Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)

And let them think of those words of the Apostle: Let no man beguile his brother in bargaining. I know very well, that touching money, they are wont to allege, that it endureth not as lands and vineyards, but is consumed and made less with use and tossing from man to man, and that therefore no commodity ought to be taken for the use thereof. But if a man put money into another mans hand, wherewith he buyeth him self a farm, a manor, lands, or vineyards, or otherwise occupieth it to his gain & profit, I see no cause, why a good Christian and an honest man may not reap some lawful commodity of the hire of his money, as well as of the letting or leasing of his land. It is in the power of him, which so letteth out his money, with that money to buy a farm, and so to take the whole gain to him self: but now we see that in letting the other have it, he granteth him the use of his money, whereby he is a very great gainer. This fellow, to whom this sum is lent, or otherwise given upon covenants of contract, doeth with the money get some stay of living, with the revenue whereof, he nourisheth all his family, paying to his creditor the portion agreed on, of which, when he hath once made a full restitution, he maketh the living his own for ever, and acquiteth him self from the yearly pension. In this kind of covenanting, no man, I think will say, that the poor is oppressed, when the thing it self doth rather cry, that by such usury, the poor is greatly helped. Usury therefore is forbidden in the word of God, so far forth, as it byteth (for here I use the very term of the Scriptures) his neighbour, while it hindereth him, or otherwise undoeth him. For thus saith the Lord in Leviticus: If thy brother be waxen poor and fallen in decay, whether he be a stranger or indweller, relieve him, that he may ⟨p. 276⟩live with thee. Thou shalt take no usury of him, or more then right: but fear the Lord, that thy brother may live with thee. Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy victuals for increase. I am the Lord your God. Therefore, the Lord misliketh all arts of covetous & deceitful men, wherewith they do not only exceed measure in exacting usury, but do of purpose let out their money and substance to hire, that by that occasion they may wipe their debtors of all that they have.

And let them thinke of those wordes of the Apostle: Let no man beguyle his brother in bargaining. I knowe verie wel, that touching money, they are wont to alledge, that it endureth not as landes and vineyards, but is consumed and made lesse with vse and tossing from man to man, and that therefore no commoditie ought to be taken for the vse thereof. But if a man put monye into another mannes hande, wherewith he buyeth him selfe a farme, a manour, landes, or vineyardes, or otherwise occupyeth it to his gaine & profite, I sée no cause, why a good Christian and an honest man may not reape some lawfull commoditie of the hire of his monye, as well as of the letting or leasing of his lande. It is in the power of him, which so letteth out his monye, with that monye to buy a farme, and so to take the whole gaine to him selfe: but nowe wée sée that in letting the other haue it, he graunteth him the vse of his monie, whereby he is a verie greate gainer. This fellowe, to whome this summe is leant, or otherwise giuen vppon couenauntes of contract, doeth with the money gett some stay of lyuing, with the reuenue whereof, he nourisheth all his familie, paying to his creditour the portion agreed on, of whiche, when he hath once made a full restitution, he maketh the liuing his owne for euer, and acquiteth him selfe from the yerely pension. In this kind of couenanting, no man, I think will say, that the poore is oppressed, when the thing it selfe doth rather crye, that by such vsurie, the poore is greatly helped. Vsurie therefore is forbidden in ye worde of God, so farre forth, as it byteth (for here I vse the verie tearme of the Scriptures) his neighbour, while it hindereth him, or otherwise vndoeth him. For thus saith the Lorde in Leuiticus: If thy brother be waxen poore and fallen in decaye, whether he be a straunger or indweller, releue him, that he may