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

Aspidis morsui similis est pecunia usuraria. Qui ab Aspide percutitur quasi delectatus ¹vadit in somnum, & sic per suavitatem soporis moritur. He that is bitten by Usury, (saith Chrysostom) is as He, that is stung of a Serpent: it lulls Him asleep so sweetly and secretly, that the poor man is undone before he be aware.

Aspidis morsui similis est pecunia usuraria. Qui ab Aspide percutitur quasi delectatus ¹vadit in somnum, & sic per suavitatem soporis moritur. He that is bitten by Usury, (saith Chrysostome) is as He, that is stung of a Serpent: it lulls Him asleepe so sweetly and secretly, that the poore man is undone before he be aware.

1. 1Chrys. Hom. 12. Ope. imper.

6. If Usury find a man rich, ^*yet it bringeth with it a pair of Cannibals chops, and many cruel teeth, to eat out the very Heart of His estate, except He cunningly heal Himself by some other covetous way, or unconscionable course. Hence it is that Saint Chrysostom compares Usury to an Asp, which together with the poison infuses a delightful sleep, but in that sweet insensibleness takes away life: So the Usurers money refreshes for a time, but by little, and little, sucks out the very life-blood of a mans estate. And that of Saint Basil to to those, that objected, That many by the employment ⟨p. 11⟩of money borrowed upon Usury, grew rich: But I think, ^*moe saith He, have come to the Halter. His meaning is, by paying Usury they have grown poor, and so fallen a stealing, and at last come to hanging. To speak more fitly to these sins: But I think moe have proved Bankrupts. And again, How many of your Usurers are free lenders to the poor, except it be in cunning, out of a deep Hypocrisy to colour their usurious cruelty?