A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 203 (Question 75)
SERMON CCIII.
QUESTION LXXV.
WHAT is forbidden in the Eighth Commandment?
ANSWER.
THE Eighth Commandment forbiddeth whatſoever doth, or may unjuſtly hinder our own or our Neighbour's Wealth or outward Eſtate.
WE may from the Duties requited, infer the Sins forbidden: But becauſe there were ſome things reſerved to be here more diſtinctly ſpoken to, we may briefly Conſider theſe.
THE Anſwer is Comprehenſive, every thing that is any way repugnant to Commutative Juſtice, comes within the Comprehenſion of it. So many ways therefore as this Command may be kept, ſo many ways it is capable of being broken, and that either by Omiſſion or Commiſſion. We may therefore reduce the Unrighteouſneſs here forbidden, to the ſame Heads to which we before referred the Righteouſneſs required in the Affirmative part; viz. the Gaining an Eſtate, and the Improvement of it.
1. THERE is Unrighteouſneſs to which Men are liable in the Gaining of the things of this Life. It were endleſs to enumerate all the particulars that belong to this Head; ſome of them, and the more Comprehenſive may be pointed at.
(1.) THIS Command is broken by dewn…ght Ste…ling. For this is the thing expreſly forbidden in the Precept; for tho the word uſed; doth properly ſignify a ſecret Filching from another without his Privity, yet it is uſed Synechdochtally, as was before obſerved. Stealing in the true Notion of it, is the taking of another Man's Right from him, and Uſurping it as our own, without or againſt his Conſent. This preſumes that there is a Property, that Men have in their Goods or Eſtates, without which there could be no Stealth; and that hath been ſufficiently made evident under the former. And Men become Guilty of this divers ways.
MORE particularly,
1. BY Unjuſt War, where one People make War upon another, who have not given them juſt Provocation ot it, and make a Prey of them. That there may be a Righteous War hath been proved under the Sixth Command; but when it is meerly for Ambition or Covetouſu…ſs, and Quarrels are made for nothing; all that is gotten in this way is wrong…ul, and forbidden by this Precept: That therefore is threatned againſt the Chaldeans for … predation, Hab. 2.8, 9, 10.
2. BY Robbery, either upon the High-way, or breaking open Houſes, and forcibly taking away from the Owner that which he is Poſſeſſed of. This is high-handed Theft, and is too often attended with Murder, whereby the Sixth Command is alſo broken; and is a Wickedneſs moſt pernicious and intollerable, being deſtructive to the Publick Safety, and Weal of a Place; and all Goods ſo gotten bring a Curſfe with them: This therefore is a thing that we are warned againſt in the Word, Pſal. 62.10. Become not vain in Robbery. And is threatned, Prov. 21.7. The Robbery of the wicked ſhall deſtroy them: becauſe they refuſe to do judgment. God hates that any ſuch thing be Offered to him, Iſa. 61.8. Hate Pobbery for Burnt-Offering.
