a

Christian Qualification.

MERCY

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