rid of the temptation,
nor by any means immune that we are free from it as long as we
live, and we must regard it only as an incentive and admonition
to prayer, fasting, watching, laboring, and to other exercises
for the quenching of the flesh, especially to the practice and
exercise of faith in God. For that chastity is not precious which
is at ease, but that which is at war with unchastity, and fights,
and without ceasing drives out all the poison with which the
flesh and the evil spirit attack it. Thus St. Peter says, "I
beseech you, abstain from fleshly desires and lusts, which war
always against the soul." [1 Pet. 2:11] And St Paul, Romans vi,
"Ye shall not obey the body in its lusts." [Rom. 6:12] In these
and like passages it is shown that no one is without evil lust;
but that everyone shall and must daily fight against it. But
although this brings uneasiness and pain, it is none the less a
work that gives pleasure, in which we shall have our comfort and
satisfaction. For they who think they make an end of temptation
by yielding to it, only set themselves on fire the more; and
although for a time it is quiet, it comes again with more
strength another time, and finds the nature weaker than before.

_Thou shalt not steal._

[Sidenote: The Seventh Commandment: The Duty of Benevolence]

This Commandment also has a work, which embraces very many good
works, and is opposed to many vices, and is called in German
_Mildigkeit_, "benevolence;" which is a work ready to help and
serve every one with one's goods. And it fights not only against
theft and robbery, but against all stinting in temporal goods
which men may practise toward one another: such as greed, usury,
overcharging and plating wares that sell as solid, counterfeit
wares, short measures and weights, and who could tell all the
ready, novel, clever tricks,[52] which multiply daily in every
trade, by which every one seeks his own gain through the other's
loss, and forgets the rule which says; "What ye wish that others
do to you, that do ye also to them." [Matt. 7:12] If every one
kept this rule before his eyes in his trade, business, and
dealings with his neighbor, he would readily find how he ought to
buy and sell, take and give, lend and give for nothing, promise
and keep his promise, and the like. And when we consider the
world in its doings, how greed controls all business, we would
not only find enough to do, if we would make an honorable living
before G