Clarke - BV4500_C46_1659_v1

94 Queß ons,and Cafes ofConfcience Chapzo IV. Quefl. What if the borrower ofmoney, or other things by the immediate hand of god, and not by anynegligence,or default of has own,is difenabled to refiore it-isobar mull he do infuck a cafe ? Anfr. He is then to humble himfelf to the lender requeflinghis favour,and to ptçofe reflitútion, and to promife payment vvhenfoever God {hall ena-, ble ,hint, and if God Both make him able , to performe it , Troy. 6. 3. Mattha8.26. Qt ell. What if thehider be dead,and none left to require the thing lent, what mull theborrower thsn do ? Ar,¡w. He is toreflote it to the childe of the lender if he have any ; or if none, then to his next of kinne , or for want of fuch , or if none can be found, then he mull reflore it to the Church,or to the poor,Numb.5.7,8. Dan. 4.24. Luk i9.8. How elfe may the borrowerfn in borrowing? When he borrows any thin; of his neighbour, efpecially money for ill ends and purpofes : as to maintain his pride, riot , and excefte : Or when he borrows, that by the thing borrowed he may hurt another in his peifon, or out- ward chase : Or when one having a fufficient flock of his own CO manage his trade, and live comfortably , yet he borrows to enable him to engroffe and mo- no?olize all, ormoll ofa commodity into his own hands to thegreat hurt and prejudice of others : This is an evil eye , Prov. 28. 22. So , Ifa. 5.8. _flak 2. 6, 9, IO. Queut. Flow may the lender [n by lending ? Arfw.Firfl, when he lends to fuch perfons as he knowsborrow for ill ends,and purpofes,as tomaintain pride,luxury,&c. or towrong,hurt,vex,& trouble others: whereas lending being an a&ofcharity, properly fhould be done to the poore , Pfal.iiz.ç. Exod. zz. t5. Secondly, when he lends upon ufury to his poor brother : forbidden , Exod. 22. 25. Thirdly, when the lender requires the thing lent to greedily, aseither before the time appointed for the returning,ofit, having no extraordinary need,or at an unfeafonable time, as on a Sabbath day,&c. Desit.24.to,i r. Fourthly, when he requires the thing lent with rigour, and extream hard u- cage ofthe borrower, difenabledbyGod for the prefent to repay him , and that by calling him into prifon, &c. Exod. 22. a6, 2.7. Ica. ç8.6. Mat.i 8.z9,3o. Quell. what ifthe borrower diffembl d when.he borrowed,pretending that he war able to pay when he knew he was not:or being ablerefutes to pay, as many bankrupts do:may not rigour be ufed tofuels? Anfw. Yea, the lender may lawfully call fuch an one intoprifon, and fo make him bear the burden of his pride, dllfimulation, and injullice, Prov. zo. t 6. and 22.27. Nopity is to be{hewed to rafhand foolifh Sureties : nor to difíembling borrowers. See Eltonan theCommandments. .Qu_eft. whether is it lawful to put money out to ufury ? Anfw. Before this can be anfwered, we muff confider, i. Who it is that borrows, whether apoor brother that is conflrained to it by need: or a rich tradefman that takes it up to enlarge his trade: or a rich man that lays it out upon fuperfluous occalons. Nowyou may not receive profit from him that borrowsout ofneceflity. To the pooref1 of all you mull give and not lend : To the next rank ofpoor you mull lend freely ; but ifa man will borrow that money which you could improve your felf for enriching of him , or that . will wantonly lay it out for his meere pleafure, the cafe is very different : For God bath not commanded me to love any man more then my felf: neither is there any reafon that I fhould deny my own advantage tomamtaine another mans excelle. z.Upon

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