Brief Exposition of Galatians and Ephesians, Exposition 2 · Chapter 4 · Verse and explication 28
Vers. 28. Let him that stole, steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
HE doth, thirdly, exhort those, who, when they were un-converted Pagans, did contrary to the eighth command, steal their neighbours goods, or who were yet, after their professing faith in Jesus Christ, guilty of that sin in some degrees and respects, that they would steal no more: where by the sin of stealing, is meaned all those fraudulent and deceitfull wayes whereby a man doth wrong his neighbour secretly and without his knowledge in his goods or outward estate, whether by taking (Joh 20. 19.) or withholding from him what is his, Iam. 5. 4. or by partaking with such as do so, Psal. 50. 18. He exhorteth them also to the contrary duty, as a remedy of this evil, even that they would rather labour diligently, and to wearinesse (as the word signifieth) in any good and honest calling, if it were but in some mechanick or handy-trade: The use of which remedy is inforced from a following advantage, to wit, that hereby, and through Gods blessing upon their diligence, they should acquire not only a competencie in things worldly unto themselves, and so be keept from a necessity of stealing; but also might be able to bestow somwhat for supplying the necessities of others: Doct. 1. As Jesus Christ doth not reject the vilest, no not theeves, nor worse, for any thing they have been, providing they amend their life in time coming; So there are many, who, after they have taken on a name of profession, do secretly live in the practice of base and shamfull sins, which hardly can be called the spots of children: for, while he saith, Let him that stole, or doth steal, (as the word beareth) steal no more, it is supponed, that some of those Ephesians, were guilty of this sin, before an offer of mercy was made to them in the Gospel; yea, and that some were yet living in it. 2. It hath seemed good unto the wise Creator of all things, (for eschewing of confusion, strife, contention and other infinit evils; for tryall of the charity of some, and patience of others) to establish property and dominion of goods and possessions, and not to leave all things common among men, so that every one should have an equall right unto all: for, if there were no propriety of goods, there could not be such a sin as stealing, neither were it necessary to forbid it, as the Spirit of God doth here; Let him that stole, steal no more. 3. As want of a particular calling, or idlenesse in it, occasioneth poverty and want, by reason whereof men are cast upon tentations, to steal and use such other sinfull shifts, to keep them from straits; So it is the Lords will, that every one betake himself to labour diligently in some lawfull calling and employment, as a remedy, not only against this evil of stealing, but severall others also, which flow from idlenesse, and too much ease, 2 Thess. 3. 12. Psal. 73. 5. for, the Apostle, having forbidden them to steal, subjoyneth this as a remedy, rather let him labour, working with his hands. 4. Though it be not absolutely necessary, nor yet convenient, or possible, that every man should betake himself to some mechanick calling, or handy-trade, and therein to labour with his hands, seing every one is not able to go about any such calling; and there are other lawfull callings, which require no lesse labour with the mind, than those do of labour with the hands, 1 Tim. 5. 17. yet, there is no calling so base, providing it be honest, to which a man should not betake himself (whatever he be for birth, and nobility of descent) and spend his strength therein, even to wearinesse, rather than to steal, or use any sinfull shift to save himself from straits: for, saith he, let him steal no more, but rather let him labour, working with his hands. 4. Even those things that were imposed upon fallen mankind, for a curse and punishment of sin, have their nature changed unto Believers, and are turned unto a blessing and an effectuall remedy against sin: for, (Gen. 3. 19.) it is imposed upon Adam as a part of the curse, in the sweat of his face to eat his bread; and here it is enjoyned, and commended by the Apostle unto Believers, as an effectuall remedy against the evil of stealing; but rather let him labour, working with his hands. 5. No necessity, or want whatsoever, can warrand a man to imploy himself in any calling, which is not lawful and honest, or tendeth only to gratifie mens lusts, of pride, vanity, prodigality and uncleanness: this calling ought to be such as he may therein serve God with a good conscience, Col. 3. 23. and promove the good, either of the Church, familie, or common wealth, Gal. 5. 13, for, to prevent stealing, he doth astrict them in their choise only to good and lawfull callings, while he saith, Let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good. 6. The Lords ordinary way is to blesse a mans conscientious diligence in his lawfull calling, with such a measure of successe, as he may have whereby to sustain himself, and to be helpfull unto others, except the Lord see it otherwise fitting, for the mans triall and the exercise of his faith, patience and other graces, 2 Cor. 8. 2. for, the end of labouring in a lawfull calling, here proponed, is for the most part attained, else it had been no encouragment, even that he may have to give to him that needeth. 7. As it is the duty of all whom God hath blessed with any measure of worldly substance, to bestow some part of it for the help of others; So we ought in the exercise of our callings, as we would expect the Lords blessing upon it, to intend, not only the enriching of our selves and ours, but also that we may have whereby to do good unto others: for he sheweth they were to aime at this end, while they wrought with their hands; that they might have to give to him that needeth. 8. As not only the rich, but even the poor labourer, who hardly getteth his livelyhood with the work of his hands, is bound to give his mite for the help of the indigent; So we ought to give alms of that which is our own lawfully purchased, and not of the gain of oppression, or hire of an harlot, Deut. 23. 18. for, saith he, Let him work that which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 9. As the Lord seeth it fitting to keep alwayes some among His People, poor and indigent, even objects of charity, for the exercise of their faith and patience, and for the trial of the charity and compassion of others, Deut. 15. 11. So those only are to be relieved by our charity, who are needy, indigent, and cannot relieve themselves: but not such, as, being able to work in a lawfull calling, do rather choose a life of ease and idlenesse, and to live upon the charity of others: for, he saith, that he may have to give to him that needeth.