_Against the First_
[Sidenote: the First Commandment]
He who in his tribulation seeks the help of sorcery, black art, or
witchcraft.
He who uses letters[3], signs, herbs, words[4], charms and the like.
He who uses divining-rods and incantations, and practices
crystal-gazing, cloak-riding, and milk-stealing[5].
He who orders his life and work by lucky days, the signs of the zodiac
and the advice of the fortune-tellers.
He who seeks by charms and incantations to protect himself, his
cattle, his house, his children and all his property against wolves,
iron, fire and water.
He who blames his misfortunes and tribulations on the devil or on
wicked men, and does not accept them with praise and love, as good and
evil which come from God alone, and who does not ascribe them to God
with thanksgiving and willing patience.
He who tempts God, and needlessly puts himself in danger of body or
soul.
He who glories in his piety, his wisdom, or other spiritual gifts.
He who honors God and the saints only for the sake of temporal gain,
and is forgetful of his soul's need.
He who does not trust in God at all times, and is not confident of
God's mercy in all he does.
He who doubts concerning the faith or the grace of God.
He who does not keep back others from unbelief and doubt, and does not
help them, so far as in him lies, to believe and trust in God's grace.
Here, too, belong all forms of unbelief, despair, and misbelief.
_Against the Second_
[Sidenote: The Second Commandment]
He who swears needlessly or habitually.
He who perjures himself, or breaks a vow.
He who vows or swears to do evil.
He who curses by God's name.
He who tells foolish tales of God, and frivolously perverts the words
of Scripture.
He who in his tribulation calls not upon God's name, nor blesses Him
in joy and sorrow, in good fortune and in ill.
He who by his piety, wisdom or the like seeks reputation and honor and
a name.
He who calls upon God's name falsely, as do the heretics and all
vainglorious saints.
He who does not praise God's name in all that befalls him.
He who does not resist those that dishonor the name of God, use it
falsely and work evil by it.
Here belong all the sins of vainglory and spiritual pride.
_Against the Third_
[Sidenote: The Third Commandment]
He who is given to gluttony, drunkenness, gambling, dancing, idleness
and unchastity.
He who is lazy, who sleeps when he ought to be at mass, stays away
from mass, goes walking and indulges in idle talk.
He who without special need works and transacts business on the Lord's
day.
He who prays not, meditates not upon Christ's sufferings, repents not
of his sins and asks no grace, and therefore keeps the day only in
outward fashion, by his dress, his food and his actions.
He who in all his works and sufferings is not satisfied that God shall
do with him as He will.
He who does not help others to do this and does not resist them when
they do otherwise.
Here belongs the sin of slothfulness and indifference to worship.
_Against the Fourth_
[Sidenote: The Fourth Commandment]
He who is ashamed of his parents because of their poverty, their
failings or their lowly position.
He who does not provide them with food and clothing in their need.
Much more, he who curses them, speaks evil of them, hates them and
disobeys them.
He who does not from the heart esteem them highly because of God's
commandment.
He who does not honor them, even though they do wrong and violence.
He who does not keep the commandments of the Christian Church with
respect to fast- and feast-days, etc.
He who dishonors, slanders and insults the priestly office.
He who dost not pay honor, allegiance and obedience to his lords and
those in authority, be they good or bad.
Among the transgressors of this commandment are all heretics,
schismatics, apostates, excommunicates, hardened sinners and the like.
He who does not help men to keep this commandment and resist those who
break it.
Here belong all forms of pride and disobedience.
_Against the Fifth_
[Sidenote: The Fifth Commandment]
He who is angry with his neighbor.
He who sayeth to his neighbor, _Raca_, which stands for all terms of
anger and hatred. [Matt. 5:22]
He who sayeth to his neighbor, _Fatue_, "thou fool," which stands for
every sort of vile language, cursing, slander, evil speaking, judging,
condemning, mockery, etc.
He who scolds about his neighbor's sins or failings, and does not
rather cover and excuse them.
He who forgives not his enemies nor prays for them, is not kindly
disposed toward them and does them no good.
This commandment includes also all the sins of anger and hatred, such
as murder, war, robbery, arson, quarreling, contention, envy of a
neighbor's good fortune and joy over his misfortune.
He who does not practice works of mercy even toward his enemies.
He who sets men at enmity with one another.
He who sows discord between man and man.
He who does not reconcile those who are at enmity.
He who does not hinder or prevent wrath and enmity when he is able.
_Against the Sixth_
[Sidenote: The Sixth Commandment]
He who seduces virgins, commits adultery and is guilty of incest and
like unchastity.
He who uses unnatural means to satisfy his desires--these are the
"mute sins."[6]
He who arouses or displays evil desires with obscene words, songs,
tales or pictures.
He who by looks, touch or thoughts arouses his own desires and defiles
himself.
He who does not avoid the causes of unchastity, such as gluttony,
drunkenness, idleness, laziness, oversleeping and intimate association
with men or women.
He who by extravagant dress or demeanor incites others to unchastity.
He who gives house, place, time or help to the commission of this sin.
He who does not by word and deed help others to preserve their
chastity.
_Against the Seventh_
[Sidenote: The Seventh Commandment]
He who practices thievery, robbery and usury.
He who uses false weights and measures, or sells bad wares for good.
He who receives bequests and incomes dishonestly. He who withholds
wages that have been earned, and repudiates a debt.