A26892:8973
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.
3. Therefore there is no doubt but the whole controversy is resolved into this last question, Whether all Usury be against Justice or Charity to our neighbour. Justice obligeth me to give him his own: Charity obligeth me to give him more than his own, in certain cases; as one that love him as my self. That which is not against Justice, may be against Charity: But that which is against Charity, is not always against Justice strictly taken. And that which is an act of true Charity, is never against Justice: Because he that giveth his neighbour more than his own, doth give him his own and more. There is a Usury which is against Justice and Charity. There is a Usury which is against Charity, but not against mere Justice: And there is an Usury which is against neither Justice nor Charity. If I prove it Charitable, it is superfluous to say more.
3. Therefore there is no doubt but the whole controversie is resolved into this last question, Whether all Usury be against Iustice or Charity to our neighbour. Iustice obligeth me to give him his own: Charity obligeth me to give him more than his own, in certain cases; as one that love him as my self. That which is not against Iustice, may be against Charity: But that which is against Charity, is not alwayes against Iustice strictly taken. And that which is an act of true Charity, is never against Iustice: Because he that giveth his neighbour more than his own, doth give him his own and more. There is a Usury which is against Iustice and Charity. There is a Usury which is against Charity, but not against meer Iustice: And there is an Usury which is against neither Iustice nor Charity. If I prove it Charitable, it is superfluous to say more.
§. 22. All the instances before given are notoriously charitable. That which is for the preservation of the lives and comforts of the poor, and of Orphans, or for the enriching of my neighbour is an act of Charity: But such is some Usury, past all doubt; as is before declared. Where the contrary is an act of cruelty, the Usury is not against Charity, but for it. For the Rich to deny to the poor and Orphans a part of that gain, which they make by the improvement of their own money, is oppression and cruelty: If it be cruel to let a Beggar dye or starve, when we should feed and clothe him of our own; much more to let the poor and Orphans starve and perish rather than give them the increase of their own, or part of it at least. As for them that say, It may be as well improved otherwise, they are unexperienced men: It is a known falsehood as to the most: though some few may meet with such opportunities. At least it is nothing to them that cannot have other ways of improving it: who are very many.