Now mark whether this prophecy ⟨image 157⟩of Solomon be true, I know not how many in this City do increase by Usury; but this prophecy seemeth to be verified of many: For it is noted, that the riches and lands of Aldermen and Merchants, and other in London, do not last so long, nor endure so well, as the riches and lands of others in the Country, and that their children do not prove so well as others, nor come to that place in the Common weal, which for their wealth their parents looked that they should come to. I can give no reason for it but the reason of Solomon, He which increaseth by Usury, gathereth for them which will be merciful to the poor. That is, their riches shall go from their heirs to Gods heirs, according to that, The riches of the sinner is laid up for 1the righteous: that is, the righteous ⟨image 157⟩shall enjoy that which the wicked gathereth. All riches are uncertain, but the riches which are evil gotten, are most uncertain: They may be called movable goods, for they are very movable, like the clouds which never rest till they fall as they climbed. God saith, that he will smite the 2Usurer with his fist, not with the palm of his hand, but with his fist, which giveth a greater blow. As his hands were shut against the poor, so Gods hands shall be shut against him, that his punishment may be like his sin. But if you will hear their final sentence, David saith here, That they shall not dwell in Gods temple, nor rest in his holy mountain. Then we will seek no more punishments, for this punishment is all punishments, If they shall not come to heaven, ⟨image 158⟩whose then shall those riches be? nay, whose then shall the owner be when that day cometh? If he shall not rest in heaven, then he shall rest in Hell where no rest is. Then saith one, the Usurer shall 3cry unto his children, Cursed be you my children, because you were the cause of these torments, for least you should be poor, I was an Usurer, and robbed other, to leave riches unto you. To whom, the children shall reply again, nay, Cursed be you father, for you were the cause of our torments; for if you had not left us other mens goods, we had not kept other mens goods.
Now marke whether this prophecie ⟨image 157⟩of Salomon be true, I know not how many in this Citie doo increase by Vsurie; but this prophecie seemeth to bee verified of many: For it is noted, that the riches and lands of Aldermen and Merchants, and other in London, do not last so long, nor indure so wel, as the riches and lands of others in the Countrey, and that their children doo not prooue so well as others, nor come to that place in the Common weale, which for their wealth their parents looked that they should come to. I can giue no reason for it but the reason of Salomon, He which increaseth by Vsurie, gathereth for them which will bee mercifull to the poore. That is, their riches shall goe from their heires to Gods heires, according to that, The riches of the sinner is laid vp for 1the righteous: that is, the righteous ⟨image 157⟩shall inioy that which the wicked gathereth. All riches are vncertaine, but the riches which are euill gotten, are most vncertaine: They may bee called mooueable goodes, for they are very mooueable, like the clowdes which neuer rest til they fall as they climed. God saith, that he will smite the 2Vsurer with his fist, not with the palme of his hande, but with his fist, which giueth a greater blow. As his hands were shut against the poore, so Gods hands shall be shut against him, that his punishment may be like his sinne. But if you will heare their finall sentence, Dauid saith heere, That they shall not dwell in Gods temple, nor rest in his holie mountaine. Then we will seeke no more punishments, for this punishment is all punishmēts, If they shall not come to heauen, ⟨image 158⟩whose then shall those riches be? nay, whose then shall the owner be when that day commeth? If he shall not rest in heauen, then he shall rest in Hell where no rest is. Then saith one, the Vsurer shall 3crie vnto his children, Cursed be you my children, because you were the cause of these torments, for least you should be poore, I was an Vsurer, and robbed other, to leaue riches vnto you. To whome, the children shall replie againe, nay, Cursed be you father, for you were the cause of our torments; for if you had not left vs other mens goodes, we had not kept other mens goodes.
- 1Pro. 13. 22.
- 2Izek. 22. 13.
- 3Note.
