A general discourse against the damnable sect of vsurers grounded vppon the vvorde of God, and confirmed by the auctoritie of doctors both auncient, and newe; necessarie for all tymes, but most profitable for these later daies, in which, charitie being banished, couetousnes hath gotten the vpper hande. VVhereunto is annexed another godlie treatise concernyng the lawfull vse of ritches. Seene and allowed accordyng to her Maiesties iniunctions.

¶ The 2. Chapter. Of the lawfull vse of ritches.

Ischomachus, as it is 〈…〉〈…〉 Xeno∣phon,* 1.1 being asked what was the lawfull vse of Ritches, aunswered on this manner: I ought with my Ritches to honour the Gods mightelie: to succour my friendes in ex∣tremitie: and not too suffer the glory of my countrey to be defaced, if I may aduaunce the same. This man ignorant of true religiun, maketh à threefolde vse of ritches. One parte he ascribeth to the seruice of God: another to the succurring of his freindes in pouertie: and the thirde to the setting forth and adornyng of his countrie. And al∣though

this aunswere of the prophane Philosopher be* 1.2 good and commendable, yet somewhat more distinct∣ly I will shewe the true vse of ritches which is fourfold.

The firste and principall vse of ritches, should bee to* 1.3 maintaine religion, and to set forthe the glorie of God. This vse is confirmed by the ende of mans creation. For man was at the first made, and afterwarde regenerated by the holy ghoste, to glorifie God. And therfore what∣soeuer giftes we haue, we should refer them especiallie to this ende of our creation. Here many beyng misera∣bly* 1.4 seduced, offend. For some there be which giue no∣thing at al to the maintenance of the ministerie. Others doe wickedly plucke away that whiche deuoutly was giuen to the seruice of God. And others with their rit∣ches, encrease the power of tyrans, to the oppressyng of the Churche, and abolishyng of Religion. Which men had been in muche better case if they had neuer been borne. For their portion shalbe with Sathan, whose members they are. Therefore à godly man which is bles∣sed with ritches in this world, should consider the ende of his creation, and bestowe a parte of his goodes to this ende that God may be glorified, and true religion maintained. Let hym set before his eyes the examples of* 1.5 godly men, as of Dauid, Iosias, Ezechias, Constantinus, Theodosius, &c. and other good princes, & godly men, whose desire was in nothing so muche, as in aduaun∣cing the glorie of God, helping preachers and religious men, maintainyng scholes and good priuileges, defen∣dyng the teachers of godlines against the crueltie of the wicked.

The seconde vse of ritches ought to bee, to adorne* 1.6 the Commonweales wherein wee are, accordyng to our habilitie. For this cause tributes are appointed, that by them, as it were by senewes the bodie of the whole

state maie bee strengthened. But here twoo sortes of* 1.7 men doe greatly offende. One sorte are some greate men, whiche in the tyme of peace, when any thyng is to be paied for the vse of the Common-weale; craf∣tily slippe their owne neckes out of the collor, & make the poorer sorte to smarte for it, by paiyng more than oftentymes they well can spare. The other bee suche, as not contente with ordinarie paiementes, put newe exa∣ctions vppon their Subiectes, which are condemned by the testimonie of Ihon Baptist, because they brynge not forthe the fruites of repentance. Christ saieth: Geue vn∣to Caesar the thinges whiche are Caesars, and giue vnto GOD, those thynges whiche are Gods. But let Caesar* 1.8 knowe that there is a certaine rule whiche the Lawes doe prescribe vnto hym. Which if he shall breake, he is subiecte to the wrath of God. But, you will saie, is it not* 1.9 lawfull therefore for à Magistrate sometyme to exacte somethyng of his people besides the ordinarie taxe? Wee must put a difference betwene the tyme of warre, and of peace. In the tyme of peace let hym bee content with his ordinarie allowance, least hee synne against God: in the tyme of warre his subiectes doe owe vnto hym not their goodes onely, but their bodies also, if his warre bee iuste. And à godlie prince maie bothe de∣maunde* 1.10 vnaccustomable Subsidies, and also com∣maunde their bodies to serue hym in the warre. Also in the time of peace suche occasions maie be offered, that his common allowance will not suffi•••• hym. And then, good subiectes ought to helpe, and godly Princes may, require their aide. But suche as bring the same into cu∣stome to oppresse their subiectes, let them looke to bee punished like infidels of the righteous iudge, whiche also can tell how to yoke the neckes of the proude, and tyrans.

The thirde good and lawfull vse of ritches is, that e∣uerie* 1.11 man do keepe hymselfe accordyng to his power honestly, & maintaine his houshold. But two vices are to be taken heede of, couetousnes, and prodigality. Co∣uetousnes* 1.12 doeth greedilie scrape ritches together, vn∣seemely for à godlie man. Prodigality doth rashly con∣sume welth sometyme vpon brauerie vnmeete for our callyng. And therefore à meane, whiche in euery thing is commendable, must be obserued here. Let the honest* 1.13 Citizen leaue honour to the Nobility; and let the god∣ly noble man leaue royaltie vnto his Prince. Let Prea∣chers in scholes and in Churches defend their state mo∣destly. And let no man go about that, whiche shalbee for his calling, or condition vnseemely.

The fourth and the last vse of ritches good and com∣mendable,* 1.14 is to releiue the poore. For certainly God doth suffer the poore among vs, to trie both how wil∣ling we are to obeye his Commaundementes (for hee doth bid vs to stretche forthe our hand to the needie) and what pittie wee take vpon the members of God, the which if we contemne, we despise God. For it can∣not be that he should loue the head, whiche punisheth the body. But of this vse more hereafter, cap. 13.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The opinion of Ischomachus a∣boute the law∣full vse of rit∣ches.
• * 1.2

  Ritches are to be vsed to foure endes.
• * 1.3

  1. The first, and principa••l vse of ritches, is to ad∣uaunce the glo∣rie of God, and to maintaine the ministerie.
• * 1.4

  The firste ende why ritches are giuen, little cō∣sidered.
• * 1.5

  Dauid. Iosias. Ezechias. Constantinus. Theodosius.
• * 1.6

  2. The second vse of ritches, is to maintaine the Commonweale.
• * 1.7

  The second vse of ritches not regarded some∣tyme.
• * 1.8

  Math. 22.
• * 1.9

  VVhether a Prince may ex∣act any thing a∣boue that which is commonlie a∣lotted hym to haue, or no.
• * 1.10

  Howe in the tyme of peace a king may put his people to extraordinarie charges.
• * 1.11

  3. The third vse of ritches to main∣taine our selues honestlie.
• * 1.12

  Couetousnes. Prodigalitie.
• * 1.13

  In medio virtus.
• * 1.14

  4. The fourth and last vse of rit∣ches, to relei•••• the poore.