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

1. Even so, suppose a poor man lying by the¹ high way, ready to die for hunger, and there comes a Baker by; from whom He entreats a penny loaf: The Baker meaning, (as Usurers commonly done) to take advantage of the poor mans extremity, seemeth unwilling to sell Him any; will not the poor man in this extreme necessity, be most willing to give twelve pence, for that which is not worth two pence? Yes undoubtedly, He would in such a case with all His heart give six pence for a penny loaf, and thank Him too, and tell Him perhaps He saves His life by it. But for all this, the cruelty of the Baker were much to be condemned, that would prey so unmercifully upon the bleeding misery of His dying Brother. Semblably, A poor man in danger to be driven out of home, and harbour as they say, or in some other heavy distress, would be ready to tell the Usurer, that He doth Him an high pleasure, that but for His money, He should be undone, &c. Yet for all this, the mercies of the Usurer in such a case, were but cruelty, as Solomon saith somewhere of all the wicked.

1. Even so, suppose a poore man lying by the¹ high way, ready to die for hunger, and there comes a Baker by; from whom He intreates a penny loafe: The Baker meaning, (as Usurers commonly doē) to take advantage of the poore mans extremity, seeemeth unwilling to sell Him any; will not the poore man in this extreme necessity, bee most willing to give twelve pence, for that which is not worth two pence? Yes undoubtedly, He would in such a case with all His heart give six pence for a penny loafe, and thanke Him too, and tell Him perhaps He saves His life by it. But for all this, the cruelty of the Baker were much to be condemned, that would prey so unmercifully upon the bleeding misery of His dying Brother. Semblambly, A poore man in danger to be driven out of home, and harbour as they say, or in some other heavy distresse, would be ready to tell the Usurer, that He doth Him an high pleasure, that but for His money, He should be undone, &c. Yet for all this, the mercies of the Usurer in such a case, were but cruelty, as Salomon saith somewhere of all the wicked.

1. 1Answ.