WH

1. Oppreffion.

Hether Openly and Infultingly; by mere Power

and Greatness; Or, more Privately and Speciously, under pretence of Law and Juftice: However, I fay, fuch Oppreffi! on may be managed, it is a most crying Sin; against which the Juft God hath threatned his heavy Vengeance in the holy Scriptures. He that hath oppressed the Poor and Needy, and hath Spoiled by violence; he fhall furely Die, his blood fhall be upon him. Ezek. 18. 12, 13.

W

2. Theft.

Hich is of Two Kinds.

1. The With-holding what we

Should Pay.

2. The Taking from our Neighbour what is already in his Poffef fron.

Of the first fort is, The not Paying of Debts. Which, tho' a very great Injustice, is now fo Common that, as The Whole Duty of Man hath Obferved; Men can now-a-days with as great confidence deny him that asks a Debt, as they do him that asks an Alms. Nay, many times 'tis 'made Matter of Quarrel for a Man to Demand his Own.

But as the fame excellent Author doth Admonish; This is fo great Injustice, that I fee not how a Man can look upon any thing he poffeffes as his own Right, whilst he thus denies another his. It is the Duty of every man in Debt, rather to strip himself of all, and cast himself again naked upon God's Providence, than thus to feather his Neft with the Spoils

of

of his Neighbours. Sund. XI. SS. 12.

The Second Part of Theft is,

2. The Taking from our Neighbour what is already in his PofJeffion. 10

And this Injury may be done, Either,

1. More Openly and Violently. As by Robbing on the HighWay. Or, by breaking into Houses and Plundering them. Or,

2. By Pilfering, or private taking away a Man's Goods unknown to him. Which we call Stealing.

Both these are fuch Acts of Injustice, as make Men odious to God, and unfit for Human Society. They expofe the Guilty, not only to Temporal Death in this World; but alfo to Eternal Death and Damnation in the

next. As they are faithfully Ad- · monished by The Whole Duty of Man. Sund. XII. SS. 1.

3. The Third Part of Injuftice, whereby Injury may be done to our Neighbour's Eftate, is

OF

3. Deceit.

F which there may be as many Instances, as there are Occafions of Dealing between Man and Man.

Which yet may All be reduced to thefe Two Generals. 1. Matters of Truft.

2. Matters of Traffick, or Bargaining.

1. A Man may be guilty of Deceit in Matters of Trust. Whe ther that Trust was committed to him; As an Executor, A Guar dian, A Steward, or A Friend.

The Sick Man therefore is to Examine, in which of thefe Ca pacities

;

pacities he hath been entrusted and How, and in what Manner, he hath discharged that Truft.

tor,

1. If he hath been an ExecuHe is then to Examine; Whether he hath acted punctually according to the intent of the Will? And if his Déceafed Friend hath given him any private Directions, of fomething to be done, which he did not think fit to Publish in the Will; he must then recollect, Whether he hath been faithful in obferving those Directions?

Wherein he is the more concerned to be fincere; Becaufe, tho' as to the Letter of the Will, the Law will make him honeft; yet as to thofe private Directions, he is left to the Conduct of his own Conscience.

But if he hath been falfe to his Trust, and hath not honestly paid Debts or Legacies, according

to