A practical exposition of the X. Commandments with a resolution of several momentous questions…A practical exposition of the X. Commandements with a resolution of several momentous questions…

As to the first, Consider it first in the quantity, it is theft whether the matter be in little or much, if so be it be a real wronging of others in that which is theirs, even as a lye is a lye in any matter, in great things as well as lesser, and this theft in little or much will seclude from the kingdom of God, 1 Cor. 6.10. and as drunkenness may be in drink, that is, not the very greatest quantity of drink, nor in the finest drink, so may theft be in little or course things. Consider 2. as it looketh not only to the hand, but to the heart also, even as adultery and murder do; it is a piece of the evil treasure that Christ saith is in the heart, Matth. 12.35. and 15.18, 19. 3. It may be sometimes, when he that committeth it, knoweth it not, but supposeth such a thing to be just and due to him, as when he useth not means to know, and when he knoweth, doth not restore it. 4. It is sometimes wholly so carried, as that he who is wronged, knoweth nothing of it; as when (for instance) such a right that would clear him in his business is to his prejudice kept up, and he made to believe that he hath no such right, although he quarrel it not, yet it is theft before God. 5. It is direct, when, though one knoweth such a thing to be another's, yet he vvill needs have it. 6. It is less or more, as there is a seeming necessity, or none at all in the person stealing; for if the thing be indeed necessary for life, it is not theft; so also if the thing have a general and common allowance among men for its warrant, it is not theft, thus the Disciples plucked the ears of corn, which was not theirs, and yet were not thieves: The sin is gross, when in holy things, or public things, or when things are taken with violence and hazard of life, blood, &c. or when there is great prejudice following it to our neighbour, or when it is more frequently gone about, or when it is under trust, &c. 7. It is in contracts or bargains to our neighbours prejudice; as by too close sticking to clauses of Writs, beyond, it may be, the intention of the makers, and when there is ⟨p. 405⟩some pretext of Law, this is against the end of Writs and Law. 8. It is in buying or selling; and so, 1. we f •ll in the end, when we mind our own good only, without any regard to our neighbours; 2. In the matter, when the thing is not good that is sol;