OF

U SURY.

In a DIALOGUE between

Mifochreftes and Alphius.

Mifoch.

F

OEnerator Alphius, I'm glad to fee

you; you are very early mounted; whi

ther away this Morning?

Alph. To make my Story fhort, I'm proffer'd a Land Security for a Sum of Money, and the Eftate not lying many Miles out of Town, I'm going to fee what fort of Terra Firma we are likely to have; to enquire a little farther into the Value, as well as the Title: For if we engage, the Mortgage will go pretty deep.

Mifoch. I fancy'd, when I faw you upon your Pad, you were going to ride down fome Farm or other: The Mortgager won't ftand long if you get the Chafe of him, I can tell him that.

Alph.

Alph. It may be, as long as your Tenant; for I don't perceive you let fuch great Pennyworths: And if he does not pay his Rent, you can reconcile your felf to a Seifure without much difficulty.

Mifoch. I can reconcile my felf to my own; but I abominate that griping Practice of Vfury.

Alph. Since you are fuch a PlainDealer, I must tell you, your Opinion is none of my Standard: Befides, I'm no Extortioner; my Intereft goes generally under the Statute: And, I hope, there's no harm in taking the Benefit of the Law.

Mifoch. That's well! What if you might roaft or boil a Man by Act of Par→ liament, would you turn Cannibal under fuch a Toleration? Don't you know, the Law fometimes permits a leffer Evil to prevent a greater?

Alph. No Legiflator that pretends to be Chriftian, would ever be understood to permit any thing that's malum per fe: No, not upon never fo valuable a Confideration: This would be downright doing Evil that Good might come Rom. 3.8. on't: A flat Contradiction to St. Paul's Doctrine, and liable to the highest PeN 2

nalties.

nalties. Now Ufury, according to your Notion, is Malum per fe.

Mifoch. That 'tis with a witnefs! The Confcience of an Infidel starts at it; the very Turks won't endure it.

Alph. Then they may let it alone: The Confcience of an Infidel will ftart at a Glass of Wine; but yours won't: And fince you are no thorough-paced Muffulman, pray don't propofe the Alcoran for a Rule. In fhort, if Declamation is your Bufinefs, I shan't stop my Journey But if you are inclin'd to debate the Matter calmly, I'll venture to alight.

:

Mifoch. Do fo: And when I have you upon the Level, we'll take a Turn or two, and argue the Cafe.

Alph. Agreed: This Walk is pleafant, therefore let's lofe no time: And fince you made your felf the Plaintiff,

let me hear how the Action is laid.

Mifoch. You fhall have my Objections: I think my Topicks are good; for I defign to argue from the Reafon of the Thing, from the Authority of the Scripture, from the Fathers, from General and Provincial Councils; and to engage you at your own Weapon, I hope to produce fomething from the Statute-Book.

Alph.

Alph. You threaten a formidable Attack; however, I muft ftand the Shock, for now 'tis too late to avoid it.

Mifoch. To begin then with the Reafon of the Thing: And here, in the first Place, I prove the Unlawfulness of lending upon Ufury, becaufe of the barren and unpropagated Nature of Money: Gold and Silver grows no where but in the Mines It never multiplies in the Borrower's Pocket. If he should keep it feven Years, 'twould rather grow lighter than otherwife. If I lend a Buthel of Corn, one Grain will produce a great many: But fince Money continues ftinted to the first Weight and Quantity, why fhould I be fo unreasonable as to demand an Increase?

Alph. I'm afraid you don't fet your best Foot forward: This Argument will do you no Service: For fuppofe I have a thousand Pounds by me, 'tis at my Choice to turn it to what honest Use I think fit: Granting then I purchafe a Farm with this Sum, there's no body questions but that I may let this Farm to a Tenant, and receive the Rent. Mifoch. That's true.

Alph. Very well: Now if I may receive Fifty Pounds, or more, per Annum, for this Money turn'd into Land,

N 3

why

why may I not keep it in the Species of Coin, and difpofe of it to Interest for the fame Advantage? 'Tis the Money that bought the Land; and why may I not take a moderate Profit under the first Form, as well as under the latter? Intereft, properly fpeaking, is but Rent for Money And Rent, as we use the word, is no better than Ufury for Land. Now, that it fhould be lawful to make an AdVantage in one Cafe and not in the other, is to me unintelligible: For what fhould hinder me from making my Property ferviceable, when it lies in Crowns and Guineas, as well as when I convert them into Arable and Pafture? Is it because there is an Advantage to be made by him that hires the Land, but not by him that borrows the Money? This is a Miftake: For Money taken up at Intereft, and employ'd in Trade and Merchandize, often turns to a much better Account than the Business of Husbandry. And therefore Silver and Gold is by no means fo barren a Commodity as you fuppofe. Money is a ftrange fruitful Thing, provided the Soil, and the Seafon hits; carry it but to Turkey or the Eaft-Indies, and it commonly exceeds the Product of Grain: Cent: per Cent. is no Miracle in fuch Cafes. Now if

my