To Lend on Usury is Rapine, and How Grievous a Crime That Is

     To this class also belongs usurers, the most cruel and relentless extortioners, who, by usuries, plunder and destroy the miserable people.  Now, whatever is received above the principal, be it money, or anything else that may be purchased or estimated by money, is usury; for it is written thus in Ezekiel:  "He hath not lent upon usury, nor taken an increase" (Ez. 18:17):  and in Luke our Lord says:  "Lend, hoping for nothing thereby" (Luke 6:35).  Even amongst the Gentiles this was always considered a most grievous and most odious crime; and hence the question, "What is usury?" which was answered by asking, "What is murder?"  For they who lend at usury sell the same thing twice, or sell that which has no existence.

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