A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 200 (Question 74 cont.)
SERMON CC.
WE are Conſidering of the Righteouſneſs which is to be obſerved in Commutative Juſtice, beta…cen the Borrower and the Lender. That this manner of Commerce between Men, is neceſſary for the upholding of humane Society, is beyond all …ilpate, to him that hath any thing to do in this World. That there muſt be a Divine Rule to adjuſt this Affair, is alike evident, becauſe in nothing more doth Corrupt Nature take advantage Oppreſſion; and Men would ſoon devour one another, it God did not ſet Limits to their Exorbitancies, and unlimited Cravings. And here it may not be amiſs briefly to Enquire:
Queſt. WHETHER it be Lawful for the Lender to Contract with the Borrower, for a competent Gain, to …eerue to him from the loan? And, Whether it be Lawful for a Man to Borrow upon ſuch a Contract?
Anſw. I take both theſe Queſtions to be Con…ident; for it one of theſe be Unlawful; the other cannot be Lawful; for, as I ought not to Sin, ſo neither may I have Fellowſhip with another in his Sin, or joyn with him in it. This Caſe the rather needs to be pondered, becauſe, as it is of conſtant Practice, ſo there are many Judicious and Conſcientious Chriſtians, who are perplexed in their Minds about it. This matter hath been canvaſed among the greateſt Divines Pro and Con; and that not without great Heats, and over much bitterneſs of Spirit, and opprobious Language, eſpecially by thoſe who defend the Negative, as is evident by their Writings; which ſeem to favour of a over-heated Zeal, in their cutting Invectives againſt their Antagoniſt.
I ſhall not here enter into Liſts of Diſputation; but Eſſay, in a few Words, to lay down the Rules of the Word of God, and the Dictates of right Reaſon in this Affair: For which let theſe Concluſions be obſerves;
1. IT is ſometimes a Duty to lend, without expecting to receive ſo much as the Principal again. This is aimed at, in that of our Saviour, Luk. 6.34.35. And if ye lend to then of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye for ſinners alſo lend to ſinners, to …ec…ve a neith again. But love your enemies, and d… good, and lend, hoping for nothing again: an year reward ſhall be great, and ye ſhall be th… children of the High… for …is …n… unto the … to the …vil. We are not to ſuppoſe that this Precept is Ra…e for A…l Lending Univerſally, … the oppoſite Party pretend, tho' it Contradicts other plain Scriptures, and the common Sentiments of all Mankind; and they themſelves acknowledge that the Principal may lawfully be demanded:) Nor yet doth it intend plain Gr…ing, for that comes under another after Conſideration, as will be conſidered: But the true meaning of it is, that when a Man is in Ne…ſſi…y, and asks to Borrow of us; and neither doth he know how he ſhall be able to Pay us, nor do we ſee any probability of it; we run this Riſque, and adventure it upon Providence; expecting, that it God ſhall make him Able, he will be Honeſt; and yet reſolving, that if he never be able, we will not Trouble him for it. And ſometimes the Providence of God may make it to be our Duty thus to do, when we can ſpare it, and our Neighbour's Neceſſity requires it.
2. THAT it is ſometimes a Duty for us to Lend, without any regard to Gaining by it; but any to ſ…care the Principal. And this is, when tho' our Neighbour hath a ſufficiency to Pay us again, yet hath a preſent occaſion to Borrow fire while, and will in a little while return it again; and we are like to receive a like Kindneſs from him; and the Obligation of Friendſhip binds us to ſuch mutual Beneficence to one another. Of the Lawfulneſs of this, none can doubt; and of the Duty, common Courteſy be ſpeaks it; it being to do as to w…uld be done by in reaſon. Prov 18.24. A man that hath friends, muſt ſh… …ſelt front…y This alſo is requiſite with reſpect to ſuch as are Needy; and it is for their preſent Support and Livelihood, when our Circumſtances will not allow us to Give it them out right: And this is the Lending commended. Pſal. 37.26.
