Now you long to hear what the 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 then he delivered, but the Usurer receiveth more then 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 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 ⟨p. 185⟩mens garments? they are like Nonresidents, that is, such bad members, that no man speaketh for 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,1 which said, Let me alone, I have a way. If there be no way to live (saith the false Steward) I know what to do,2 I will deceive: so if there be no way to live (saith the usurer) I know what to do, I will oppress. If I cannot 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? Indeed he knoweth not what to do, which knoweth not to do well: and therefore Christ said of his persecutors,3 That they knew not what they did. Here I will end the first days examination. Now I may conclude with Paul,4 I have not spoken, but the Lord: and therefore as the Lord said unto Saul that he persecuted him;5 so they which resist this doctrine, do contemn him, and not me.
Now you long to heare what the 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 only ten for an hundred, but an hundred for ten: this is the onely difference, that the Butler can receiue no more then he deliuered, but the Vsurer receiueth more then hee deliuereth. They are like a Moath; euen as a Moath eateth a hole in cloath, so vsurie eateth a hole in siluer. If you haue a peece of siluer which is as much as an hundred pounds, in one yeare vsurie will eate a hole in it as big as ten pounds: in two yeares she will eat a hole as bigge as twentie pounds, in three yeares she will eate a hole as bigge as thirtie pounds. Nay, now they say, hee is but a bad husband, which cannot eate a hole as bigge as fiftie poundes in a yeare: that is, which cannot gaine half in halfe: how many holes haue these moths eaten in poore ⟨p. 185⟩mens garments? they are like Nonresidents, that is, such bad members, that no man speaketh for but themselues: as no man standeth for nonresidencie, but he which is a Nonresident, or he which would be a Nonresident, so no man standeth for vsurie, but he which is an vsurer, or he which would be an vsurer. They are like Iesabell,1 which said, Let mee alone, I haue a way. If there bee no waie to liue (sayth the false Steward) I know what to doe,2 I will deceiue: so if there be no way to liue (saith the vsurer) I know what to doe, I will oppresse. If I cānot liue by buying, nor by selling, nor by flattering, nor by laboring, I will liue by oppression. But as one in his Comment speakes to the false Steward; Thou saist, I know what to doe, but doest thou know what thou shalt suffer? So I say to vsurers, you say you knowe what to doe, but do you know what you shal suffer? Indeed he knoweth not what to doe, which knoweth not to doe well: and therfore Christ said of his persecutors,3 That they knew not what they did. Here I wil end the first daies examination. Now I may conclude with Paul,4 I haue not spoken, but the Lord: and therfore as the Lord said vnto Saul that he persecuted him;5 so they which resist this doctrine, do contemne him, and not me.
- 11. Kin. 21. 7
- 2Luke 16. 4.
- 3Luk. 23. 34.
- 41. Cor. 7. 10.
- 5Act. 9. 22.
