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I. SOCIAL LIFE IS BASED UPON COMMERCIAL CONTRACTS. Each bringing to the other some product of skill or toil. We cannot supply a fraction of our own wants, we must buy; and we have also in turn something to sell. Business is the outcome of this reciprocal dependence. Each can, each must help the other, or social and civic life would be impossible.

II. DISHONESTY IS SUBVERSIVE OF THE VERY BASIS OF SOCIAL LIFE. It breaks confidence, alienates intercourse; closes friendly relationships, substitutes roguery for righteousness, and wrecks all goodwill. Pleasant to reflect —

1. How much trade honour there is among men.

2. How surely trickery brings discovery, and therefore penalty, on rogues.

3. How honesty is ever winning respect and reward.

III. JUSTICE SITS OBSERVANT OF ALL DECEITFUL DEEDS. "I am the Lord." He sees all secrecies; weighs all balances; hates all dishonesties; will requite all deceits.

(W. H. Jellie.)

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KJV: Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure.

WEB: "'You shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in measures of length, of weight, or of quantity.