3. By Cland…ſtinely Pur…ining, by ſecret Filching from another, ſo as if it may be, he may not know how it went away; picking Meas Pockets, taking their Goods when their Backs are turned, and coveying them away peir… ly to make them their own. And this is that which is more ſtrictly called Stealing, and is forbidden: And this Sin is committed not only by taking away of things of a conſiderable Value, (tho' the more worth it is, the greater Injury is done,) but a Man's Right is as much concerned in one thing as another, and the leaſt is equally a Breach of the Command as the grea…eſt. And the moſt injucious of this Nature is Man-Stealing; and it is not leſſened, much leſs excuſed, where it is on pretence of thruſting them into M… ri…
4. By an Unjuſt Siecure of, and keeping back from, the Owner, that which is faden into our hands. And under this, there are many things or Caſes that do fall, I ſhall but name ſome of the principal. Truſlees, of the Eſtates of Minors may be guilty here, it they alienate to their own Uſe, and ſo embezzle the Eſtates of thoſe over whom they have the Guardianſhip, and do not improve it to the beſt Advantage for them: Hence that in Ezek. 22.7. In thee have they vexed the … therleſs and Widow. Mal. 3.5. And God in the Avenger of all ſuch. Such as Borrow things of their Neighbour for their Uſe, and detain them as their own; ſuch Borrowing degenerates into Theft; and it is a Character of a Wicked Man, Pſal. 37.21. The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again. Such as Keep things left with them to keep, and when required Deny the thing, which addeth a Sin againſt the Ninth Command. Such as Find, and take up leſt Goods, and keep them, without uſing proper Means that the true Owner may be Re-poſſeſſed, or …iſowning of them when enquired after. Such as find their Neighbours Beaſt gone aſtray, and fi…ze it for themſelves, or Sell it to others, and ſeek that he may never come by the Knowledge of it. Such as ſave Goods caſt on ſhore in Ship-wreck, and take them as their proper Goods, and keep them from the Perſons whoſe they are: Or preſerve Goods in a time of Fire, and Alienate them to their own private Uſe, as if they had come by them juſtly, which is not only Theft, but barbarous Cruelty, and directly contrary to the Rule of Charity, and Oppreſſing of the Oppreſted; and there was a Moral Equity in the Judi…al Laws of M…ſes, which provided againſt theſe things
5. BY Receiving of Goods, known to be Stolen away, from the Thief. It is a Proverbial Speech, That the Receiver is a had as the Thief: And it is a general Exhortation, 1 Tim. 5.22. Neither be partakers of other mens ſins. Eph. 5.11. And have to fellowſhip with the unfruitful works of darkneſs, …t rather reprove them. Now to Receive of another Stolen Goods, it we know them to he ſo, is to partake with him, and Encourage him in his courſe. And if we have good reaſon to ſuſpect ſuch a thing, it ought to make us very Courious about it; it being our Duty to endeavour the Supp…on of, and to bear a due …imony againſt ſuch Wrongs.
But here it may be Enquired,
Queſt. WHETHER in no Caſe it be Law… take away, or keep from a Perſon that … is his own, without or againſt his Conſent?
Anſwer SOME have thought, that ſuch as … extreamly …, are exempted from this, and that it is Lawful for them to take for Neceſſity tho' the Owner be ſo Br…itiſh as to … them; and that becauſe all Mankind have a common Right to Live in the World, … therefore muſt have their neceſſary Supp…: But this would be to open a door to L…etiouſneſs; and who would not plead Ne…y for their juſt Excuſe when detected? and the Argument of Agar would be Super…, Prov. 20.8. in that his Poverty would …it him fr…m the Guilt of Stealing. And ſhall well-Ordered Governments, there is Proviſion made that the Poor may not Periſh, but they mu…apply themſelves to ſuch as are De…ed for this. And though as to Men, it is a Du…y not to over-ſtrein upon ſuch as are drives by extream Indigence to take a preſent Relief for it; (hence that, Prov. 6.30. Men do not d…ſpoſe a Thief, if be …eal to ſ…tisfy his …l when …e is hungry,) yet he is a Thief, and the Law of God obligeth all ſorts to Obedi…ce.
NEVERTHILESS, there are Caſe in which it is Lawful for Men to Take and …in that which is his Own in Poſſeſſion, againſt his Will, and that either in a Courſe of Juſtice, for the Defrayment of his proper Dues to the publick Support, which he refuſeth to Diſcharge: or in a Mulct which is laid upon him by juſt Paenal Laws, for ſome Crime which is ſo Puniſhed; or for the fatisfying of juſt Debts proved upon him, and adjudged to him be the Judges, which he refuſeth to defray, and ſo neceſſitates their being taken by Diſ…nt: As alſo in Caſe of a Perſon's being Distracted, or enraged by unbounded Pa…ons. to take from him, that wherewith he would miſechief, either himſelf or others, it may and ought to be forced from him, and detained till he be better Compoſed; only not with a …eſig… to deprive him of his Right and Uſurp it for his Own.
AS for ſome other Caſes mentioned by Caſuiſts, they are either dark and du…ious, or aliene from the preſent purpoſe, which I therefore wave.
As to that other CASE which is here uſually handled by Caſuiſts, viz.
