Therefore all vows of chastity out of the married state are condemned by this commandment,and free permission is granted,yea,even the command is given,to all poor ensnared consciences which have been deceived by their monastic vows to abandon the unchaste state and enter the married life,considering that even if the monastic life were godly,it would nevertheless not be in their power to maintain chastity,and if they remain in it,they must only sin more and more against this commandment.
Now,I speak of this in order that the young may be so guided that they conceive a liking for the married estate,and know that it is a blessed estate and pleasing to God.For in this way we might in the course of time bring it about that married life be restored to honor,and that there might be less of the filthy,dissolute,disorderly doings which now run riot the world over in open prostitution and other shameful vices arising from disregard of married life.Therefore it is the duty of parents and the government to see to it that our youth be brought up to discipline and respectability,and when they have come to years of maturity,to provide for them [to have them married]in the fear of God and honorably;He would not fail to add His blessing and grace,so that men would have joy and happiness from the same.
Let me now say in conclusion that this commandment demands not only that every one live chastely in thought,word,and deed in his condition,that is,especially in the estate of matrimony,but also that every one love and esteem the spouse given him by God.For where conjugal chastity is to be maintained,man and wife must by all means live together in love and harmony,that one may cherish the other from the heart and with entire fidelity.For that is one of the principal 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.
