1Now you would understand the last question. If you have been Usurers already, what you should do with that money which you have gained by usury? Surely even as Zacheus did, restore it again. If you cannot say as Samuel said, 2whose goods have I taken? then you must say as Zacheus said,3 whose goods have I kept? The best thing is to do no man wrong, but the next to that is, to make him amends. This God signifieth when he saith.4 Put away the execrable⟨p. 48⟩ thing from you, that is, let no unlawful thing stay in your hands, like the wedge of Achā, which he had got by sin. The same law serveth for all which is got wrongfully, which was instituted against thieves, Restore it again:5 the reason of this law is, because the sin is not remitted, until the debt be restored, for as humility is the repentance of pride, & abstinence is the repentance of surfeit, and alms is the repentance of covetousness, and forgiveness is the repentance of malice, so restitution is the repentance of usury; as he which is not humble doth not repent his pride, he which doth not abstain, doth not repent his gluttony, he which doth not forgive, doth not repent his malice, so he which doth not restore, doth not repent his usury. For how can he be said to repent for his usury, which liveth by usury still. Therefore Daniel saith to Nebuchadnezzar, 6break off thy sins by righteousness, showing, that nothing but righteousness can break unrighteousness. As diseases are healed by the contrary, so pride is healed by humility, gluttony by abstinence, malice by ⟨p. 49⟩forgiveness, covetousness by alms, & usury by restoring. This Paul calleth, The revenge of a Christian, 7when he takes revenge upon his sins, & punisheth his lusts, so that he maketh them do contrary to that which they would do. Therefore you must restore that which you have got by usury, or else you do not repent of your usury. As a Camel when he comes home casteth of his burden at the door, that he may enter into his stable, so they which are laden with other mens goods, when they go to heaven, must leave their burden where they had it, least they be to gross to get in at the narrow gate. But as the disciples of Christ said,8 This is a hard speech, so to them which have got most that they have by unlawful means, this is a hard speech, to bid them restore it again, there be two great rubs in the way.
1Now you would vnderstand the last question. If you haue bene Vsurers alreadie, what you should doe with that money which you haue gained by vsurie? Surelie euen as Zacheus did, restore it agayne. If you cannot say as Samuell sayd, 2whose goods haue I taken? then you must say as Zacheus sayd,3 whose goods haue I kept? The best thing is to doe no man wrong, but the next to that is, to make him amends. This God signifieth when he sayth.4 Put away the execrable⟨p. 48⟩ thing from you, that is, let no vnlawfull thing stay in your handes, like the wedge of Achā, which he had got by sin. The same law serueth for all which is got wrongfully, which was instituted against theeues, Restore it again:5 the reason of this law is, because the sin is not remitted, vntill the debt be restored, for as humilitie is the repentance of pride, & abstinence is the repētance of surfet, and almes is the repētance of couetousnes, and forgiuenesse is the repentāce of malice, so restitution is the repētance of vsury; as he which is not hūble doth not repent his pride, he which doth not abstaine, doth not repent his gluttonie, he which doth not forgiue, doth not repēt his malice, so he which doth not restore, doth not repent his vsurie. For how cā he be said to repent for his vsury, which liueth by vsurie still. Therefore Daniell saith to Nabuchadnezzar, 6breake off thy sinnes by righteousnes, shewing, that nothing but rightuousnesse cā breake vnrighteousnes. As diseases are healed by the cōtrarie, so pride is healed by humilitie, gluttonie by abstinence, malice by ⟨p. 49⟩forgiuenesse, couetousnesse by almes, & vsurie by restoring. This Paule calleth, The reuenge of a Christian, 7whē he takes reuenge vpon his sinnes, & punisheth his lustes, so that he maketh thē do contrarie to that which they would doe. Therfore you must restore that which you haue got by vsurie, or else you doe not repent of your vsurie. As a Camell whē he comes home casteth of his burthē at the doore, that he may enter into his stable, so they which are laden with other mēs goods, when they go to heauē, must leaue their burthen where they had it, least they be to grose to get in at the narrow gate. But as the disciples of Christ sayd,
- 1What Usurers should do with their gains.What Vsurers should doe with their gaines.
- 21. Sam. 12. 3.
- 3Luke. 19. 8.
- 4Josh. 6. 18.Iosh. 6. 18.
- 5Exod. 22.
- 6Dan. 4. 24.
- 72. Cor. 7. 11.
- 8John. 6. 60.Iohn. 6. 60.
