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…

Now hear what the godly and learned fathers of the Church have thought of usury. No doubt they were godly men, and wrote hereof, as God had inspired them, & as others before them had done. Augustine saith: Quid ¹dicam de Usuris, quas ips• leges, &c. What shall I speak of Usury, whereof the laws and Judges ⟨p. 119⟩require that restitution be made? is he more cruel which stealeth something away from the rich man, or he that killeth a poor man with Usury? Mark this, an usurer, saith Augustine, is cruel. Why? he killeth. Whom? the poor man, whom in charity he is bound to relieve.

Now heare what the godlie and learned fathers of the Church haue thought of vsurie. No doubt they were godlie men, and wrate hereof, as God had inspired them, & as others before them had done. Augustine saith: Quid ¹dicam de Vsuris, quas ips• leges, &c. What shall I speakē of Vsurie, whereof the lawes and Iudges ⟨p. 119⟩require that restitution be made? is hee more cruel which stealeth something awaie from the rich man, or hee that killeth a poore man with Vsurie? Marke this, an vsurer, saith Augustine, is cruel. Why? he killeth. Whom? the poore man, whom in charitie he is bound to relieue.

1. 1Aug Mace• Epist. 54

Ambrose hereof saith, Usur as solvit, qui victu ¹indiget, an quicquam gravius? &c. He that lacketh wherewith to keep life, payeth you Usury. What heavier case may there be? he seeketh to be healed, and you poison him: he asketh you bread, and you give him a knife: he desireth you to set him at liberty, and you bring him to further bondage. And again, Thou Usurer growest wealthy by other mens