Q1. What does the forbidding of THEFT necessarily suppose?

A. That there are distinct rights and properties among men, which cannot be justly invaded or encroached upon, Lev. 6:4.

Q2. What would be the necessary consequences of a community of goods among men?

A. It would destroy traffic and commerce; abolish all acts of charity; encourage sloth and idleness; and if there were no right and property there could be no encroachment upon it by theft or stealing.

Q3. From whom are we forbidden to steal?

A. Both from ourselves and others.

Q4. How may we be said to steal from OURSELVES?

A. By idleness, niggardliness, and prodigality.

Q5. How do we steal from ourselves, or impair our own estates, by idleness?

A. When we either live without a lawful calling, Proverbs 19:15; or neglect it, if we have any, chap. 18:9.

Q6. How may a person be said to steal from himself by niggardliness?

A. When he defrauds himself of the due use and comfort of that estate which God has given him, Eccl. 6:2.

Q7. How do persons on the other hand, steal from themselves, by prodigality?

A. By being lavish and profuse in spending above their income, Proverbs 23:20, 21.

Q8. What is the sin which is more directly pointed at in this commandment?

A. It is stealing from OTHERS; or laying hands upon, and taking away unjustly, that which is the right and property of another.

Q9. How many ways may persons be said to steal from others, or unjustly hinder their neighbour's wealth or outward estate?

A. Several ways; particularly, by theft, robbery, resetting, defrauding, monopolising, and taking unlawful usury.

Q10. What is theft?

A. It is the taking away clandestinely, or privily from another, that which is his, Lev. 19:11.

Q11. How is theft commonly distinguished?

A. Into private and public.

Q12. What is private theft?

A. It is the taking away less or more of any private person's property, without their knowledge or consent, Obadiah ver. 5.

Q13. Against whom is public theft committed?

A. Both against the church and commonwealth.

Q14. How is public theft called, as committed against the church?

A. Either Simony or sacrilege.

Q15. What is Simony?

A. It is the buying and selling of ecclesiastical places and offices for money, or other good deeds; so called, from the wicked practice of Simon Magus, who offered the apostles "money, saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost," Acts 8:18, 19.

Q16. What is sacrilege?

A. It is the taking away or alienating of any thing which has been dedicated to a sacred use, Proverbs 20:25; Mal. 3:8.

Q17. Why are these called public theft, when, for the most part, they are privately committed?

A. Because they very much affect the public interest and welfare of the church; nothing having a greater tendency to her ruin, than Simoniacal compacts and sacrilegious usurpations.

Q18. In what consists public theft, as committed against the commonwealth?

A. In embezzling the current coin, or doing detriment to the public for private advantage, Rom. 13:7; Phil. 2:4.

Q19. What is robbery or rapine?

A. It is the taking away the goods of another by violence and open force, Job 20:19.

Q20. In what lies the aggravation of this crime?

A. In its being an avowed pillaging or plundering of our neighbour; and in being ordinarily accompanied with a threatening to take away his life, if he ventures to make the least resistance, Judges 9:25.

Q21. What is the evil of resetting101, or receiving of what is taken away, whether by stealth or violence?

A. It is a manifest encouragement of, and participation with thieves and robbers in their sins, Psalm 50:18; and consequently, a coming under the same guilt and condemnation with them, Proverbs 29:24.

Q22. How do men commonly defraud one another?

A. In buying, selling and borrowing.

Q23. How do they defraud in buying?

A. By depreciating and vilifying what they intend to buy, that they may have it cheaper than the value, Proverbs 20:14.

Q24. How do they defraud one another in selling?

A. By taking an unreasonable price, 1 Thess. 4:6; or, cheating by false weights and measures, Deut. 25:13-15.

Q25. How do they defraud in borrowing?

A. When they borrow what they know they can never be able, in the ordinary course of providence, to pay, Psalm 37:21.

Q26. If a man's creditors compound with him for less than he owes, is he therefore discharged of the whole debt?

A. Though his creditors, for fear of losing all, may compound and discharge for a part, so that there can be no action in law for the remainder; yet, in the court of conscience, and before God, he is bound, if ever he is able, to pay every farthing: and, if he is an honest man, he will never reckon his substance his own, till he do it, Rom. 13:8.

Q27. How may servants defraud their masters?

A. By wasting their masters' goods, which they may have in their hands; and not working faithfully for their wages, Titus 2:9, 10.

Q28. How may masters defraud their servants?

A. By detaining from, or tricking them out of their wages, Lev. 19:13; or by exacting of them too rigorous labour, Ex. 5:9.

Q29. What is it to monopolise?

A. It is to engross commodities, in order to enhance the price of them.

Q30. What is the worst kind of monopolising or forestalling?

A. It is the buying up grain, or other provisions, in large quantities, in order to exact a higher price for them afterwards.

Q31. In what consists the evil of this sin?

