Wesley Corpus

You know in your own conscience that what comes to the King out of all seizures made the year round, does not amount to the tenth, no, not to the hundredth, part of what he is defrauded of. But if he really gained more than he lost, that would not excuse you. You are not to commit robbery, though the person robbed were afterwards to gain by it. You are not to “do evil, that good may come.” If you do, your “damnation is just.” “But certainly,” say some, “the King is a gainer by it, or he might easily suppress it.” Will you tell him which way? by Custom-House Officers? But many of them have no desire to suppress it. They find their account in its con tinuance; they come in for a share of the plunder. But what, if they had a desire to suppress it? They have not the power. Some of them have lately made the experiment; and what was the consequence? Why, they lost a great part of their bread, and were in danger of losing their lives. Can the King suppress smuggling by parties of soldiers? That he cannot do. For all the soldiers he has are not enough to watch every port and every creek in Great Britain. Besides, the soldiers that are employed will do little more than the Custom-House Officers. For there are ways and means to take off their edge too, and make them as quiet as lambs. “But many courtiers and great men, who know the King’s mind, not only connive at smuggling, but practise it.” And what can we infer from this? Only that those great men are great villains. They are great highwaymen and pickpockets; and their greatness does not excuse, but makes their crime tenfold more inexcusable. But besides: Suppose the King were willing to be cheated, how would this excuse your cheating his subjects? all your fellow-subjects, every honest man, and, in particular, every honest trader? How would it excuse your making it impossible for him to live, unless he will turn knave as well as yourself? 3. “Well, but I am not convinced it is a sin: My conscience does not condemn me for it.” No ! Are you not convinced that robbery is a sin? Then I am sorry for you. And does not your conscience condemn you for stealing?