All riches are uncertain, but the riches which are evil gotten, are most uncertain: They may be called moveable goods, for they are very moveable, like the clouds which never rest till they fall as they climbed. God saith,1 that he will smite the Usurer 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 ⟨p. 189⟩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, whose then shall those riches be? Nay, whose then shall the honour 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 cry unto his children,2 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.
All riches are vncertaine, but the riches which are euill gotten, are most vncertaine: They may be called moueable goods, for they are verie moueable, like the clowdes which neuer rest till they fall as they climed. God sayth,1 that he will smite the Vsurer with his fist, not with the palme of his hand, but with his fist, which giueth a greater blow. As his handes were shut against the poore, so ⟨p. 189⟩Gods handes shall be shutte 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 punishments. If they shall not come to heauen, whose then shall those riches be? Nay, whose then shall the honour be when that day commeth? If hee shall not rest in heauen, then he shall rest in hell, where no rest is. Then, saith one, the Vsurer shall crie vnto his children,2 Cursed bee 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 whom 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 goods, we had not kept other mens goods.
- 1Eze. 22. 13.
- 2Note.
