A practical exposition of the X. Commandments with a resolution of several momentous questions…A practical exposition of the X. Commandements with a resolution of several momentous questions…

Turpe lucrum, or filthy lucre, is that gain which is acquired either by simply unlawful, or by dishonest, unworthy, and base ways and means: As, 1. by niggardliness, when a man seeks to make great gain of the very least and smallest things, who useth to be called [Greek or Hebrew] and [Greek or Hebrew] or Cuminibilis, that is, so miserable a wretch, and so base a niggard, that he would cut a Cumin-seed and sell it. 2. By taking too largely and greedily when gifts are going, whether to the prejudice of the giver, or of others standing in no less, or in more need, and of no less, or it may be, of greater deserving, thereby incapacitating him to give to them. 3. By a mans prostituting of himself, without all necessity, only to win the world, to base offices and employments, disgracing his station, as for great men to turn to such, whereby they eat as it were the meat out of the mouths of poor men, who have all their days been bred up in, and followed such employments. For Ministers of the Gospel, in a peaceable state of the Church, and without any necessity, to turn to, and deal in worldly Trades; or in a time of trouble to betake themselves to the very basest of them, when others would do as well, or well enough, for their necessary maintenance. 4. By vice and villainy, as for gain to play the whore, to be a pimp or pander, to keep a stew or bawdy-house, to forswear or bear false witness, willingly to sell drink till men drink to excess and be drunk, and to allure and solicit them to it, if the drink may but so go away, and bring some advantage to the Vintner, &c. 5. By squeezing, under colour of Law, as by biting Usury, forging of Writs, by moyen and buds prevailing in law to dwang a man from his right, for a man to buy Pleas; to deal in broken, crazed, or encumbered estates that he hath nothing to do with, on design to make gain by defrauding Creditors, ⟨p. 403⟩or forcing them for his own advantage to hurtful compositions, &c. 6. By excessive, immoderate and hurtful travel and pains to win a very little and inconsiderable thing, and it may be without all necessity too. 7. By robbery and murder▪ Prov. 1. from v. 10. to 20. 8. By spoiling the dead, riffling Tomb •, taking off rings or lining •, &c. 9. By carding, dicing, and Stage-playing: and making conquest and gain by any other dishonest or crooked mean.