Hepieíkeia: or, a treatise of Christian equity and moderation. Delivered publicly in lecturesHepieíkeia: or, a treatise of Christian equitie and moderation. Deliuered publikely in lectures

First, it must not be for every trifle, every trespass, every ill word; but in these cases, a man is both to forgive the malice, and to remit the recompense, because he is little or nothing at all hurt by it. For example, A poor man steals a little meat from thee in his hunger, let the law take hold on him, but pursue thou him no more for it, then by the law thou needs must▪ Again thy neighbours cattle doth trespass thee, thou must not go to law for it, the malice be it more or less, thou must forgive in Christianity & for conscience sake, and the damage is so small, as that therefore thou mayest not go to law for it. For the law is abused, in being ⟨p. 59⟩executed upon trifles, and those lawyers shame themselves, and dishonour their profession, who are willing that every trespass of sixpence damages be an action in the law▪ this is one of the causes of the base and vile names, that are given to the law and lawyers in these days, because the law is employed upon such trifles. And it is to be wished, that the supreme Magistrate would take order to restrain this general evil: that contentious men & unconscionable lawyers might not conspire together, to pester the law with these trifles: and though men be so unconscionable, as to run to the law for every trespass, yet should lawyers be so conscionable and so wise, as they should drive them from the law again. Thirdly, thy neighbour gives the ill words, raiseth or carrieth evil tales of thee: Equity is, not to go to law for every evil word, but to consider that for the malice, thou art to forgive it, and for the damage it cannot be great, because many mens tongues are no slander, neither art thou any thing worse for it, especially when he dare not stand to that he hath said, as for the ⟨p. 60⟩most part they do not.

First, it must not be for euery trifle, euery trespas, euery ill worde; but in these cases, a man is both to forgiue the malice, and to remit the recompence, because he is little or nothing at all hurt by it. For example, A poore man steales a little meat from thee in his hunger, let the law take hould on him, but pursue thou him no more for it, then by the law thou needs must▪ Againe thy neighbours cattell doth trespasse thee, thou must not go to lawe for it, the malice be it more or lesse, thou must forgiue in Christianitie & for conscience sake, and the damage is so small, as that therefore thou maist not go to lawe for it. For the law is abused, in beeing