The Tree of Good and Evil, Commandment 8
The eighth Commandement.
Thou ſhalt not ſteale.
THe occaſion of the eighth Commandement is our couetous nature, diſcontent euer with our preſent eſtate.
Sinnes forbidden.
I. Hindering, or diminiſhing our neighbours goods by any meanes, in thought, word, or déed.
II. Couetouſneſſe, which is the theft of the heart; 1. Tim. 6. 2. Ioh. 12. 6. Eſay 5. 8.
20 Signes of a couetous heart.
1 An eager and ſharpe deſire of getting: Eccleſ. 4. 8.
2 A pinching and niggardly kéeping of them, either from himſelfe, or others: Eccleſ. 4. 8. 1. Sam 25. Pro. 27. 20.
3 Neglect of holy duties, the whole man being taken vp with worldly cares and buſineſſes: Pſ. 4. 6.
4 The couetous man truſteth in his goods as though his life were vpheld by them, therefore in the loſſe of them he is ouerwhelmed with griefe and ſorrow, and oftentimes maketh away himſelfe in deſpaire: Luke 12. 15. 19.
5 A cold affection and dead heart to the word of God: Luke 8. 14.
6 They are for the moſt part priuy mockers, or open ſcorners of zealous Miniſters, and religious people: Luke 16. 14.
7 Their talke is of worldly things alway, wherein they can ſay much, but in heauenly, things nothing or little, and that formally, and hyſtorically; Pſal. 4. 6. 2. Tim. 4. 10.
8 He is like a beare, or ſome vgly beaſt going through the ſtréetes, hauing all mouthes and eyes of man, and beaſt, ſet againſt him▪ Hab. 2. 6. 7.
9 He wants the inward peace of conſcience: Eſay 57. 17.
10 He is broken with cares, ſorrowes, feares, fretting and chafing, falling into diuers temptations, and ſnares of the deuill: 1. Tim. 6. 9. 10.
11 He will not let to doe much hurt, to gaine himſelfe a little.
12 He will not looſe a peny to gaine his friend a thouſand: 1. Sam. 25.
13 He is cruell and tyrannous, where he can ouermatch, otherwiſe he loues no doubtfull ſuites.
14 He hates prodigall and diſſolute perſones, becauſe he thinkes they hate him, and louelove him as Lyons do their prey.
15 He loues a poore man, that is driuen through néed to make vnprofitable bargaines, but he cannot abide a beggar: Luk. 16. 20. 21. 1. Sam. 25. 10. 11.
16 He is an idolatour, for he giues his body and ſoule, with all the members and faculties thereof, night and day to wordly goods: Ephe. 5. 5. 1. Tim. 6. 17. Coloſſ. 3. 5. Hereof the Apoſtle warneth all Churches, 1. Cor. 6. 9. 10. Gal. 5. 19. 20. 21. Epheſ. 5. 5. Phil. 3. 10. Coloſſ. 3. 5. 1. Theſſ. 2. 5. 1. Tim. 6. 7. 8. 17.
17 He is baſe and proud: 1. Sam. 25. 10.
18 Hee enuies both others and himſelfe: Eccleſ. 2. 26. & chap. 6. 2.
19 He neuer doth good willingly: Eccl. 14. 7.
20 God diuideth him, and ſcattereth him abroad; that is, his goods to others, his body to the graue, and that often in the midſt of his daies, and his ſoule to hell: Ier. 17. 11. 13. Pſal. 37. 10. Pſal. 73. 17. 18. Luke 12. 19. 20.
III. All fraud in ſelling, to ſell the bad for good: Amos 8. 4. 6.
IIII. To vſe deceitfull words in buying, by diſcommending a thing againſt our knowledge and conſcience: Pro. 20. 14.
V. All deceit in falſe weights, meaſures, colours, ſhadowes, lights: Deut. 25. 13. 14. 15. 16. Pro. 20. 23. Leut. 35. 36.
VI. All ſecret practiſes of Ingroſſers and Monopoliſts: viz. ſuch as ſtore vp all goods of one kind, to ſell the ſame at what rate they liſt: Neh. 5. 7. 8.
