fraud_n be_v real_o a_o wilful_a sin_n but_o so_o call_v with_o respect_n to_o the_o smallness_n or_o inconsiderableness_n of_o the_o matter_n wherein_o such_o sin_n be_v commit_v it_o be_v to_o be_v fear_v say_v a_o pious_a author_n that_o more_o soul_n perish_v by_o these_o suppose_a small_a sin_n than_o by_o the_o gross_a act_n of_o wickedness_n we_o natural_o fly_v with_o great_a fear_n from_o great_a danger_n than_o from_o less_o and_o the_o true_a reason_n why_o idle_a word_n and_o sinful_a thought_n be_v oftener_o commit_v then_o more_o heinous_a sin_n be_v because_o the_o soul_n be_v not_o so_o much_o awaken_v by_o fear_n and_o care_n to_o make_v resistance_n and_o love_n need_v the_o help_n of_o fear_n in_o this_o our_o weak_a condition_n we_o easy_o yield_v to_o what_o we_o think_v little_a sin_n and_o those_o lead_v we_o on_o and_o betray_v we_o into_o great_a he_o that_o have_v bring_v himself_o to_o take_v a_o unjust_a penny_n without_o regret_n may_v in_o time_n be_v 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the_o many_o temptation_n that_o entice_v man_n to_o commit_v these_o fraud_n i_o shall_v endeavour_v by_o way_n of_o application_n to_o lay_v the_o forementioned_a obligation_n to_o the_o strict_a observance_n of_o commutative_a justice_n more_o home_n to_o man_n conscience_n and_o set_v before_o they_o the_o reward_n and_o terror_n of_o the_o lord_n of_o righteousness_n you_o have_v hear_v by_o how_o many_o title_n these_o instrument_n of_o justice_n belong_v to_o god_n and_o now_o by_o way_n of_o plain_a consequence_n or_o inference_n you_o shall_v hear_v more_o particular_o what_o obligation_n the_o law_n of_o nature_n religion_n and_o our_o civil_a constitution_n lie_v upon_o we_o to_o maintain_v these_o ordinance_n of_o commutative_a justice_n and_o that_o these_o argument_n may_v have_v their_o due_a force_n and_o effect_v upon_o man_n i_o will_v set_v forth_o how_o every_o dealer_n in_o the_o world_n ought_v often_o to_o lay_v these_o consideration_n to_o heart_n and_o 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that_o law_n tell_v we_o that_o as_o there_o be_v a_o benefit_n accrue_v by_o the_o exchange_n of_o thing_n so_o each_o party_n have_v a_o right_a to_o a_o share_n of_o it_o that_o the_o buyer_n may_v have_v the_o worth_n of_o his_o price_n and_o be_v thereby_o furnish_v with_o such_o conveniency_n of_o life_n as_o he_o want_v and_o the_o seller_n may_v have_v the_o full_a worth_n of_o his_o commodity_n otherwise_o instead_o of_o answer_v the_o great_a design_n of_o society_n which_o be_v to_o be_v mutual_o helpful_a one_o to_o another_o we_o become_v cruel_a oppressor_n of_o our_o brethren_n thus_o we_o be_v to_o consider_v that_o the_o great_a balance_n of_o nature_n give_v every_o man_n his_o due_a and_o equal_o divide_v the_o profit_n and_o advantage_n of_o our_o traffic_n and_o that_o man_n who_o be_v not_o content_v with_o his_o share_n but_o ingross_v all_o the_o profit_n of_o exchange_n to_o himself_o be_v rather_o a_o wen_n of_o the_o body_n politic_n as_o dr._n scot_n well_o express_v it_o that_o draw_v all_o the_o nourishment_n to_o himself_o and_o starve_v the_o neighbour_a part_n than_o a_o regular_a member_n that_o content_v itself_o with_o a_o proportionate_a share_n and_o glad_o permit_v his_o fellow-member_n to_o live_v and_o thrive_v as_o well_o as_o he_o the_o heathen_n