That is a very important part of the matter. Obey the law, St. Paul
says, not only for wrath, that is, not only for fear of punishment,
but for conscience's sake. Even if you do not expect to be punished;
even if you think no one will ever find out that you have broken the
law, remember it is God's ordinance. He sees you. Do not hurt your
own conscience, and deaden your own sense of right and wrong, by
breaking the least or the most unjust law in the slightest point.
For instance: some people think the income-tax is very unfair; and
therefore they think there is no harm in cheating the revenue a
little, by making out their income less than it is. Others, again,
think the laws against smuggling unjust and harsh; and therefore they
see no harm in trying to avoid paying duty on goods which they bring
home, whenever they have an opportunity, or buying cheap goods, which
they must know from their price are smuggled. Others, again, think
the game laws are unfair, and therefore see no harm in going out
shooting on their own lands without a licence; while many see no
harm, or say they see no harm, in poaching on other people's grounds,
and killing game contrary to law wherever they can. That it is wrong
to break the law in these two first cases, you all know in your own
hearts.
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