3. THAT God hath given to M…n their Eſtates, for their outward Ben fi…s. We have before obſerved, that theſes things are for the Support and Maintenance of the B…d…ly Life; when therefore God in His Providence beſtows theſe things upon Men, they are to uſe their Diſ…retion, in the Ordering of them, ſo as they may afford them with His Bleding, a Revenue for the maintaining of their Comfort: Hence it belongs to the Character of one that Fears God; Pſal. 112.5. A good man ſheweth favour and k…deth; he will guide his affaire with diſcretion And this our Saviour manif…ſtly intimates, in the Parable of the T…ents that an E…e ought to be occupied for Advantage, elſe there were no force in the Compariſon which He uſeth; and we find how He Cenſures him; that hid his in a Napkin. Matth. 26.27. Nor indeed, would Men be capable of long Improving part of their Subſtance for Charitable Uſes, if they did not thus do, but always ſpend on the Stock, which in time would be expended.
4. THERE is therefore and Honeſt Gain to be moderately ſought in the Improvement of ſuch Etaſes. It is true, it muſt be honest. elſe this Command is broken, and this alſo is granted by …nt …pp…ne…'s. It is … P…ſperity dep…nd… up a God Fav… but we are to ſeek it in the Uſe of Man…. and … Improvement; for theſe … things, and well, without ſ… Car… and Endeavour go to decay, as command upon … will d…ly teach us. That … reſi…e which I ſhall …y here affort in general is, that meerly … vance our Eſtate by the turnirt of it, it not i… it ſelf a Sin, but a Duty …end a…t; and that there is un Honeſt was ſo to do, and this may be in a Lawful Calling which Men are Employed in; provided Men di… f…ll…w theſe Ruies, in following of them, which we have before taken an account of; for they do all ſerve to this general Purpoſe of Supp…rting the outward Affairs of the preſent time.
5. THAT there are div…rs ways a which Men have Advantage to improve their Eſtates by Comm…rce. Man is not bound only to h…rn what he hath by his bodily L…cat and let his Gains …y by Un…capted; but this may and ought to be done in a way of mutual Commerce and Exchange, where Men have where-with ſo to do; and this is for the common Benefit and Good of Mankind, and the advancement of the Publick Weal, as all Experience aſſ…res us. This may be done by Farming out of Lands and Stock, to ſuch as are capable of Improving them to their Own and Owners Benefit; By Letting out of Houſes …. Populous Places, for the Commodity of thoſe who are in need of them, for the Convenience of their Employments, by which they may be Benefited: By Prading or …revandice, in exchanging one thing for another, and thereby ſupplying of the Wants of ſuch as have a dependance hereupon: And by Lending of M…ney to others, either to redeem Pauned or Morigaged Eſtates, or to ſ…t up their Callings, for want of which they are not capable to Emerge; or for the purchaſing of Lands, or a good Ba…gain which offers. Now we have no Diſpute with our Antagoniſts about the Lawfulneſs of a moderate Gain, in any of the former ways of Commerce, but they readily …n…ede it; but in regard of this l…ſt way of Lending there remains the Controverſy: We may therefore proceed
6. THAT the Improvement of an Eſtate for Gain by Loan, is every what as Lawful & Laudable, as any of the other ways of Commence. The Adverſ…ries of Lending Money upon Interest, have ſought to ſtigmatize it with all manner of odious Reflections, as if they would cry it down with a Noiſe and Banter; but it is but a Noiſe and Railery, without ſ…lid Reaſ…on, or Cogency of …rguing; and is only a …lie… to the Abaſe, and not to the right Uſe of it; and is equally of pli…able to the … ways of Commerce, when Abuſed, of wh… they are alike capable. And this way is … on Experience, to be a… neceſſary … for the common Benefit Mankind. to … of the other. For the more clear Demonſtration of this, we may in General obſerve, that the main Difference between laws a … Other ſtate of Commerce lies in that the … … the I…ed upon the Principal, is upon … …cration of l…e; as to other thing who… …ing to it, they are common with the other, and are in them acknowledged to be lawful Here therefore for the f…ll eviden…: of this matter, let us obſerve the following Concl…ſions;
(1.) THAT is …end an Eſtate upon the Security of the Principal is not de…ed but acknowledged by theſe Men. In this Lo…, the Sr… is alica…ted, and becomes entirely in the Poſſeſſion and at the diſpoſe of the Borrow; nevertheleſs by it be Contracts an honeſt Debt to the Lender; and to Law forbids him to Challenge it, in the time and man… Indented …or; and therefore the taking a Pledge and Security for it, is Juſt and Equal. Tho there are Caſes wherein we are to Lend, not expecting any thing again, as was before obſerved; which doth not take off the Juſtice of the thing it ſelf, where no ſuch Neceſſity requires it: It is therefore put to the Character of the Wicked Man. Pſal. 37.21. For wicked E…rroaeth, and papers not again.
