Course 2, Chapter 31: Of union with our Lord, the new Adam, by charity. Seventh and tenth Commandments

1. What are the seventh and tenth commandments?

Thou shall not steal, Thou shall not cocet thy neighbor's goods.

2. What are we forbidden by the seventh commandment?

By the seventh 'commandment we are forbidden to take our neighbor's goods, or to cause him any damage. To steal, is to take or retain unjustly the goods or property of our neighbor.

3. What are the principal kinds of stealing?

The principal kinds of stealing are theft, robbery and fraud.

4. What is theft?

Theft is an act by which we take what belongs to another without his knowledge. Laborers who do not work faithfully, and vet exact their full wages;

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*ailor«, who retain a part of the things given to them to make into clothes; domestics, who take from their masters, to compensate for the smallness of their wajges, &e., are guilty of theft.

5. Y/hat is robbery?

*By robbery is meant the taking of what belongs -o another, openly and by violence. Masters who do not pay their laborers and hired domestics the wages agreed upon, are guilty of robbery.

6. What is fraud?

We are guilty of fraud when we deceive our neighbor in buying or selling; in selling as good, articles which are damaged; in making use of false weights and false measures; in making usurious bargains, &c.

7. When ^e have in any of these ways taken what belongs to rur neighbor, is it sufficient to repent, in 01 der to be saved?

No, it is not sufficient to repent in order to be saved; we must also make restitution.

8. Who are obliged to restitution?

1st, the one who steals; 2d, he who commands the stealing; 3d, he who counsels it; 4th, he who by hi flatteries induces the act; 5th, he who gives his consent when, without it, the act would not be committed; 6th, the receiver of stolen goods; 7th, they who participate in the fruits of the things stolen; 8th, they who, being in justice obliged to prevent the steal ing or damage, do not prevent it.*

9. To wfyom must restitution be made?

The restitution must be made to those to whom injury is done, or to their heirs; and it must be done as soon as possible.

10. What are we forbidden by the tenth command ment?

All desire to appropriate to ourselves unjustly the goods and profits of another; and in general, all inordinate attachment to riches.

204 CATECHISM Ob' PERSEVERANCE.

11. What are the principal advantages of the sev* enth and tenth commandments?

The principal advantages are: 1 st, to protect our property against the injustice of the wicked; 2d, to extinguish in our heart the inordinate desire of the things of this earth, the fruitful source of injustice and disorders; 3d, to show us the infinite goodness of God and the holiness of relio-ion.