SERMON XII. 29202 Of THEFT, FRAUD, and Ex TORTION. T EXOD. XX. 15. Thou shalt not Steal. HIS command takes a much SERM. wider fcope than is, perhaps, XII. generally apprehended, and may be applied to a variety of cafes in the mutual commerce of mankind: Which either pass by fofter names, where fome degree of injuftice there is allowed to be; or are thought of too little moment, to interrupt the fordid worlding in VOL. III. U his SERM. his eager pursuit of gain, when custom, XII. and the number of trangreffors, fo divides and spreads the dishonour and infamy of the practice,that it does not fix itself on any individual, as his peculiar reproach. The guilt, indeed, of each particular offender is in itself the fame, as if he ftood quite fingle, and had no affociates, no partners in his iniquity; and his REAL infamy is alfo the fame; but he feels neither of thefe, if he is not marked out as a confpicuous and diflinguished character of injuftice: Which plainly demonftrates how little, in all fuch cafes, religious motives influence, how little generofity and a sense of right, and that the chief, almost the fole, view is to popular eftimation, and outward advantage. How extremely loofe and indigefted the apprehenfions (for I cannot call them reafonings) of men frequently are with refpect to fubjects of morality, and how hafty and indeliberate their decifions upon matters of right and wrong, their conduct in the inftance now referr'd to, and in feveral others equally notorious, too fully and fadly teftifies. They feem fcarce fcarce to allow themselves any time at all SERM. for reflections of this kind, tho' of the XII. highest importance to reafonable beings, in every poffible period and fcene of their existence. They haye feldom any fixed, diftinct, and uniform scheme, which they hold themfelves bound to obferve inviolably, in the entire courfe and management of their commercial affairs. They are contented with framing general excufes, for methods of traffick which they cannot justify, instead of fettling what is right, and having the honeft refolution of mind to adhere to it, that their actions may need no excufe: Which shows but a fcanty measure of ingenuity, of native juftice and the love of virtue; and looks as if they made light of the fin, so they could avoid the remorse, and were not so much afraid of incurring guilt, as of the uneafinefs and ignominy confequent upon it. Let me add, in order to cut off effectually all fuch lame and frivolous pleas, as can only ferve to abufe the judgment and stupify the confcience of the tranfgreffor, and prepare the way for a train and progreffion of iniquities" that no folid or U 2 "avail SERM." available excufe can be made for any XII. " kind or degree of injustice, but abso "lute ignorance of the crime itself." This, tho' it can feldom happen with respect to the general principles of right, yet may, perhaps, in fome minute cafes; where there is a feeming fpecioufness and colour of reafon even on the wrong fide of the question, or where the circumstances are perplexed and intricate. But, even here, the ignorance must not be affected; it muft not spring from negligence, partiality, precipitance of temper, or the want of that proportion of faithful inquiry, which is fuited to our capacities and advantages; it must not be the igno rance of a mind funk beneath itself, "contracted in its views and blinded by "covetoufnefs, and wishing to find gainful methods of fraud, and injuring "his neighbour in his property, inno"cent:" For this laft fort, efpecially, argues fuch a mercenary difpofition, such a bafe prostitution of all the moral powers, as ftands fully prepared within itself, to facrifice focial virtue, and the unquestionable rights of mankind, to selfishness and a mean |