Queſt. WHETHER Theft may Lawfu…ly be lun…bed with Death?
THE Ground of the Doubt is, becauſe the Law of M…ſ…s no where makes meet Theft Capital, …t hath aſſigned milder Penalties for it; and becauſe there is no Proportion between a Man's Life, and another's outward Eſtate: Matth. 3.25. Job 2.4.
Anſw. HERE let us ob…erve, That tho' every Sin as it reſpects the Object againſt whom it is Committed, as Sin, is Capts', (E…ek. 18.4. Yet as it is againſt Man. there are Degrees of Penalty difflerent for diverſe Crimes, to be in…lie…ed by Men, to which the Judicial Law of Moſes was accomm…dated, agreably to the State of the Iſreacatiſh Po…ty, and not abſolutely binding all other States, But ſtill Theſe, ſo far as they had a Moral Conſideration in them, had matter of Direction in them, and have their Uſe in the making the particular Sanctions of humane Laws.
AND here it may in general be obſerved, that a Crime may become Capital, either from the Nature of it; or from the Circumſtances attending it; and there may be thoſe Aggravations aſtending that which in it ſelf would be meerly Criminal, which may render it Capital: And it is a Rule ordinarily given, and ſeems Conſonant to the Light of Nature, that the End of humane Laws is Salus Pep…, and therefore they ought to be Calculated for the Publick Good and Safety.
SOME. Sin are ſo Horrible in themſelves, that the Light of Nature tells us no Puniſhment can be too Greal for them; as all Unnatural Luſts. Some Sins are ſo Injurious as there can be no Compenſation for them but Death; ſuch is Murder; hence that, Gen. 9.6. Wh…ſo ſheddeth mans bl…ed, by men ſhall his blond he …ad. Numb. 35.31. I… ſhall take no ſari… faction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he ſhall be ſure…y put to death. Other Crimes may be ſo committed as to make the Tranſgreſſor inſufferable among Men, and therefore to deſerve to be put out of the way. Now concerning Theft; doubtleſs Thef fingly conſidered, and by it ſelf, as it is a Wrong done to another in his outward Eſtate, is not of ſuch a Character as to require the Death of the Offender, …inaſmuch as the Treſpaſs or Injury done by him, may be Compenſated by a cheaper Penelty, and therefore to put T…ves to Death, indiſcriminately, ſeems to be Inhumane; and ſo the Law of M…ſes provided Reſt…t…tion to the higheſt. Five-ſold, and the Sale of the Thief. on failure of Ability to Recompence. Nevertheleſs, there were three Aggravations of Theft, that by God's Law expoſed Men To Death; Plogganiſ… or ManStea…ny, Exod. 21.16. He that ſl…leth a man and ſelleth him, or if he be found in his hand, be ſhall ſure…y be put to death. And the Laws of Civilized Gentile Nations agreed in this, as being according to Reaſon, becauſe it was little better than Murder. Sacriledge was alſo puniſhed with Death, by God's Authority, as A…han, J…ſh. 7. R…bbery alſo, which is Theft committed by Viotence, as in Eurglary committed in the Night, if the Perſon was Slein in the Act, the Slayer was a quitted, Exod. 22.2. If a thief he found breaking up, and he be ſmitte… that bedie, there ſhall no blood he ſhed for him. And doubtleſs, when Men turn High… ay Robbers, in which Mens Lives as well as their Eſt…tes, are haz…d…d, it makes Men become Intollerable, and Death is little enough Puniſhment for them, as Enemies to Mankind: And ſuch alſo are Pirates by Sea; for theſe have Bloody Intentions, and will not ſeraple to take away the Owners Lives, rather than miſs of their Prey. But as to ſimple Th…ſt, there ſeems to be neither Warrant from the Word of God, nor Equity in the thing it ſelf, Indiſeriminately to take away the Life of the O…ender. It ſeems therefore ſafeſt to find our ſome other Media to ſuppreſs this Sin, unleſs it be Aggravated to ſuch an heighth, as renders it neceſtary for the commen Intereſt to rid the World of them.
