Christ expounding the commandment 1which forbiddeth to steal, saith, lend freely, showing that Usury, because she lendeth not freely, is a kind of theft, and 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, he restored them again four fold, even as thieves are enjoined to restore four fold for that which 2they have stolen, so Zacheus restored four fold, as though he had stolen. It seemeth that Zacheus was no great thief, because he restored four fold ⟨image 142⟩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. Amaziah is forbidden to strengthen 3himself 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? ⟨image 143⟩When God set Adam his work, he said, In the sweat of thy brows 4shalt thou live: not in the sweat of his brows, but in the sweat of thy brows: but the Usurer liveth in the sweat of his brows, and her brows: that is, by the pains and cares, and labours of an other, for he taketh no pains himself, but only expecteth the time when his interest will come in, like the belly which doeth no work, and yet eateth all the meat. When God had finished his creation, he said unto man, and unto beasts, and unto fowls, and unto fishes, increase and multiply, but he never 5said 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 and multiply, ⟨image 143⟩begetteth a monstrous birth, like Anah, which devised a creature 6which God had not created before. Christ saith to his Disciples, If you love but them which love you, 7what are you better then the Publicans, for they love their brethren:
Christe expounding the commaundement 1which forbiddeth to steale, sayth, lende freely, shewing that Vsurie, because she lendeth not freely, is a kinde of theft, and the Vsurers a kind of theeues, for else this exposition were not right. Therfore Zacheus, as though he had stolne other mens goods, when he began to repent, he restored them againe foure foulde, euen as theeues are inioyned to restore four fould for that which 2they haue stolne, so Zacheus restored foure foulde, as though he had stolne. It seemeth that Zacheus was no greate theefe, because hee restored foure foulde ⟨image 142⟩for all that he had gotten wrongfully, for hee got but the fourth part of his goods wrongfully at the most, or else he could not haue restored foure fould againe. But now, if some should restore foure fould, for all that they haue gotten wrongfully, they shoulde restore more than they haue, because all which Vsurers get, they get wrongfully: for their occupation is a sinne, and therefore one sayth, Because they cannot restore foure fould heere, they shall suffer an hundreth fould heereafter. Amaziah is forbidden to strengthen 3himself with the armyes of Israel, onely because Israel had offended God; if Amaziah might not ioyne the armyes of Israel with his armyes to strengthen him, darest thou ioyne the goods of the poore with thy goodes to inrich thee? ⟨image 143⟩When God set Adam his work, he sayd, In the sweate of thy browes 4shalt thou liue: not in the sweate of his browes, but in the sweate of thy browes: but the Vsurer liueth in the sweate of his browes, and her browes: that is, by the paines and cares, and labours of an other, for he taketh no paines himselfe, but only expecteth the time when his interest will come in, like the belly which doeth no worke, and yet eateth all the meate. When God had finished his creation, he sayd vnto man, and vnto beastes, and vnto foules, and vnto fishes, increase and multiplie, but he neuer 5saide 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 and multiplie, ⟨image 143⟩
- 1Understand that his sermon upon the mount, is an exposition of the Commandments, or else the text will not seem to imply this. Luc. 19. 8.Vnderstand that his sermon vpon the mount, is an exposition of the Commandements, or else the text will not seeme to implie this. Luc. 19. 8.
- 2Exod. 22.
- 32. Chro. 2•.
- 4Gen. 3. 19.
- 5Gen. 1.
- 6Gen 36. 24.
- 7Mat. 5. 46.
