Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Calvin: theft

Calvin expounds the commandments very broadly, and this one for the 8th commandment is a helpful example:

For he who does not carry out what he owes to others [money or honour or good work etc ] according to the responsibility of his own calling both withholds and appropriates what is another's

We will duly obey this commandment then, if, content with our lot, we are zealous only to make honest and lawful gain; if we do not seek to become wealthy through injustice, nor attempt to deprive our neighbour of his goods to increase our own; if we do not strive to heap up riches cruelly wrung from the blood of others...On the other hand, let this be our constant aim: faithfully to help all men by our counsel and aid to keep what us theirs...

Institutes, 2.8.45-46 (Battles, p.409-10)

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