Note 34 — Chapter XII · On Contracts.

"The Mosaic law indeed prohibited the lending of money upon usury. But this was a political and not a moral precept. It only prohibited the Jews from taking usury of their brethren the Jews, but in express words permitted them to take it of a stranger: which proves that the taking of moderate usury, or a reward for the use, is not an evil in itself, since it was allowed where any but an Israelite was concerned."—Blackst. Com. b. ii. ch. 30. p. 454. The objections made to it by Cicero and others, our author observes, are founded more upon the consequences of usury than upon usury itself. Because it deters men from borrowing. But, on the other hand, if there were no advantage attached to the lending of money, none would be found willing to lend; consequently the benefits arising from a facility of borrowing money to carry on trade would be defeated.