Mace(i)
1 My brethren, let not your christian profession be accompanied with partiality.
2 when any one, adorn'd with a gold ring, and a splendid dress, enters into your assembly; and a poor man comes in meanly habited:
3 if you should respectfully say to the suit of fine cloths, sit you there, that's for quality; and to the poor man, stand thou there, or place your self at my feet:
4 have not you made an arbitrary distinction, don't your judgments flow from a vicious principle?
5 consider, my dear brethren, has not God chose the poor of this world to be rich by faith, and to inherit the kingdom he has promised to those who love him?
6 but you, who despise the poor, are not you oppress'd by the rich? is it not they who drag you to their tribunals?
7 they who blaspheme that sacred name by which you are distinguish'd?
8 If, agreeably to the scriptures, you observe that royal law, "thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self," you do well.
9 but partiality is iniquity; and the law will convict the offender of transgression.
10 for he that violates but one precept of the whole law, is as obnoxious to punishment, as if he had broke thro' all the rest.
11 he that said, "do not commit adultery," said too, "do not kill." though you should not commit adultery, yet if you kill, you are a transgressor of the law.
12 speak and act as those, who are to be judged by the law of liberty.
13 for he that has not shewed mercy, shall be condemn'd without mercy: while the merciful shall triumph at his trial.