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. The Land hath a fruitful use in it self,¹ answerable to the Rent: Both without mans help, as in Meadows, Pastures, Woods, Mines, &c. As also with, as in arable grounds, wherein the rent is proportioned according to the fruitfulness thereof. But money being spent in the use thereof; ^*the gain that is raised thereby, is not the fruit of the money; but of His skill, and industry, that doth employ it, and therefore must needs be uncertain. And what gain is raised, ought to belong to Him, by whose pains, and industry, it ariseth. So Thou demandest thy gain out of the fruit of His pains, and industry; not out of the fruit of the money. And it is a strange Thing, that whereas an 100 lb. worth of land, which is fruitful by nature of it self, will scarcely yield 6 lb by the year: yet an Usurer will have out of His money, which hath no fruitful use in it self 10 lb. &c. Thus He woefully requires gain for an other mans pains, industry, hazard, cost, and charge.

1. The Land hath a fruitfull use in it selfe,¹ answerable to the Rent: Both without mans helpe, as in Meadowes, Pastures, Woods, Mines, &c. As also with, as in arable grounds, wherein the rent is proportioned according to the fruitfullnesse thereof. But money being spent in the use thereof; ^*the gaine that is raised thereby, is not the fruit of the money; but of His skill, and industry, that doth imploy it, and therefore must needs be uncertaine. And what gaine is raised, ought to belong to Him, by whose paines, and industry, it ariseth. So Thou demandest thy gaine out of the fruit of His paines, and industry; not out of the fruit of the money. And it is a strange Thing, that whereas an 100 lb. worth of land, which is fruitfull by nature of it selfe, will scarcely yeeld 6 lb by the yeare: yet an Vsurer will have out of His money, which hath no fruitfull use in it selfe 10 lb. &c. Thus He wofully requires gaine for an other mans paines, industry, hazard, cost, and charge.

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