remaining detriment are to be mended and repaired : for the action itself is to be punished or repented of, and enters not into the question of restitution. But in these and all other cases the injured person is to be restored to that perfect and good condition from which he was removed by my fraud or violence, so far as is possible. Thus a ravisher must repair the temporal detriment or injury done to the maid, and give her a dowry, or marry her if she desire it. For this restores her into that capacity of being a good wife, which by the injury was lost, as far as it can be done. 13. He that robbeth his neighbour of his goods, or detains any thing violently or fraudulently, is bound not only to restore the principal, but all its fruits and emoluments which would have accrued to the right owner during the time of their being detained. By proportion of these rules, we may judge of the obligation that lies upon all sorts of injurious persons; the sacrilegious, the detainers of tithes, cheaters of men's inheritances, unjust judges, false witnesses and accucusers, those that do fraudulently or violently bring men to sin, that force men to drink, that laugh at and disgrace virtue, that persuade servants to run away, or commend such purposes, violent persecutors of religion in any instance; and all of the same nature. 14. He that hath wronged so many, or in that manner (as in the way of daily trade) that he knows not in what measure he hath done it, or who they are, must redeem his fault by alms and largesses to the poor, according to the value of his wrongful dealing, as near as he can proportion it. Better it is to go beg ging to heaven, than to go to hell laden with the spoils of rapine and injustice. 15. The order of paying of debts of contract or restitution are in some instances set down by the civil laws of a kingdom, in which cases their rule is to be observed. In destitution or want of such rules we are, 1. To observe the necessity of the creditor. 2. Then the time of the delay; and, 3. The special obligations of friendship or kindness; and according to these in their several degrees make our restitution, if we be not able to do all that we should: but if we be, the best rule is to do it as soon as we can, taking our accounts in this as in our human actions, according to prudence, and civil or natural conveniencies or possibilities; only securing these two things: 1. That the duty be not wholly omitted; and, 2. That it be not deferred at all out of covetousness, or any other principle that is vicious. Remember that, the same day in which Zaccheus made restitution to all whom he had injured, the same day Christ himself pronounced that salvation was come to his house, (Luke xix. 9.) * 16. But besides the obligation arising from contract or default, there is one of another sort which comes from kindness and the acts of charity and friendship. He that does me a favour hath bound me to make him a return of thankfulness. The obligation comes not by covenant, nor by his own express intention, but by the nature of the thing; and is a duty springing up within the spirit of the obliged person, to whom it is more natural to love his friend, and to do good for * Gratitude. good, than to return evil for evil: because a man may forgive an injury, but he must never forget a good turn. For every thing that is excellent, and every thing that is profitable, whatsoever is good in itself, or good to me, cannot but be beloved; and what we love we naturally cherish and do good to. He therefore that refuses to do good to them whom he is bound to love, or to love that which did him good, is unnatural and monstrous in his affections, and thinks all the world born to minister to him, with a greediness worse than that of the sea, which, although it receives all rivers into itself, yet it furnishes the clouds and springs with a return of all they need. Our duty to benefactors is, to esteem and love their persons, to make them proportionable returns of service, or duty, or profit, according as we can, or as they need, or as opportunity presents itself, and according to the greatnesses of their kindness, and to pray to God to make them recompence for all the good they have done to us; which last office is also requisite to be done for our creditors, who in charity have relieved our wants. PRAYERS TO BE SAID IN RELATION TO THE SEVERAL OBLIGATIONS AND OFFICES OF JUSTICE. A Prayer for the Grace of Obedience, to be said by all Persons under Command. O Eternal God, great Ruler of men and angels, who hast constituted all things in a wonderful order, making all the creatures subject to man, and one man to another, and all to thee, the last link of this admirable chain being fastened to the foot of thy throne; teach me to obey all those whom thou hast set over me, reverencing their persons, submitting indifferently to all their lawful commands, cheerfully undergoing those burthens which the public. wisdom and necessity shall impose upon me: at no hand murmuring against government, lest the spirit of pride and mutiny, of murmur and disorder enter into me, and consign me to the portion of the disobedient and rebellious, of the despisers of dominion and revilers of dignity. Grant this, O holy God, for his sake, who, for his obedience to the Father, hath obtained the glorification of eternal ages, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. Prayers for Kings and all Magistrates, for our Parents, spiritual and natural, are in the following Litanies, at the end of the fourth Chapter. A Prayer to be said by Subjects, when their land is invaded and over-run by barbarous or wicked people, Enemies of the Religion or the government." I. O Eternal God, thou alone rulest in the kingdoms of men, thou art the great God of battles and recompences, and by thy glorious wisdom, by thy Almighty power, and by thy secret providence, dost determine the events of war, and the issues of human counsels, and the returns of peace and victory: now at last be pleased to let the light of thy countenance, and the effects of a glorious mercy and a gracious pardon re turn to this land. Thou seest how great evils we suffer under the power and tyranny of war; and although we submit to and adore thy justice and our sufferings, yet be pleased to pity our misery, to hear our complaints, and to provide us of remedy against our present calamities; let not the defenders of a righteous cause go away ashamed, nor our counsels be for ever confounded, nor our parties defeated, nor religion suppressed, nor learning discountenanced, and we be spoiled of all the exterior ornaments, instruments, and advantages of piety, which thou hast been pleased formerly to minister to our infirmities, for the interests of learning and religion. Amen. II. We confess, dear God, that we have deserved to be totally extinct and separate from the communion of saints, and the comforts of religion, to be made servants to ignorant, unjust and inferior persons, or to suffer any other calamity which thou shalt allot us as the instrument of thy anger, whom we have so often provoked to wrath and jealousy. Lord, we humbly lie down under the burthen of thy rod, begging of thee to remember our infirmities, and no more to remember our sins, to support us with thy staff, to lift us up with thy hand, to refresh us with thy gracious eye: and, if a sad cloud of temporal infelicities must still encircle us, open unto us the window of heaven, that with an eye of faith and hope we may see beyond the cloud, looking upon those mercies which in thy secret providence and admirable wisdom thou designest to all thy servants, from such unlikely and sad beginnings. |