Usury.

1. THE Jews were forbidden to take Use one of another, but they were not forbidden to take it of other Nations. That being so, I see no reason, why I may not as well take Use for my Money, as Rent for my House. ’Tis a vain thing to say, Money begets not Money; for that no doubt it does.

2. Would it not look odly to a Stran∣ger, that should come into this Land, and hear in our Pulpits Usury preach’d a∣gainst, and yet the Law allow it? Ma∣ny Men use it; pehaps some Church∣men themselves. No Bishop nor Eccle∣siastical Judge, that pretends Power to punish other Faults, dares punish, or at least does punish any Man for doing it.

Pious Uses.

1. THE ground of the Ordinary’s taking part of a Man’s Estate (who dy’d without a Will) to Pious Uses, was this; to give it some body to pray, that his Soul might be deliver’d out of Purgatory; now the pious Uses come in∣to his own Pocket. ’Twas well exprest by John O Powls in the Play, who acted the Priest; one that was to be hang’d, being brought to the Ladder, would fain have given something to the Poor; he feels for his Purse, (which John O Powls had pickt out of his Pocket before) mis∣sing it, crys out, He had lost his Purse; now he intended to have given some∣thing to the Poor; John O Powls bid him be pacified, for the Poor had it already.