Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1840-11-19
miscellaneous.
From the Hatchman Of the South.
USURY.

Of usliry. We believe The Bible gives US
rules on this aud all other moral questions,
sufficient for our guidance. We shall there
fore subioin few texts from the Word of
God, and leave each mans conscience to
decide. One Thing, however, we must
saw, and that is, the decision of each man
will he reviewed in the great aad notable
day of the Lord.
Exodus xxi. %: "If thou lend money
10 any ofmv people that is ponr by thee,
thou shall not be 10 him as an usurer, neitf-
er shalt thou lay upon him usury." Levi
ticus XIV. 35-35: Sand if Thy brother
be waxcn poor, and fallen in decay with
thee, thou shall, relieve him. yea, though
he he stranger, or sojourncr; that he
NAV live with the. Take thou no usury
of him, or increase: but fear thy God that
thy brother may live with thee. Thou
shalt not give him thy money upon usury,
nor lend him thy victuals for increase"
The ruinous consequences and The dis
trcss brought on community by usurious
and similar practices arc clcarely stated
and Justly reproycd in Nehemiah v. l-l3
"And there was a great cry OF the people
and of their wives against their brethren
the Jews. For there were that said, We.
our sons, and our daughters, are many:
therefore we take up corn for them, that
we may eat aud live. Some also there
were that said. We have morgaocd our
lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might
buy corn, because Of the dearlh. There
were also that said. We have borrowed
money for the kings tribute, and that up
on our lands and vineyards. Yet now our
noeh ia ,ho floah OF our brethren, our
children as their children: and, 10. we
bring into bondage our SONS aud daughters
10 be servants. and some Of our daus shIers
are brought unrn bondage already: neither
is il in our power to redeem Them; for 9th
CIR mon have our lands ard Vineyards
And | was very angry when heard their
crv and these words. Then | consulted
with myself and rebuked The nohlcs and
the rulers, and said unto them, You ex.
acl usurv, every one of his brother. And
set great Assembly against lhem,-
And said unto them, We after our abil.
ty have redeemed our brethren The Jews.
which were sold unto the heaIlcn; and
will you even sell your brethren? or shall
they pc sold unto us! Then held they
their peace, and found nothing to answer.
Also, said. it is not good TINT ye do ought
ye not to walk in the fear Of onr God be.
cause Of the reproach the hcalhen our
enemies! likewise, and my hrcihen,
and my servants might exact of them
money and corn: pray you let us leave
oft this usury. Restore. | pray you, 20
them. even This day, their lands, their oil.
iveyards, and their houses, also the hun
drelh part Of the money, aud of the corn,
The wine, aud the oil. that ye exact of them.
Then said they. We will restore them, md
will require nothing of them; so will We do
as thou sayest. Then called the priests.
and took an oath of them, lhatlhcy should
da according to this promise. Also shook
my lap, and said, So God shake out every
man from his house, and from his labour,
that pcrformelh moi this promise. even thus
be he shaken out, and emp,ied. And all
the congregation said, Amen. and praised
the Lord. And the people did according
to his promise"
The subject is also referred TO in the
most solemn manner in The 18th Psalm.
"Lord, win shall abide in Thy tabernacle!
who shall dwell in The holy hill! lie tha!
walke,h uprightly, and workelh righteous.
ness. and speakeIh the truth in his heart.
lie that hackhiie,h not with his tongue. nor
tloellI evil TO his neighbor, nor laketIl no Il
reproach against lis neishhor. In whose
ewes vile person is condemned; but he
honnreih them that fear the Lord. lie
that sweareth to his own hurt and chan
geh not. He that pu,cth not oul his mon-
ey 10 usury. nor takelh reward against The
innocent. lie that doeth these things
shall never he moved"
We ask attention also to the following
passage. Proverbs xviii. g.: "He that
by usury and unjust gain increaseIh his
substance, he shall gather it for him that
will pity the poor"
From the prophet jeremiah we learn
that no regarded it as criminal either 10
give or take usury, and therefore he nvoi
ded both practices. lie says, chap. XIV. 10.
"Wo is me, mother, that lbon hast borne
me man Of strife and man of coaen-
rion to the while earth. have neither
lent 10 me on usury; yet every one Of them
doth curse me"
The prophet Ezekiel classes usury with
idoIatry and violence, and injustice. He
says, chap. xviii. So, inclusive; "But if
man he just. and do ,ha; which is lawful
and right, and hath no, eaten upon the
mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes
to lhe idols Of the house of Israel, neither
hath de6led his neighbor's wife, neither
hath come near to q monstrous women;