A12406:477
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…
The sermons of Master Henry Smith gathered into one volume. Printed according to his corrected copies in his life time.The sermons of Maister Henrie Smith gathered into one volume. Printed according to his corrected copies in his life time.
London: printed by Richard Field for Thomas Man, 1593
Title page typeset from the transcription.
THE EXAMINATION OF USURY. › Sermon 2THE EXAMINATION OF VSVRIE. › Sermon 2
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Many reasons more are alleged, which I cannot refute, and therefore I will not contradict them: yet I mean not to decide the question, because I will not be mistaken. But if some should come unto me in that necessity and extremity which I can imagine, and ask; May I borrow money of these Usurers to save my life, or my credit, or my ⟨p. 196⟩living, seeing no man will lend me freely? I would answer him as the Prophet answered Naaman: neither do, nor do not, but go in peace. I will not forbid thee, nor I will not condemn thee, but if thy conscience condemn thee not, I think thy sin one of the least sins: and as Naaman prayed, Lord be merciful unto me in this, 1so I think the Lord will be merciful unto thee in this. But if thy conscience go against it, then do it not; for it is sin to thee, though it be free for another, because whatsoever is not done of faith,2 is sin. I charge you in the fear of God, that you do not mistake that which is said, for I know no learned Preacher, nor learned writer of other mind. Yet least you should mistake the matter, as I distinguished of lenders, so I will distinguish of borrowers.
Many reasons more are alleadged, which I cannot refute, and therefore I will not contradict them: yet I meane not to decide the question, because I will not be mistaken. But if some should come vnto mee in that necessitie and extremitie which I can imagine, and aske; May I borrowe money of these Vsurers to saue my life, or my credite, or my ⟨p. 196⟩liuing, seeing no man will lende me freely? I woulde answere him as the Prophet answered Naaman: neither doo, nor doo not, but goe in peace. I will not forbid thee, nor I will not condemne thee, but if thy conscience condemne thee not, I thinke thy sinne one of the least sinnes: and as Naaman praied, Lord be mercifull vnto mee in this, 1so I thinke the Lorde will be mercifull vnto thee in this. But if thy conscience goe against it, then doo it not; for it is sinne to thee, though it be free for another, because whatsoeuer is not done of faith,