A12367:252
A preparative to marriage The sum whereof was spoken at a contract, and enlarged…A preparatiue to mariage The summe whereof was spoken at a contract, and inlarged…
A preparative to marriage The sum whereof was spoken at a contract, and enlarged after. Whereunto is annexed a treatise of the Lords Supper, and another of usury. By Henry Smith.A preparatiue to mariage The summe whereof was spoken at a contract, and inlarged after. Whereunto is annexed a treatise of the Lords Supper, and another of vsurie. By Henrie Smith.
London: printed by Thomas Orwin for Thomas Man, 1591
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.
I have spoken of Bribery and Simony, and now I must speak of their sister Usury. Many times have I thought to speak of this Theme, but the arguments which are alleged for it, have made me doubtful what to say in it, because it hath gone as it were under a protection. At last you see it falleth into my text, and therefore now I cannot balk it any longer. Therefore if any here have favoured this occupation before, let him now submit his ⟨image 134⟩thoughts unto Gods thoughts; for I will allege nothing against it, but that which is built upon the rock.
I haue spoken of Briberie and Simonie, and now I must speake of their sister Vsurie. Manie times haue I thought to speake of this Theame, but the argumēts which are alleaged for it, haue made mee doubtfull what to say in it, because it hath gone as it were vnder a protection. At last you see it falleth into my text, and therefore now I cannot bauke it any longer. Therefore if any heere haue fauoured this occupation before, let him now submit his ⟨image 134⟩thoughts vnto Gods thoughts; for I will alleage nothing against it, but that which is built vppon the rocke.
Usury is the sin which God will try now whether you love better than his word: that is, whether you will leave it if he forbid it: for if he flatly forbid it, and yet you wilfully retain it, then you love Usury better than Gods word. Therefore one saith well that our Usurers are Heretics, because after 1many admonitions, yet they maintain their error, and persist in it obstinately as Papists do in Popery. For this cause I am glad that I have any occasion to grapple with this sin, where it hath made so many spoils, & where it hath so many patrons: for it is said that there be moe of this profession in this City, than there be in all the ⟨image 135⟩