Sermons upon Deuteronomy

He addeth, In any wise let there be no poor body among you. This speech is somewhat dark, because the first word that Moses useth, signifieth Nothing, or it is not at all: and sometimes when it is joined with another word, (as it is in this place,) it betokeneth except that, or saving that. And for that cause some men understand that our Lord setteth down an exception here, namely so there were no poor folks. For if the debtors were rich, they might always be well contented to pay. But the poorer sort were to be borne with, and to have some easement; the vexing of whom after that sort, was a kind of sucking of their blood, and a drawing of the marrow out of their bones. Again the seventh years respite was as a mean for them to gather somewhat towards their discharge.

Hee addeth, In any wise let there bee no poore bodie among you. This speech is somewhat darke, because the first worde that Moses vseth, signifieth Nothing, or it is not at all: and sometimes when it is ioyned with another worde, (as it is in this place,) it betokeneth except that, or sauing that. And for that cause some men vnderstande that our Lorde setteth downe an exception heere, namely so there were no poore folkes. For if the detters were riche, they might alwayes bee well contented to pay. But the poorer sort were to bee borne with, and to haue some easement; the vexing of whō after yt sort, was a kind of sucking of their bloud, and a drawing of the marrowe out of their bones. Againe the seuenth yeares respit was as a meane for them to gather somewhat towardes their discharge.

Moreover there was the more cause why the poor should be borne withal the seventh year, the ground was not tilled that year, and therefore Corn might become the dearer by reason that there was no gathering of any thing that year. For it was not with them in those days as it is with us in these days, that when one piece of ground lay fallow, as they say, another piece was with corn, so as they might have a crop every year one after another wherewith to find themselves. In the Land of Jewry they gathered not so much as one kernel of wheat, Oats, or other kind of grain in the seventh year, neither was it lawful for them to till the ground that year: by reason whereof the poorer sort had much ado to get their living by their abour and travel. That was the cause why some have taken it to be as an exception when our Lord said, if peradventure you have no poor among you. Well may ye demand your debts of such as are wealthy and well able to pay; but beware that ye pinch not your neighbours that are behind hand. Othersome take it thus, So as there be no poor among you; that is to say, deal in such wise as no man be brought under foot by you, but that the poor and meaner sort may live with the rich: and let no man be so greedily minded as to put things out of order by his excess, like the great fishes that eat up the smaller fishes: Take heed that ye use no such cruelness towards your neighbours. Also a man might take the said word as betokening Nothing; as though our Lord had spoken after our common manner and said, No, no, there must be no poor among you. But as for the meaning of the Law, it is certain enough to us, which thing ought to suffice us, and it is all that we should look for.