Now,this occurs most frequently in cases that are brought into court,where it is the purpose to get something from our neighbor and to force him out of his own.As (to give examples),when people quarrel and wrangle about a large inheritance,real estate,etc.,they avail themselves of,and resort to,whatever has the appearance of right,so dressing and adorning everything that the law must favor their side,and they keep the property with such title that no one can make complaint or lay claim thereto.In like manner,if any one desire to have a castle,city,duchy,or any other great thing,he practices so much financiering through relationships,and by any means he can,that the other is judicially deprived of it,and it is adjudicated to him,and confirmed with deed and seal and declared to have been acquired by princely title and honestly.
Likewise also in common trade where one dexterously slips something out of another's hand,so that he must look after it,or surprises and defrauds him in a matter in which he sees advantage and benefit for himself,so that the latter,perhaps on account of distress or debt,cannot regain or redeem it without injury,and the former gains the half or even more;and yet this must not be considered as acquired by fraud or stolen,but honestly bought.Here they say:First come,first served,and every one must look to his own interest,let another get what he can.And who can be so smart as to think of all the ways in which one can get many things into his possession by such specious pretexts?This the world does not consider wrong [nor is it punished by laws],and will not see that the neighbor is thereby placed at a disadvantage,and must sacrifice what he cannot spare without injury.
Yet there is no one who wishes this to be done to him;from which we can easily perceive that such devices and pretexts are false.
Thus it was done formerly also with respect to wives:they knew such devices that if one were pleased with another woman,he personally or through others (as there were many ways and means to be invented)caused her husband to conceive a displeasure toward her,or had her resist him and so conduct herself that he was obliged to dismiss her and leave her to the other.That sort of thing undoubtedly prevailed much under the Law,as also we read in the (Gospel of King Herod that he took his brother's wife while he was yet living,and yet wished to be thought an honorable,pious man,as St.Mark also testifies of him.
But such an example,I trust,will not occur among us,because in the New Testament those who are married are forbidden to be divorced,except in such a case where one [shrewdly]by some stratagem takes away a rich bride from another.But it is not a rare thing with us that one estranges or alienates another's man-servant or maid-servant,or entices them away by flattering words.
In whatever way such things happen,we must know that God does not wish that you deprive your neighbor of anything that belongs to him so that he suffer the loss and you gratify your avarice with it,even if you could keep it honorably before the world;for it is a secret and insidious imposition practiced under the hat,as we say,that it may not be observed.For although you go your way as if you had done no one any wrong,you have nevertheless injured your neighbor;and if it is not called stealing and cheating,yet it is called coveting your neighbor's property,that is,aiming at possession of it,enticing it away from him without his will,and being unwilling to see him enjoy what God has granted him.And although the judge and every one must leave you in possession of it,yet God will not leave you therein;for He sees the deceitful heart and the malice of the world,which is sure to take an ell in addition wherever you yield to her a finger's breadth,and at length public wrong and violence follow.
Therefore we allow these commandments to remain in their ordinary meaning,that it is commanded,first,that we do not desire our neighbor's damage,nor even assist,nor give occasion for it,but gladly wish and leave him what he has,and,besides,advance and preserve for him what may be for his profit and service,as we should wish to be treated.Thus these commandments are especially directed against envy and miserable avarice,God wishing to remove all causes and sources whence arises everything by which we do injury to our neighbor,and therefore He expresses it in plain words:Thou shalt not covet,etc.For He would especially have the heart pure,although we shall never attain to that as long as we live here;so that this commandment will remain,like all the rest,one that will constantly accuse us and show how godly we are in the sight of God!
Conclusion of the Ten Commandments.
Thus we have the Ten Commandments,a compend of divine doctrine,as to what we are to do in order that our whole life may be pleasing to God,and the true fountain and channel from and in which everything must arise and flow that is to be a good work,so that outside of the Ten Commandments no work or thing can be good or pleasing to God,however great or precious it be in the eyes of the world.Let us see now what our great saints can boast of their spiritual orders and their great and grievous works which they have invented and set up,while they let these pass,as though they were far too insignificant,or had long ago been perfectly fulfilled.
I am of opinion indeed,that here one will find his hands full,[and will have enough]to do to observe these,namely,meekness,patience,and love towards enemies,chastity,kindness,etc.,and what such virtues imply.But such works are not of value and make no display in the eyes of the world;for they are not peculiar and conceited works and restricted to particular times,places,rites,and customs,but are common,every-day domestic works which one neighbor can practice toward another;therefore they are not of high esteem.