A. They who are guilty of it enrich themselves upon the spoils of others, Ezek. 22:29; they "grind the faces of the poor," Isaiah 3:15; and bring upon themselves the curse of the people, Proverbs 11:26 - "He that withholdeth corn, the people shall CURSE him; but blessings shall be upon the head of him that selleth it."

Q32. What is it to take USURY, according to the proper signification of the word?

A. It is to take gain, profit, or interest, for the loan of money.

Q33. What kind of usury or interest is lawful?

A. That which is moderate, easy, and no way oppressive, Deut. 23:20, compared with Ex. 22:21.

Q34. How do you prove that moderate usury is lawful?

A. From the very light of nature, which teaches, that since the borrower proposes to gain by the loan, the lender should have a reasonable share of his profit, as a recompense for the use of his money, which he might otherwise have disposed of to his own advantage, 2 Cor. 8:13.

Q35. What is the usury condemned in scripture, and by right reason?

A. It is the exacting of more interest or gain for the loan of money, than is settled by universal consent, and the laws of the land, Proverbs 28:8 - "He that by usury, and unjust gain, increaseth his substance, shall gather it for him that will pity the poor."

Q36. How do you prove from scripture, that moderate usury, or common interest, is not oppression in itself?

A. From the express command laid upon the Israelites not to "oppress a stranger," Ex. 23:9; and yet their being allowed to take usury from him, Deut. 23:20; which they would not have been permitted to do, if there had been an intrinsic evil in the thing itself.

Q37. Is it warrantable to take interest from the poor?

A. By no means; for, if such as are honest, and in needy circumstances, borrow a small sum towards a livelihood, and repay it in due time, it is all that can be expected of them; and therefore the demanding of any profit or interest, or even taking any of their necessaries of life in pledge, for the sum, seems to be plainly contrary to the law of charity, Ex. 22:25-28; Psalm 15:5.

Q38. Were not the Israelites forbidden to take usury from their brethren, whether poor or rich? Deut. 23:19 - "Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother."

A. This text is to be restricted to their poor brethren, as it is explained, Ex. 22:25, and Lev. 25:25, 35; or, if it respects the Israelites indifferently, then it is one of the judicial laws peculiar to that people, and of no binding force now.

Q39. What is the spring of all these different ways by which men defraud and injure one another in their outward estate?

A. Covetousness, Luke 12:15, or an inordinate prizing and loving of worldly goods, Psalm 62:10.

Q40. What should affright and deter every one from such wicked practices?

A. The consideration of the curse that shall enter into the house of the thief, Zech. 5:3, 4; and of the vengeance that shall light upon such as go beyond and defraud their neighbour: for, "the Lord is the avenger of all such," 1 Thess. 4:6.

Q1. What is presupposed in this commandment?

A. It presupposeth that God has given every man a propriety in his estate, and that no man's goods are common to others, except by his consent in times and cases extraordinary; Acts 2:44. And all that believed were together, and had all things common.

Q2. What is required in this commandment?

A. It requires of every man diligence in a lawful calling, to get and preserve an estate for his own and other's good; Proverbs 13:11. He who gathers by labor, shall increase. Ephesians 4:28.-But rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needs.

Q3. What else is required in this commandment?

A. It requires us not only to get and keep the things of the world in a lawful manner, but to distribute and communicate them to those that are in want, and not cast them into temptations of sin, or inevitable ruin; Isaiah 58:10. And if you draw out your soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul: Then shall your light rise in obscurity, and your darkness be as the noon-day; 1 John 3:17. But whoever has this world's good, and sees his brother have need, and shuts up his affections of compassion from him, how dwells the love of God in him?

Q4. What else is required in this commandment?

A. It requires in every man a public spirit to procure and promote the good and prosperity of others: 1 Corinthians 10:24. Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.

Q5. What else is required in this command?

A. It requires restitution of all goods, unjustly gotten, or taken from others; Leviticus 6:4. Then it shall be, because he has sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he has deceitfully gotten, etc. And the restoring of pawns and pledges, when they are due; Ezekiel 18:7. And has not oppressed any, but has restored to the debtor his pledge, etc. Or things lost, if we can discover the true owners.

Q6. What is the first sin forbidden in this command?

A. It forbids all cozening arid cheating of others in our dealings, and civil commerce with them; 1 Thessalonians 4:6. That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter, etc. Proverbs 26:28. A lying tongue hates those that are afflicted by it, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

Q7. What is the second thing forbidden in this command?

A. It forbids all exaction and oppression of our neighbor, by going beyond them, or working on their necessities, or detaining their dues; Leviticus 25:14. And if you sell ought unto your neighbor, or buy ought of your neighbor's hand, you shall not oppress one another; Proverbs 24:28, 29. Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause: And deceive not with your lips. Say not, I will do so to him as he has done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.

Q8. What is the third thing forbidden in this command?

A. It forbids all unlawful weights and measures, which is no better than theft in God's account; Micah 6:10, 11. Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable? Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights?

