A short and private discourse between Mr. Bolton and one M.S. concerning usury. PublishedA short and priuate discourse betweene Mr. Bolton and one M.S. concerning vsury. Published

In a word, To those, who have no need to borrow, we need not lend. But if we do lend, we must lend freely: or if we will look to gain, by those, which need not our help, we must deal with them, by some honest contract ⟨p. 41⟩of negotiation. For loan is such a contract, as GOD hath appointed to be free; and where it is not free, He hath condemned it with fearful¹ terms under the name of Usury. In humane societies, saith Ch•mnitius, GOD would not have all things set to sale; but He requireth that some duties should be free, which are deformed, and depraved, if either they be sold as things saleable, or set to hire as mercenary duties.

In a word, To those, who have no need to borrow, we need not lend. But if we do lend, we must lend freely: or if we will looke to gaine, by those, which need not our help, we must deale with them, by some honest contract ⟨p. 41⟩of negotiation. For loane is such a contract, as GOD hath appointed to be free; and where it is not free, He hath condemned it with fearefull¹ termes under the name of Vsury. In humane societies, saith Ch•mnitius, GOD would not have all things set to sale; but He requireth that some duties should be free, which are deformed, and depraved, if either they be sold as things saleable, or set to hire as mercinary duties.

1. 1Loc. Com. de pauper. cap. 2.

2. Thou must wrong neither rich nor poor: but out of the uncertain negotiation of the borrower to covenant for certain gain in that manner, as I have said before; and to compound for profit only, and to pluck thy neck and shoulder from all peril, and loss-bearing is unjust; Ergo, &c.