1Christ expounding the commandment which forbiddeth to steal, saith, lend freely, showing that Usury, because she lendeth not freely, is a kind of theft, & the Usurers a kind of thieves, for else this exposition were not right. Therefore Zacheus, as though he had stolen other mens goods, when he began to repent, ⟨p. 14⟩he restored them again four fold, even as thieves are enjoined to restore four fold for that which they have stolen, so Zacheus restored four fold, as though he had stolen.2 It seemeth that Zacheus was no great thief, because he restored four fold for all that he had gotten wrongfully, for he got but the fourth part of his goods wrongfully at the most, or else he could not have restored four fold again. But now, if some should restore four fold, for all that they have gotten wrongfully, they should restore more than they have, because all which usurers get, they get wrongfully: for their occupation is a sin, and therefore one saith, Because they cannot restore four fold here, they shall suffer an hundred fold hereafter. 3Amaziah is forbidden to strengthen himself with the armies of Israel, only because Israel, had offended God; if Amaziah might not join the armies of Israel with his armies to strengthen him, darest thou join the goods of the poor with thy goods to enrich thee? When ⟨p. 15⟩God set Adam his work, he said, In the sweat of thy brows shalt thou live:4 not in the sweat of his brows, but in the sweat of thy brows; but the Usurer liveth in the sweat of his brows, & her brows: that is, by the pains and cares, and labours of another, for he taketh no pains himself, but only expecteth the time when his interest will come in, like the belly which doth no work, & yet eateth all the meat. When God had finished his creation, he said unto man, and unto beasts, and unto fishes, Increase and multiply, 5but he never said unto money, increase and multiply, because it is a dead thing which hath no seed, and therefore is not fit to engender. Therefore he which saith to his money, increase & multiply, begetteth a monstrous birth, like Anah, 6which devised a creature which GOD had not created before. Christ saith to his Disciples,7 If you love but them which love you, what are you better than the Publicans, for they love their brethren:
1Christ expounding the commandement which forbiddeth to steale, saith, lend freely, shewing that Vsurie, because she lendeth not freely, is a kind of theft, & the Vsurers a kind of theeues, for else this expositiō were not right. Therfore Zacheus, as though he had stolne other mens goods, when he began to repent, ⟨p. 14⟩he restored them agayne foure foulde, euen as theeues are inioyned to restore foure foulde for that which they haue stolne, so Zacheus restored foure fould, as though he had stolne.2 It seemeth that Zacheus was no great theefe, because he restored foure foulde for all that he had gotten wrongfullie, for he got but the fourth part of his goods wrongfullie at the most, or else he could not haue restored foure foulde agayne. But now, if some should restore foure foulde, for all that they haue gotten wrongfullie, they should restore more than they haue, because all which vsurers get, they get wrongfullie: for their occupation is a sinne, and therefore one saith, Because they cannot restore foure foulde here, they shall suffer an hundreth foulde hereafter. 3Amaziah is forbidden to strengthen himselfe with the armies of Israell, onely because Israell, had offended God; if Amaziah might not ioyne the armies of Israell with his armies to strengthen him, darest thou ioyne the goods of the poore with thy goods to enrich thee? When ⟨p. 15⟩God set Adam his worke, he sayd, In the sweate of thy browes shalt thou liue:4 not in the sweate of his browes, but in the sweate of thy browes; but the Vsurer liueth in the sweat of his browes, & her browes: that is, by the paines and cares, and labours of another, for he taketh no paines himselfe, but onely expecteth the time when his interest will come in, like the belly which doth no worke, & yet eateth all the meate. Whē God had finished his creatiō, he said vnto mā, and vnto beasts, and vnto fishes, Increase and multiplie, 5but he neuer said vnto money, increase and multiplie, because it is a dead thing which hath no seede, and therefore is not fit to ingender. Therefore he which saith to his money, increase & multiply, begetteth a mōstrous birth, like Anah, 6
- 1Understand that his Sermon upon the mount, is an exposition of the Commandments, or else the text will not seem to imply this. Luke. 19. 8.Vnderstand that his Sermon vpon the mount, is an exposition of the Commādemēts, or else the text will not seeme to implie this. Luke. 19. 8.
- 2In some kind of theft. Exod. 22.
- 32. Chron. 25.
- 4Gene. 3. 19.
- 5Gene. 1. 28.
- 6Gene. 36. 24.
- 7Mat. 5. 46.
