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130 Pages
Page 72
The Second Homily on Psalm xiv. (xv.) has a special interest in view of the denunciation of usury alike in Scripture and in the early Church. The matter had been treated of at Nicaea. With it may be compared Homily VII., De Avaritia. [494]
After a few words of introduction and reference to the former Homily on the same Psalm, St. Basil proceeds;--"In depicting the character of the perfect man, of him, that is, who is ordained to ascend to the life of everlasting peace, the prophet reckons among his noble deeds his never having given his money upon usury. This particular sin is condemned in many passages of Scripture. Ezekiel [495] reckons taking usury and increase among the greatest of crimes. The law distinctly utters the prohibition Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother' [496] and to thy neighbour. Again it is said, Usury upon usury; guile upon guile.' [497] And of the city abounding in a multitude of wickednesses, what does the Psalm say? Usury and guile depart not from her streets.' [498] Now the prophet instances precisely the same point as characteristic of the perfect man, saying, He that putteth not out his money to usury.' [499] For in truth it is the last pitch of inhumanity that one man, in need of the bare necessities of life, should be compelled to borrow, and another, not satisfied with the principal, should seek to make gain and profit for himself out of the calamities of the poor. The Lord gave His own injunction quite plainly in the words, from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.' [500] But what of the money lover? He sees before him a man under stress of necessity bent to the ground in supplication. He sees him hesitating at no act, no words, of humiliation. He sees him suffering undeserved misfortune, but he is merciless. He does not reckon that he is a fellow-creature. He does not give in to his entreaties. He stands stiff and sour. He is moved by no prayers; his resolution is broken by no tears. He persists in refusal, invoking curses on his own head if he has any money about him, and swearing that he is himself on the lookout for a friend to furnish him a loan. He backs lies with oaths, and makes a poor addition to his stock in trade by supplementing inhumanity with perjury. Then the suppliant mentions interest, and utters the word security.
[494] cf. note on Basil's xivth Can., p. 228.
[495] xxii. 12.
[496] Deut. xxiii. 19.
[497] Jer. ix. 6, LXX.
[498] Ps. lv. 11, LXX.
[499] Ps. xv. 5.
[500] Matt. v. 42.
Reference address : https://www.elpenor.org/basil/life-works.asp?pg=72
