l that
he had received. After the same manner as in these trusts it is to be,
if any one defraud those that undergo bodily labor for him. And let
it be always remembered, that we are not to defraud a poor man of
his wages, as being sensible that God has allotted these wages to him
instead of land and other possessions; nay, this payment is not at all
to be delayed, but to be made that very day, since God is not willing to
deprive the laborer of the immediate use of what he hath labored for.

39. You are not to punish children for the faults of their parents, but
on account of their own virtue rather to vouchsafe them commiseration,
because they were born of wicked parents, than hatred, because they were
born of bad ones. Nor indeed ought we to impute the sin of children to
their fathers, while young persons indulge themselves in many practices
different from what they have been instructed in, and this by their
proud refusal of such instruction.

40. Let those that have made themselves eunuchs be had in detestation;
and do you avoid any conversation with them who have deprived themselves
of their manhood, and of that fruit of generation which God has given to
men for the increase of their kind: let such be driven away, as if they
had killed their children, since they beforehand have lost what should
procure them; for evident it is, that while their soul is become
effeminate, they have withal transfused that effeminacy to their body
also. In like manner do you treat all that is of a monstrous nature when
it is looked on; nor is it lawful to geld men or any other animals. [32]

41. Let this be the constitution of your political laws in time of
peace, and God will be so merciful as to preserve this excellent
settlement free from disturbance: and may that time never come which may
innovate any thing, and change it for the contrary. But since it
must needs happen that mankind fall into troubles and dangers, either
undesignedly or intentionally, come let us make a few constitutions
concerning them, that so being apprised beforehand what ought to be
done, you may have salutary counsels ready when you want them, and
may not then be obliged to go to seek what is to be done, and so
be unprovided, and fall into dangerous circumstances. May you be a
laborious people, and exercise your souls in virtuous actions, and
thereby possess and inherit the land without wars; while neither any
foreigners make war upon it, and so afflict you,