Christianismus primitivus, or, The ancient Christian religion, in its nature, certainty, excellency, and beauty, (internal and external) particularly considered, asserted, and vindicated from the many abuses which have invaded that sacred profession, by humane innovation, or pretended revelation comprehending likewise the general duties of mankind, in their respective relations : and particularly the obedience of all Christians to magistrates, and the necessity of Christian-moderation about things dispensible in matters of religion : with divers cases of conscience discussed and resolved / by Thomas Grantham ...

SECT. I.

SO well do we know the signification of Usury, that we need not (as some) to enquire of the Hebrew, Neshec; the Greek, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; or the Latin Foenus, for the meaning of it: Because the biting, oppressive, and painful breeding quality, and travel of the thing it self, sufficiently de∣clares it to thousands, who can interpret that hard word without any Di∣ctionary save their own Experience.

Did we not see the Scriptures every where neglected, we might won∣der that Usury (as it oppresseth the Poor) should have any place among Christians, because it is therein so evidently marked for a thing unlaw∣ful, that those that run may read it if they please: * 1.1 For thus it is written, Exod. 22. 25. If thou lend Mony to my People, to the Poor with thee, thou shalt not oppress him with Usury. Levit. 25. 35, &c. If thy Brother be impoverished, or fallen into decay with thee, thou shalt relieve him, and as a Stranger, or a Sojour∣ner, so shall he live with thee; thou shalt take no Usury of him, nor vantage, or more than thou gainest: Thou shalt not give him thy Money for Usury, nor lend him thy Victuals for encrease. Deut. 23. 19. Thou shalt not lend upon Usury to thy Brother, as Usury of Money, Usury of Meat, Usury of any thing that is lent upon Usury.

Thus we see the Law of God is express against Usury, only it seemeth to be with some limitation, as when the Rich Man lendeth to the Poor. And though the Prophets sometimes speak against Usury, without men∣tioning this Limitation, * 1.2 we may not suppose that they contradict the Law of Moses. Nor is it reasonable, that the Rich who borroweth only to advance his Estate without any necessity, should have the benefit of other Mens Money without some valuable consideration; provided that the Party which lendeth, be of a lower Estate than the Borrower, or could make use of his Money another way to his probable advantage; other∣wise it is not to be doubted that the Lord hath given this Law against Usury, to preserve Friendship among all Persons of what rank soever.

Let us therefore hear the Voice of the Prophets in this Matter; and first Ezekiel complaineth against Jerusalem, saying. * 1.3 — Thou hast taken Usury, and Increase; and thou hast greedily gained of thy Neighbours by Ex∣tortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord. Where we see, that greedy

Gain, which may be in Mens common way of trading together, and Ex∣tortion, which (according to Arias Montanus) is Deceit; is not only pro∣hibited, but Usury also is in like manner censured in this place, especi∣ally as it was used to the oppression of others, for so it is commonly used. And the same Prophet joyns it with oppressing the Poor, Ezek. 18. 17. And so doth Solomon, Prov. 28. 8. He that by Usury and unjust Gain in∣creaseth his Substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the Poor.

But so many are the difficulties which attend this Subject in respect of the variety of Circumstances, as well in respect of Persons Capacities, as their Necessities, Motives, and Ends, in Borrowing and Lending, that I find the wisest Casuists resolve upon no more peremptorily than this, viz.

* 1.4 That all Usury which is an absolute Contract for the meer Loan of Money, is unlawful, both by Law Natural and Positive, both Divine and Hu∣mane.

How the Divine Law prohibits Usury, we have seen in part; and that direction of our Saviour, Lend, looking for nothing again, may seem to be a Commentary upon the Law against Usury: for, to take the words in the easiest sense that may be, they plainly shew it's a Duty to lend to those freely, which cannot in likelyhood recompence us with the like kindness: But we do no kindness at all to him to whom we put our Mo∣ney to Usury; but he doth us a kindness, by paying us more than the Principal. So that our Saviour seems to speak this on design, to restore true friendship and neighbourly kindness among Men; which Usury is a very great Enemy unto, take it at the best, because indeed it takes away that commendable respect which Men are to shew one to another, in lending to one another freely, which we know is of a very obliging nature among Men: Whereas on the contrary, Usury is a kind of mischievous Canker, or gnawing Worm, which eateth out Charity or good Will from among Men, and more especially from them that have most need of it.

The Jews had a liberty to lend Money upon Usury to a Stranger; which some conceive to intend only the Canaanites, whom they could not destroy, and so became Sojourners among them. Thou mayest lawfully take Usury of him whom thou mayest lawfully kill, saith Ambrose, * 1.5 meaning the Canaanite, whom God designed to destruction. But how large soever this Liberty was, yet it is certain our Saviour takes away this partial kindness, when he teacheth us to love our Enemies, and not to lend to, or salute our Brethren only, because this was no more than Sinners could do one to another; * 1.6 and therefore he teacheth his Disciples to do something which is singular, or more than is done by others in these Cases. But to lend to our Friend or Enemy only upon Usury, is a kindness something less than Heathenish, as I shall presently shew.

Notes

• * 1.1

  I once had occasion to pay some Money which a poor Man had bor∣rowed of a Quaker; I told the Quaker (being very exact for the Ʋse-Money) That it was unlaw∣ful Gain. The Quaker Replied, That of God in me tells me it is not unlawful. I Replied, That of God in the Scripture told me it was unlawful. See how the Word of God is made of none effect, by the false Light of this Quaker.
• * 1.2

  Jer. 15. 10. Psal. 15. 5. Isa. 24. 2. Neh. 5. 7, 10.
• * 1.3

  Ezek. 22. 12.
• * 1.4

  Bp. Hall Re∣sol. p. 373.
• * 1.5

  Lib. de To∣bit. c. 15.
• * 1.6

  Mat. 5. 47. Luke 6. 34.