again by his Industry and Diligence. Which could not be, if he were not fully Discharged.

For if he were still liable for 'the reft, he would continually 'be obnoxious to Imprisonment; 'which would render him incapable of following his Calling. Or if he were at Liberty, he 'could have no Credit to enable ' him to do any thing in his Calling. For who would trust a 'Man with any thing, who is liable every Moment to have ' it taken from him?

'So that the Reason of this plenary Discharge is this. That Men, who are otherwife hopeful, and in a fair Probability of recovering themselves, may not be rendred incapable of getting an Estate afterwards; whereby they may Support themselves, and Discharge their 'Debts.

Now

"Now this Discharge being given in order to thefe Ends, it cannot be imagined that it 'fhould be intended to defeat 'them. But it is in all reason 'to be fuppofed, that the Credi6 tors did not intend to take off 'the Obligation of Equity and Confcience; only they defigned to put the Man into a Condition of doing fomething, to'wards the enabling him to dif'charge his Debt.

So that unless it were exprefs'd at the Composition, that the Creditor would never expect more from him, upon account of Equity and Confcience but did freely forgive him the rest, the contrary whereof is usually done; I fay, ' unless it were thus exprefs'd, 'there's no reason why the Cre'ditor's favour, in making a Compofition, should be abused to his Prejudice; and why a

Le

Legal Difcharge, given him on purpose for this Reason among others, to put him into a Capacity of Recovering himself, and giving full Satisfaction 'fhould be fo interpreted, as to extinguish the equitable Right of the Creditor to the Remainder of his Debt. V. ABP. Tillotfon's Serm. Vol. VIII. p. 413.

;

I have recited this Cafe at large, for the Conviction of all Perfons concerned.

And if the Sick Man hath been guilty in this Inftance, by making a fraudulent Compofition and hath enriched himself by cheating his Creditors, (as too many, efpecially of late, have done;) I admonifh him, in the Name of God, (fo far as his Circumstances will admit) to make Speedy Reftitution.

And because Men are apt to be too favoura ble to themselves; let him take the Advice of his Spiritual Guide, or fome other Prudent Friend, How, and in What Manner, to make fuch Reftitution.

of

Of Injuries done to our Neighbour's Reputation and Good

Name.

A

Good Name is better than precious Ointment. Eccl. 7. 1. And accordingly, as all other precious things, ought very highly to be valued and secured.

Not only for that private Benefit which it brings to a Man's own Perfon, (a good Report maketh the Bones fat. Prov. 15. 30.) but chiefly for that Publick Capacity which it gives us, to be more fignally Inftrumental to the Welfare of Others.

And therefore, to injure a Man's Reputation, and to deprive him of his Good Name, is the highest Injustice.

Now there are Two Principal Ways, to which all Others may be reduced, whereby this Injury

may

may be done. 1. Slander. 2. De

traction.

Tfa

Of Slander.

O Slander, is to speak falfly against our Neighbour to his Prejudice. By accufing him of fuch Defects and Vices, as he is not guilty of. Which may be done, Either

1. Publickly. By accufing him before a Court of Justice. When falfe Witnesses fhall rise up, and in David's Phrafe, lay to his Charge things that he knew not. Pfal. 35. 11. Or,

2. Privately. When Malicious Designing People do run about into all Companies, Whispering their Poisonous Stories, and Infinuating their falfe Reports. Which is ufually done in this Method.

I. Some