Depicted on the cover is a graphic parable, which encapsulates the thesis of this book. There looms the ghost of what once was a great oak. What remains of it stands cold and bare, while the vines which caused its death flourish about it. The parable that inspired this ‘illustration comes from the pen of a 16th century English Puritan preacher, Henry Smith, whose own words now explain its meaning:
“For Christ said to his Disciples, Love one another, as I have loved you. But it may be said of the Usurer, See how he hateth his brethern, and hear how he loveth them: for he loveth them in words, and hateth them in deeds. He sayeth that he loveth them, and that he lendeth for compassion, but it is for compassion of himself, that he may gain by his lending. The Usurer loveth the borrower, as the Ivy loveth the Oak: The Ivy loveth the Oak to grow up by it, so the Usurer loveth the borrower to grow rich by him. The Ivy claspeth the Oak like a lover, but it claspeth out all the juice and sap, that the Oak cannot thrive after: So the Usurer
lendeth like a friend, but he covenanteth like an enemy, for he claspeth the borrower with such bands, that ever after he diminisheth, as fast as the other increaseth.”