…heft.
The Master's Inquiry About Theft
The Master addresses the Student and asks what he thinks of the commandment not to steal.
Teacher. What do you think of the commandment not to steal?
The Student's Exposition on Honesty
The Student acknowledges the question and provides a comprehensive explanation of the commandment, covering prohibition of cheating, unlawful commerce, and deprivation of property, and urging honesty even at personal loss.
Student. I'll explain it briefly, as I have the others, if you'll allow me. It commands us not to cheat anyone, not to deal in unlawful goods, not to deprive anyone of their property, and to consider nothing profitable unless it is just and consistent with what is right and honest. In short, you should willingly lose what is your own rather than wrongfully take what belongs to someone else and turn it to your own advantage.
Read the original English
Mast. What thynkest thou of the commaūdement▪ not to steale?
Scholer. I shal shew … breifly as I haue done the rest▪ yf it please you to … me▪ It commaūdeth … beguyle no … ▪ to … no vnlawfull wares: … …e no mā hys wealth: & to thynke nothing profytable, that either is not iust▪ or … …reth from ryghte and honesty: Breifely, rather wyllynglye leese that is thyne owne, than thou wrongfullye take that is anothers, and turne it to thyne owne commoditie.
John Ponet's Short Catechisme (1553) companion
Rule yourself daily, not just on retreat
Chosen Portion turns the mirror into a daily practice — a short reading and examining question each morning before you lead anyone.
Chosen Portion makes the mirror daily: the ruler-formation questions this collection preserves become a two-minute morning examination in the app.
- A daily formation reading drawn from centuries of counsel to those in authority
- One pointed examination question a day — two minutes, before the meetings start
- Track your practice over weeks and watch the examined life become a habit