When God had finished his Creation, he said unto man, and unto beasts, and unto fishes,1 Increase and multiply, but he never said unto money, increase and multiply, because it is a dead thing, which hath no ⟨p. 172⟩seed, & therefore is not fit to engender. Therefore he which saith to his money, Increase and multiply, begetteth a monstrous birth, like Anah,2 which devised a creature which God had not created before. Christ saith to his Disciples,3 If you love but them which love you, what are you better then the Publicans? for they love their brethren: so I may say, if you will lend to none but to them which will pay you usury for it, what are you better then the Jews? for the Jews would lend for usury; and if you be no better then the Jews, then you shall speed no better then they.4 For as Christ said, Except your righteousness do exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees, your reward shall not exceed the reward of the Pharisees: so except your charity do exceed the charity of the Jews, your reward shall not exceed the reward of the Jews. All this doth show, that the Usurer is like Esau,5 of whom God said, Esau have I hated. Now in the 112 Psalm, you shall see who is like Jacob,6 of whom God saith, Jacob have I loved: for there David saith, A good man is merciful and lendeth, and straight upon it he setteth this crown, He shall never be moved, but be had in perpetual remembrance: as if he should say, this is the good mans usury, this is his increase, even a good ⟨p. 173⟩name, and everlasting joy. Again, in the 23. of Exodus it is said, Lend unto him which wanteth without Usury, that the Lord may bless thee: 7as if he should say, let the Lord pay the increase, fear not to be losers by doing good, for God hath given his word to requite it himself. As he saith to them which were afraid to pay tithes and offer sacrifice,8 Try me if I will not pour down a blessing upon you: so he seemeth to say unto them which are afraid to lend, Try me if I will not pour down a blessing upon you. Whom will you trust, if you do not trust your Creator, your Father, your Redeemer, your Preserver, and your Saviour?
When God had finished his Creation, hee saide vnto man, and vnto beasts, and vnto fishes,1 Encrease and multiplie, but hee neuer sayde vnto money, encrease and multiplie, because it is a dead thing, which hath no ⟨p. 172⟩seed, & therfore is not fit to ingender. Therefore he which saith to his money, Increase and multiplie, begetteth a monstrous birth, like Anah,2 which deuised a creature which God had not created before. Christ saith to his Disciples,3 If you loue but them which loue you, what are you better then the Publicanes? for they loue their brethren: so I may say, if you will lend to none but to them which wil paie you vsurie for it, what are you better then the Iewes? for the Iewes woulde lende for vsurie; and if you be no better then the Iewes, then you shall speed no better then they.4 For as Christ said, Except your righteousnesse do exceed the righteousnesse of the Pharisies, your reward shall not exceed the rewarde of the Pharisies: so except your charitie doe exceed the charitie of the Iewes, your reward shall not exceede the reward of the Iewes. All this dooth shewe, that the Vsurer is like Esau,5 of whome God saide, Esaw haue I hated. Now in the 112 Psalme, you shall see who is like Iacob,6 of whome God saith, Iacob haue I loued: for there Dauid sayth, A good man is mercifull and lendeth, and straight vpon it hee setteth this crowne, He shall neuer bee mooued, but bee had in perpetuall remembrance: as if hee should say, this is the good mans vsurie, this is his increase, euen a good ⟨p. 173⟩name, and euerlasting ioy. Againe, in the 23. of Exodus it is said, Lend vnto him which wanteth without Vsurie, that the Lord may blesse thee: 7as if he should say, let the Lord paie the increase, feare not to be loosers by dooing good, for God hath giuen his word to requite it himselfe. As he saith to them which were afraide to paie tithes and offer sacrifice,
- 1Gen. 1. 28.
- 2Gen. 36. 24
- 3Mat. 5. 46.
- 4Mat. 5. 29.
- 5Mal. 1. 3.
- 6Vers. 5.
- 7Mal. 3. 10.
- 8Deu. 25. 10.
