The Practice of Piety

2 Make satisfaction unto those men, whom thou ⟨p. 881⟩hast wronged, if thou be able. And if thou doest injuriously or fraudulently detain or keep in thy possession, any lands or goods, that of right do belong unto any Widow, or Fatherless child: presume not as thou tenderest thy souls health; to look Christ the righteous Judge in the face: unless thou doest first make a restitution thereof to the right owners. For the Law of God under the penalty of his curse, requireth thee, to restore whatsoever was given thee to keep, ¹or which was committed to thy trust, or whatsoever by robbery, or violent oppression thou tookest from thy neighbour, with a fifth part for amends added to the principal. ⟨p. 882⟩And unless that like Zacheus thou doest make restitution of such goods and lands according to Gods law;² thou canst never truly repent: and without true Repentance thou canst never be saved. ³But though by the temptation of the Devil thou hast done wrong and injury: yet if thou doest truly repent and make restitution to thy power, the Lord hath promised to be merciful unto thee, to hear the prayers of his faithful ministers for thee,⁴ to forgive thee thy trespass and sin: and to receive thy soul in the merits of Christs blood, ⁵as a Lamb without blemish.

2 Make satisfaction vnto those men, whom thou ⟨p. 881⟩hast wronged, if thou bee able. And if thou doest iniuriously or fraudulently detaine or keepe in thy possession, any lands or goods, that of right doe belong vnto any Widow, or Fatherlesse childe: presume not as thou tenderest thy soules health; to looke Christ the righteous Iudge in the face: vnlesse thou doest first make a restitution thereof to the right owners. For the Law of God vnder the penalty of his curse, requireth thee, to restore whatsoeuer was giuen thee to keepe,