VII. All fraud, and vnmercifulneſſe in letting houſe, land, beaſts, as by racking rents, and ouer-prizing eueryevery thing, to raiſe, and increaſe the hire without compaſſion on the poore: Eſay 3. 15. 16. Amos 8. 6. Mica, 3. 2. 3.
VIII. Engroſſing of Grounds, or Farmes, which is to hire them of the owners, and to let the ſame vnmercifully to their neighbours: Neh. 5. 7. 8. Amos 8.
IX. To with hold the ſale of corne till the poorer ſort bee ſpent, that they may ſell the deerer. This is the common théeniſh conſpiracy of churles againſt the poore: Amos 8.
X. All cunning and ſecret practiſes to enhaunce the price of things.
XI. To hire vp all from the poore to make them our ſeruants, and ſlaues: Neh. 5.
XII. Concealement of lands and abilities, that the poore may bee ouerburthened in all manner of charges, which our ſelues might eaſily beare.
XIII. Waſtefull ſpending, and prodigall giuing away of our patrimony, or ſubſtance, without reſpect in what meaſure, to whom, and when: Pſal. 112. 5.
XIIII. To bee liberall on the purſes and goods of other men, to keepe countenance and credite, to get ſauour, and to ſéeme bountifull: Epheſ. 4. 28.
XV. Mixt Seſſements, viz: to ioyne a neceſſary and a voluntary ſeſſement together, that the meaner ſort may be compelled to pay for the profite and luſt of ſome few. A wicked theft lately come in vſe.
XVI. All kinds of couſenage, and diſſimulation in bargaining: Pro. 21. 6.
XVII. To oppreſſe our neighbour ſo in bargaining, as that he can neither gaine, nor ſaue by vsus.
XVIII. To cauſe our neighbour to pay for his neceſſity, beſides the worth of the thing, which is to tread on him that fals: whereas we ſhould relieue and help him: This is a moſt biting vſury.
XIX. Not to giuegive a man the worth of a thing, becauſe néed compelleth him to ſell it. Many ſecret théeues lie in waite for ſuch preyes: The poore muſt buy deere of, and ſell cheap to the Churle; but the Churle will ſell deere to, and buy cheap of the poore.
XX. Lending of mony, or any thing elſe, without regard to the eſtate, quality, or good of the borrower, vponupon bond to repay the principall with ſome aduantage, which is properly called vſury.
Rules for lending.
1 That which we may ſpare▪ we muſt lend freely to any that néed our helpe, for they deſerue more at our hands, then wee doe at Gods, Luke 6. 35. Eccleſ. 11. 1. yet with diſcretion and iudgement, Pſal. 112. 5. Pro. 17. 8. chap. 20. 16.
2 Wee muſt lend freely to the poore, that which we can hardly ſpare, without reſpect to their deſart, Luke 21 4.
3 Wee muſt lend, and giuegive to the godly and religious beyond our ability in their neceſſity, and that freely; 1. King. 17. 15. 2. Cor. 8. 3. 4.
4 If lending bée to our owne hinderance, and for the furtherance of the borrower, wee may require ye principall with reaſonable aduantage, being of equall or better ability.
XXI. To borrow on vſury, not for néed ſo much, as from a couetous deſire of purchaſing, and buying vp all commodities.
XXII. To borrow on vſury to conceale our wealth, and that others may not borrow of vsus.
XXIII. To borrow at all on vſury: Ier. 15. 10.
XXIIII. Peruerting of iuſtice in Courts for filthy lucre: Deut. 16. 18. Pro. 21. 7. Eſay 1. 23.
XXV. Reſpect of perſons, more then of the cauſe in iudgement: Deut. 16. 18. Ex. 23. 6. Eſay 1. 23.
XXVI. To patronize a knowne euill cauſe for filthy lucre; Ex. 23. 8. Eſay 1. 23.
XXVII. Delaies in Courts of Iuſtice to the impoueriſhing of our neighbour.
XXVIII. Vnaduiſed ſuretiſhip: Pro. 27. 13. Pro. 20. 16.
XXIX. All ſecret foule neſts of diſordered people, ye liue by idle, vaine, vnſeemely ſports and games, in play-houſes, dicing, dancing, tabling-houſes, cockpits, beare-baiting places, ſuch for the moſt part maintaine this kind of life by vnlawfull meanes: Gen. 3. 19. Eph. 4. 28. Pro. 21. 17.
