God's terrible voice in the city

18. The Eighteenth sin of London is Extortion; thus Covetousness hath expressed it self more grossly in some. I shall not here discourse concerning Usury; but the extorting Use, which some have taken of those who have been in want; the taking Use upon Use, and grinding the faces of the Poor in their distress, no doubt is a great sin, and very offensive to God. How many Extortioners have there been in London, who have enriched themselves by impoverishing of others; who panting after the dust of the Earth, ⟨p. 170⟩on the head of the Poor, have lent Money to them, not for their help, but to catch them at an advantage, that so without mercy they might catch away all that they had, not leaving them so much as a Bed to lie on? Thus some have been like Lyons for Cruelty, and like Evening Wolves unto the poor, tearing their flesh from their bones, and reserving their very bones to gnaw in the morning, as the Prophet speaks, Zeph. 3. 3. This sin of Extortion was one of the abominations reckoned up by the Prophet Ezekiel, for which God was so highly offended with Jerusalem, chap. 22. 12. Thou hast taken Usury and increase, and hast greedily gained of thy Neighbour by Extortion; and hast forgotten me; for this and other sins there mentioned, it is said v. 3. Therefore have I poured out my indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my Wrath. Unto this sin of Extortion I may add several other ways that many in the City have had of getting Estates, which some may dispute for the lawfulness of, and because so common and gainful, the sin is little heeded; but when the Lord hath been contending with the whole City, and hath inflicted a general stroke upon Tradesmen, yea one stroke upon another, and hath trodden their Trade under his feet, as seeming to be offended with something therein; methinks they should be awakened, and open their eyes, and impartially search, and labour to find out whatever it is that doth offend him, whatever seeming disadvantage may come to them thereby. And if they will not hearken, God can take away the remainder, as he hath done a ⟨p. 171⟩great part, and so force them to a sense of their sin.

18. The Eighteenth sin of London is Extortion; thus Covetousness hath expressed it self more grosly in some. I shall not here discourse concerning Usury; but the extorting Use, which some have taken of those who have been in want; the taking Use upon Use, and grinding the faces of the Poor in their distress, no doubt is a great sin, and very offensive to God. How many Extortioners have there been in London, who have enriched themselves by impoverishing of others; who panting after the dust of the Earth,