Sum Of Commandment 8.
SUM OF COMMANDMENT 8.
Evan. Well then, I ask you to consider that in the eighth commandment there is a negative part expressed in these words, “You shall not steal;” that is, you shall by no unlawful way or means hurt or hinder the wealth and outward estate either of yourself or others: and there is an affirmative part is included in these words, “But you shall by all good means preserve and further them both.”
Neo. I ask you, sir, to begin with the negative part, and first tell us what is forbidden in this commandment, as a hurt or hinderance of our own outward estate.
Evan. That we may not hurt or hinder our own outward estate, in this commandment are forbidden idleness, sloth, and inordinate conduct, Prov. 18.9; 2Thess. 3.11; and so also are unthriftiness and carelessness, either in spending our goods, or in ordering our affairs and businesses, Proverbs 21.17; 1Tim. 5.8; and also unadvised suretyship, Prov. 11.15.
Neo. And what is forbidden in this commandment, as tending to hurt or hinder our neighbour’s estate.’’
Evan. That we may not hurt or hinder our neighbour’s outward estate, in this commandment is forbidden covetousness and discontentedness with our estate, Heb. 13.5; and also enviousness at the prosperity of others, Prov. 24.1; and also resolutions or hastening to be rich, as it were, whether the Lord affords us means or not, 1Tim. 6.9; Prov. 28.20; and also borrowing and not paying back, though able to do so, Psalm 37.21; and also lending at usury, Exo. 22.25; and also not restoring things borrowed, Psalm 37.21; and also cruelty in requiring all our debts, without compassion or mercy, Isa. 58.3; and also praising any commodity we sell, contrary to our own knowledge of it, or debasing anything we buy, against our own conscience, Isa. 5.20; Prov. 20.14; and also hoarding up, or withholding the selling of corn and other necessary commodities when we may spare them, and others need them, Prov. 11.26; and also withholding hireling’s wages, James 5.4; and also uncharitable enclosure, Isa. 5.8; and also selling any commodity by false weights or false measures, Lev. 19.35: and also concealing things that are found, and withholding them from the right owners when they are known; and also robbery, or laying violent and strong hands on any part of the wealth that belongs to another, Zech. 5.3; and also pilfering and secretly carrying away the wealth that belongs to another, Joshua 7.21; and also consenting to taking away the goods of another, Psalm 50.18; and also receiving or harbouring stolen goods, Prov. 29.24.
Neo. Well, now, sir, I ask you to proceed to the affirmative part of this commandment, and tell us what the Lord requires in it.
Evan. This commandment requires a contented mind with that part and portion of wealth and outward good things which God, in his providence, has allotted to us, Heb. 13.5; 1Tim. 6.6-8; and so also in resting by faith on the promise of God, and depending on his providence, without distrustful care, Mat. 6.20, 26; and also a moderate desire for those things which are convenient and necessary for us, Mat. 6.21; Prov. 30.8; and also a moderate care to provide those things which are necessary for us, Gen. 30.30; 1Tim. 5.8; and also an honest calling, Gen. 4.2; and also diligent, painstaking, and faithful labouring in it, Gen. 3.19; and also frugality or thriftiness, Prov. 27.23-27; John 6.12; and also borrowing for needs and good ends, only what we are able to repay, and making payment with thanks and cheerfulness, Exo. 22.14; and also lending freely without compounding for gain, Deu. 15.8; Luke 6.35; and also giving or conveying outward things to others, according to our ability and their necessity, Luke 11.41; and also using truth, simplicity, and plainness in buying and selling, in hiring and leasing, Lev. 25.14; Deu. 25.13-15; and also restoring things that are found, Deu. 22.2, 3; and also restoring things committed to our trust, Ezek. 18.7. And thus I have endeavoured to satisfy your desire concerning the eighth commandment; and now, neighbour Nomologista, I ask you to tell me whether you think you keep it perfectly, or not?
Nom. I can say this truly, that I never in all my life took away, or consented to the taking away, of so much as a pennyworth of any other man’s goods.
Evan. Though you did not, yet if there has ever been in your heart any discontentedness with your own estate, or any envious thoughts towards others in regard to their prosperity in the world, or any resolution to be rich, other than by the moderate use of lawful means, or if you ever borrowed and did not repay to the utmost of your ability, or if you ever lent at usury, or if you ever cruelly required any debt above the ability of your debtor, or if you ever praised anything you had to sell above the known worth of it, or if you ever undervalued anything you were to buy, contrary to your own thoughts of it, or if you ever hoarded up corn in a time of dearth, or if you ever retained the hireling’s wages in your hands, to his loss or hinderance, or if you ever sold any commodity by false weights or measures, or if you ever concealed anything found from the right owner, when you knew who he was; then you have been guilty of theft, and so you have been a transgressor of this commandment.
And though you have never done any of these things, and it is strange if you have not, yet if you were ever guilty of idleness, sloth, or in any way unwarrantably neglected your calling, or unthriftily misspent any of your own goods, or were ever negligent and careless in ordering your own affairs and business, or if you ever sustained any loss by your unadvised suretyship, or if you ever borrowed at usury, except in case of extreme necessity, then you have been guilty of robbing yourself, and so you have been a transgressor of this commandment.
Neo. Now, I beg you, sir, proceed to speak of the ninth commandment, as you have spoken of the rest.