or his bones. The law is just and good; and being ruled by that, how can my fair proceedings be unjust? What is thirty in the hundred to a man of trade? Are we born' to thrum caps, or pick straws? and sell our livelihood for a few tears, and a whining face? I thank God they move me not so much as a howling dog at midnight. I'll give no day, if Heaven itself would be security; I must have present money, or his bones. The commodity was good enough, as wares went then, and had he had but a thriving wit, with the necessary help of a good merchantable conscience, he might have gained perchance as much as now he lost; but howsoever, gain or not gain, I must have my money. Two tedious terms my dearest gold hath lain in his unprofitable hands. The cost of suit hath made me bleed above a score of royals, besides my interest, travel, half-pennies, and bribes; all which

does but increase my beggarly defendant's damages, and set him deeper on my score; but right is right, and I will have my money, or his bones. Fifteen shillings in the pound composition! I'll hang first. Come, tell not me of a good conscience: a good conscience is no par cel of my trade; it hath made more bankrupts than all the loose wives in the universal city. My conscience is no fool. It tells me that my own's my own; and that a well-crammed bag is no deceitful friend, but will stick close to me when all my friends forsake me. If to gain a good estate out of nothing, and to regain a desperate debt, which is as good as nothing, be the fruits and sign of a bad conscience, God help the good! Come, tell not me of griping and oppression the world is hard, and he that hopes to thrive must gripe as hard: what I give I give, and what I lend I lend. If the way to heaven be to turn

beggar upon earth, let them take it that like it! I know not what ye call oppression. The law is my direction; but of the two it is more profitable to oppress than to be oppressed. If debtors would be honest and discharge, our hands were bound; but when their failing offends my bags, they touch the apple of my eye, and I must right them.

BUT, ha! what voice is this that whispers in mine ear,

The Lord will spoil the soul of the oppressors. Prov. xxii. 23.

Prov. xxii. 22.

Rob not the poor because he is poor, neither oppress the afflicted in the gate; for the Lord will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.

Ezek. xxii. 19.

The people of the land have used op

pression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy; yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully. Therefore I have poured out my indignation upon them, I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath.

Zach. vii. 9.

Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassion every man to his brother, and oppress not the widow nor the fatherless, nor the stranger, nor the poor, and let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his brother. But they refused to hearken; therefore came a great wrath from the · Lord of hosts.

His Soliloquy.

Is it wisdom in thee, O my soul, to covet a happiness, or rather to account it so, that is sought for with a judgment,

obtained with a curse, and punished with damnation-and to neglect that good which is assured with a promise, purchased with a blessing, and rewarded with a crown of glory? Canst thou hold a full estate a good pennyworth, which, is bought with the dear price of thy God's displeasure? Tell me, what continuance can that inheritance promise that is raised upon the ruins of thy brother? Or, what mercy canst thou expect from Heaven, that hast denied all mercy to thy neighbour? O my hard-hearted soul! consider, and relent. Build not an house whose posts are subject to be rotted with a curse. Consider what the God of truth hath threatened against thy cruelty relent, and turn compassionate, that thou mayest be capable of his compassion. If the desire of gold hath hardened thy heart, let the tears of true repentance mollify it; soften it with