Theft, Christian Treatment of

Theft, Christian Treatment Of.

In the early Church theft 'was reckoned among the great crimes which brought men under public penance. Among St. Basil's canons there is one that particularly specifies the time of penance. The thief, if he discover himself, shall do one year's penance; if he be discovered by others, two: half the time as a prostrator, the other half a costander. —Bingham, Christ. Antiq. bk. 16:ch. 12:§ 4.