(2.) THAT it is no way rep…gnant to, but agreeable with, the Low of Nature, or right Reaſon, that a Alen ſecond make a competent Gain, by has Money ſo Lent. It contracdicts neither the Law of Juſtice nor of Charity, but is every way agreeable to both. As to the Rule of Juſtice, we have already made it evident, that Men ought to improve their Eſtates, ſo as to make Gain by them, provided it be not to the Wrong or Injury of their Neighbours: And that there is no ſuch Wrong neceſſarily ariſing from this, will be evident, becauſe there are many way, in which he may be really Advantaged by it; and if it be otherwiſe, it is either the …rrawer's Fault or the unavailable Event of the Governing Providence of God, which is equally concerned, in all other ways of Lawful Commerce. And as to the Rule of Charity, a Man's Kindneſs may as really appear in this way of Lending, as in Giving: How many Men had never Emerged in the World, but for this: as is matter of daily Obſervation: Beſides, a Man owes Charity to Himſelf, as well as to his Neighbour, and might with greater Safety keep his Eſtate by him, than thus expoſe it, without rational expectation of ſome Profit by it: And our Opponents do freely grant, that if another Gains by my Eſtate, I ſhould have a Benefit by it: That ſomething ſhould go to the Sir…. as well as to the Improvements, which juſtifies the Caſe it ſelf in general. A Man purchaſeth an Eſtate of Inheritance, with my Eſtate, which brings him in an Annual Revenue, which I might have done for my ſelf, and many like things Surely here is no ſhadow of de Violation of the Rule of Charity in all this. Theſe alſo do acknowledge, that it is Lawful in a way of Trade, to Advance for ſo many Months Credit, more than a Man would ask for Preſent Payment: And that on Default of keeping Day, a Man may lawfully Sac. and recover Dama…s for ſuch Delay: In which they manifeſtly give up the Cauſe, which they do with ſo much …eſs deſired; for what as … himſelf for … Bef… … many … have fair Eſtates left them, which they cannot … themſelves; and can be no …wiſe Im…r…ed by …eir Ga…ars, but by Soc… …ex: which if … lawful, they muſt themſelves Starve, on be Improver…ed, by being … d…rated on the Meek. and their Eſtates …aved U…p… ſ…a…e. other to themſelves at the Common wealth. So that the Light of Nature condemns … the moderate Improvement, that only the Copr…ſ…ion of it.
