large catechism-第11部分

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points　which　enkindle　love　and　desire　of　chastity；　so　that；　where　this
is　found；　chastity　will　follow　as　a　matter　of　course　without　any
command。　Therefore　also　St。　Paul　so　diligently　exhorts　husband　and　wife
to　love　and　honor　one　another。　Here　you　have　again　a　precious；　yea；
many　and　great　good　works；　of　which　you　can　joyfully　boast；　against　all
ecclesiastical　estates；　chosen　without　God's　Word　and　commandment。

　The　Seventh　Commandment。
　
Thou　shalt　not　steal。　

After　your　person　and　spouse　temporal　property　comes　next。　That　also
God　wishes　to　have　protected；　and　He　has　commanded　that　no　one　shall
subtract　from；　or　curtail；　his　neighbor's　possessions。　For　to　steal　is
nothing　else　than　to　get　possession　of　another's　property　wrongfully；
which　briefly　comprehends　all　kinds　of　advantage　in　all　sorts　of　trade
to　the　disadvantage　of　our　neighbor。　Now；　this　is　indeed　quite　a
wide…spread　and　common　vice；　but　so　little　regarded　and　observed　that
it　exceeds　all　measure；　so　that　if　all　who　are　thieves；　and　yet　do　not
wish　to　be　called　such；　were　to　be　hanged　on　gallows　the　world　would
soon　be　devastated　and　there　would　be　a　lack　both　of　executioners　and
gallows。　For；　as　we　have　just　said；　to　steal　is　to　signify　not　only　to
empty　our　neighbor's　coffer　and　pockets；　but　to　be　grasping　in　the
market；　in　all　stores；　booths；　wine…　and　beer…cellars；　workshops；　and；
in　short；　wherever　there　is　trading　or　taking　and　giving　of　money　for
merchandise　or　labor。　

As；　for　instance；　to　explain　this　somewhat　grossly　for　the　common
people；　that　it　may　be　seen　how　godly　we　are：　When　a　manservant　or
maid…servant　does　not　serve　faithfully　in　the　house；　and　does　damage；
or　allows　it　to　be　done　when　it　could　be　prevented；　or　otherwise　ruins
and　neglects　the　goods　entrusted　to　him；　from　indolence　idleness；　or
malice；　to　the　spite　and　vexation　of　master　and　mistress；　and　in
whatever　way　this　can　be　done　purposely　（for　I　do　not　speak　of　what
happens　from　oversight　and　against　one's　will）；　you　can　in　a　year
abscond　thirty；　forty　florins；　which　if　another　had　taken　secretly　or
carried　away；　he　would　be　hanged　with　the　rope。　But　here　you　＇while
conscious　of　such　a　great　theft＇　may　even　bid　defiance　and　become
insolent；　and　no　one　dare　call　you　a　thief。　

The　same　I　say　also　of　mechanics；　workmen；　and　day…laborers；　who　all
follow　their　wanton　notions；　and　never　know　enough　ways　to　overcharge
people；　while　they　are　lazy　and　unfaithful　in　their　work。　All　these　are
far　worse　than　sneak…thieves；　against　whom　we　can　guard　with　locks　and
bolts；　or　who；　if　apprehended；　are　treated　in　such　a　manner　that　they
will　not　do　the　same　again。　But　against　these　no　one　can　guard；　no　one
dare　even　look　awry　at　them　or　accuse　them　of　theft；　so　that　one　would
ten　times　rather　lose　from　his　purse。　For　here　are　my　neighbors；　good
friends；　my　own　servants；　from　whom　I　expect　good　＇every　faithful　and
diligent　service＇；　who　defraud　me　first　of　all。　

Furthermore；　in　the　market　and　in　common　trade　likewise；　this　practice
is　in　full　swing　and　force　to　the　greatest　extent；　where　one　openly
defrauds　another　with　bad　merchandise；　false　measures；　weights；　coins；
and　by　nimbleness　and　queer　finances　or　dexterous　tricks　takes
advantage　of　him；　likewise；　when　one　overcharges　a　person　in　a　trade
and　wantonly　drives　a　hard　bargain；　skins　and　distresses　him。　And　who
can　recount　or　think　of　all　these　things？　To　sum　up；　this　is　the
commonest　craft　and　the　largest　guild　on　earth；　and　if　we　regard　the
world　throughout　all　conditions　of　life；　it　is　nothing　else　than　a
vast；　wide　stall；　full　of　great　thieves。　

