# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_November 1860_S322
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

322 Fifteen Theses on Usury.

C. That the Holy Spirit, insofar as it is not a form of the execution of
divine judgment, declares lending at usury to be an abomination, an
object of moral abhorrence, is proved not only by:

1. The listing of lending at usury among the sins of murder,
idolatry, unrestrained lust outside of marriage, oppression of
the poor, unmercifulness, robbery, and unjust judgment, in
Ezekiel 18:10-13: "If he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder
of blood, and that doeth the like to any one of these things,
and that doeth not any of those duties, but even hath eaten
upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbour's wife, hath
oppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath
not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the
idols, hath committed abomination, hath given forth upon
usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall
not live" etc. — Ezekiel 22:6-12 — but also by:

2. The fact that this sin is expressly called an abomination,
Ezekiel 18:13: "Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken
increase: shall he then live? He shall not live: he hath done
all these abominations; he shall surely die" etc., Ezekiel
22:2, 12; hence also by the fact that:

3. Nehemiah rebuked the nobles and rulers of the Jewish people
with great anger, and brought together a great assembly
against them, when they were found guilty of this sin, in
order to put an end to this abomination, Nehemiah 5:6-7:
"And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these
words. Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the
nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury,
every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against
them."

D. That the Holy Spirit declares lending at usury to be a misdeed which
excludes one from the congregation of God and results in eternal
damnation is proved by:

1. Psalm 15:1, 5: "Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who
shall dwell in thy holy hill?" etc. "He that putteth not out his
money to usury" etc.

2. Ezekiel 18:13, 17: "Hath given forth upon usury, and hath
taken increase: shall he then live? He shall not live: he hath
done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood
shall be upon him." "That hath taken off his hand from the
poor, that hath not received usury nor increase, hath executed
my judgments, hath walked in my statutes; he shall not die
for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live."

E. That, according to Scripture, lending at usury already incurs
temporal punishment in this life is proved by:

1. Ezekiel 22:12-16: "They have taken usury and increase, and
they have greedily gained of their neighbours by extortion,
and have forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD. Behold, therefore
I have smitten mine hand at thy dishonest gain which thou
hast made —