Sermons of M. John Calvin, upon the.X.Commandments of the Law, given of GodSermons of M. Iohn Caluine, vpon the.X.Commandementes of the Lawe, geuen of God

God then, to the end he might induce us to hate all deceitfulness, all harm doing, all extortion, that we might use in the goods of our neighbours, useth this word in stead of all other. He might well have spoken after some other manner: he might have said: Take heed how you do pull unto your selves the goods of an other: take heed you make not your gain by the loss and damage of your neighbour: take heed of using any such violence: but in a word he sayeth: Steal not. And why? Even to this end, that deceits, rapines, and pillages, and all harm doing, be had of us in greater detestation: that we be ashamed to do wrong unto any, that we stand (I say) in great fear hereof, when we see that we are guilty of theft before God. Moreover, let us note, that there are many kinds of thieveries: for some use privy and secret sleights, when they draw to them selves by subtle means and practises, the substance of another: others use open force or violence, and this is properly called rapine, pillage, extortion: others use yet more sly feats, and closer conveyance: yea, a man shall think they move not a finger to touch any thing of their neighbours, a man shall not be able to accuse them before the world: and yet because they walk not in all simplicity & uprightness, they are thieves before God. Ye see then, how we must consider of the kinds of the every, when we will understand what is forbidden in this place. But in the mean time we have to note, that God judgeth not of thefts after the manner of men: for they which live in great credit and reputation before men, shall not cease to be condemned before God: yea, albeit none accuse them, but that the poor whom they have eaten and devoured shall cry for vengeance: and although none of them speak one word, yet the afflictions which they endure, cry aloud in the ears of God, and sue process against their oppressors, without sounding one word. So then, we must not bring our own fancies to judge of thefts, thinking to escape the hand of God when we shall not be condemned of men, nor punished by earthly judgment: for God proceedeth in this much further & higher, ⟨p. 71⟩Let us therefore briefly bear in mind, that touching God, all kind of harm doing, when we desire to pluck unto us that which is not ours, is named theft throughout the holy scripture.

God then, to the end he might induce vs to hate all deceitfulnesse, all harme doing, all extortion, that we might vse in the goods of our neighbours, vseth this word in steade of all other. He might well haue spoken after some other manner: hee might haue said: Take heede how you do pull vnto your selues the goods of an other: take heede you make not your gaine by the losse and damage of your neighbour: take heede of vsing anie such violence: but in a word he saieth: Steale not. And why? Euen to this end, that deceits, rapines, and pillages, and all harme doing, be had of vs in greater detestation: that we be ashamed to do wrong vnto anie, that we stand (I say) in greate feare hereof, when wee see that wee are guiltie of theft before God. Moreouer, let vs note, that there are manie kindes of theeueries: for some vse priuie and secret sleights, when they draw to them selues by subtile meanes and practises, the substance of another: others vse open force or violence, and this is properlie called rapine, pillage, extortion: others vse yet more slie feates, and closer conueyance: yea, a man shall thinke they moue not a finger to touche anie thing of their neighbours, a man shal not be able to accuse them before the world: and yet because they walke not in all simplicitie & vprightnesse, they are theeues before God. Ye see then, how we must consider of the kindes of the euerie, when we will vnderstand what is forbidden in this place. But in the meane time we haue to note, that God iudgeth not of theftes after the manner of men: for they which liue in great credit and reputation before men, shall not cease to bee condemned before God: yea, albeit none accuse them, but that the poore whom they haue eaten and deuoured shall crie for vengeance: and although none of them speake one word, yet the afflictions which they endure, crie alowde in the eares of God, and sue processe against their oppressours, without sounding one woorde. So then, we must not bring our owne fansies to iudge of theftes, thinking to escape the hand of God when we shall not be cōdemned of men, nor punished by earthly iudgment: for God proceedeth in this much further & higher,