(2.) THIS Command is violated by Men's Living out of a L…ful Calling. That every Man ought to have a Calling, and Live in it, we before obſerved, and that it ought to be a lawful one; and hence Men may become guilty of Tranſgreſſion on this Account, more ways than one. This might be reduced to two Heads:
1. BY Idleneſs, or Living without any Employment at all. Some bring under Idleneſs, all Unlawful ways which Men take to Gain a Living; but Idleneſs and Miſemployment are two diſtinct things, and to be ranked under ſeveral Heads. There is the Labour of the Head, and of the Hands, either of which is contrary to Idieneſs. Idleneſs is pro…erly a Living in the diſorderly Neglect of Buſineſs, and ſpending a Man's Time Unproſitably. Not but that God hath Indulged Men with moderate Recreation, to Refreſh their weary Bodies, and Recruit their ex…a ſted Spirits. But for Perſons able of Body and Mind, to have no Buſineſs, or to Neglect, and ſpend their Time in Sleep, in Paſtimes, in vain Company and Play, in fooliſh Chat, in Gaming, is the Idleneſs here Cenſured. A Man may take a great deal of Pains in Idleneſs, if it be in that which hath no tendency to Pro…; ſo that it comprehends under i… both the Sluggard, and him that takes Pains about Toys and Triſtes: Hence that Expoſtulation, Iſa. 55.2. Wherefore do ye ſpend your money for that which is not bread? and your laboar for that which ſatisfieth not? This is a Sin not only Reproved and Threatned in the Word of God; but alſo born witneſs againſt by the Heathen Mera…ſis; and therefore Puniſh… by their Civil Governments. TI contradicts the End of Man's Creation; it makes the Perſon a Burden to the World; it Bur… the Man Alive; it lays him open to Satan. Temptation, and makes him a Prey to every vile Luſt: Every Slothful Perſon is a W…d Perſon, (Marth. 25.26.) It brings Poverty and …ags; and renders Men utterly Unfit to give up their Account to God, for the Time and Strenghth He lent them. And ſuch are by the Precept ſhut our from Man's Charity, 2 Theſ. 3.1….
2. BY taking up an Un…ſal Calling to Support themſelves withal. Theſe indeed are Catach ſ…al…y called Callings; for they have not a Call from God to attend them, but are interdicted them. But it intends a Courſe of Life which they take up and pucſue, as a Medium by which to Gain on …ſtate or Support in this World. And we are …c to Remark, that there are ſuch Employments, as ſome take upon them, which are diſallowed by God, and therefore Unlawful Nor is it a ſufficient Warrant for a Man, that his Employment is M…r…dly God, becauſe to carnal Reaſon it ſeems to have … fair probability of bringing in Gain; for if it bring a Cuiſe with it, the Man muſt needs be an egregious Loſer in the foot of the Account. Now there are too many of ſuch Practiced in the World; and among thoſe who are called Chriſtians, too many to be coumerated: Some of them may be indigitated.
1. IN General we may obſerve, that in Employment may be Lawful, either in …ſelſ. or by Accident. And here this Rule will ſtand Good, That whatever Employment is either Repugnant to the Life of Godlineſs, and a Reproach to the true Religion, in it's own Nature, or is Pernicious to the Publick welfare, or tends to the Ruin of others, muſt needs be Unlawful; and can …n…no pretence be juſtified. For every one is bound in C… ſcience to prefer the Glory of God, before all his lusere… in this World, 1 Cor. 10.31. And no Man can Lawfully ſeek his Pr…ate Benefit to the Hurt of the Pub…k, whereof he is a Member; or the undoing of his Neighbour either in S…l or Body, Matth. 22.39.
2. MORE Patica…arly by the right Application of this Rule, we may indubitally Judge among others, that the following Employments are Unlawful for Men.
[1] IN Themſelves or their own Nature.
