Now, you long to hear what 1the Usurer is like. To what shall I liken this generation? They are like a Butlers box: for as all the counters at last come to the Butler; so all the money at last cometh to the Usurer, ten after ten, and ten after ten, and ten to ten, till at last he receive not only ten for an hundred, but an hundred for ten. This is the only difference, that the Butler can receive no more than he delivered: but the Usurer receiveth more than he delivereth. They are like a Moth; even as a Moth eateth a hole in cloth, so Usury eateth a hole in silver: If you have a piece of silver which ⟨image 153⟩is as much as an hundred pounds, in one year Usury will eat a hole in it as big as ten pounds: in two years she will eat a hole as big as twenty pounds: in three years she will eat a hole as big as thirty pounds. Nay, now they say, he is but a bad husband which cannot eat a hole as big as fifty pounds in a year: that is, which cannot gain half in half: how many holes have these Moths eaten in poor mens garments? They are like Nonresidents, that is, such bad members that no man speaketh for them but themselves. As no man standeth for Nonresidency but he which is a Nonresident, or he which would be a Nonresident: so no man standeth for Usury but he which is an Usurer, or he which would be an Usurer. They are like Jezebel, which said, Let me ⟨image 154⟩alone, I have a way. If there be no 2way to live (sayeth the false Steward) I know what to do, I will deceive: so if there be no way to live (sayeth the Usurer) I know what to do, I will oppress: If I 3cannot live by buying, nor by selling, nor by flattering, nor by labouring, I will live by oppression. But as one in his Comment speaks to the false Steward, Thou sayest I know what to do, but doest thou know what thou shalt suffer? So I say to Usurers, you say you know what to do, but do you know what you shall suffer? In deed he knoweth not what to do, which knoweth not to do well: and therefore Christ said of his persecutors, that they knew not what they did.4
Now, you long to heare what 1the Vsurer is like. To what shall I liken this generation? They are like a Butlers boxe: for as all the counters at last come to the Butler; so all the money at last commeth to the Vsurer, ten after ten, and ten after ten, and ten to ten, till at last he receiue not onely ten for an hundreth, but an hundreth for ten. This is the onely difference, that the Butler cā receiue no more than he deliuered: but the Vsurer receiueth more than hee deliuereth. They are like a Moth; euen as a Moth eateth a hole in cloath, so Vsurie eateth a hole in siluer: If you haue a peece of siluer which ⟨image 153⟩is as much as an hundreth pounds, in one yere Vsurie will eate a hole in it as big as ten pounds: in two yeares she will eate a hole as big as twentie pounds: in three yeares she will eate a hole as big as thirtie pounds. Nay, now they say, he is but a bad husband which cannot eate a hole as big as fiftie pounds in a yeare: that is, which cannot gaine halfe in halfe: how manie holes haue these Moths eaten in poore mens garments? They are like Nonresidents, that is, such bad members that no man speaketh for them but themselues. As no man standeth for Nonresidencie but he which is a Nonresident, or he which would be a Nonresidēt: so no man standeth for Vsurie but hee which is an Vsurer, or hee which would be an Vsurer. They are like Iezabel, which said, Let me ⟨image 154⟩alone, I haue a way. If there bee no 2way to liue (saieth the false Steward) I knowe what to doo, I wil deceiue: so if there bee no way to liue (saieth the Vsurer) I knowe what to doo, I will oppresse: If I 3cannot liue by buying, nor by selling, nor by flattering, nor by labouring, I will liue by oppression. But as one in his Comment speakes to the false Steward, Thou saiest I knowe what to doo, but doest thou knowe what thou shalt suffer? So I saye to Vsurers, you saye you knowe what to doo, but doo you knowe what you shall suffer? In deed he knoweth not what to do, which knoweth not to doo well: and therefore Christ saide of his persecutors, that they knewe not what they did.4
- 1What the Usurer is like.What the Vsurer is like.
- 21. King. 21. 7.
- 3Luk. 16. 4.
- 4Luc. 23. 34.
