Under him the people soon grew uneasy, complained of their heavy bur|dens and a universal murmur arose, throughout the kingdom. After the death of King Solomon, under whose reign, never were a people, perhaps, more united and happy, Rehoboam succeeded to the throne. And yet how common is it for men, both to their own, and to the detriment of the public, to leap the bounds prescribed them by this divine law of nature and revelation?-This was remarkably the case with the Israelites. And to enforce this, he hath added the severest threatnings against it's violators, and every possible encouragement for it's observers so that no one, unless he is under the prevailing influence of anĮxceedingly depraved, wicked heart-and is actuated by a detestably covetous, selfish disposition, can plead ignorance of what is right in his common dealings with mankind. And that we might not be at a loss to know what is our duty to one another, he hath mercifully given us this plain rule, and fixed the standard in every man's own breast, whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so to them. He hath laid us under the strongest obligations, by the mutual ties of the benefit of society and our own good, to observe the strictest rules of benevolence, justice, and every public virtue. THE Author of mankind hath seen fit to give us such social capacities, and form us for a constitution, under which we are so necessa|rily dependent on one another, that no one can act against the interest of his community without endangering his own happiness. Thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |