The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A…

As first, alas what should you speak of this it is a small thing & one should not make such a doe about so little a matter. Is' it a small thing? Then the more base and abject companion you that will corrupt your self for so small a thing, he that will rack his conscience for a trifle, he will never stick to do five times worse for a matter of weight. If a man be not faithful in a little, you may be sure he will never be faithful in much; he that will venture damnation for a matter of two pence, he will do ten times more if it come to a pound, he that cares not to break Gods commandment for a piece of bread, let him have hope of a greater booty, and he will not care for any commandment. If one will do the Devil such good service for so simple and small wages, let the devil mend his wages, and he will certainly mend his work. So that this excuse shows a man to be more wicked. Oh but I trust this is not to be blamed, why he can spare it well enough, twill do him no harm, and twill do me good, I hope this is no such matter. But first, who made you a divider of goods, who gave you authority to make any such partition? Hath not God given him that which is his, and you that which is yours, and will you have God alter it, and not contented with Gods distributions, take that which belongs not to you? and for that you say he can spare it, it will do him no harm; suppose one should go to the Kings exchequer and break open his treasure, and take out, though it were but twenty shillings or forty shillings, and say, alas I am a poor man and this is not so much, the King is rich enough, ⟨p. 72⟩he may well spare twice so much, I trust he will not be much offended, though I have ventured a little in my need. But for all your need and the princes wealth, he that would do thus, were like to be counted a fool and be hanged for his pains, the excuse would not serve the turn; but now god he hath forbidden you to take any mans goods without any such cause of exception unless he can spare it; that is not the question, whether it will hurt him or not, it offends God, he hath forbidden it and therefore you must not do it.

As first, alasse what should you speake of this it is a small thing & one should not make such a doe about so little a matter. Is' it a small thing? Then ye more base and abiect companion you that will corrupt your selfe for so small a thing, he that will racke his conscience for a triffle, he will neuer sticke to do fiue times worse for a matter of weight. If a man be not faithful in a little, you may be sure he will neuer be faithfull in much; he that will venture dānation for a matter of two pence, he will doe ten times more if it come to a pound, he that cares not to breake Gods commandement for a peece of breade, let him haue hope of a greater bootie, and he will not care for any commandement. If one will doe the Diuell such good seruice for so simple and small wages, let the diuell mende his wages, and he will certainely mende his worke. So that this excuse shews a man to be more wicked. Oh but I trust this is not to be blamed, why he can spare it well enough, twill doe him no harme, and twill doe me good, I hope this is no such matter. But first, who made you a deuider of goods, who gaue you authoritie to make any such partition? Hath not God giuen him that which is his, and you that which is yours, and will you haue God alter it, and not contented with Gods distributions, take that which belongs not to you? and for that you say he can spare it, it will doe him no harme; suppose one should goe to the Kings exchequer and breake open his treasure, and take out, though it were but twentie shillings or fortie shillings, and say, alasse I am a poore man and this is not so much, the Kinge is rich enough,