(3.) THAT this …ay of Gain, it no whom abj…tely for b…dden in the Word of God, by … Law th…ging Mem…i…i. This is the giva… Car…o…r, and urged to Co…ſute all other Plea…ly, whatſoever of Reaſon &c …mity there may ſeen to be in them; and I confeſs, if it be ſo …de…d all Months muſt ſtops; and it is altogether in vain to ſet our Reaſon againſt the … Will of God in His Word, for …baleſs He is Lord Para…ment, and may give C…er concer…ing His own, according to his Pleaſure; and needs to give us to other Reaſon, but I … the Lord. We do indeed fi…d ſuch a Law … is expreſſed, given to Iſrael in the Wi… i…, recorded in, Exod. 27.25. If thou and many to any if my pen…e that, is four by th…, it is ſhalt not be to him as a… uſury, …er ſo i… thou by upon him uſury. Father …hanged … Lev. 25.35, &c. And if thy ir…er be man a …or, and ſaken in alway with the; thou the … r…eve here: ye tho …e …e a …izzger or a … p…arner; that he may live wiſe thee. Is it thou an uſury of him, or increaſe: … four …y God; that thy …ther may …e wo…k thet. Th… ſhalt not give him thy mo…y upon uſury, …y …end him thy … for increaſe, …on at Lord year God, &c. Repented and limited it, Deat. 23.19, 20. Than …a…t not …al upon alſo to thy brother; uſury of money, uſary of … els, uſury of any thing that is …at upon uſury Unto a franger thou …ayea lend upon uſury, …i… unto thy …r…ther than ſhalt not lend upon uſury; that the Lord thy God may bleſs that in … th… ſetteſt thine hand to, in the lend wh… thou grest to poſeſs it. And to thas Law as; other Expreſſion uſed afterwards to be reduc… Prov. 28. 8. Ezek. 10 B. and elſe where; concerning which there are diverſe things to be obſerved, which I ſhall …rieſly Epit…e, a… leave to rational Conſideration.
THIS Law was either purely M…ral, or Paſſive, and accommodated to the Iſra…riſe Pr…ty between which a great Difference muſt be at knowledged. That there was a Moral Equit on which it was to be groa…ded, needs not … be denied, viz. That all Cap…ar…en was to be a …ided; and that we ſhould and exact on o… Neighbour to his neceſſary Damage: But th… it was Univerſally Moral, is diſproved by th… Explication of the Law in ſelf, Deat. 23.20 It was therefore reſtrained to their Brethren … their own Nation. Whereas it is certain, th… if the thing it ſelf had been Moral, it had been Univerſally Unlawful, and might no more have been practiſed to a Stranger than an Iſra… had it is in vain al…e…ged. that they had a Power of th… …r…s of S…a ge…s, and therefore his was a K… … to them, from whom they … have taken all; for as the was only, if … with reſpect to the Seven Nations, which were A…the…; …o…e…er did it ex…ed to them after they had received them into Come out; (Heave that, 2 S…m. 21.1.) And they let them Live, and would Traflick … them, they ought to practice Ja…ane to… them, Again, if this Law was p…rely … this would not have been reſtrained to only one ſort of Men among themſelves, as it …, Moral Prepoſition are and …lve…ſo… … f…ed; now it was … the P…r of their … Nations, as is evident in the expreſs Terms of the Law. And this is further …amifeſt by the Exception which God hath made on this S…t; Deut. 15.4. Save when there ſhall be upon among you. Which intimates that it … not made to them un…raful in it ſelf. but only according to their C…amplances. Not is it pu…i…ted in the Goſpel abſolutely; the goen Text alledged for it, (Luke 6. 35.) only intimates, that there are Caſes, in which it may be Duty, (which none will days:) And all that can in reaſon be uped from it, is only that when a Neighbour, (whether Friend or Enemy,) is diſtreſſed with …, and a… to …rra…e of us; our deſpair of being either Intereſt or Principal, ought not to …y one needs: And it rather ſignifies, that the thing it ſelf would in Juſtice be one, … not the Perſon an Object of charity.
7. THAT there is no Exem…a of Al…ncy him this gemer… Ra…e. There is a mighty Ch… on this account, as if Al…y were in it ſelf barren, and therefore ought not to be for and us an unnatural Act of Generation, as they p…nd. But this Ar…ement is inſipid; and a … of Reaſon and Thought, would be aſha… ſo much as to take it into his Month; much more to leave it on Record. The Law itſelf prohibiting Uſary on Ex…aſe, is not limited to Al…ncy; but eternals to whatſoever Eſtate may be ſo improved, Deut. 23.19. And where Money is only expreſſed, it is by a Syno…the, it being, inſla… can …; it contains u…nally in it every thing, which is uſeful for the accommodation of Mens …ward Con…; for which reaſon we are told in Ec…l 10.19. Al…ncy anſwereth all thing. And in the Metephetical Senſe in which it muſt needs be uſed, it is become the moſt Fort…le thing in the World; and moſt ſerves to preſence Civil Commerce among a People, as Experience a…d…tly confirms Certainly then, this is as …y an L…pt vea…le I ſtate as any other; and is contrary to ſenſe, that this was only given a Men to ;ly…y, whilſt they ought to make the Act of every thing elſe which they have; not is one Charity to others teſt…ained to this p…us, but is to be expreſsed in any thing, by which we are beſt accommodated to Benefit them;) and if er…r can be better pr…fi…ed by this, the by an… other thing which I can lend him, why he muſt have it Gratis, no Man can tell.
