A17183:1015
Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)
Fifty godly and learned sermons divided into five decades, containing the chief and principal points of Christian religion, written in three several tomes or sections, by Henry Bullinger minister of the church of Tigure in Switzerland. Whereunto is adjoined a triple or three-fold table very fruitful and necessary. Translated out of Latin into English by H.I. student in divinity.Fiftie godlie and learned sermons diuided into fiue decades, conteyning the chiefe and principall pointes of Christian religion, written in three seuerall tomes or sections, by Henrie Bullinger minister of the churche of Tigure in Swicerlande. Whereunto is adioyned a triple or three-folde table verie fruitefull and necessarie. Translated out of Latine into English by H.I. student in diuinitie.
London: printed by Henry Middleton for Ralph Newberrie, 1577London: printed by Henry Middleton for Ralphe Newberrie, 1577
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Usury, is when thou grantest 1to another man the use of thy goods, as of land, houses, money, or any thing else, whereof thou receivest some yearly commodity. For thou hast a manor, a farm, lands, meadows, pastures, vineyards, houses, and money, which thou dost let out to hire unto another man upon a certain covenant of gain to return to thee for the use thereof. This bargain, this covenant is not of it self unlawful, nor yet condemned in the holy Scriptures. And the very name of usury is not unhonest of it self, the abuse thereof hath made it unhonest, so that not without a cause it is at this day detested of all men. For usury is in the Scripture condemned, so far as it is joined with iniquity, and the destruction of our brother or neighbour. For who will forbid to let out the use of our lands, houses, or money to hire, that thereby we may receive some just and lawful ⟨p. 275⟩commodity? For buying, setting to hire; and such like contracts are lawfully allowed us. And as the part of him that giveth, is to do good: so is it the duty of him that taketh, not to use a good turn without all manner of recompense to the hurt and hinderance of him that giveth it: in bestowing of mere benefits, there is another consideration, whereof we read in the 6. of Luke: If ye lend to them, of whom ye hope to receive again &c. And the Lawyers do discuss this matter thus: that it is no usury, when the debtor giveth a pension and some yearly fee, in recompense of the money which he hath borrowed, saving the principal sum which he hath borrowed whole, by a covenant that was made before of selling it back again, because the thing doth cease to be lent, which is so granted to another mans use, that unless the debtor will, the creditor cannot claim the thing, so long as the debtor payeth the pension, for the assured payment whereof, he hath put him self in bonds. For such a crediting is a flat contract of buying. They say therefore, that usury is committed in lending alone (which ought to be without hire) and not in other contracts or bargains. Let them therefore which deal in these kind of trades, have this always before their eyes, as a rule to be led by. Whatsoever thou wouldest have done to thy self, that do thou to an other: and whatsoever thou wouldst not have done to thy self, that do not thou to another.
Vsurie, is when thou grauntest 1