XXX. To liue by magicall Arts, ſorcery, iugling, ignorant profeſſion of Phiſicke and Chirurgery for gaine.
XXXI. To become bankrupt, that thou maiſt bee inriched by the damages and goods of other men.
XXXII. Idlenes, which is againſt Gods generall decrée: Gen. 3. 9. Eze. 16. 4. 6. 2. Theſſ. 3. 10. Pro. 6. 6. Eccleſ. 4. 5. Pro. 23. 21.
XXXIII. The profeſſion of beggery; as begging Friers in the Romiſh Church, and all wanderers contrary to the Law.
XXXIIII. The Profeſſion of Roguery; of which ſort are all counterfeit Schollers, ſea-faring men counterfeiting loſſes, counterfeit Proctors, procurers, Patent-gatherers, counterfeit Collectors for gaoles, priſons, or hoſpitals; Fencers, Beare-wards, wandring Players, Minſtrels, Tinkers, pettywandring Chapmen, Egyptians, ſturdy and ſtout loyterers, which will not worke for lawfull wages, but either beg, or liue by gaming, Ale-houſe-haunting, or pilfring: Act. 4. Stat. Anno. Eliz. 39.
XXXV. Remouing of Land-markes, or any Ground markes whatſoeuer, which is accurſed theft: Deut. 27. 17. Pro. 22. 28. Pro. 23. 10. 11.
XXXVI. Secret Church-robbing, which is priuy conueiance of Church-goods, concealement of Tithes, and all kinde of fraud, whereby the Miniſters liuing is diminiſhed: Rom. 2. 22. Pro. 20. 25. Mal. 3. 8.
XXXVII. All extortion, robbery, oppreſſion, and any practiſe of theft by ſea and land: 1. Cor. 6. 9. Luke 3. 14. 1. Theſſ. 5. 3. 6. Zach. 5. 2. 3.
XXXVIII. Waſtfull and diſſolute miſpending of Gods benefites, pride, whoredome, gluttony, drunkenneſſe, which are cauſes and effects of theft: Prou. 21. 17. Prou. 23. 21.
XXXIX. To deferre reſtitution of wrongfully gotten goods: Pro. 3. 27. Leu. 6. 6. 7. 8.
XL. To conſpire with a thiefe in giuing him counſell, or concealing his fact: Pro. 29. 24. Pſal. 50. 18. 21.
XLI. Not to reſtore the pledge of the poore in due time: Exod. 22. 26. Deut. 24. 12. Ezech. 18. 7.
XLII. Not to reſtore things found: Leu. 6. 4.
XLIII. To borrow, and not to pay againe: Pſal. 37. 21. Prou. 3. 28.
XLIIII. To take that in pledge wherewith a poore man getteth his liuing: Leuit. 24. 6.
XLV. To defraud the Labourer of his hire: Leu. 5. 4. Leu. 24. 15.
XLVI. Vnmercifull exaction of bonds forfeited: Eſay 58. 3.
XLVII. Diſquieting, or hindering of our neighbour in ſuites of Law for trifles, and not ſéeing or refuſing reconciliation for greater matters: 1. Cor. 6. 5. 6. 7. Math. 5. 39. 40. 41.
XLVIII. Wearying of our neighbours with many ſuites and delaies, to enforce him to forgo his right.
XLIX. Not to giuegive, lend, nor let to the poore, but rather to take, or hire from them, becauſe they are euill: Such a one counts himſelfe in the number of Gods hang-men, viz. of the deuill and the wicked: Math. 18. 23. to the end.
L. Not to giuegive, lend, nor let to the poore, but to take and hire all from them, by enhaunſing the prices, to make them our ſeruants, and to keepe them vnderunder, becauſe they would keepe vsus vnderunder. Theſe hauehave the tyrannous, and cruell hearts of Pharaoh, Ex. 1.
Vertues commanded.
I. Contentedneſſe with our eſtate, with that portion which the Lord hath giuen; which is wrought in our hearts by faith on Gods prouidence; Heb. 13. 5. Ioſh. 1. 9. Phil. 4. 11. 1. Tim. 6. 6.
II. Thankfulneſſe toward God for that we hauehave, without murmuring, ſeeing we deſerue no good thing, Gen. 28. 20. 21. Gen. 32. 10. Pſal. 86. 12. 13.
