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

But the second doeth more nearly concern all men. So soon as man commits any sin, even then is he guilty of eternal damnation, because he hath broken the law: for the curse of the law, is not only a guiltiness, but a subjection to the wrath of god, presently to be inflicted upon the sin committed, without any intermission: so that so oft as a man sinneth, so oft doth he deserve to be plunged soul and body into hell, without being spared one hour. If therefore the Lord did cast ten thousand into hell in one hour, he did but Justice, for so the law requireth: ⟨p. 70⟩but see the merciful moderation of the Lord: though we deserve every hour to be cast into hell, yet is every hour and minute of our lives, full of the mercy and moderation of the Lord: so as though our sins cry for damnation presently, yet God stayeth his hand, and doeth not execute the sentence of damnation upon the sinner, instantly after his sin, no not in one of ten thousand, but spareth every man many years, some more, some less, but all more then their sins deserve, or the law requireth. We often read, and always find, that God hears the cry of sinners: but we seldom read, that God hears the cry of sin, for if he always heard it, when sin cries for vengeance to him, he should turn us all into hell in one hour: this is a wonderful patience and moderation in God, and yet behold a greater.

But the second doeth more neerely concerne all men. So soone as man commits any sinne, euen then is he guiltie of eternall damnation, because he hath broken the law: for the curse of the lawe, is not onely a guiltinesse, but a subiection to the wrath of god, presently to be inflicted vpon the sinne committed, without any intermission: so that so oft as a man sinneth, so oft doth he deserue to be plunged soule and body into hel, without beeing spared one houre. If therefore the Lord did cast ten thousand into hell in one houre, he did but Iustice, for so the lawe requireth: ⟨p. 70⟩but see the mercifull moderation of the Lord: thogh we deserue euery houre to be cast into hell, yet is euery houre and minute of our liues, full of the mercie and moderation of the Lord: so as though our sinnes crie for damnation presently, yet God staieth his hand, and doeth not execute the sentence of damnation vpon the sinner, instantly after his sinne, no not in one of ten thousand, but spareth euery man many yeares, some more, some lesse, but all more then their sinnes deserue, or the lawe requireth. We often reade, and alwaies finde, that God heares the crie of sinners: but we seldome reade, that God heares the crie of sinne, for if he alwaies heard it, when sin cries for vengeance to him, he should turne vs all into hell in one houre: this is a wonderfull patience and moderation in God, and yet behold a greater.