October 1 — Thou shall not steal

Consider, first, that by this commandment, God forbids all manner of wrong to our neighbour, in his goods, rights, or worldly possessions, whether by open violence or by fraud, by stealing or by over-reaching, by cheating in buying or in selling, or in any other bargain, by keeping from him what is his, or not giving him his dues, or not paying just debts, or by any extor tion whatever, or any usury in the loan of money or other things, or by putting him to any unjust charges, or by spoiling or damaging what belongs to him. In ail these cases, there is an injustice committed, which is not only condemned by this divine precept, but by the natural and eternal law, written from the beginning in the heart of man; and by that great principle of morality, which forbids us to do by any other what we would not have done to us. And-yet, how many ways are poor mortals daily guilty of breaking through this divine and eternal law for the sake of this wretched Mammon of worldly interest, the great god of this world; and that in spite both of law and gospel, honour and honesty, conscience and religion 1 And how often do they affect to deceive themselves herein with vain pleas and pretexts, invented on purpose to cloak their guilt, and to hide it, if possible, not only from others, but also from their own consciences, that so they may go on without disturbance in the way that leads to deathy by persuading themselves that all is right. But God is not to be deceived, who has declared that the unjust shall never possess his kingdom, 1 Cor. vi. 9. O, examine yourselves, Christians, impartially, upon this head of justice in your dealings with your neighbours; for there is nothing more easy than for you to deceive yourselves herein; the consequences of which would be most dreadful to your souls. »

Consider, secondly, that every breach of this commandment, by any one of these ways of wronging ones neighbour, is always followed with the strict obligation of making restitution, or of repairing, to the full, the loss or damage he has suffered; without which restitution or reparation the crime shall never be forgiven. And how few think of this! Alas! how many of these restitutions will be to be made, when time shall be no more; and when that which has been neglected on earth, shall be exacted in hell! Ah, sinners, what a load, then, have you charged upon your own shoulders, by your injustices 1 And how is it possible you should think so little of discharging it! O, do not be too easy in persuading yourselves you have it not in your power to make this restitution; you cannot deceive the all-seeing eye of him who clear ly discerns how much you might do, if you would but retrench all superfluities in your oKpenses, and would truly take to heart this necessary duty of satisfying justice in the first place, ana would use all possible industry and labour for that end.

Consider, thirdly, that, though all injustice in general be hateful in the sight of G, there are some branches of it in particular which more loudly cry to Heaven for vengeance; and more especially such as tend to oppress the poor, by usury or extortion, or by making a handle of their necessity, to raise to them the.price of the things they want, or by defrauding them of their wages or hire, or otherwise taking, or keeping from th«n, that which belongs to them. O, how heinous are all these sins in the eyes of him who is the Father of the poor! They are as odious as murder in his sight. There is a curse entailed upon all such substance as is gathered together by oppressing his children. And so there is upon all sacrilegious rapines, by which the church or temple of God, or his ministers, are defrauded of what is their due; or by which pious foundations or donations are diverted from the uses of religion to profane uses. In all such cases, God looks upon the wrong as done to himself, and will certainly revenge it, both here and hereafter. All that gold which is brought into the coffers by robbing either the poor or the church, shall not only moulder away itself, but shall consume all the rest it shall find there, together with the master of it.

Conclude to beware of all manner of injustice, and to keep off at the greatest distance possible from it, as a mortal enemy both to thy temporal and eternal welfare. Take heed lest the love of that idol. Mammon, should at any time impose upon thee, in this regard: thou art never secure from danger, as long as that idol is not cast out of thy heart; for, as the wise man assures us, (Ecclus. X. 10,) There is not a more wicked thing than to love money; for such a one setteth even his oum soul to sale.