Fraud and Injustice Detected and Condemned, Title page
FRAUD AND INJUSTICE Detected AND Condemned. In a Lecture SERMON in Boſton, Feb. 28. 1711, 12.
By Benj. Wadſworth, A. M. Paſtor of a Church of CHRIST in Boſton, N.E.
Mark 10.19.
— Defraud not —
2 Cor. 7.2.
— We have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.
1 Theſ. 4.6.
That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter, becauſe that the Lord is the Avenger of all ſuch: as we alſo have fore-warned you, and teſtified.
Boſton: Printed by B. Green. 1712.
Fraud and Injuſtice, Detected and Condemned.
I. COR. VI. 8.
Nay, you do wrong, and defraud, and that your Brethren.
IN our Context, the holy Apoſtle blames the Chriſtian Corinthians, for going to Law before the Unjuſt, v. 1. before Unbelievers, v. 6. and that about ſmalleſt matters, v. 2. They were very ready to Sue one another at the Law, about ſmall matters, and that before infidels, before Heathen, Pagan Judges: This he blames them for. He does not abſolutely, blame or condemn, the uſing of wholeſome humane Laws, for the defending men from Injuries, or for the obtaining of their right. The Apoſtle himſelf, when in danger of being wrongfully and illegally Scourged, pleaded the Roman Law in his own defence, ſaying, Act. 22.25. Is it lawful for you to Scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned? Yea God himſelf appointed, that there ſhould be Judges among his People, to hear Cauſes and to ſee Juſtice done. Deut. 25.1. If there be a Controveſy between men, and they come unto Judgment that the Judges may Judge them, then they ſhall juſtifie the Righteous & condemn the Wicked. Tis not therefore abſolutely and in it ſelf conſidered, a Sin, to go to Law; tho' circumſtances are often ſuch, that many do very Sinfully in going to Law. And ſuch were the circumſtances at this time, among the Corinthians; they went to Law about little matters, and that before Heathen Judges, who were ready from their contentions to vilifie & reproach their Religion. The Chriſtian Religion does oblige the Profeſſors of it, to be loving, quiet, peaceable, harmleſs, ſelf-denying. If it be poſſible, as much as in you lieth, live peaceably with all men, Rom. 12.18. Our bleſſed Saviour ſaid, Joh. 13.35. By this ſhall all men know that ye are my Diſciples, if ye have love one to another. Since Chriſtians are ſo plainly required, to be loving, peaceable, ſelf-denying; no doubt but the heathen Judges before whom the Chriſtian Corinthians manag'd their controverſies, did thence take occaſion, to reproach their Religion as well as their Perſons. The Apoſtle therefore blames the Corinthians, becauſe they had no more regard to the Credit & Reputation of their Religion: he tells them they had better Suffer themſelves to be defrauded, than that their Religion ſhould thus ſuffer by their means, v. 7. But then the Apoſtle goes on, and chargeth theſe Chriſtians, with an higher crime than their going to Law with one another; and that was, That they themſelves did wrong and defraud one another. They were ſo far from being willing to ſuffer wrong, and to deny themſelves, for the Credit of Religion; that indeed they did wrong and defrauded, and that their Brethren. This he charges on them as a great Sin, in our Text. Perſons may be ſaid to do wrong, and to defraud, in other matters as well as in Worldly goods or Outward eſtate; yet this latter ſeems to be chiefly intended in our Text, and in this ſenſe I ſhall ſpeak to it at preſent. The words may afford us this,