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

Now an other kind of thievery there follows nothing inferior to this, by unlawful retaining and keeping in ones hand that which is none of his. Whether it be with holding of things found or lent, or of wages or things that way due unto an other. For though a man keep himself unspotted in this respect that no man can charge him to have taken away one penny from his neighbour either privily or violently, yet if he going by the way side find a thing that he knows not whose it is, then when he takes it up, and after hears who is the right owner ⟨p. 73⟩of it, and doth not restore his own goods to him again, all his former good dealing in other things will not excuse him from being accounted a thief, and stealing from his neighbour. For God hath commanded to bring back the thing that goes astray, and to make restitution of that which is lost; and if he did not so, before his offering could be accepted, he was to restore the principal and add the fifth part more unto it.

Now an other kind of theeuerie there followes nothing inferiour to this, by vnlawfull retaining and keeping in ones hand that which is none of his. Whether it be with holding of things found or lent, or of wages or thinges that way due vnto an other. For though a man keepe himselfe vnspotted in this respect that no man can charge him to haue taken away one pennie from his neighbour either priuily or violently, yet if hee going by the way side finde a thing that he knowes not whose it is, then when he takes it vp, and after heares who is the right owner ⟨p. 73⟩of it, and doth not restore his owne goods to him againe, all his former good dealing in other things will not excuse him from being accounted a theefe, and stealing from his neighbour. For God hath commanded to bring backe the thing that goes astray, and to make restitution of that which is lost; and if he did not so, before his offering could be accepted, he was to restore the principall and adde the fifth parte more vnto it.

For indeed his conscience will accuse him and the very law of nature will condemn him. Because there is no man so ignorant, but if he hath lost his purse or any thing by the way side or any other way, would think it right and equal that he who found it, should bring it to him again if he knew him to be the owner of it, and would say he had not done the duty of a neighbour if he should keep it back from him. Now, God commands to do as we would be done by, and therefore this that he would be so dealt with all, binds him to deal so, and if he do not he sins against his own conscience, and that shall be sufficient to condemn him. So for wages, he that doth not pay his servants or the hireling his due wages, in due time, without shifting and putting of from time to time, he is guilty of theft, and this is a gross kind of stealing, breaking this commandment, Thou shalt not steal. This delay is thievery, though one do purpose to pay them all, and that rather with the most to, then, to keep any back, if he be poor and not able to forbear this protracting from time to time is no better then plain theft. This is forbidden,