The Institution of Christian Religion

Thou shalt not steal.

Thou shalte not steale.

The end of this commandment is, because God abhorreth unrighteousness, that every man may have his own rendered unto him. The sum therefore shall be, that we are forbidden to gape for other mens goods, and that therefore we are commanded every man to employ his faithful travail to preserve to each man his own goods. For thus we ought to think, that what every man possesseth is not happened unto him by chance of fortune, but by the distribution of the sovereign Lord of all things, and therefore no mans goods can be gotten from him by evil means, but y• wrong be done to the disposition of God. But of thefts there be many kinds: one standeth in Violence, when the goods of an other are by any manner of force and robbing licentiousness bereaved. The other kind consisteth in malicious deceit, where they are guilefully conveyed away. An other sort there is that standeth in a more hidden subtlety, when they are wrong from the owner by colour of law. An other sort in flattery, where they are sucked away by pretence of gift. But, lest we should tarry to long upon renting of all the several kinds of theft, let us know, that all crafty means whereby the possessions and money of our neighbours are conveyed unto us, when they ones go by crooked ways from sincereness of heart, to a desire to beguile, or by any mean to do hurt, are to be accounted for thefts. Although by pleading the law, they may prevail, yet God doth not otherwise way them. For he seeth the long captious subtleties, wherewith the guileful man beginneth to entangle the simpler mind, till at length he draw him into his nets. He seethe the hard and ungentle laws, wherewith the mightier oppresseth and throweth down the weaker. He seeth yt allurements, wherewith as with baiteth hooks, yt craftier taketh thee unaware. All which things are hidden from the judgement of man, and come not in his knowledge. And this manner of wrong is not only in money, in wares, or in lands, but in every mans right. For we defraud our neighbour of his goods, if we deny him those duties which we are bound to do for him.