who_o attend_v to_o these_o moral_a obligation_n need_v no_o other_o law_n of_o justice_n they_o praise_v it_o in_o their_o say_n practise_v it_o in_o their_o deal_n and_o punish_v the_o transgressor_n of_o it_o and_o what_o a_o reproach_n be_v this_o to_o some_o christian_a professor_n who_o seem_v to_o have_v put_v off_o the_o nature_n of_o man_n while_o they_o make_v profession_n of_o faith_n as_o christian_n and_o have_v as_o little_a regard_n to_o moral_a equity_n as_o if_o it_o be_v no_o part_n of_o our_o religion_n in_o truth_n such_o man_n be_v so_o far_o from_o religion_n that_o they_o be_v not_o honest_a heathen_n yet_o the_o gentile_n which_o know_v not_o god_n shall_v rise_v up_o in_o judgement_n against_o they_o and_o condemn_v they_o it_o be_v pardonable_a superstition_n for_o heathenish_a ignorance_n to_o pay_v divine_a honour_n to_o the_o goddess_n of_o justice_n but_o for_o christian_a knowledge_n to_o have_v hand_n and_o heart_n offer_v up_o as_o it_o be_v in_o sacrifice_n to_o the_o unrighteous_a mammon_n be_v abominable_a idolatry_n their_o worship_n terminate_v in_o heaven_n but_o we_o fall_v down_o and_o worship_v the_o earth_n again_o let_v every_o dealer_n further_o consider_v in_o the_o second_o place_n that_o as_o injustice_n be_v repugnant_a to_o the_o principle_n of_o the_o light_n of_o nature_n so_o likewise_o as_o have_v be_v prove_v to_o the_o positive_a law_n of_o god_n reveal_v to_o we_o from_o heaven_n that_o divine_a word_n which_o declare_v that_o the_o weight_n and_o balance_n belong_v to_o god_n do_v plain_o declare_v that_o just_o deal_v belong_v to_o we_o for_o who_o sake_n these_o instrument_n be_v ordain_v all_o the_o law_n of_o heaven_n be_v just_a as_o well_o as_o holy_a as_o christ_n come_v not_o to_o destroy_v the_o moral_a law_n deliver_v by_o moses_n so_o moses_n make_v no_o alteration_n as_o to_o the_o law_n of_o nature_n moses_n confirm_v they_o all_o and_o christ_n improve_v they_o all_o and_o both_o set_v a_o particular_a estimate_n upon_o justice_n and_o how_o can_v it_o be_v otherwise_o since_o justice_n be_v a_o ray_n nay_o a_o mighty_a beam_n of_o divinity_n as_o eternal_a as_o the_o godhead_n as_o immutable_a and_o indelible_a as_o the_o image_n of_o god_n in_o the_o rational_a world_n which_o though_o much_o deface_v in_o some_o individual_n yet_o preserve_v its_o lustre_n over_o the_o universe_n and_o will_v for_o ever_o determine_v those_o man_n to_o deal_v just_o with_o one_o another_o who_o attend_v to_o the_o dictate_v of_o nature_n or_o the_o law_n of_o religion_n and_o
and_o require_v simplicity_n in_o bargain_v and_o faithfulness_n in_o perform_v covenant_n the_o former_a respect_n chief_o the_o dignity_n of_o person_n this_o latter_a the_o equality_n of_o thing_n the_o common_a instrument_n of_o this_o sort_n of_o justice_n be_v weight_n and_o measure_n the_o use_n of_o which_o be_v introduce_v by_o natural_a reason_n and_o necessity_n commerce_n and_o traffic_n become_v necessary_a as_o soon_o as_o mankind_n become_v multiply_v and_o divide_v into_o colonies_n for_o god_n in_o his_o wise_a and_o good_a providence_n have_v so_o order_v that_o there_o be_v no_o condition_n of_o life_n wherein_o one_o do_v not_o stand_v in_o need_n of_o another_o whether_o we_o respect_v private_a family_n community_n or_o kingdom_n and_o this_o for_o the_o preservation_n of_o society_n