Loncernyng lending, here may any man easily see, who, what, to whom and to what end Christ hath taught and commanded to lend. First he that hath received any talent at the Lords hands, he him self must put it forth. Math .25. Luke .19. For if he do not occupy it, then shall it be taken from him and he be condemned for not using of it. Also he that hath, must dispose of that, which he hath, unto him that lacketh. Luke .3. And the end of doing good and lending unto him, that lacketh & needeth, ⟨image 39⟩must not be to hope or look for glory, gain or any thing thereof unto him self. Luke .6. So he that hath but only to find his wife, children & family, or but only a sufficient stock for his own trade in his own vocation: he must, as the sower lendeth his seed unto the good ground, so with diligence lay forth & lend, he himself his own stock to his own occupying. And he, that besides such a stock hath any more he must reserve and keep the residue to be in a readiness to be given in alms, or sent to relieve others that be needy. And this being done to the end that god may be glorified, & the needy relieved, without any looking for of glory or gain worldly to himself, he shall be sure to find this a very profitable and godly usury: but if any man for worldly police, private profit ⟨image 40⟩or vain glory, do pull from the finding of his family, from the maintenance of his own exercise in his own trade, or from the charitable relief of the needy, to lend unto the rich and wealthy, that is uncharitable, unlawful and ungodly. I do not think that buying and selling, lending or giving, or any indifferent bargaining amongest wealthy rich men is evil: but as concerning usury I advertise all them, that be wise and well learned in other matters & yet cannot, or will not see their own danger in this case, that they would call too remembrance the example of covetous Balaam, which being so wise a Prophet, that he could see many things long before to come unto others yet by love and looking for the reward of wickedness, became much more ⟨image 40⟩dull and blind than a very Ass, to see in his own ways his own danger. Nu .22. And I also advertise them, which give counsel concerning usury unto such others, as would have an easy living upon other mens labours, that they make no cushions to lay under their elbows Eze .13.
LOncernyng lendyng, here maye any man easelye see, who, what, to whō and to what ende Chryste hath taughte and commaūded to lend. First he that hath receyued any talent at the Lordes hands, he him selfe must put it forth. Math .25. Luke .19. For if he doe not occupy it, then shal it be taken from hym and he be cōdemned for not vsing of it. Also he that hath, must dyspose of that, whych he hath, vnto hym that lacketh. Luke .3. And the ende of doyng good and lendyng vnto hym, that lacketh & nedeth, ⟨image 39⟩must not be to hope or looke for glory, gayne or any thing thereof vnto hym selfe. Luke .6. So he yt hath but onli to find his wife, childrē & family, or but only a sufficient stocke for his own trade in his own vocacion: he must, as the sower lendeth his sede vnto ye good groūde, so wt diligēce lay forthe & lend, he himselfe hys owne stocke to hys own occupying. And he, yt besydes suche a stocke hath any more he must reserue and kepe ye residew to be in a readynes to bee geuen in almes, or sent to releue others yt be nedy. And thys beyng done to ye ende yt god may be glorified, & the nedye releued, wtout any lokynge for of glorye or gayne worldly to himself, he shal be sure to fynde thys a verye profitable and godly vsury: but if any man for worldly police, priuate profet ⟨image 40⟩or vayne glory, do pull from the finding of his familie, from the maintenaunce of his own exercise in hys own trade, or from the charitable relief of the nedy, to lend vnto the riche and welthy, that is vncharitable, vnlawfull and vngodly. I doe not thynke that bying and sellyng, lendynge or geuyng, or any indifferente bargeynynge amongest welthy rich men is euill: but as concerning vsurye I aduertise al them, that be wise and wel learned in other matters & yet cannot, or wil not see their owne daunger in this case, yt they wolde call too remembraunce the example of coueteous Balam, whiche beinge so wise a Prophet, that he could se many thinges lōg before to come vnto others yet bi loue and lokinge for the rewarde of wickednes, became much more ⟨image 40⟩dulle and blind than a veri Asse, to see in his own wayes hys own daūger. Nu .22. And I also aduertyse thē, which geue coūfel cōcernyng vsury vnto suche others, as wold haue an easy lyuing vpon other mens labours, yt they make no cushens to lay vnder their elbows
