The sermons of Master Henry Smith gathered into one volume. Printed according to his…The sermons of Maister Henrie Smith gathered into one volume. Printed according to his…

How many of this City for all that they are usurers, yet would be counted honest men, and would fain have Usury esteemed as a trade: whereas, if it were not so gainful, it would be counted as great a sin as any oath, and so it is counted of all but them which live by it. This is the nature of pleasure and profit, to make sins seem no sins if we gain any thing by them: but the more gainful a sin is, the more dangerous it is; and the more gainful usury is, the more dangerous it is. I will speak the more of it, because haply you shall not hear of this matter again.

How manie of this Citie for all that they are vsurers, yet wold be counted honest men, and would faine haue Vsurie esteemed as a trade: whereas, if it were not so gainefull, it would be counted as great a sinne as anie othe, and so it is counted of all but them which liue by it. This is the nature of pleasure and profite, to make sinnes seeme no sinnes if we gaine anie thing by them: but the more gainfull a sinne is, the more dangerous it is; and the more gainefull vsurie is, the more dangerous it is. I will speake the more of it, because happely you shall not heare of this matter againe.

First I will define what Usury is:¹ Secondly, I will show you what Usury doth signify: Thirdly, I will show the unlawfulness of it: Fourthly, I will show the kindness of it: Fifthly, ⟨p. 163⟩I will show the arguments which are alleged for it: Sixthly, I will show the punishment of it: Seventhly, I will show you what opinion we should hold of them, which do not lend upon Usury, but borrow upon Usury: Lastly, I will show you what they should do which have got their riches by Usury.

First I will define what Vsurie is:¹ Secondly, I will shew you what Vsurie doth signifie: Thirdly, I will shew the vnlawfulnesse of it: Fourthly, I will shew the kindnes of it: Fiftly,