Therefore　they　are　also　called　swivel…chair　robbers；　land…　and
highway…robbers；　not　pick…locks　and　sneak…thieves　who　snatch　away　the
ready　cash；　but　who　sit　on　the　chair　＇at　home＇　and　are　styled　great
noblemen；　and　honorable；　pious　citizens；　and　yet　rob　and　steal　under　a
good　pretext。　

Yes；　here　we　might　be　silent　about　the　trifling　individual　thieves　if
we　were　to　attack　the　great；　powerful　arch…thieves　with　whom　lords　and
princes　keep　company；　who　daily　plunder　not　only　a　city　or　two；　but　all
Germany。　Yea；　where　should　we　place　the　head　and　supreme　protector　of
all　thieves；　the　Holy　Chair　at　Rome　with　all　its　retinue；　which　has
grabbed　by　theft　the　wealth　of　all　the　world；　and　holds　it　to　this　day？


This　is；　in　short；　the　course　of　the　world：　whoever　can　steal　and　rob
openly　goes　free　and　secure；　unmolested　by　any　one；　and　even　demands
that　he　be　honored。　Meanwhile　the　little　sneak…thieves；　who　have　once
trespassed；　must　bear　the　shame　and　punishment　to　render　the　former
godly　and　honorable。　But　let　them　know　that　in　the　sight　of　God　they
are　the　greatest　thieves；　and　that　He　will　punish　them　as　they　are
worthy　and　deserve。　

Now；　since　this　commandment　is　so　far…reaching　＇and　comprehensive＇；　as
just　indicated；　it　is　necessary　to　urge　it　well　and　to　explain　it　to
the　common　people；　not　to　let　them　go　on　in　their　wantonness　and
security；　but　always　to　place　before　their　eyes　the　wrath　of　God；　and
inculcate　the　same。　For　we　have　to　preach　this　not　to　Christians；　but
chiefly　to　knaves　and　scoundrels；　to　whom　it　would　be　more　fitting　for
judges；　jailers；　or　Master　Hannes　＇the　executioner＇　to　preach。
Therefore　let　every　one　know　that　it　is　his　duty；　at　the　risk　of　God's
displeasure；　not　only　to　do　no　injury　to　his　neighbor；　nor　to　deprive
him　of　gain；　nor　to　perpetrate　any　act　of　unfaithfulness　or　malice　in
any　bargain　or　trade；　but　faithfully　to　preserve　his　property　for　him；
to　secure　and　promote　his　advantage；　especially　when　one　accepts　money；
wages；　and　one's　livelihood　for　such　service。　

He　now　who　wantonly　despises　this　may　indeed　pass　along　and　escape　the
hangman；　but　he　shall　not　escape　the　wrath　and　punishment　of　God；　and
when　he　has　long　practiced　his　defiance　and　arrogance；　he　shall　yet
remain　a　tramp　and　beggar；　and；　in　addition；　have　all　plagues　and
misfortune。　Now　you　are　going　your　way　＇wherever　your　heart's　pleasure
calls　you＇　while　you　ought　to　preserve　the　property　of　your　master　and
mistress；　for　which　service　you　fill　your　crop　and　maw；　take　your　wages
like　a　thief；　have　people　treat　you　as　a　nobleman；　for　there　are　many
that　are　even　insolent　towards　their　masters　and　mistresses；　and　are
unwilling　to　do　them　a　favor　or　service　by　which　to　protect　them　from
loss。　

But　reflect　what　you　will　gain　when；　having　come　into　your　own
property　and　being　set　up　in　your　home　（to　which　God　will　help　with　all
misfortunes）；　it　＇your　perfidy＇　will　bob　up　again　and　come　home　to　you；
and　you　will　find　that　where　you　have　cheated　or　done　injury　to　the
value　of　one　mite；　you　will　have　to　pay　thirty　again。　