AND here more eſpecially,
1. BY open Stens, or more Private … dem. There are ſome Places where BendyH…ſes are Licenſed, and Pay Hire for it to the Government; and in other Places they are too much Connived at and Pleaded for, as things though …l, yet Neceſsary. And how many Women are there who drive a trade of it, to proſtitute their Bodies to the Luſts of all that will give them Hire to Maintain them? This indeed among the Heathen was commonly reckoned no Sin; but they put ſimpe Wh…dom among things Adiaphorus: And if ſo, no weerder if they allowed Whoredom to be one Employment. But there are few Christians that will openly defend the Honeſ…ly or Lawfulneſs of the thing it ſelf, but they Plead Neceſſary to tolerate, and Prudent to make Publick? roſin by Farming in it; Neceſſary to avoid greater Evil, by taking away the Hazard of otherwiſe De bauching of Married Women; and therefore Prudent; to make it ſerve to Support the Publick Charges, which would not be, except Licenſed by Authority: But the Word of God teacheth us better things; we are there aſſured, that …vil is not to be d…ne, that God …ny cone of is; nor is one Sin a proper Preventive of another; that to prevent and Aff…ction by a Sin, is no good Policy: And ſ…dly it will afford no S… faction …an end…ghtned Conſcince to think to keep one Command by the … of …; for we are told, Jam. 2.10. For whoſoever ſhall keep the un…e …, and yet offend in one point, be is guilty of all. Whoredom is every where condemned in the Scriptures; and the frequenting of Whore … uſes is one Article in God's Indictment of His Proteſting People, Jer. 3.7. When I had fed them to the full, they then committed edulsery, and aſſembled themſe lo… by troops in the hatleſs bouſes. And the proſtituting of their Children to Whoredom. (which muſt be ſuppoſed to be for Gain,) was plainly for bidden God's People, Lev. 19.29. Do not proſtitute thy Daughter to cauſe her to be a whore; … the land fall to whoredom and the land become fall of wickedneſ. And ſo Odious was it to God, that He for bad them to receive ſuch an Hire to the Service of His Houſe, Deut. 23. …. Thou ſhalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog into the bouſe of the Lord thy God for any vow: for even oath theſe are above nation unto the Lord thy God. Surely then, ſuch an Employment is Unlawful and Pe…icious both to the Perſons and the Publick, &c. And there is a better way for the Suppreſſion of this Sin, and the Publick Advantage, to make ſevere Penalties for it; and put them is Execution ſtrenuouſly, upon all thoſe that do is this kind offend.
2. By Gaming or Plays. Whether there be any ſort of Play or Game that is in it ſelf Unlawful, belongs not to this Command to Diſpute; but, Whether there be any at all, that is Lawful to make an Employment of, and to advance an Eſtate by? The Negative whereof is to be aſſerted, and will eaſily be defended. That God hath allowed to His People moderate and ſeaſonable Recreations is not to be queſtioned; (tho' I believe they ſhould avoid whatſoever Games are of Evid Report among ſober Men;) but to turn a Recreation into an Employment, and to advance an Eſtate by ſuch a Curſe, to the Damage of another, is ſtark Naught, and will ſooner or later leave a ſting on the Conſcience. Sober Caſuiſts indeed do not diſallow, that Friends do in their Recreations, expend ſo much as properly ſerves to the End of the Recreation, and is not Detrimental as their Perſons and their Families; and that they may with theſe Limitations, determine the Charge by the Plays to this or that Party: But this is a vaſtly different thing, from Staking Money to Geen an Eſtate by, to the Loſs of another; nor will the common Maxim here found, Vounts non fit Injuris; for without …b…, a Man may Wrong himſelf by his own Conſent, and yet Sin in ſo doing: Now to take an Eſtate by Play, is contrary to the end of Recreation, and an unwarranted expoſing of that which God hath in His Providence beſtowed on a Man, to be loſt at … Threw, when he hath no Call for it, nor any Promiſe of a Bleſſing in ſuch a way. The very Light of Nature …th Teſlity againſt it, and all Sober and Ci…d Men do abhor it. And it is not indeed a thing Voluntary; no Man would Expoſe his own Eſtate thus, if he did not ſecretly Hope to Gain, and when he Loſeth and Empoveriſheth himſelf, he inv…atdly Vereth himſelf at it One muſt needs Loſe: And it is well ſaid by one, He that Loſeth! is Eſtate by Ganing is a Fool; and he that Gains one is Diſhoneſt, and brings a Ruſt and Moth into his Eſtate: And doubtleſs the Wife Man hath a proper reſpect to this, Prov 13.11. Wrath gotten by vanity, ſhall be diminiſhed: but be that gatherath by labour ſhall increaſe.