8. IT is …erefore are Un…onful, has a point …l Pr…dence, is made C…rads what …s. There are theſe that allow a moderate All…rance in ſome Caſes, but think is utterly Unlawful to agree upon a certain Preporti…, becauſe of the Uncertainly of the Advance which the Earr…er will make by the In…vement; ſo that by this ſometimes the Lender muſt wrong himſelf, and ſometimes him that Err…s of him; and that therefore it muſt be leſt to the Conſcience of the B…r…r: But this is alſo a Naca…y, and hath not force in it, as will appear or due Conſideration of the thing. Ph… …peſtacy hath made is neceſſary that in lawful B…guns and Co…e…o…ces. thing be made From, been ſo of Fe ſtood in Men's Hearts and Forgetfulneſs; None therefore can doubt of Securing the Principal, if therefore the latery … be as well a one Delt as the o…er, it come under the ſame Prudential. And as to the Objection about the Uncertainly of the due Prepation to be cem…nded becauſe it depends on Providence, it hath no more foundation here, then in other Contracts; for in all theſe things, there is …tingency, which God gov…rns; and it is with Him, whether the Man ſtall Pr…ſper, at ſuffer Loſs; or in whoſe hands it ſhall be, There is therefore a rational Conſideration to be had in ſuch things to be judged according to the Ordinary Courſe of God's Providence; ſo is there may be an uſual Damage to either Party: And by the ſame Reaſon that it is pre…ded Unlawful to do ſo in this, all other Contracts muſt be Unlawful: And for me to put that out of may can hand, which God's Providence hath made mine, and put it into the Diſpoſe of un…ey, and by at his Mercy: is againſt right Reaſon, and to make my ſelf a Servant to him, what this is my Servant: Prov. 22.7. And becauſe the Ab…tement, on account of unforeſeen Providences, belongs properly to the head of Charity it is Reaſon that it be at the judgment and diſ…retion of the Lender, and not of the Earr…wer.
9. THERE are Rales by which this is to be Limited, which ought to be obſerved and attended, the tranſgriſh… a… reaf … made it a Sin. And herein it dif…ters from all other …etrads which are made between Alen. And that we may be directed in this Affair we …e in Ge… ner… to conſider, that all the Duties required in the Second Table, come under that Love which we ought to pay to our Neigbour: and therefore are to be Regulated according to it, of which, Matth. 22.19. Th…u … love my neighbour …y ſ…f. And ſu… this out Saviour hath laid down that General Rule Matin, 7.12. Therefore all thing, t…h… ſ…er ſe…an… that m…r ſhould doth you d…ye; alſo to them. Which is not to be calculated by Ca…l Self Intereſt, but by ru… Re…ſon: And from the Conſideration of this, we may table, theſe neceſſary Rules fore our direction … this a ſhould.
1 WE muſt conſider the Condition of the Perſons to whom … Lend. There are the … who are Nece…tated to B…ow, that they way not Periſh and Starve, and it is meetly for the Support of their Bodies: Now, not only the Law of Alaſes, but the Light of Nature fetbids all manner of Exec… of l…ter…ſt upon many Jews, after their return from Captivity: Hence Ne…xment treated ſo ſevere with the Cſurers of that Time. Act. 5. Such Perſons are Objects of our Charity, and we ought according to cut Ability, to Give to them for their Succour; and much more to Land to them without expectation of Gain; yea ſometimes, as was before obſerved, tho' we ſee no fair probability of receiving our Principal again: We ought not therefore to refuſe to do a free Kindneſs for ſuch, becauſe we reſerver what we have for the making of Gain by it; which is an Effect of ſordid Covetouſneſs, and a cruel hard sing of our hearts againſt our Pour Brethien; whereas our Eſtates were given us to do Goed withal, and to Communicate, when God preſents us with ſuch as are the proper Objects of it.
