A26892:8960
A Christian Directory
A Christian directory, or, A sum of practical theology and cases of conscience directing Christians how to use their knowledge and faith, how to improve all helps and means, and to perform all duties, how to overcome temptations, and to escape or mortify every sin : in four parts ... / by Richard Baxter.A Christian directory, or, A summ of practical theologie and cases of conscience directing Christians how to use their knowledge and faith, how to improve all helps and means, and to perform all duties, how to overcome temptations, and to escape or mortifie every sin : in four parts ... / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons, 1673
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Part 4 › Chapter 19 › Section 4: Tit. 4. Cases of Conscience about Lending and Borrowing.
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.
1. There is some such gain or Usury lawful and commendable. 2. There is some such gain or usury unlawful and a heinous sin. I shall first give my reasons of the first proposition.
§. 13. I. If all Usury be forbidden it is either by the Law of Nature, or by some positive Law of supernatural revelation: If the latter, it is either by some Law of Moses, or by some Law of Christ: If the former, it is either as against the Rule of piety to God, or against Justice or Charity to men: That which is neither a violation of the Natural Laws of Piety, Justice or Charity; nor against the ⟨p. 126⟩supernaturally revealed Laws of Moses or of Christ, is not unlawful. But there is some Usury which is against none of all these: Ergo there is some Usury which is not unlawful.
§. 14. I will first lay you down the instances of such Usury; and then prove it. There is a parcel of Land to be sold for a thousand pound, which is worth forty pound per annum, and hath Wood on it worth a thousand pound: (Some such things we have known): John N. is willing to purchase it: But he hath a poor neighbour, T. S. that hath no money, but a great desire of the bargain. I. N. loving his neighbour as himself, and desiring his wealth, lendeth him the thousand pound upon Usury for one year. T. S. buyeth the Land, and selleth the Wood for the same money, and repayeth it in a year, and so hath all the Land for almost nothing, as if I. N. had purchased the Land and freely given it him, after a year or two; The gift had been the same.
§. 14. I will first lay you down the instances of such Usury; and then prove it. There is a parcel of Land to be sold for a thousand pound, which is worth forty pound per annum, and hath Wood on it worth a thousand pound: (Some such things we have known): Iohn N. is willing to purchase it: But he hath a poor neighbour, T. S. that hath no money, but a great desire of the bargain. I. N. loving his neighbour as himself, and desiring his wealth, lendeth him the thousand pound upon Usury for one year. T. S. buyeth the Land, and selleth the Wood for the same money, and repayeth it in a year, and so hath all the Land for almost nothing, as if I. N. had purchased the Land and freely given it him, after a year or two; The gift had been the same.