
THIS chapter is full of restitution, of which there is far too little in  ordinary Christian life. We try to make amends for injury done to another by an  extraordinary amount of civility; but we are reluctant in so many words to  frankly confess that we have done wrong, and make proper reparation for the act  or speech. We often excuse ourselves by the thought that we were fully justified  in speaking or acting as we did, whereas we may behave ourselves wrongly in  courses of conduct which are themselves legitimate.
Loosing a beast into  another man's field (Exodus 22:5). - We may through our carelessness allow  another to suffer detriment. The beast ought not to have been thus allowed to  stray; and, as we let it loose, we should make amends for our carelessness in  respect to our brother's interests. We wrong another not only by what we do, or  permit to be done, but in what we carelessly fail to do.
Kindling a fire  (Exodus 22:6). - The tongue is a spark that kindles a great matter. If we drop  firebrands and lighted matches in the inflammable material of a circle of  gossip, we should make amends to the person whose character may have been  thereby injured.
Borrowed goads (Exodus 22:14). - To return a house, a  book, a horse, in the state in which we received it, fair wear and tear  excepted, or to make good any injury, should be a commonplace of Christian  morality. Trustees are responsible for not making due inquiry into risky  investments. Each is his brother's keeper. If we remember at the prayer-hour  that he has aught against us, let us seek him, and confess, and restore.