2. CASUISTS do univerſally make it Unlawful for any to make Uſury a Calling: Or, That when God hath put an Eſtate into Men's hands, and Ability to employ themſelves about the Improvement of it, they lay aſide all other Buſineſs, and devote themſelves to this But if they are either called to ſuch Employments, as take up their Time about them, and that for the Publick Benefit, and they have Eſtates that may be Improved for the Benefit of Mankind, it is very proper; and for Inſ…nit, Impotent Perſons, Widows, who cannot manage ſuch an Eſtate, or ſuch as have more than they can themſelves Improve;— becauſe it is better that ſuch Eſtates be Employed. than ly by Unc…med. And this I am ſatisfied in, that for Perſons to ly in wait to catch Perſons; and by degrees to ſcrew into their Eſtates, not regarding their Neighbour's Benefit, but only their Our Gain, comes under the Character of thoſe againſt whom that Wo is denounced, Hab. 2.9. We to him that covereth an evil covetouſneſs to his houſe, that be may ſet his neſt in high, that be may be delivered from the power of evil.
3. THAT in ſuch Contracts we ought always re…ve a regard to our Neighbour's Gain, as well as our Own. And this requires that we uſe Moderation in the Quantity of the Intereſt in which we are to take meaſures by the ordinary Advantage which another may make: Men uſually meaſure this by Cuſtom; and I think it will be hard to exact More, by reaſon of Men's Neceſſity; and it will ſometimes be a Duty to ask Leſs, when Reaſon tells us, that Cuſtom labours of Oppreſſion. And becauſe the graſping Minds of ſinful Men, too often carries them beyond Bounds in Self-ſeeking, it is One thing which all well ordered Governments have taken particular Care about, to ſet Limits to this matter, with ſevere Penalties ordained for the Tranſgreſſor. In this kind therefore, we may not demand the ſame Quantity, not near it, that we would do for Rents of Houſes or Lands, becauſe this is only for Love, whilſt we take good Security for the P…pai; whereas the other is not only for Time, but alſo we … ſerves do run the Riſque of the I…i…ti…: And doubtleſs we ought to ſeek the Pro…rity of our Neighbour as well as our O… … that if he run the haz…d, he may learn … s…ciently in the Proſes, that ſo Men may Live one by another.
4. WE ought alſo to take great Care, the we he not over Exact in our Demands, … ſ…pream Providence of God, blacks our …ight be our's Preſent & Diſ…gens Improven…, … be cames off with not able Leſs. It is tru…, a Man may in the firſt Adventure Gain … ordinary Expectation, and at another …ll behind and ſuffer Loſs, but not ſo, but that is the whole he is Benefited; now this …s under the preſent Conſideration, and as we are not Hurt by his Gains, ſo neither me …e to be Hindred by ſuch a L…ſs: But when by Storm, Fire, Examies, o… any unforeſoe… and unavoidable Caſualty, he is brought to Provi… ty, and defeated of his rational and pro…e expectations, the Rule of …i…mantry obliged us to confider him; and not to th… him down, but to Support him, & endeavour in our Sphere, that he tray Emerger; and for that Reaſon, to be ſo far from demanding … Intereſt, as to Contribute to his Support, according to our meaſure, either by Fothe… or by patting our hand, to put him again is a way to Recover his Loſſes, and to be able to Live in the World: And not to do ſo in this Caſe, is, not to do as me would o… done by, but grievous Oppreſſion.
AND if theſe Rules the Carefully & Conſcientiouſly attended, we ſhall be ſo far from being Guilty of Sin by our thus Landing to our Neighbour, that we ſhall in Truth not only do him Juſtice, but alſo extend a… and Neighbourly Charity to him.
[MAY 29. 1705.]