Biblia

EIGHTH COMMANDMENT

EIGHTH
COMMANDMENT

M.—Let us come to the eighth commandment.

S.—Thou shalt not steal.

M.—Does it only prohibit the thefts which are punished by human laws, or does it go farther?

S.—Under the name of theft, it comprehends all kinds of wicked acts of defrauding and circumventing by which we hunt after other men’s goods. Here, therefore, we are forbidden either to seize upon our neighbor’s goods by violence, or lay hands upon them by trick and cunning, or get possession of them by any other indirect means whatever.

M.—Is it enough to withhold your hand from the evil act, or is covetousness also here condemned?

S.—We must ever return to this-that the law given, being spiritual, intends to check not only outward thefts, but all counsels and wishes which incommode others in any way; and especially covetousness itself; that we may not long to enrich ourselves at the expense of our brethren.

M.—What then must be done to obey this commandment?

S.—We must endeavor to let every man have his own in safety.