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…

And if there could not be any interest taken, men should never, nor could never expect borrowing or lending for furthering their profit, but for mere necessity, and by that means the g •e •t benefit of human trading would be interrupted.

And if there could not be any interest taken, men should never, nor could never expect borrowing or lending for surthering their profit, but for meer necessity, and by that means the g •e •t benefit of human trading would be interrupted.

Add that men are called to equity and charity, not so much according to the quality of their estates, as to the quantity or value, that there may be an equality. And if a man that hath money be obliged to lend freely, is not a man that hath land obliged to sell it, that he also may be in a capacity to do it? Certainly when necessity so requireth, he is obliged to give, although he should sell his land for that end. And considering that money is so useful (for it answereth all things, as Solomon saith, Eccles. 10.19.) and that in reason it cannot be supposed that a thrifty and frugal man will have a sum any considerable time, but either by trading or buying land, or otherwise, he shall benefit himself by it, there is no such reason to cry out on the iniquity of this simply considered; yea, considering that some have money, others have access to improve it, which they have not by dexterity, health, occupation, &c. yet wanting money, the exercise of all these is impeded, it would seem that if the money of the one make the skill of another profitable to him, that then the dexterity of that man should make the others money profitable to both, according to the due proportion; so that as the one could not use the others labour without him, so neither the other his money, that so there might be equality.