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

I deal, saith the Usurer, as I would be dealt¹ with; and do as I would be done by: And therefore all that while, I hope I do no wrong. I would willingly pay ten in the hundred, if I had need, and then why may I not take so.

I deale, saith the Vsurer, as I would be dealt¹ with; and doe as I would bee done by: And therefore all that while, I hope I doe no wrong. I would willingly pay ten in the hundred, if I had need, and then why may I not take so.

1. 1Ob. 1.

1. That royal Principle of Nature, Do as¹ thou wouldst be done by: must be expounded and understood according to the Grounds of a good Conscience, Dictates of right reason, and Rules of a just and rectified will: not out of the mists and miseries of a depraved and exorbitant judgement. Otherwise, Abimelech, Saul, and others of that desperate Rank, and resolution, might conclude that it were lawful for them to kill other men, because they were willing to be killed themselves: See Judges 9. 54. 1 Sam. 31. 4. For they might say: They did but as they would be done by. It would also follow very absurdly: ⟨p. 23⟩The Magistrate being in the Malefactors case, would gladly be pardoned; therefore He must pardon the Malefactor. Some man would be content, villainously to prostitute His wife, whom He cares not for Himself, to others; therefore He may abuse an other mans wife, whom He loves better. These and the like absurd, and abominable non-consequents demonstrate the vanity of the Usurers inference: And that, that Royal Law, and Rule of our SAVIOUR CHRIST is not general, but restrainable to that will of man, which is ruled by nature, and GODS Law.