20. Why, the very law of the Lord teaches us
that this rule must be observed, so that we may never deprive another
of anything for the sake of our own advantage. For it says:
“Remove not the bounds which thy fathers have
set.” Prov. xxii. 28. It bids a
neighbour’s ox to be brought back if found wandering. Ex. xxiii. 4. It orders a thief to be put to
death. Ex. xxii. 2. It forbids the labourer to be
deprived of his hire, Lev. xix. 13. and orders money
to be returned without usury. Deut. xxiii. 19. It is a
mark of kindly feeling to help him who has nothing, but it is a sign of
a hard nature to extort more than one has given. If a man has
need of thy assistance because he has not enough of his own wherewith
to repay a debt, is it not a wicked thing to demand under the guise of
kindly feeling a larger sum from him who has not the means to pay off a
less amount? Thou dost but free him from debt to another, to
bring him under thy own hand; and thou callest that human kindliness
which is but a further wickedness.