1. Let us see what is the office of righteousness.
2. To what an height Christianity advanceth it above all other institutions in the world.
First, What is the office and part of justice and righteousness?
Ver. 9.] sp:rmons upon: ephesians v. 261)
1. To seek the peace and welfare of tlie several communities and societies iti which we live, or in preferring the public good before oiu- own. We owe a debt of love to our country. God directeth his people to seek the good of Babylon while his providence continued them there : Jer. xxix. 7, ' And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it; for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace ; ' that is, in regard of their own interest in the common rest and quietness during their abode there ; otherwise we are to pi'ay for the downfall of Babylon. All passengers are concerned in the vessel wherein they are embarked. And if we are to seek the welfare of Babylon, much more are we to seek the welfare of Sion, where we live in christian society: Ps. cxxii. G, ' Pray for the peace of Jerusalem : they shall prosper that love thee.' A christian community is represented as a body, and in a body the members should have a care one of another, and for the whole : 1 Cor. xii. 15, 'If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?' Well, then, this is the first part and office of justice, to perform the debt we owe to our country, for public interests must be preferred before private.
2. To give to every man his due ; to use faithful dealing in all the duties we owe to others, or in all actions wherein we are employed and entrusted by others. We must be just in our trading and bargaining, according to the value of the things ; in paying our debts, and pre- serving the rights of others, and giving due honour to the eminently holy. Because it is endless to instance in all, therefore there is a general rule : Mat. vii. 12, ' Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so to them ; for this is the law and the prophets.' The equity of the rule is built upon two grounds — the actual equality of all men by nature, and the possible equality of all men by condition and state of life. The actual equality of all men by nature, for they were all made by the same God : Job xxxi. 15, ' Did not he that made me in the womb make him ? and did not one fashion us in the womb ? ' So Mai. ii, 10, ' Have we not all one father ? hath not one God created us ? Why do we then deal treacherously every man against his neighbour? ' So Neh. v. 5, 'Our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, and our children as their children.' The possible equality of all men by condition and state of life : wo may be brought into the same state. All are alike subject to corrup- tion and calamity. To corrui)tion, therefore be not severe on the failings of others: Gal. vi. 1, 'Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.' To calamity : Heb. xiii. 3, ' Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them ; and them which sufi'er adversit}', as being yourselves also in the body.' You may be expo.sed to like calamities.
3. Fidelity in our relations is another part of justice ; for all these relations imply a right which is due to others. So we must be just to superiors and inferiors. Magistrates must be just in governing: 2 Sam. xxiii. 3, ' He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.' And it is said of David, 2 Sam. viii. 15, that 'he executed judgment and justice to all his people.' A good magistrate is w/^o?
270 SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. [SeR. X,
e/u,i|ri;n^o9, a living law. And people must be jnst in obeying ; inferiors in pei rorming their duties to their superiors, children to tlieir parents : Eph. vi. 1, ' Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right/ There is a right depending there. Masters to servants: Col. iv. 1, ' Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal.' Wives to their liusbands: Col. iii. 18, 'Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.' So proportionably to all other relations.
Secondly, To what a height Christianity advanceth these things. 1. Because it deduceth things from a higher principle, the fixed principle of a nature renewed by Christ. There are in it three things — (1.) Another nature put into us, a fixed principle ; (2.) And this by the Spirit's operation, and so it is a supernatural principle ; (3.) This working after a kindly manner, by faith in Christ, and love to God in Christ, and so it is a forcible principle.