and_o to_o promote_v and_o spread_v abroad_o love_n and_o friendship_n over_o the_o face_n of_o the_o earth_n now_o it_o be_v not_o easy_a to_o imagine_v how_o this_o necessary_a 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see_v he_o be_v record_v for_o a_o instructor_n of_o every_o artificer_n in_o brass_n and_o iron_n gen._n 4.22_o he_o vossius_fw-la take_v to_o be_v the_o same_o with_o vulcan_n but_o as_o to_o that_o particular_a instrument_n the_o balance_n the_o first_o invention_n of_o it_o be_v by_o the_o heathen_n attribute_v to_o astrea_n who_o be_v therefore_o deify_v for_o the_o goddess_n of_o justice_n and_o her_o balance_n be_v advance_v among_o the_o celestial_a sign_n to_o denote_v the_o extreme_a value_n of_o this_o invention_n and_o the_o sacred_a regard_n they_o have_v to_o the_o use_n of_o it_o but_o now_o if_o the_o balance_n and_o weight_n be_v of_o humane_a invention_n how_o will_v this_o proverb_n of_o solomon_n be_v account_v for_o which_o plain_o ascribe_v they_o to_o divine_a institution_n a_o just_a weight_n and_o balance_n be_v the_o lord_n by_o which_o we_o be_v not_o only_o to_o understand_v that_o the_o lord_n approve_v of_o they_o and_o require_v they_o in_o all_o our_o deal_n of_o traffic_n with_o one_o another_o but_o that_o he_o claim_v this_o ordinance_n of_o justice_n as_o his_o own_o institution_n intimate_v that_o his_o overrule_a hand_n be_v employ_v in_o the_o workmanship_n of_o all_o and_o every_o of_o these_o instrument_n all_o the_o weight_n of_o the_o bag_n be_v his_o work_n this_o seem_a difference_n be_v easy_o make_v up_o for_o as_o dr._n taylor_n observe_v though_o this_o part_n of_o justice_n depend_v upon_o the_o law_n of_o man_n direct_o and_o take_v its_o estimate_n and_o measure_n from_o civil_a sanction_n and_o private_a agreement_n yet_o it_o be_v build_v upon_o the_o law_n of_o god_n by_o plain_a consequence_n and_o undeniable_a inference_n as_o i_o shall_v undertake_v to_o prove_v from_o three_o topic_n first_o from_o the_o law_n of_o nature_n second_o from_o the_o reveal_v law_n of_o god_n three_o from_o the_o establish_v law_n of_o his_o vicegerent_n establish_v in_o this_o kingdom_n first_o if_o we_o examine_v the_o law_n of_o nature_n we_o shall_v soon_o find_v that_o all_o the_o instrument_n of_o just_a deal_v be_v ultimate_o resolve_v into_o god_n workmanship_n for_o who_o teach_v the_o first_o inventor_n of_o they_o this_o useful_a art_n who_o impart_v to_o they_o this_o skill_n in_o geometry_n who_o guide_v the_o workman_n hammer_n who_o give_v man_n that_o natural_a sagacity_n to_o find_v out_o the_o critical_a rule_n of_o proportion_n who_o but_o the_o god_n of_o nature_n who_o but_o that_o omniscient_a workman_n who_o write_v his_o first_o law_n the_o law_n of_o nature_n in_o the_o heart_n and_o mind_n of_o all_o his_o servant_n this_o natural_a principle_n furnish_v man_n with_o common_a rule_n of_o justice_n as_o be_v evident_a from_o the_o moral_a precept_n and_o practice_n of_o the_o heathen_n commerce_n say_v tully_n in_o his_o excellent_a book_n of_o office_n consist_v in_o buy_v and_o sell_v hire_v and_o let_v and_o exchange_v commodity_n but_o there_o can_v be_v none_o of_o this_o deal_v say_v he_o without_o justice_n 2._o offic._n lib._n 2._o and_o therefore_o in_o another_o place_n he_o condemn_v it_o as_o a_o pernicious_a error_n that_o they_o have_v