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respecting our neighbor； Matt。 7； 12： Whatsoever ye would that men
should do to you； do ye even so to them。
Even nature teaches the same thing in our own bodies； as St。 Paul
says； 1 Cor。 12； 22： Much more； those members of the body which seem to
be more feeble are necessary； and those members of the body which we
think to be less honorable； upon these we bestow more abundant honor；
and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness。 No one covers his
face； eyes； nose； and mouth； for they； being in themselves the most
honorable members which we have； do not require it。 But the most infirm
members； of which we are ashamed； we cover with all diligence； hands；
eyes； and the whole body must help to cover and conceal them。 Thus also
among ourselves should we adorn whatever blemishes and infirmities we
find in our neighbor； and serve and help him to promote his honor to
the best of our ability； and； on the other hand； prevent whatever may
be discreditable to him。 And it is especially an excellent and noble
virtue for one always to explain advantageously and put the best
construction upon all he may hear of his neighbor （if it be not
notoriously evil）； or at any rate to condone it over and against the
poisonous tongues that are busy wherever they can pry out and discover
something to blame in a neighbor； and that explain and pervert it in
the worst way； as is done now especially with the precious Word of God
and its preachers。
There are comprehended therefore in this commandment quite a multitude
of good works which please God most highly； and bring abundant good and
blessing； if only the blind world and the false saints would recognize
them。 For there is nothing on or in entire man which can do both
greater and more extensive good or harm in spiritual and in temporal
matters than the tongue； though it is the least and feeblest member。
The Ninth and Tenth Commandments
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house。 Thou shalt not covet thy
neighbor's wife； nor his man…servant； nor his maid…servant； nor his
cattle； nor anything that is his。
These two commandments are given quite exclusively to the Jews；
nevertheless； in part they also concern us。 For they do not interpret
them as referring to unchastity or theft； because these are
sufficiently forbidden above。 They also thought that they had kept all
those when they had done or not done the external act。 Therefore God
has added these two commandments in order that it be esteemed as sin
and forbidden to desire or in any way to aim at getting our neighbor's
wife or possessions； and especially because under the Jewish government
man…servants and maid…servants were not free as now to serve for wages
as long as they pleased； but were their master's property with their
body and all they had； as cattle and other possessions。 Moreover；
every man had power over his wife to put her away publicly by giving
her a bill of divorce； and to take another。 Therefore they were in
constant danger among each other that if one took a fancy to another's
wife； he might allege any reason both to dismiss his own wife and to
estrange the other's wife from him； that he might obtain her under
pretext of right。 That was not considered a sin nor disgrace with them；
as little as now with hired help； when a proprietor dismisses his
man…servant or maid…servant； or takes another's servants from him in
any way。
Therefore （I say） they thus interpreted these commandments； and that
rightly （although their scope reaches somewhat farther and higher）；
that no one think or purpose to obtain what belongs to another； such as
his wife； servants； house and estate； land meadows； cattle； even with a
show of right or by a subterfuge； yet with injury to his neighbor。 For
above； in the Seventh Commandment； the vice is forbidden where one
wrests to himself the possessions of others； or withholds them from his
neighbor； which he cannot do by right。 But here it is also forbidden to
alienate anything from your neighbor； even though you could do so with
honor in the eyes of the world； so that no one could accuse or blame
you as though you had obtained it wrongfully。
For we are so inclined by nature that no one desires to see another
have as much as himself； and each one acquires as much as he can； the
other may fare as best he can。 And yet we pretend to be godly； know how
to adorn ourselves most finely and conceal our rascality； resort to and
invent adroit devices and deceitful artifices （such as now are daily
most ingeniously contrived） as though they were derived from the law
codes； yea； we even dare impertinently to refer to it； and boast of it；
and will not have it called rascality； but shrewdness and caution。 In
this lawyers and jurists assist； who twist and stretch the law to suit
it to their cause； stress words and use them for a subterfuge；
irrespective of equity or their neighbor's necessity。 And； in short；
whoever is the most expert and cunning in these affairs finds most help
in law； as they themselves say： Vigilantibus iura subveniunt ＇that is；
The laws favor the watchful＇。
This last commandment therefore is given not for rogues in the eyes of
the world； but just for the most pious； who wish to be praised and be
called honest and upright people； since they have not offended against
the former commandments； as especially the Jews claimed to be； and even
now many great noblemen； gentlemen； and princes。 For the other common
masses belong yet farther down； under the Seventh Commandment； as those
who are not much concerned whether they acquire their possessions with
honor and right。
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 t