For they are so guided by the spirit of love, that they love their neighbour heartily, & are ready to bestow upon him, not only their money, but if need be, even their life also. Where as this love prevaileth, there can be no place for any covetousness: nor there is no reason or cause for any such laws to be established by ⟨image 9⟩the which covetousness may be measured. Wherefore the mind of the lawmaker was not too maintain him, which in lending requireth usury, but too provide for him that borroweth: le•t that because he is oppressed with need, he should be forced to borrow money, & then by the unsatiable covetousness of usurers, he should be utterly pilled and spoiled, when as charity is so cold, that he can find none, that will lend freely without usury. Wherefore yt law, made by a christian Emperor, concerning usury, is a plain proof, that love of neighbours was waxen cold, to the great shame of the christen name: & so it is far from excusing of usury, in any such sort as to make it lawful. Christians are in case, partly by the inward guiding of the holy ghost & partly by the light & authority of gods word, to be called from all ⟨image 10⟩those things, which displease god: so that they need not by any constraint of Emperors laws ether to be forced or feared. Civil laws do not forbid all things that be unlawful afore god: & what things they forbid not those things they punish not: howbeit thereby it can not be proved, that all things are lawful afore god, which are not forbidden unto us by civil laws. They do not forbid anger, indignation, unpacyence, envy, hate, pride, evil lusts, covetousness & such other as the Apostle calleth the deeds of the flesh, and saith that they do shit out of the kingdom of god all those, that have such minds.1 Wherefore no man that doth any such thing is therefore excused a fore god, because he is not condemned by any civil law. 2Again the civill laws do not command all those things, that are requisite unto true righteousness. No civill law ⟨image 10⟩commandeth faith, hope, love of god & thy neighbour, patience in adversity, gentleness, meekness, lowliness & modesty &c. Whereupon not with standing no man should suppose, that he is not bounden unto these, because that if he be otherwise disposed, he is by no civil laws condemned. Furthermore they suffer sone things for certain causes, which that not withstanding afore god be unlawful, & by gods word are condemned.
For they are so gyded by the spirit of loue, yt thei loue their neighbor hartely, & are ready to bestow vppon him, not onely their money, but if nede be, euen their life also. Where as this loue preuaileth, there canne be no place for anye coueteousnes: nor there is no reason or cause for any suche lawes to be established by ⟨image 9⟩the whiche coueteousnes maye be measured. Wherefore the minde of the lawemaker was not too mainteyne him, which in lending requireth vsurie, but too prouide for him yt boroweth: le•t yt because he is oppressed wt nede, he should be forced to borow monei, & then by the vnsatiable couetousnes of vsurers, he shoulde be vtterly pilled and spoyled, when as charite is so colde, that he can fynd none, that wil lend frely without vsury. Wherfore yt law, made by a christian Emperour, concerninge vsurie, is a plaine profe, that loue of neyghbors was waxē cold, to the great shame of the christē name: & so it is far frō excusing of vsurye, in any such sort as to make it lawfull. Christiās are in case, partly by ye inward gyding of ye holi gost & partly by the lighte & authorite of gods word, to be called frō all ⟨image 10⟩those thynges, whiche dysplease god: so yt they nede not by any cō straynt of Emperours lawes ether to be forced or feared. Cyuyl lawes do not forbyd al thīgs yt be vnlawful afore god: & what thīgs they forbyd not those things they punysh not: howbeit therby it cā not be proued, yt al thyngs ar lawful afore god, which ar not forbiddē vnto vs by ciuil laws. They do not forbid anger, indignaciō, vnpacyence, enuy, hate, pryde, euill lusts, couetousnes & such other as the Apostle calleth the dedes of ye flesh, and sayth yt they do shit out of ye kingdō of god al those, yt haue such minds.1 Wherfore no mā that doth any such thīge is therfore excused a fore god, because he is not cōdēned by any ciuil law. 2Agayne ye ciuill lawes do not cōmaunde al those things, yt are requisite vnto true rightuousnes. No ciuill law ⟨image 10⟩cōmaundeth fayth, hope, loue of god & thy neibor, paciēce in aduersite, gētilnes, meknes, lowlines & modesty &c. Whervpō not wt standing no mā shold suppose, yt he is not boūdē vnto these, because yt if he be otherwyse disposed, he is bi no ciuil lawes cōdēned. Furthermore they suffer sōe things for certain causes, which yt not wtstādīg afore god be vnlawfull, & by gods word ar cōdēned.
- 1Gala .5.
- 2☞
