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

The first of these cannot be our sin, for we have no heathen Judges, in as much as our state and government, by the mercy of God is not heathenish, but we have a Christian commonwealth. But the other two are the general sores of this land; let us therefore labour to heal them and to cover our shame: let us remember that not Extremity but Equity becomes a christian; and let every man take heed of this, as he would be known to be a Christian: for the known badge of Christianity is mercifulness: the more merciful the better Christian. For he hath tasted deeper of Gods mercies to himself, and therefore he is merciful to ⟨p. 64⟩his brother, and the worse Christian, the less merciful, for he never felt Gods mercies to himself, therefore he cannot be merciful to his brother. Now to go to law for every trifle, or to steal law upon thy brother, or to sue him before thou offer him peace, it argueth a hard hart and unmerciful, and far from this duty of forgiving: but to be loath to go to law, and to put it of as long as may be, and first to give warning, and to offer peace, and not to do it, but in matters of weight, it argueth a merciful heart, and such a one as is ready to forgive, and such a one in whom the spirit of God doth dwell.

The first of these cannot be our sinne, for we haue no heathen Iudges, in as much as our state and gouernment, by the mercie of God is not heathenish, but we haue a Christian commonwealth. But the other two are the generall sores of this land; let vs therefore labour to heale them and to couer our shame: let vs remember that not Extremitie but Equitie becomes a christian; and let euery man take heed of this, as he would be knowne to be a Christian: for the knowne badge of Christianitie is mercifullnes: the more mercifull the better Christian. For he hath tasted deeper of Gods mercies to himselfe, and therefore he is mercifull to ⟨p. 64⟩his brother, and the worse Christian, the lesse mercifull, for he neuer felt Gods mercies to himselfe, therefore he cannot be mercifull to his brother. Now to go to law for euery trifle, or to steale lawe vpon thy brother, or to sue him before thou offer him peace, it argueth a hard hart and vnmerciful, and farr from this dutie of forgiuing: but to be loath to go to lawe, and to put it of as long as may be, and first to giue warning, and to offer peace, and not to doe it, but in matters of weight, it argueth a mercifull heart, and such a one as is readie to forgiue, and such a one in whome the spirit of God doth dwell.