The sermons of M. John Calvin, upon the Epistle of S. Paul too the…The sermons of M. Iohn Caluin, vpon the Epistle of S. Paule too the…

Now hereunto S. Paul addeth another warning (as I have declared already,) wherein he rebuketh the common vices that are contrary too the rule which our Lord giveth us, too the intent we should live as Gods children, knowing whereto we be called. And now he speaketh of the Deceits, Robberies, and Extortions that are committed, when every man is too much wedded too himself, and hath no conscience of other mens harms. Let him then that stole (sayeth he) steal no more: but rather let him labour with his hands too do the things that are good and profitable, and wherewith he may succour such as have need. Now whereas S. Paul speaketh here of theft, he meaneth not such thieves as men punish with whipping or with hanging: but all manner of slights and crafts that are used too get other mens goods by evil practises, as extortions, briberies, and all other like things. Although then that such things be faced out, or else that they which are most guilty of them, be not accused before men, because they can skill how too cloak their misdoings: yet doth S. Paul call them all thefts and robberies. And why? For the Prophets and Apostles spake not the ordinary manner of speech that is used in Courts of Justice on earth: but had an eye to the judgment seat of God. For the thing that may be excused, yea and peradventure well justified before men, shall not fail too be condemned ⟨p. 221⟩there. For God seeth much clearer than mortal creatures. Again, favour or partiality may bear sway oftentimes in Law matters: so as there shall be cloaking, dissembling, and covering, and the Judges shall like well enough too have a napkin tide afore their eyes, that a man may have some starting hole too scape out at. They may oftentimes like well enough of such things: but it is not so with God. Wherefore let us mark well, that the forbidding of us too steal, is not as the publishing of some statute law that belongeth too temporal policy: but we be called before the heavenly judge, who discovereth the things that are hidden from men, and condemneth all wicked covetousness, as theft, whereby we be moved too seek our own profit too much with the hinderance of our neighbour. Too be short, under this word theft or stealing, S. Paul comprehendeth all the wicked practices, that are used too deceive other men withal:

Now hereuntoo S. Paule addeth another warning (as I haue declared already,) wherein he rebuketh the common vyces that are contrarie too the rule which our Lord giueth vs, too the intent wee should lyue as Gods children, knowing wheretoo wee bee called. And nowe he speaketh of the Deceytes, Robberies, and Extorsions that are committed, when euery man is too much wedded too himselfe, and hath no conscience of other mennes harmes. Let him then that stole (sayeth he) steale no more: but rather let him labour vvith his handes too doo the things that are good and profitable, and vvheriwth he may succour such as haue neede. Now wheras S. Paule speaketh heere of theft, he meaneth not such theeues as men punishe with whipping or with hanging: but all manner of slyghtes and craftes that are vsed too get other mennes goods by euill practyzes, as extorsions, bryberies, and all other lyke things. Although then that such things bee faced out, or else that they which are most giltie of them, bee not accuzed before men, bycause they can skill how too cloke their misdooings: yit dooth S. Paule call them all theftes and robberies. And why? For the Prophets and Apostles spake not the ordinarie manner of speeche that is vsed in Courtes of Iustice on earth: but had an eye to the iudgment seate of God. For the thing that may bee excuzed, yea and peraduenture well iustifyed before men, shall not fayle too bee condemned