The Theater of Gods Judgments, Book 2 · Chapter 42
CHAP. XLII. Of Vsurers, and their theft.
IF open larcenies and violent robberies and extortions are forbidden by the law of God, as we have seene they are, then it is no doubt but that all deceit and unjust dealings and bargains used to the dammage of others are also condemned by the same law; and namely Usurie, when a man exacteth such unmeasurable gaine for either his mony or other thing which hee lendeth, that the poore borrower is so greatly indammaged, that in stead of benefitting and providing for his affaires, which he aimed at, he hitteth his further losse and finall overthrow. This sinne is expressely prohibited in Leviticus, 25, Deuteronomy 23, and Psalme, 15; where the committants thereof are held guilty before Gods judgement Seat, of iniquitie and injustice: and against them it is that the prophet Levit. 25. 36 Deut. 23. 19. Psal. 15. 5.Ezechiel denounceth this threatening: That he which oppresseth or vexeth the poore and afflicted, he which robbeth or giveth to usurie, and receiveth the encrease into their bags, shall die the death, and his bloud shall bee upon his Eze. 18. 12. 13pate.
Neither truely doth the justice of God sleepe in this respect, but taketh vengeance upon all such, and punisheth them after one sort or other, either in body or goods, as it pleaseth him: I my selfe knew a grand usurer in the countrey of Vallay that having scraped together great masses of gold and silver by these unlawfull meanes, was in one night robbed of fifteene hundred crownes by theeves that broke into his house. I remember also another usurer dwelling in a town called Argental, nigh unto Anovay under the jurisdiction of Tholosse in high Vivaria, who being in hay time in a meadowe, was stung in the foot by a serpent, or some other venomous beast, that he died thereof: an answerable punishment for his often stinging and biting many poore people with his cruell and unmercifull usurie.
Nay it is so contrarie to equitie and reason, that all nations led by the instinct of nature, have alwayes abhorred and condemned it; insomuch that the conditions of theeves hath bin more easie and tollerable than usurers; for theft was wont to be punished but with double restitution, but usurie with quadruple: and to speake truely, these rich and gallant usurers do more rob the common people and purloine from them, than all the publike theeves that are made publike examples of justice in the world. It is to be wished that some would examine usurers bookes, and make a De officio princip. lib. 4. ca. 14bond-fire of their obligations, as that Lacedemonian did when Agesilaus reported that hee never saw a …leerer fire: or that some Lucullus would deliver Europe from that contagion, as the Romane did Asia in his time. Licurgus Alex. ab Alex. lib. 1 cap. 7.banished this canker worme out of his Sparta: Amasis punished it severely in his Aegypt: Cato exiled it out of Sicilie; and Solo condemned it in Athens; how much more should it he held in detestation among Christians? S. Chrysostome compareth it fitly to the biting of an aspe; Chrysost. in Mat. cap. 5.as he that is stung with an aspe, falleth asleepe as it were with delectation, her hand to reach, it miraculously turned into a serpent, and bit her so fast, that by no meanes it could be loosened from her arme, untill it had brought her to a woefull and miserable end.
Sergius Galba, before hee came to be Emperor (being President of Africa under Claudius, when as through penurie of victuals, corne, and other food Fulgos. lib. 2. cap. 2.was very sparingly shared out and divided amongst the armie) punished a certaine souldier that sould a bushell of wheat to one of his fellows for an hundred pence, in …ope to obtaine a new share himselfe, in this manner, he cōmanded the Quaestor or Treasurer to give him no more sustenance, since hee preferred lucre before the necessity of his owne body and his friends welfare; neither suffered he any man else to sell him any; so that hee perished with famine, and became a miserable example to all the army, of the fruits of that foule droupsie covetousnesse.
And thus wee see how the Lord rained downe vengeance upon all covetous Usurers and oppressors, plaguing some on this fashion, and some on that; and never passing any, but either in this life some notable judgement overtakes them, either in themselves or their off-springs (for it is notoriously knowne that usurers children, though left rich, yet the first or second generation became alwayes beggers) or in the life to come they are thrown into the pit of perdition, from whence there is no redemption nor deliverance.