Miscellaneous Discourses in Vol II of the Works - Edwards - XVIII - Dishonesty

Required reading

Miscellaneous Discourses in Vol 2 of the Works by Jonathan Edwards (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read 'Dishonesty'.

My summary

Today's text is 'Thou shalt not steal' (Exodus 20:15).

Edwards discusses:

(i) the dishonesty of withholding what is our neighbour's;
(ii) the dishonesty of unjustly taking a neighbour's property;
(iii) dishonest excuses for theft;
(iv) warnings for the dishonest;
(v) exhortations for honesty.

What grabbed me

I'm guessing that this is a topical sermon due to children stealing fruit given the space at the end of the discourse given to warnings against such theft.

I liked Edwards refutation of excuses such as: 'It is very unreasonable to say, such men are so rich, and get money so much more easily than I, that it is no hurt for me to take advantage when they are in special need, and make them give up, for work that I do for them, a great deal more than I would desire to ask of other men. Let such consider, whether, if they should by any means hereafter get forward in the world, and come to have plentiful estates, they would like that persons should act upon such principles towards them. That men are rich, gives us no more right to take away from them what is theirs in this way, than it does to steal from them because they come easily by their property, and can do without it better than we.'

Love your neighbour as yourself is a good way to counteract any excuse.

Next week's reading

Read 'Temptation and deliverance'.

Now it's your turn

Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.