An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters…

So for all kind of oppression, that is meant by stealing too. Latimer in one of his Sermons before King Edward, saith, that the greatest man in the Kingdom cannot hurt an oppressing man, so as a poor widow may; and with what arms I pray saith he? Can he bring the Judges skin over his ears? The arms are these, the tears of the poor run down from their cheeks and go up to Heaven and there cry for vengeance. So that the text here speaks not of the meanest but of the greatest thieves. Saith Calvin upon the place, those that had the most power by their honour and riches and were oppressors of the people, they are the thieves here spoken of. And Isa. 1.23. Your Princes are rebellious and companions of Thieves. And Isa. 33.1. When you shall cease to spoil you shall be spoiled: This is a text for our spoilers at this day, it may be God will let them go on till they have done their work, and then God cometh upon them, and then, not at the first when they begin to spoil, but when they have done spoiling they shall be spoiled. Oh this controversy seems to be upon England that was threatened and was upon the people in that place we read of, Isa. 42.22. This is a people robbed and spoiled, they are all of them snared in holes. If they had come into the field, perhaps it had been better with them, but they crept into holes and they are snared and spoiled: They are a prey and none delivereth them, they are for a spoil and none say, restore; Who amongst you will give ear to this? Mark what the text saith, Who amongst you will hearken and hear for the time to come? Who gave Jacob to the spoil and Israel to the robbers? Did not the Lord, he against whom you have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his Law; therefore he hath poured upon them the fury of his anger, he hath set them on fire, and who hath laid it to heart? We are a people robbed and spoiled, and it is upon this, because we have not walked in the ways of God nor been obedient to his law, and the Lord hath poured his fury upon England at this day, and his fire burneth, and who hath laid it to heart? No body stirs, because the fire is not kindled in the City you lay it not to heart and you suffer your brethren one Country after another to be spoiled.

So for all kind of oppression, that is meant by stealing too. Latimer in one of his Sermons before King Edward, saith, that the greatest man in the Kingdom cannot hurt an oppressing man, so as a poor widdow may; and with what arms I pray saith he? Can he bring the Judges skin over his ears? The arms are these, the tears of the poor run down from their cheeks and go up to Heaven and there cry for vengeance. So that the text here speaks not of the meanest but of the greatest theeves. Saith Calvin upon the place, those that had the most power by their honor and riches and were oppressors of the people, they are the theeves here spoken of. And