Of the lawful and unlawful usury ammo[n]gest Christians, addedOf the lawful and vnlawful vsurie amo[n]gest Christians, added

First unto them, that be not able ⟨image 15⟩to restore. Then unto them, that never did lend any thing, nor can not give again. Thirdly not only unto friends, but also unto enemies, not only unto kinsfolk but also unto others and strangers. Fourthly, whereas no thanks giving, much less any recompense, can be looked for. And in doing these things they declare them selves to be in deed his children, which bringeth forth his sun over the good and the bad, and rainneth upon the thankful and unthankful: which also Christ requireth of his, saying: that ye may be the children of your father. &c. Bring therefore unto this rule of Christian righteousness those, which lend upon usury, and see how far they be from the rule of Christs word, which is so set unto all Christians, that ⟨image 16⟩except they do conform themselves unto it, they ought to be reckoned among sinners, & not among Gods children: yea they be not so just as sinners. For so much righteousness is attributed unto sinners, that the lend with out usury, & that they desire to receive nothing in the stead of lucre, but only that which they did lend. Therefore by this conference, we, which look unto the righteousness of Christs kingdom, unto the prescription of christs words, and unto the profession of christian religion may easily judge how unlawful usury is unto them, which have yielded them selves unto christ, and would be taken to be christians. It is not belonging unto us to judge others. It belongeth to a Christian to answer to his profession, & not otherwise to judge of things, whether they ⟨image 16⟩lawful or unlawful, but according to the prescription of Christs doctrine: and not so to behave himself in the trial of righteousness as afore a worldly judge, but as in the sight of god, that he may be quit of unrighteousness. Wherefore agreeably with holy scriptures and Christs words we conclude, that that usury, which marvellously in this last time hath grown in the church of Christ, is not lawful but damnable and very far from the profession of Christs righteousness. How wicked a thing usury is to be seen in it self, any man may easily judge except only such men, as think the savour of lucre to be sweet, of what thing soever it is gotten, the eyes of whose minds be utterly blinded with the love of covetousness.