Such　shall　be　the　lot　also　of　mechanics　and　day…laborers　of　whom　we　are
now　obliged　to　hear　and　suffer　such　intolerable　maliciousness；　as
though　they　were　noblemen　in　another's　possessions；　and　every　one　were
obliged　to　give　them　what　they　demand。　Just　let　them　continue
practicing　their　exactions　as　long　as　they　can；　but　God　will　not　forget
His　commandment；　and　will　reward　them　according　as　they　have　served；
and　will　hang　them；　not　upon　a　green　gallows；　but　upon　a　dry　one　so
that　all　their　life　they　shall　neither　prosper　nor　accumulate　anything。
And　indeed；　if　there　were　a　well…ordered　government　in　the　land；　such
wantonness　might　soon　be　checked　and　prevented；　as　was　the　custom　in
ancient　times　among　the　Romans；　where　such　characters　were　promptly
seized　by　the　pate　in　a　way　that　others　took　warning。　

No　more　shall　all　the　rest　prosper　who　change　the　open　free　market　into
a　carrion…pit　of　extortion　and　a　den　of　robbery；　where　the　poor　are
daily　overcharged；　new　burdens　and　high　prices　are　imposed；　and　every
one　uses　the　market　according　to　his　caprice；　and　is　even　defiant　and
brags　as　though　it　were　his　fair　privilege　and　right　to　sell　his　goods
for　as　high　a　price　as　he　please；　and　no　one　had　a　right　to　say　a　word
against　it。　We　will　indeed　look　on　and　let　these　people　skin；　pinch；
and　hoard；　but　we　will　trust　in　God　　who　will；　however；　do　this　of
His　own　accord；　　that；　after　you　have　been　skinning　and　scraping　for
a　long　time；　He　will　pronounce　such　a　blessing　on　your　gains　that　your
grain　in　the　garner；　your　beer　in　the　cellar；　your　cattle　in　the　stalls
shall　perish；　yea；　where　you　have　cheated　and　overcharged　any　one　to
the　amount　of　a　florin；　your　entire　pile　shall　be　consumed　with　rust；
so　that　you　shall　never　enjoy　it。　

And　indeed；　we　see　and　experience　this　being　fulfilled　daily　before　our
eyes；　that　no　stolen　or　dishonestly　acquired　possession　thrives。　How
many　there　are　who　rake　and　scrape　day　and　night；　and　yet　grow　not　a
farthing　richer！　And　though　they　gather　much；　they　must　suffer　so　many
plagues　and　misfortunes　that　they　cannot　relish　it　with　cheerfulness
nor　transmit　it　to　their　children。　But　as　no　one　minds　it；　and　we　go　on
as　though　it　did　not　concern　us；　God　must　visit　us　in　a　different　way
and　teach　us　manners　by　imposing　one　taxation　after　another；　or
billeting　a　troop　of　soldiers　upon　us；　who　in　one　hour　empty　our
coffers　and　purses；　and　do　not　quit　as　long　as　we　have　a　farthing
left；　and　in　addition；　by　way　of　thanks；　burn　and　devastate　house　and
home；　and　outrage　and　kill　wife　and　children。　

And；　in　short；　if　you　steal　much；　depend　upon　it　that　again　as　much
will　be　stolen　from　you；　and　he　who　robs　and　acquires　with　violence　and
wrong　will　submit　to　one　who　shall　deal　after　the　same　fashion　with
him。　For　God　is　master　of　this　art；　that　since　every　one　robs　and
steals　from　the　other；　He　punishes　one　thief　by　means　of　another。　Else
where　should　we　find　enough　gallows　and　ropes？　

Now；　whoever　is　willing　to　be　instructed　let　him　know　that　this　is　the
commandment　of　God；　and　that　it　must　not　be　treated　as　a　jest。　For
although　you　despise　us；　defraud；　steal；　and　rob；　we　will　indeed　manage
to　endure　your　haughtiness；　suffer；　and；　according　to　the　Lord's
Prayer；　forgive　and　show　pity；　for　we　know　that　the　godly　shall
nevertheless　have　enough；　and　you　injure　yourself　more　than　another。　

But　beware　of　this：　When　the　poor　man　comes　to　you　（of　whom　there　are
so　many　now）　who　must　buy　with　the　penny　of　his　daily　wages　and　l