Chapter 93—Usury
In the view given me in Rochester, New York, December 25, 1865,
I was shown that the subject of taking usury should be considered by
Sabbathkeepers. Wealthy men have no right to take interest from their
poor brethren, but they may receive usury from unbelievers. “And if
thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou
shalt relieve him.... 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.” “Thou
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shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of
victuals, usury of anything that is lent upon usury: unto a stranger thou
mayest lend upon usury; but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon
usury: that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest
thine hand to in the land whither thou goest to possess it.”
God has been displeased with Sabbathkeepers for their avaricious
spirit. Their desire to get gain is so strong that they have taken advan-
tage of poor, unfortunate brethren in their distress and have added to
their own already abundant means, while these poorer brethren have
suffered for the same means. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” is the
language of their hearts.
A few years ago some of the poorer brethren were in danger of
losing their souls through wrong impressions. Everywhere Satan was
tempting them in regard to the wealthy. These poor brethren were
constantly expecting to be favored, when it was their duty to rely upon
their own energies; and had they been favored, it would have been the
worst thing that could have been done for them. All through the ranks
of Sabbathkeepers, Satan was seeking to overthrow the poorer class by
his temptations. Some who have lacked judgment and wisdom have
taken their own course, being unwilling to ask advice or to follow it.
Such have had to suffer as the result of their miserable calculation, and
yet these same ones would feel that they should be favored by their
brethren who have property. These things needed to be corrected. The
first-mentioned class did not realize the responsibilities resting upon
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