Wesley Corpus

fiat, Let nothing be done fraudulently,” and sentences him immediately to pay back part of the price. Now, how many of our tradesmen come up to the heathen standard of honesty? Who is clear of dolus malus, such fraud as the Roman Judge would immediately have con demned? Which of our countrymen would not have sold his corn, or other wares, at the highest price he could 7 Who would have sunk his own market, by telling his customers there would be plenty the next day? Perhaps scarce one in twenty. That one the Heathen would have allowed to be an honest man; and every one of the rest, according to his sen tence, is “no better than a thief or a robber.” I must acknowledge, I once believed the body of English merchants to be men of the strictest honesty and honour. But I have lately had more experience. Whoever wrongs the widow and fatherless, knows not what honour or honesty means. And how very few are there that would scruple this! I could relate many flagrant instances. But let one suffice: A merchant dies in the full course of a very extensive business. Another agrees with his widow, that provided she will recommend him to her late husband’s correspondents, he will allow her yearly such a proportion of the profits of the trade. She does so; and articles are drawn, which she lodges with an eminent man. This emi nent man positively refuses to give them back to her; but gives them to the other merchant, and so leaves her entirely at his mercy. The consequence is, the other says, there is no profit at all; so he does not give her a groat. Now, where is the honesty or honour, either of him who made the agreement, or him who gave back the articles to him? That there is honour, nay, and honesty, to be found in ano ther body of men, among the gentlemen of the law, I firmly believe, whether Attorneys, Solicitors, or Counsellors. But are they not thinly spread? Do the generality of Attorneys and Solicitors in Chancery love their neighbour as themselves, and do to others what (if the circumstances were changed) they would have others do to them? Do the generality of Counsellors walk by this rule, and by the rules of justice, mercy, and truth?