A07941:53
Of the lawful and unlawful usury ammo[n]gest Christians, addedOf the lawful and vnlawful vsurie amo[n]gest Christians, added
Of the lawful and unlawful usury ammo[n]gest Christians, added by Wolfgang Muscul unto the end of his book upon the PsalmsOf the lawful and vnlawful vsurie amo[n]gest Christians, added by Wolfgang Muscul vnto the ende of his booke vppon the Psalmes
Wesel? : H. Singleton?, 1556?
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
For it is not enough for a christen man, so too deal with his neighbour, that he can not complain: but he must also consider, what faith he hath toward God, and how all things, which he doeth, agree, or disagree with sincere faith.
For it is not inough for a christen man, so too deale with hys neyghboure, that he can not complayne: but he muste also consider, what fayth he hathe towarde God, and how all thynges, which he doeth, agree, or disagree wyth sincere faith.
And to come to the trial of this matter, let him think in him self, which taketh usury, that it is better to take to him self his own money, and to put away the gain of usury. But if he fail in faith, then shall he soon fall in these thoughts. If I should live not upon usury, but upon the stock, it could not sufficiently discharge my necessary expenses, throughout all my life, & then what could be ⟨image 29⟩left after my death unto my children and successors? where upon should they live, if I should spend all?
And to come to the trial of this matter, let hym thinke in him self, which taketh vsurie, that it is better to take to him self his own monei, and to put away the gayne of vsurie. But if he fayle in faith, then shall he soone falle in these thoughtes. If I shoulde lyue not vpon vsurie, but vpon the stock, it coulde not sufficientlye discharge my necessary expēses, throughout all my life, & then what coulde be ⟨image 29⟩left after my death vnto my chyldren and successors? where vpon shoulde they liue, if I should spēd all?
But these be thoughts not of faith, but of mistrust: and arguments of a mind so given to usury, that he supposeth, no way can be for him to live, if he must forsake usury.