3. BY making a Trade of Begging. Not that Begging is in all Caſes a thing Unlawful: For a Perſon reduced to Extremity, and who hath no way to Relieve himſelf, to ask an Alms of Charity of another, is not to be abſolutely Condemned. We find in that, whether Parable or Hiſtory, Luk. 16. that Lazarus was a Beggar, being Impotent, and Neglected; and yet one Dear to God, and an Heir of Glory. But in well Regulated Places, Care ought to be uſed, that ſuch Objects of Charity as are Diſenabled, and have no Friends to Support them, ſhould be Provided for, and not driven to ſeek a Supply from Door to Door. Tho' for Captives, and ſuch as are Empoveriſhed by ſome awful Providence, as Fire, a Brief for a free Contribution is proper and laudable: But for ſturdy Beggars, or Perſons that are able to Work, to go up and down begging inſtead of Labouring, and make this their Employment, is a great Sin, and not to be allowed in any Place. They that can Work, and will Beg, ought to be conſtrained to Labour; and it is a Sin for any to Supply them in ſuch a Trade: And to ſee ſo many Able Perſons and Children capable of being Employed, to ſpend their Time in Begging, is a great Shame; for this is to be an unprofitable Burden to Mankind, and properly refers to the Head of Idleneſs; and ſuch will not Labour themſelves, but would Live upon other Men's Labours.
2. BY Accident. Employments may be Unlawful, when they are taken and abuſed to others Harm. I ſhall here only Inſtance in one which is very Notorious. Not only the Lawfulneſs, but Expedience of Publick Houſes of Entertainment for Travellers, is a thing ſo evident, that it cannot be deny'd with a ſhadow of Reaſon: Nevertheleſs, to Multiply Licences for ſuch Houſes, when there is no need of them, and to have them in every Comer; or for Perſons of their own accord, to take up ſuch a Trade, privately to Sell Drink to all Comers, ſo to maintain themſelves and their Families, is a manifeſt Violation of this Precept, in that it is a blamable Occaſion of drawing in Perſons to ſpend their Money, and their precious Time, to their own Impoveriſhing, and the great Suffering of their Families. Beſides, Theſe Latter are an inlet to a World of Miſchief, in the Places where it is practiſed; it occaſions Drunkenneſs to abound, brings all manner of Debaucheries, Families are Diſordered, Children and Servants are drawn into Loud Courſes, and provoked to Filch from their Parents of Maſters, and many Whoredoms are Committed.
NOR can Either of theſe be defended, either by pleading Poverty and Neciſſity, for this is the way to Maintain one, with the … of a great many, which is contrary to the Rules of Honeſly: Nor that the Publick Stock is encreaſed by it, for neither ought the Publick any more than the Privacy be maintained in a way of Dith-neſty, as this certainly is. And certainly, the more ſuch are permitted, or tolerated, the greater Temptation is laid before them, to allow unbounded Licentiouſneſs and Diſorder to gain Cuſtom: And there is more Prudence in maintaining a few Poor, than to give them liberty to make a great many more ſo: And it is ſuch a Publick Nuſance, that all ſober Divines have, as they had Opportunity, born a ſevere Teſtimony againſt it; and ſerious Chriſtians do groan under the lamentable Effects of it, and feel the doleful Fru…ts of it in their Families, which they know not how to Remedy. And let others think as they ſee good, yet I am verily perſwaded that the great Immoralities which abound among us, of which there is ſo general a Complaint, will never be reduced, till effectual Care be taken, to Retrench the one, and Suppreſs the other; for whilſt ſuch Seminaries of Wickedneſs are ſuffered, it muſt be expected that the miſchievous Efforts of them will Encreaſe and grow upon us.
[AUGUST 21. 1705]