[ajes about Theft. (which is the ordinary cafe ) it is unlawful: Becaufe the prefervation of order and of the honour of the Government and Liws, and the fuppreffion of theft and violence, is much more neceffi.ry than 111 the righting of your felf, and recovering your own. · ~- I !• Q!efi. 4· If another ta/t,_e by theft or force from me, may I mttai(_e my own again from him, 9Ceft. 4 • bJ f(l1'ct or ficretly, when I have Jto other way? An['fl', Not when you do more hurt to the Common-wealth by breaking Lt•N and order, than your own benefit can recompcncc l For you mu{\ rather fuifer, than the Cornmon·wcahh lhould fuffc,:r: But you may, when no fuch evils follow it. ~· r 2· Q!ell. 5· If I be in no nwffity my felf, may I not tofl! from rich mm togive the poor rt>bo art fl.:!eft. 5• in extream necef!ity l Anfw. The anfwcr to the firfi C3fe may fufficc for this : tn fuch cafes wherein a Poor m'an may not take it for himfdf, you rhay hot take it for him. Bur in fuch cafes as he m:1y rake it for himfelf, and no oneelfe is tit to do it, he himfdf beiog unable, you rhay· do it (when no accidental conftquents forbid you\ ~- r3· Q!d!. 6. If he b.z•tfo much at tbJt he rt>iV not miji it ; and I bein great want, though not ~rff. 6. li/t,_e to dye •f famine, may I nOitai(_t a lit~le to[upply my want i . · . · An[w. No ; becaufe God bath appomted the mtans of JUll propnety; and what IS not gotten by thofc means, is none of your's by his approbation. He is the giver of Riches; and he inrcndc:th not to give to all alike: If he give more to others he will require more of them. And if he give Jefs to ymr, it ~s the meafure which he feeth to be meetefi for you; and rhc_ condition in which your obc~ diencc 2nd J}atien~e mull He rryed : And ht will onr·take it well, if you will alter your meafurc by forbidden means, and be carvers for your fdves, or Jcvd others. §· 14 . ~efi. 7· Tbert are ccr•.1in mcafu-lu ftllicbbumanity of.Iigtth aU men to gram to tb?fo iN want 1 ~eJ1. 7• a 1 tdtherefore men tak$ without 111/Qng : AI toplud~ an Apple frcm a trer, o'l' ar Chrijlr tizf.·1p!tJ 1 to r11b the ears of Corn total : If a Nab,l deny me fuch a thing, muy l not taJtt it .? Anf::v· If the laws of the Ltnd allo.w it _¥OU 1 you m~y ; Bu:.1ufc mens propriety is fubje.Cl:ed to theLaw for the common good. Bur 1f rile Law forb1d 1t you. ynu mJy not; exccpr when it is nccdliry to fave rour life, Uport the: terms eXprcfftd under the"'fidl qudlifJil. 9· l5• Q!cll. 8. M.1y not a TYifo or CbiJd or Servant ta~t more tb.J:t .s crtul HuJbal'fJ or Pa'f'ent or fi.!!tfl. S. MajlerdrJth al!o"IJ'.? Suppo{t it be better meat or drit:l<_? All[w. How !:tithe Wife hath a true propriety her fdf, and therefore may t>ke i_r, dcpendeth on the ContraCt and the Laws of the Land; wh1ch I £hall not now mrddlc with. But for Cbildrm and Servan.tJ, they m:1y take nomore than the moCl cruel and unrightcous p3rents ; or malters do allow . them; except to fave their lives upon 1he conditions in the tii:H catC: But the fervant may fedt re– lief of theM1gifirate : and he may lcaYefuch an unrighreousM•!\er: And the Child mu!\ bear it patiently as the crofs by which it pk.afcth God to try him: UnldSth::.c rhe Government of the Parent be fo bad, as to tend to his undoing: And then 1think he: may leave his Parents for .a better cJndi~ tio•: (except it be when thtir own nccdli1y obligeth. him to ftay and. fuifc:! for thctr help an·d be- \·trhetft~r , nefi"t ) . For it ls true tha.t a Child oweth as much to hi~ P.-:tenrs as he can perform, by ,\.·af of C1\fldr;!n ~iy gratitude, ler their good: But it is I rue illfo, that a Parent hath no full and abfolurc propri6t in his forfll:e tlleu Child, as men have in their Cattle: Bllt is mJdc by flatnre, their guardia.n for their bchefir ·: And P.ar:nts? therefore when Parents would ur.doe thdr Childrcns fouls or bodies, the Children mJy fOrf.tke them, as being firfi forf•ken by them; lurcHer than as t11ey arc obli!:ed in gratitude to help them, as is aforefaid. I 9, I 6. Q!_cfi. 9· If a man do defcrvt to loft fomc,.,bat which be bath, by ""Y of p:mifhnlent, may I if!!tf/• ~· no• tal{e it frumbirn ,? Anfw. Not, unlefs the Law cirher make you a Milgillrate or Officer to do it, or allow and permit it at the leafi : Becaufe it is not to you that the forfeiture is made : Or if it be, you mull execute the Law according to the Law, and not againfi it; For elfe you will offend in puni{hing offences. ~· 17· ~eft. JO· But wbat if I fitUy refolvt, whtn I ta~t a thing in my nectffity, torepay the owmr, !J?.!ffl. 10. or mak,.e him {atUfa&ion if tvtr I be able l . Anfw. That is fame extem1arion of the fin, hut no jutlification of the fad ; which is othrrwifc;: unjuftifiable : Becaufc it is.fiill without his conknt. ~· x8. O!!_ell. 11. WhAt ifI k.!tow Hot whetbtr tht owner wo:dd confint, or not .? ~eft 1 1 ~ Anfw. In a cilfe where common cufiome and humanity alloweth you to take ir for granted rhu • he would not deny you (as to pluck a ear of Corn, or gather an herb for Medicine: in his tield ) you need not fcruple it : unlefs you conjecture thilt he: is aNtJhal and would deny you. But otherwife if you doubt of his confcnt, you mufl a~k it, and nor prcfume of it without jult caufc-. ~· 19• ~ell. IZ. Wh•t if I taf\! a thing from a friend hNt in a way of jcajl; intending to re· ~rfl. 121 ftorr it? . . Anfrv. If you have jufi ground to think rhat your friend would confcnt if he knew it, you will not be bhmeabte·: But if othawife, either you take it for your own benetit and ufe, or you take it only to make fport by: The former is theft, for all your jeafi: The luer is but an unla'\'ful way of jealling. ~. 20. Q uell. 13. Wh•t ifI oaf\! it fromhim. but tofove him fromhurting bi< body with it : A1 if I ~eft. 13· Jlral po)[on from one that intended to k,_iU himfelf by it: or tal{e a[word from a drunl(.cn man, tbat wOJuld hurt him{elf; oi' a k_.ni[t from amelancholyman ! or what if it be to [11ve anothir; M to ta~e amud mani {wBrd from bim, who woHid kjU fucb 111 are in bH way, or an angry maur that wiU ~iU tJ;1otiJtr. P PP PPP P • Anfw;
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