Usury Stated Overthrown, Treatise · Part 1 · Section 11 – Section 12
NUM. XI.
Fourthly, But I muſt come cloſer to the matter, ſaying, that I am ſo far from damning the whole Nation, as that, contrary to his fearful Charge, which is, that I cenſure and condemn many of his Brethren to Hell, pag. 2. I do (c)Only let me uſe St. Auſtin's holy Admonition to my Brethren, that they be not moved with the reaſonings of vain Men, nor imitate them in this perverſeneſs in Opinion, c. 31.exempt and except all thoſe Godly Miniſters, my dear Brethren, which, though they are for ſome Increaſe (as I alſo my ſelf am, viz. for a Gratuity) yet are no common Uſurers, properly ſo called: obſerving the Godly Cautions which bleſſed Calvin, pious and learned Mr. Baxter, and (d)Of whom I will name but one more, Mr. Durham, who in his Expoſition upon the Commandments, has theſe notable Cantions. 1. We ſhould conſider what the Borrower makes of our Money. 2. And we ſhould not be ſwayed by our own Gain only, as moſt Uſurers are.others preſcribe; and which being obſerved, do make that which by ſome is called Uſury no Uſury, but Partnerſhip. As when Men are contented and minded to ſhare, not only in the Borrowers Gain, but Loſs alſo, which the aboveſaid famous (a)In his Directory▪Mr. Baxter and others require. And yet farther I ſay, that I hope in God, that I ſhall meet with thoſe holy and reverend Miniſters in Heaven, and that there we ſhall enjoy one anothers Society to all Eternity.
5. I anſwer, That I except alſo from that foreſaid Condemnation, thoſe Godly Chriſtian Hearers which obſerve the ſame Godly Cautions, which likewiſe make that which by ſome is improperly called Uſury, no Uſury, but Factory; and would not take any Gain for their Money if they were convinced that it is unlawful for them to take what is proffered: for I ſhall ſtill ſtick to that which I have ſo often ſaid with and after a number of other Divines, who ſay the ſame; that it is lawful to take what is unexpectedly offered. I add, that I have a very charitable Opinion of ſome Chriſtians beyond the Seas alſo, which in their ſimplicity and ignorantly follow Abſolom, like thoſe two hundred Men which followed Abſolom out of Jeruſalem in their ſimplicity, knowing nothing of it, that Rebellion was in it againſt David the King, 2 Sam. 15.11. I ſay it again, that I do not condemn ſuch ignorant Souls, becauſe they are not convinced of the Evil of all Uſury properly ſo called, even as they are not convinced that they offend God by not keeping our Chriſtian Sabbath ſo ſtrictly as we keep it in England, accounting it Judaiſm: So that in the Netherlands they will carry burthens, and do ſervile work without control, as I have ſeen it: and at Geneva, after the Afternoon-Sermon, will go a Shooting in their Plimpalee, ſo called, which mine eyes have beheld alſo; and which, if Chriſtians, profeſſing Godlineſs, ſhould do here, they would be cenſured to ſin damnably. Which maketh me to judge charitably of ſuch a People as ſinneth ignorantly, not being convinced: For the time of ignorance God winketh at; but withal, commands all men every where to repent, Act. 17.30. Which has ſtirred me up to perſuade all Men every where to repent of Uſury by name, and to leave it, with the very expectation of gaining by it, leſt that tremendous ſaying of Chriſt, Joh. 15.22. If I had not come and ſpoken unto them, they had not had ſin, but now they have no cloak for their ſin, become applicable to them. Now, in this charitable Opinion I am not alone; but there is (a)Gabr. Powel.one beſides me, who writeth as bitterly againſt all Uſury as ever I did, and maketh it damnable, as I do, in one place of his Book; and yet in another ſpeaketh thus dreadfully of it: The ſin is hainous, and the danger deſperate; and the more dangerous when it is covered and ſhrowded: as a conſuming Fever, that cannot be eſpied before it grows incurable. And yet addeth withal, theſe words; I know there be many, otherwiſe good Chriſtians, that entertain this UGLY MONSTER, who would not do it to gain the World, if they knew their Trade were damnable Uſury. So ſaith he.
NUM. XII.
Obj. You will ſay, Why did not you tell us of this firſt?
I anſwer, Becauſe I feared that all common Uſurers would abuſe this precious Cordial, intended for tender and troubled Conſciences, and thereby be hardned in their Trade of Uſury; pretending that they alſo are not convinced about this point, and therefore hope to be ſaved notwithſtanding their moſt cruelly biting Uſury: when God knoweth it, that they are fully convinced in their own Conſciences, that their Uſury is naught and damnable, becauſe it ſtares in their faces now and then; and they will not call it, nor have it called Uſury, but Intereſt, the Rent of their Money, and honeſt Profit, and Conſideration, and Satisfaction. Whereof more hereafter.