An expositio[n] upon the two epistles of the apostle S. Paul to the Thessalonians…An expositio[n] vpon the two epistles of the apostle S. Paul to the Thessalonians…

We have heard whence Usury springeth, and what hurt it doth. Which, whosoever considereth, may find cause enough to loath it, and forsake it. One asked of Cato, What it was to commit Usury. What is it (sayeth he again) to kill a man? He that is an Usurer is a murderer. The same Cato saith, Our fathers punished a thief, with payment of the double of that he had taken, but the Usurer was always condemned to pay four times the value. They were wise men. They thought that an usurer was much worse than a thief.

We haue heard whence Vsurie springeth, and what hurt it doth. Which, whosoeuer considereth, may finde cause ynough to loath it, and forsake it. One asked of Cato, What it was to commit Vsurie. What is it (saieth hée againe) to kil a man? He that is an Vsurer is a murtherer. The same Cato saith, Our fathers punished a thiese, with paiment of the double of that he had taken, but the Vsurer was alwaies condemned to paie foure times the valewe. They were wise men. They thought that an vsurer was much worse than a théefe.

For a thief is driven by extremity and need: the Usurer is rich and hath no need. The thief stealeth in corners, and in places where he may be unknown: the usurer openly and boldly at all times. and in any place. The thief, to relieve his wife and children: the Usurer to spoil his neighbour, and to undo his wife and children. The thief stealeth from the rich, which have enough: the Usurer from the poor that hath nothing. The thief fleeth and will be seen no more: the Usurer standeth by it, continueth, and stealeth still: day & night, sleeping and waking, he always ⟨p. 118⟩stealeth. The thief repenteth of his deed, he knoweth he hath done wrong and is sorry for it: the Usurer thinketh it is his own, that it is well gotten, and never repenteth, nor sorroweth, but defendeth, and maintaineth his sin impudently. The thief, if he escape, many times becometh profitable to his country, and bestoweth him self painfully in some trade of life: the Usurer leaveth his merchandise, forsaketh his husbandry, giveth himself to nothing, whereby his country may have benefit. The thief is satisfied at length: the Usurer hath never enough. The belly of the wicked will never be filled. As the sea is never filled with water, though all the streams of the world run into it: so the greediness of an Usurer is never satisfied, though he gain never so unreasonably. The sea is profitable: the usurer is hurtful and dangerous. By the sea we may pass and come safely to the haven, but no man passeth by usury without less or shipwreck.