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

✚ An advertisement of the translator. T. L.

✚ An aduertismente of the translatoure. T. L.

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