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Objection 1: It would seem that fraud does not pertain to
craftiness. For a man does not deserve praise if he allows himself to
be deceived, which is the object of craftiness; and yet a man deserves
praise for allowing himself to be defrauded, according to 1 Cor.
6:1, "Why do you not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?"
Therefore fraud does not belong to craftiness.
Objection 2: Further, fraud seems to consist in unlawfully taking
or receiving external things, for it is written (Acts 5:1) that
"a certain man named Ananias with Saphira his wife, sold a piece of
land, and by fraud kept back part of the price of the land." Now it
pertains to injustice or illiberality to take possession of or retain
external things unjustly. Therefore fraud does not belong to
craftiness which is opposed to prudence.
Objection 3: Further, no man employs craftiness against himself.
But the frauds of some are against themselves, for it is written
(Prov. 1:18) concerning some "that they practice frauds against
their own souls." Therefore fraud does not belong to craftiness.
On the contrary, The object of fraud is to deceive, according to
Job 13:9, "Shall he be deceived as a man, with your fraudulent
dealings?" Now craftiness is directed to the same object. Therefore
fraud pertains to craftiness.
I answer that, Just as "guile" consists in the execution of
craftiness, so also does "fraud." But they seem to differ in the
fact that "guile" belongs in general to the execution of craftiness,
whether this be effected by words, or by deeds, whereas "fraud"
belongs more properly to the execution of craftiness by deeds.
Reply to Objection 1: The Apostle does not counsel the faithful to
be deceived in their knowledge, but to bear patiently the effect of
being deceived, and to endure wrongs inflicted on them by fraud.
Reply to Objection 2: The execution of craftiness may be carried
out by another vice, just as the execution of prudence by the virtues:
and accordingly nothing hinders fraud from pertaining to covetousness or
illiberality.
Reply to Objection 3: Those who commit frauds, do not design
anything against themselves or their own souls; it is through God's
just judgment that what they plot against others, recoils on
themselves, according to Ps. 7:16, "He is fallen into the hole
he made."
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