a_o cunning_a artificial_a sort_n of_o people_n in_o great_a admiration_n misstake_v craft_n for_o wisdom_n and_o that_o the_o like_a fraudulent_a abuse_n of_o this_o divine_a institution_n be_v practise_v in_o former_a age_n we_o learn_v from_o the_o testimony_n which_o aristotle_n give_v of_o the_o merchant_n in_o his_o time_n for_o the_o remedy_n of_o which_o abuse_v the_o ancient_n do_v appoint_v divers_a officer_n call_v 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d wilkins_n wilkins_n who_o be_v to_o overlook_v the_o common_a measure_n of_o justice_n so_o sacred_a a_o regard_n have_v those_o moralist_n for_o this_o piece_n of_o natural_a religion_n that_o they_o worship_v justice_n for_o a_o goddess_n complain_v that_o she_o have_v leave_v the_o earth_n and_o be_v retire_v in_o heaven_n from_o whence_o she_o come_v leave_v only_o her_o scale_n as_o i_o hint_v before_o within_o our_o sight_n in_o the_o zodiac_n as_o a_o sign_n that_o our_o deal_n with_o man_n shall_v be_v equal_o divide_v as_o the_o globe_n be_v with_o the_o equinoctial_a line_n lucan_n lucan_n adjustae_fw-la pondera_fw-la librae_fw-la thus_o nature_n itself_o direct_v we_o to_o heaven_n for_o the_o author_n of_o the_o balance_n as_o virgil_n sing_v jupiter_n ipse_fw-la dvas_fw-la aequato_fw-la examine_v lance_n sustinet_fw-la intimate_v that_o the_o righteous_a god_n weigh_v all_o the_o action_n of_o mortal_n as_o in_o the_o scale_n of_o justice_n whence_o the_o poet_n style_v he_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d the_o high_a and_o heavenly_a holder_n of_o the_o balance_n such_o honour_n and_o reverence_n do_v the_o disciple_n of_o nature_n pay_v to_o the_o balance_n as_o the_o noble_a of_o all_o mechanical_a instrument_n and_o worthy_a of_o a_o divine_a author_n but_o second_o a_o just_a weight_n and_o balance_n be_v the_o lord_n by_o the_o law_n of_o reveal_v as_o well_o as_o natural_a religion_n the_o divine_a institution_n of_o this_o ordinance_n of_o justice_n be_v frequent_o repeat_v in_o the_o old_a testament_n and_o confirm_v by_o general_a rule_n of_o righteousness_n lay_v down_o in_o the_o new_a first_o hear_v the_o voice_n of_o the_o lord_n in_o the_o law_n give_v by_o moses_n you_o shall_v do_v no_o vnrighteousness_n in_o judgement_n 19.35_o leu._n 19.35_o in_o meteyard_n in_o weight_n or_o in_o measure_n just_a balance_n just_a weight_n a_o just_a ephah_n and_o a_o just_a hin_n shall_v you_o have_v i_o be_o the_o lord_n your_o god_n observe_v that_o solemn_a confirmation_n jam_fw-la the_o lord_n he_o stamp_v the_o mark_n of_o his_o royal_a authority_n upon_o they_o again_o this_o law_n be_v enforce_v by_o a_o promise_a blessing_n and_o the_o contrary_a practice_n prohibit_v under_o pain_n of_o a_o heavy_a curse_n 25.13_o deut._n 25.13_o thou_o shall_v not_o have_v in_o thy_o bag_n divers_a weight_n or_o as_o it_o be_v in_o the_o original_a a_o stone_n and_o a_o stone_n a_o great_a and_o a_o small_a i.e._n the_o great_a to_o buy_v with_o and_o the_o lesser_a for_o sell_v or_o the_o one_o for_o public_a show_n and_o the_o other_o for_o private_a use_n likewise_o thou_o shall_v not_o have_v in_o thy_o house_n divers_a measure_n a_o great_a and_o a_o small_a but_o thou_o shall_v have_v a_o perfect_a and_o a_o just_a weight_n a_o perfect_a and_o a_o just_a measure_n shall_v thou_o have_v that_o thy_o day_n may_v be_v lengthen_v in_o the_o land_n which_o the_o lord_n thy_o god_n give_v thou_o for_o all_o that_o do_v such_o thing_n that_o be_v do_v falsify_v weight_n and_o measure_n be_v a_o abomination_n unto_o the_o lord_n thy_o god_n i._n e._n high_o abominable_a as_o the_o abstract_n signify_v according_o we_o find_v god_n express_v a_o more_o than_o ordinary_a displeasure_n against_o his_o own_o people_n for_o this_o fradulent_a