Q9. What is the fourth sin forbidden in this command?

A. It forbids all family frauds by children; Proverbs 28:24. Whoever robs his father or his mother, and says, it is no transgression, the same is the companion of a destroyer. Or servants; Titus 2:9, 10. Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters;-not purloining, but showing all good fidelity, etc.

Q10. What is the fifth thing forbidden in this command?

A. It forbids all tempting of, or encouraging others to defraud those who have any trust committed to them; Psalm 50:18. When you saw a thief, then you consent with him; Proverbs 29:24. Whoever is partner with a thief, hates his own soul, etc.

Q11. What is the sixth thing forbidden in this command?

A. It forbids the taking away of another's goods by open robbery by sea or land; Job 5:5.-And the robber swallows up their substance. Or clandestinely and privately; 1 Peter 4:15. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, etc.

Q12. What is the danger of this sin?

A. It brings men's souls, bodies, and estates, under the curse of God; Zechariah 5:3, 4. Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goes forth over the face of the whole earth: For every one that steals shall be cut off, as on this side, according to it:-I will bring it forth, says the Lord of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief.

Q13. What is the first instruction hence?

A. Let all that are guilty of this sin repent, and restore, as they expect mercy from God; Ephesians 4:28. Let him that stole, steal no more, etc. Luke 19:8. And Zaccheus stood, and said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor, and if I have taken away anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.

Q14. What is the last inference from hence?

A. To excite all, to whom God has given a competency of the things of the world, that they bless God for keeping them from the temptations of this sin; Proverbs 30:8, 9. Give me neither poverty nor riches, feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny you, and say, Who is the Lord? Or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain. Of the ninth Commandment

Q1. May we do what we will with our own estates?

A. No: For we are but stewards of the manifold grace of God, 1 Pet. 4:10.

Q2. Is it a sin then to waste our estates in prodigality?

A. Yes: For the drunkard and glutton shall come to poverty, Prov. 23:31.

Q3. Is luxury the way to beggary?

A. Yes: He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man, Prov. 21:17.

Q4. Is slothfulness a robbing of ourselves?

A. Yes: For he that is slothful in his work, is brother to him that is a great waster, Prov. 18:9.

Q5. And is that the way to poverty?

A. Yes: For drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags, Prov. 23:21.

Q6. Is keeping idle company the way to poverty?

A. Yes: For he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough, Prov. 28:19.

Q7. Is fraud and injustice the way to poverty?

A. Yes: For wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished, Prov. 13:11.

Q8. Can any expect to prosper in a way of unjust gain?

A. No: For he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool, Jer. 17:11.

Q9. Do men rob themselves and their families by foolishness in their affairs?

A. Yes: For every wise woman buildeth her house, but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands, Prov. 14:1.

Q10. And by rash suretyship?

A. Yes: For he that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it, Prov. 11:15.

Q11. Is it a sin to rob ourselves of the comfort of that which God has given us?

A. Yes: If a man hath not power to eat of it, it is vanity, and an evil disease, Eccl. 6:2.

Q12. And is it a sin to deny it to our relations?

A. Yes: If any provide not for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel, 1 Tim. 5:8.

Q13. Is it a great sin to steal from anybody?

A. Yes: For everyone that stealeth shall be cut off, Zech. 5:3.

Q14. Is it a great sin for children to steal from their parents?

A. Yes: Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith it is no transgression, the same is the companion of a destroyer, Prov. 28:24.

Q15. And for the rich to oppress the poor?

A. Yes: Rob not the poor, because he is poor, Prov. 22:22.

Q16. Will you therefore keep your hands from picking and stealing?

A. Yes: Because of the fear of God, Neh. 5:15.

Q17. Must those who have used themselves to it break it off?

A. Yes: Let him that stole steal no more, Eph. 4:28.

Q18. Must poor people especially watch and pray against this temptation?

A. Yes: Lest I be poor, and steal, Prov. 30:9.

Q19. Is it a sin to cheat anybody in a bargain?

A. Yes: Let no man go beyond or defraud his brother in any matter, 1 Thess. 4:6.

Q20. Is it a sin to use false weights and measures?

A. Yes: A false balance is abomination to the Lord, Prov. 11:1.

Q21. Is it a sin to give assistance or countenance to any fraud?

A. Yes: Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul, Prov. 29:24.

Q22. Is it a sin to deny relief to the poor?

A. Yes: Whoso hath this world's goods, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up the bowels of his compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in that man? 1 John 3:17.

Q23. Is it a sin to deny the payment of a just debt?

A. Yes: For the wicked borroweth, and payeth not again, Ps. 37:21.

Q24. Or withhold wages that is due?

A. Yes: The hire of the labourers kept back by fraud crieth, James 5:4.

Q25. And is the love of money the cause of all these sins?

A. Yes: The love of money is the root of all evil, 1 Tim. 6:10.