III. Quieting, comforting, and reſting our hearts on the promiſes of God, though wee bee in preſent want: Geneſis 28. 12. 13. 14. 15.
IIII. Labour and trauaile in a lawfull Calling: Gen. 3. 19. 1. Tim. 5. 8. 2. Theſſ. 3. 10. Epheſ. 4. 28.
V. Thriftineſſe in keeping, and diſcreet ſpending of that which is lawfully gotten: Pro. 21. 20. chap. 5. 15. 16. 17. chap. 21. 5. 17.
VI. Harmeleſſe ſimplicity in all affaires, and ſpeaking of the truth from the heart, Pſal. 15. 2. 3.
VII. Iuſtice and equity, Mat. 7. 12. chap. 5. 20. Pſal. 37. 31. 32. 38.
VIII. Liberality towards our ſelues and others: Eccleſ. 5. 17. 1 Tim. 6. 17. 2. Cor. 9. 6. Pſal. 37. 21. Deut. 15. 11.
IX. Mercifulneſſe, and compaſſion toward the poore in releiuing and giuing almes: Pſ. 112. 5. 9. Iob 29. 12. Mat. 5. 7. Deut. 15. 11.
X To lend freely to our diſtreſſed neighbour, according to his neceſſity with wiſedome and deliberation, Deut. 15. 7. 8. 9. Luke 6. 35.
XI. Reſtoring the pledge or pawne of the poore, which he cannot want but to his hinderance, Exod. 22. 26. 27. Deut. 24. 12.
XII. Reſtitution of any thing committed to ones ſafe kéeping: Pro. 3. 28. Ex. 22. 7. 8.
XIII. Reſtitution of that which is found to the true owners thereof: Deut 22. 1. 2.
XIIII. Reſtitution of goods gotten by any manner of ſtealth, iniury, iniuſtice, forged cauillation, fraud, deceitfull bargaining, couetouſneſſe, oppreſſion, bribery in ſuites, concealements, vſury, extortion, lying, falſeſwearing, diſſembling, &c. 1. Sam. 12. 3. Luke 19. 8. Neh. 5.
Reaſons for Reſtitution.
1 Such perſons as reſtore not, are altogether vnmeete to ſerue or worſhip God, either to pray, or to receiue the Sacraments: Leu. 6. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Math. 5. 23. 24. Numb. 5. 6. 7.
2 All their outward exerciſes of religion are abhominable: Eſay 1. 12. 13. 14.
3 He that reſtores not ſhall die in his ſin: Exech. 18. 13. 16.
XV. The ſon muſt reſtore goods wrongfully gotten by his father, if hée know it: Ezech. 18. 14. Luke 19. 8. Pro. 28. 8.
XVI. Tryall of controuerſies for goods and lands in Courts of iuſtice, for the maintaining of equity, and right, and that eueryevery man may poſſeſſe his owne: Ex. 18. 25. 26.
XVII. Reſtitution of goods wrongfully taken from the Church.
XVIII. In buying, ſelling, letting, and hiring of Farmes, Tenements, and Lands, in Marchandize and all manner of commodities men muſt euen the price to the thing, and that is when the profite of the buyer is regarded as well as the gaine of the ſeller: Leu. 25. 14. Math. 7. 12.
XIX. To ſell good for good, meane for meane, bad for bad: Amos 8. 6.
XX. To make ſale of ſuch things as are in their kind good and profitable.
XXI. To vſe iuſt waights, and meaſures: Deut. 25. 13. Ezech. 55. 10. Mica 6. 11.
XXII. To pay the appointed hire, and to make the thing good alſo, if harme come to it through our default: Ex. 22. 14. 15.
XXIII. To become ſurety for men that are honeſt, and very well knowne, and that warily, and with much deliberation: Pro. 11. 15. chap. 17. 18.
XXIIII. To performe all iuſt couenants and promiſes though they bee to our hinderance: Pſal. 15. 4. Pro. 25. 14. Iudg. 1. 24.
XXV. To ſue our neighbour at the Law being thereto compelled, not willingly; and for matters of importance, that otherwiſe cannot be decided, being euer mindefull of the Law of charitie: 1. Cor. 6. 7.