the gate'. Let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream®. Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates; and let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour, and love no false oath; for all these are things that I hate, saith the Lord". If a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right', and hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment; he that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man, hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments to deal truly; he is just; he shall surely live, saith the Lord God. Thus saith the Lord, Keep ye judgment and do justice; for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. Blessed is the man that doth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it'. SECT. 6. Promises to the just and upright, mixed with threatnings against the unjust and deceitful. Have we not all one Father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers? To do judgment and justice, is more acceptable unto the Lord than sacrifice". If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands towards him; if iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles. For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot, yea thou shalt be steadfast, and shall not fear. He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly, he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; he shall dwell on high; his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks; bread shall be given him, his waters shall be sure". It is joy to the just to do judgment; but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity. The integrity of the upright shall guide them; but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them'. Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil; but to the counsellors of peace is joy. There shall no evil happen to the just; but the wicked shall be filled with mischief. Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord; but they that deal truly are his delight. He that walketh uprightly, walketh surely; but he that perverteth his way shall be known". The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked; but he blesseth the habitation of the just'. Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich. Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall hịmself into his own pit; but the upright shall have good things in his possession'. Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved; but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once. The memory of the just is blessed; but the name of the wicked shall rot". SECT. 7. Dissuasives from fraud, with exhortations and motives to universal righteousness and probity. My son, forget not my law; let not inercy and truth forsake thee; bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart". Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eye-lids look strait before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand, nor to the left; remove thy foot from d Isa. xxxiii. 15, 16. a § 7. Prov. iii. 1, 3. * Prov. xxi. 15. f Prov. xi. 3. evil. The Lord is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. The high way of the upright is to depart from evil; he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul. If thou wilt walk in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, and fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and truth', with a perfect heart, and a willing mind; he will be found of thee. The Lord knoweth the days of the upright, and their inheritance shall be for ever. Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace'. The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness'. He that followeth after righteousness and mercy, findeth life, righteousness, and honour". The Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly". The just man walketh in his integrity; his children are blessed after him. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous; and shout for joy all ye that are upright in heart?. Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. The Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth 'the proud doer'. For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness, his countenance doth behold the upright'. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile'. The light of the body is the eye; if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body is full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness". He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much; and he that is unjust in the least, is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own*? Render therefore unto Cesar the things which are Cesar's; and unto God the things which are God's'. Therefore, all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do you even so to them; for this is the law and the prophets. Cleanse your hands ye sinners, and purify your hearts ye double-minded. Know ye not, that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived; neither thieves, nor covetous, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. Wherefore, let him that stole, steal no more; but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good; that he may have to give to him that needeth. For ye know what commandment we gave you by the Lord Jesus, that no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter; because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we have forewarned and testified. But he that doth wrong, shall receive for the wrong which he hath done; and there is no respect of persons. Little children, let no man deceive you; he that doth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil; whosoever doth not righteousness is not of God". For the grace of God that bringeth salvation, hath appeared unto all men; teaching us, that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world'. For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth. Render therefore to all their dues; tribute, to whom tribute is due; custom, to whom custom; fear, to whom fear; honour, to whom honour. Owe no man any thing, but to love one another'. Do no evil; but do that which is honest ". Follow after righteousness"; having your conversation honest among the Gentiles; having your loins girt about with truth; having a good conscience; that whereas they speak evil of you, as of evil-doers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth'. And this I pray, that ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; being filled with the fruits of righteousness. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, think on these things' Speak thou the things which become sound doctrine"; in all things showing thyself a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, which cannot be condemned; holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away, concerning faith have made shipwreck. Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters; not purloining, but showing all good fidelity, with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as unto Christ. Not with eye-service, as men-pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good will doing service as to the Lord, and not to men *. SECT. 8. Integrity of heart and life exhibited in the character of Job. There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright; and one that feared God and eschewed evil. And when |