The National Register.
London, England, 1811-06-16 00:00:00

E NATIONAL. REGIsTER.

las Air. Clayton no faults ?—None that are great. Perhaps
there is preciseness in his delivery, together with a conciseness
preaching. There may be, therefore, art in both. Nature
has wrought great things for hini,---enduing him 'with such ge-
nius,—ye't he has brought art to Lid nctvre.
The Ke•v. John Clayton, Senior, has published some single
sermons and charges ; amongst which the charge delivered at
the ordination of his younger son, William Clayton, at Safi-son
Walden, is, although concise entitled to attention.
ON ESIMU.%.

THEOLOGICAL DISQUISITION.

JUSTICE.

(Continued from a former Paper.)

There is scarcely a greater breach of Justice, and also Charity,
as I have heretofore observed, than what is termed Scandal.—
that is, the tittle tattle, so prevalent in general conversation
about our neighbours ; canvassing and deciding upon their
actions as if we were authorised to sit in judgment upon them ;
whereas, if we do find fault with our neighbour, we should first
be sure that the action we condemn originated in the motive to
which we impute it, and that will be found in most cases an
impossibility to do. But if we have not ascertained this fact,
we are guilty of injustice, in the condemnation or censure we
pass upon our neighbour ; and when we are certain, as we do
not know what unforeseen ill consequences may result to the con-
demned by our unthinking censure, we should, before we com-
ment upon their conduct, have the Justice to consider whether
we should like to have our own commented upon. If we feel
we should not, then we cannot suppose we have a right to, or
can without criminality, so act. " Pull out the beam from thine
own eye before thou attemptest to remove the mote from 'thy
brother's," was the language of the fountain of Justice, and a
man or woman who kept this saying in his or her heart, would
tremble at the act of injustice I have pointed out.
It is equally unjust to commend any person for a virtue or
quality we know he is deficient in, which some persons, from a
weakness of nature which they conceive to be an amiable ones
do, r ether than do that person an injury. But they should recol-
lect they do those an equal, or perhaps a superior injury whom
they thus deceive. One of the best writers has made this ob-
servation for the conduct of our private conversation in regard
to our neighbour ; " if his character is attacked defend it if you
can, if you cannot say nothing."

I have seen this question put on the subject before us. Sup-
pose my daughter has been guilty of what is called a
,fitr pas,
and it has been so concealed from the world, that an honourable
man, conceiving her a character of the strictest virtue, asks her
hand, which he would not, if he knew the criminal act she had
committed. Doe.. Justice oblige me to spoil the girl's match,
and ruin her reputation for ever by a diNclosure of it ? It has
been answered thus,—lf the question is put to me, lam bound
to answer it truly ; if it is not pat, I then am not bound to be-
tray the secret. On this question there is much to be said, and
casuistsmight produce from it arguments almost ad infinitum; but
I question in strict Justice, wlit.ther a man Es not bound to de-
clare his daught, is frailty, if lie is perfectly convinced that the
person addressing her would revolt at marrying her if he knew
she had committed an error, but from his full persuasion of the
father's being a strictly honourable man, the non-existence of a
doubt of course would prevent the putting so serious and indeli-
cate a question, as his addresses to the daughter must imply a
confidence in her virtue.

Yet in some view or the case it would seemto be acting with se.
verity, but still, if we regulate ourselves by the standard of "doing
as we would be dine by," and our minds are perfectly delicate,
I hardly think we could act otherwise. It may be observed, that
it would be a great cruelty to the girl, and if the man was to be
kei t in ignorance, that ignorance would prevent any ill conse-