Wesley Corpus

An honest man therefore would be ashamed to ask, Where is the harm in robbing such a father? His own reason, if he had any at all, would give him a speedy answer. But you are a Christian,--are you not? You say you believe the Bible. Then I say to you, in the name of God and in the name of Christ, “Thou shalt not steal.” Thou shalt not take what is not thine own, what is the right of another man. But the duties appointed by law are the King's right, as much as your coat is your right. He has as good a right to them as you have to this: These are his property as much as this is yours. Therefore you are as much a thief if you take his duties, as a man is that takes your coat. 5. If you believe the Bible, I say to you, as our Saviour said to them of old time, “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God’s.” If then you mind our Saviour's words, be as careful to honour the King as to fear God. Be as exact in giving the King what is due to the King, as in giving God what is due to God. Upon no account whatever rob or defraud him of the least thing which is his lawful property. 6. If you believe the Bible, I say to you, as St. Paul said to the ancient Christians, “Render unto all their dues;” in particular, “custom to whom custom is due, tribute to whom tribute.” Now, custom is by the laws of England due to the King; therefore every one in England is bound to pay it him. So that robbing the King herein is abundantly worse than common stealing, or common robbing on the highway. 7. And so it is on another account also; for it is a general robbery: It is, in effect, not only robbing the King, but robbing every honest man in the nation. For the more the King's duties are diminished, the more the taxes must be increased. And these lie upon us all; they are the burden, not of some, but of all the people of England. Therefore every smuggler is a thief-general, who picks the pockets both of the King and all his fellow-subjects.