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…

Now you shall hear the judgement of Gods law. A Usurer doth receive two incomes, one of the borrower, and another of the revenger: of the borrower he looks for gain, but of the revenger he looks for punishment. Therefore all the Scripture prophecieth evil unto him, as Michaiah did to Ahab.¹ Solomon saith: He which increaseth his riches by Usury, gathereth for them which will be merciful to the poor. As if he should say, when he hath laden himself like a Cart, he shall be unladen like a Cart again, and they shall inherit his money, for whom he did never gather it. For he which is unmerciful to the poor, meaneth not to gather for them which will be merciful to the poor. But Solomon saith: That they shall be his heirs, which will be merciful, as he was unmerciful.

Now you shall heare the iudgement of Gods law. A Vsurer dooth receiue two incomes, one of the borrower, and another of the reuenger: of the borrower he lookes for gaine, but of the reuenger he lookes for punishment. Therfore all the Scripture prophecieth euill vnto him, as Michaiah did to Achab.¹ Salomon saith: He which encreaseth his riches by Vsurie, gathereth for them which will be mercifull to the poore. As if hee should saie, when he hath loden himselfe like a Cart, hee shall be vnloden like a Cart againe, and they shall inherit his monie, for whom he did neuer gather it. For he which is vnmercifull to the poore, meaneth not to gather for them which will bee mercifull to the poore. But Salomon saith: That they shall be his heires, which will be mercifull, as hee was vnmercifull.

1. 1Pro. 28. 8.

Now mark whether this prophecy 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 & lands of Aldermen and Merchants, and other in London, do not last so long, nor endure so well, as the riches and lands of other 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,