12.07.2015 Views

The works of the Rev. William Thom, late minister ... - waughfamily.ca

The works of the Rev. William Thom, late minister ... - waughfamily.ca

The works of the Rev. William Thom, late minister ... - waughfamily.ca

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

SERMONS.I_53^}y <strong>the</strong> illicit gratifi<strong>ca</strong>tion <strong>of</strong> luftsj feme <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> facredr^hts <strong>of</strong> mankind are vio<strong>late</strong>d ; <strong>the</strong>n tLc injured perfonacquh'es a right to compel <strong>the</strong> injm-ious to makehim reparation. Y/hen <strong>the</strong> injurer rcfufes to do this,and by force maintains and defends <strong>the</strong> injuflice hehath done, and <strong>the</strong> injured alio flrives, v/ith all hi*jmight, ^that juftice may be done liim, <strong>the</strong>n it is manifeftthat wars and fightings muft arife. This is <strong>the</strong><strong>ca</strong>fe between <strong>the</strong> individuals <strong>of</strong> mankind in a Hate <strong>of</strong>natural liberty, and between kingdoms afrev politi<strong>ca</strong>lfociety hath been conftituted.<strong>The</strong>re are indeed certain claims, <strong>ca</strong>lled imperfecl.rights, which, though <strong>the</strong>y be vio<strong>late</strong>d, yet <strong>the</strong> injuredparty <strong>ca</strong>nnot by any law compel <strong>the</strong> fulfilment <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong>m by force. If I, from Compaffion, affiit a poorman, even by confiderable fums <strong>of</strong> money, to emerge•out <strong>of</strong> hi-sdirtreiTed condition into opulence and <strong>ca</strong>fe,I have no right to force him to reilore to me v/hat Ihad freely and voluntarily beA;owed to relieve him ;let him afterwards becom.e fifty times richer than everI was, and let me be reduced to ever fo poor circumilances,I have no title tb make any fuch demand uponhim, no title to commen^je any acl:ion at law ut)onthat head. It is indeed highly fit and equitable thatfuch reilitution fhouid be made ; and it is manifefl;,that in aflifting and relieving <strong>the</strong> miferabk ccnfifts<strong>the</strong> nobleft exercife <strong>of</strong> virtue ; arfd 'in making cheerfuland proper returns for fuch beneficence confifts<strong>The</strong> man who vio<strong>late</strong>s <strong>the</strong>fe<strong>the</strong> virtue <strong>of</strong> gratitude.imperfe6l rights is himfelf a very bad man ; he is relievedby <strong>the</strong> gcner<strong>of</strong>ity <strong>of</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs, but hC; hath not<strong>the</strong> heart to make any return j his example tends tokarden <strong>the</strong> heart <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> opulent, and <strong>ca</strong>ufe <strong>the</strong>m fhut<strong>the</strong>ir eaK againll <strong>the</strong> cries <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> niiferable. Godand conlcience require that fuitable returns fliould bemade for good <strong>of</strong>iices that have been done ; but <strong>the</strong>fereturns <strong>ca</strong>nnot be forced ; and if <strong>the</strong>y ihouid be forced,<strong>the</strong>y would ceafe to be virtue.M

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!