Sermons upon Deuteronomy

we shall be condemned for thieves. If a man misuse his poor neighbour under colour that he is in authority, and by that means oppress him: he is a thief, and half a murderer, and it is not single theft or robbery, but (as ye would say) qualified with murder: and yet for all that, it scapeth and is pardoned. It is true that men will now and then mutter at it: but that is but with half mouth: and in the mean while he that hath misbehaved himself, sootheth himself, and (which worse is) the greater thief that he is, the more is he honoured. For the more a man hath gotten to himself, and the richer that he is become: the more do men stoop to him, and the highlier is he advanced. Ye see then that oftentimes men come to great honour in the world by thievery. And therefore let us not take any of those scarves to cover our eyes: but rather let us consider what the holy scripture saith: namely that we be thieves, if we do not unto others as we our selves would be done unto, ne yield to every man his right. For we must define a vice by the contrary virtue. If we will know well what theft is: let us consider what it is to do right to our neighbours. Now, we do not right to our neighbours, when we spoil them of their goods, and by any means rake the things to us which are theirs. To be short, if we use any covin, violence, or extortion, it is proof good enough of our thievery.

wee shalbe condemned for theeues. If a man misuse his poore neighbor vnder colour that he is in authoritie, and by that meanes oppresse him: he is a theefe, and halfe a murtherer, and it is not single theft or robberie, but (as yee would say) qualifyed with murder: and yet for all that, it scapeth and is pardoned. It is true that men will now and then mutter at it: but that is but with halfe mouth: and in the meane while hee that hath misbehaued himselfe, sootheth himselfe, and (which woorse is) the greater thief that he is, the more is he honored. For the more a man hath gotten to himselfe, and the richer that hee is become: the more doe men stoope to him, and the highlier is hee aduanced. Yee see then that oftentimes men come to greate honor in the worlde by theeuery. And therefore let vs not take any of those skarffes to couer our eyes: but rather let vs consider what ye holy scripture sayth: namely that we be theeues, if we doe not vnto others as we our selues would be done vnto, ne yeelde to euery man his right. For we must define a vice by the contrary vertue. If we will knowe well what theft is: let vs cōsider what it is to doe right to our neighbors. Now, we doe not right to our neighbors, when we spoyle thē of their goods, and by any meanes rake ye things to vs which are theirs. To be short, if we vse any couin, violence, or extortion, it is proofe good enough of our theeuery.