deal_v amos_n 8.4_o hear_v this_o o_o you_o that_o swallow_v up_o the_o needy_a even_o to_o make_v the_o poor_a of_o the_o land_n to_o fail_v say_v when_o will_v the_o new_a moon_n be_v go_v that_o we_o may_v sell_v corn_n and_o the_o sabbath_n that_o we_o may_v set_v forth_o wheat_n make_v the_o ephah_n small_a and_o the_o shekel_n great_a and_o falsify_v the_o balance_n by_o deceit_n the_o lord_n have_v swear_v by_o the_o excellency_n of_o jacob_n sure_o i_o will_v not_o forget_v any_o of_o these_o work_n upon_o so_o much_o reason_n and_o divine_a authority_n do_v this_o observation_n stand_v 20.10_o ezek._n 45.9_o 10._o prov._n 11_o 1â—_n 20.10_o a_o just_a weight_n and_o balance_n be_v the_o lord_n be_v god_n seem_v to_o have_v consecrate_v they_o by_o these_o and_o several_a other_o divine_a sentence_n that_o we_o meet_v with_o in_o the_o old_a testament_n thereby_o to_o raise_v in_o we_o a_o reverence_n in_o the_o use_n of_o they_o and_o in_o the_o new_a the_o law_n of_o the_o 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those_o secret_n tie_v of_o justice_n which_o like_a nerve_n and_o other_o sinewy_a ligament_n bound_v the_o member_n of_o the_o body_n politic_n together_o this_o observation_n agree_v with_o the_o context_n and_o with_o the_o royal_a concern_v which_o solomon_n here_o express_v for_o just_o deal_v among_o his_o people_n he_o often_o repeat_v his_o charge_n against_o false_a weight_n to_o show_v his_o detestation_n of_o such_o practice_n and_o in_o the_o verse_n follow_v my_o text_n declare_v that_o the_o commit_v this_o wickedness_n be_v a_o abomination_n to_o king_n because_o their_o throne_n be_v establish_v in_o righteousness_n thus_o we_o have_v the_o royal_a honour_n and_o interest_n and_o the_o public_a faith_n beside_o divine_a command_n all_o engage_v for_o the_o security_n of_o trade_n and_o to_o keep_v man_n from_o do_v and_o receive_v injury_n and_o if_o this_o be_v not_o sufficient_a we_o may_v further_o consider_v the_o sacred_a regard_n that_o the_o jew_n have_v for_o 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devil_n and_o accurse_a of_o god_n but_o all_o the_o just_a weight_n the_o least_o as_o well_o as_o the_o great_a be_v here_o note_v to_o be_v the_o lord_n and_o that_o to_o signify_v to_o we_o that_o we_o must_v be_v scrupulous_o just_a and_o do_v no_o unrighteousness_n no_o not_o even_o the_o small_a matter_n every_o little_a fraud_n be_v a_o sin_n and_o every_o sin_n must_v be_v hate_v and_o universal_a righteousness_n prove_v our_o sincerity_n the_o tempter_n oft_o get_v advantage_n by_o whisper_v to_o man_n that_o the_o sin_n be_v small_a and_o such_o as_o god_n servant_n themselves_o frequent_o commit_v this_o be_v one_o of_o the_o subtle_a insinuation_n of_o the_o devil_n a_o net_n in_o which_o he_o catch_v innumerable_a soul_n for_o the_o sin_n be_v not_o small_a in_o respect_n to_o the_o gild_n which_o be_v great_a enough_o to_o ruin_v the_o soul_n every_o act_n of_o