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

that is, if we use deceit or malicious witness, if we use extortion & violence, we shall be condemned for thieves & robbers. If a man under this shadow, that he is in authority, shall use any violence against his poor neighbour, and that by this means he oppresseth him, this man is a thief, & half a murderer: so that he is no simple thief, but qualified beside with manslaughter: & yet notwithstanding, this is passed over and pardoned. It is true, that one sometime murmureth hereat, but it is but between the lips. And all this while this outrageous oppressor joyeth in his doings, pleasing himself well in them: and which worse is, the greater these he is, the more he shall be honoured. For as a man by scraping all unto himself becometh very ⟨image 76⟩wealthy and rich, so shall he be preferred and advanced higher. Behold then, how by thefts one shall come to great honour, touching the world. So then let us not take these bands to cover our eyes withal, but let us rather know that which is contained in the holy Scripture, that is: that we shall always be thieves, when we shall not do unto an other, which we would that one do unto us: and when we render not unto every one his right. For we must define a vice by the opposite & contrary virtue. If we will well understand what it is to steal, we must consider what it is to do right to our neighbours. But when we spoil them of their goods, when we rake them to our selves in what manner soever, when we use any close deceit, or open violence, we are sufficiently convicted of thievery. By this we see, that theft is not committed only by hands, when one stealeth away another's money, or some part thereof: but theft is committed, when a man hath not that which is his, and that we seek not to conserve and keep unto him that which God hath put into his hands, and will that a man keep that which he hath. For example: If a servant riotously consume the good of his master, he is a thief. If a labouring man, or if one of occupation seek nothing but to have his days hire, and in the mean time loitereth, and could wish his work done, and his pottage supped (as we say,) it is certain he is a thief, and we shall well judge him so. But we must proceed further to other the like kinds of theft, and make this comparison.

that is, if we vse deceite or malieious witnes, if we vse extortion & violence, we shalbe condemned for theeues & robbers. If a man vnder this shadow, that he is in authoritie, shal vse anie violence against his poore neighbour, and that by this meanes he oppresseth him, this man is a theefe, & halfe a murtherer: so that he is no simple theefe, but qualified beside with manslaughter: & yet notwithstāding, this is passed ouer and pardoned. It is true, that one sometime murmureth hereat, but it is but betwene th lips. And all this while this outragious oppressor ioyeth in his doings, pleasing himselfe well in them: and which worse is, the greater thefe he is, the more he shall be honored. For as a man by scraping all vnto himselfe becommeth very