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

For whereas we by our sins, do every hour plunge our selves into hell, as a man that violently castes himself into a gaping gulf: see Gods wonderful mercy, we thrust our selves in, and he puts us back: he stayeth ⟨p. 71⟩us with his own hand, and so keeps us out. See what a sea of mercies the Lord doth power upon man: for how can that but be an infinite sea of mercies, which is showed to so many thousands of men, so many thousand times in one hour. If his mercy did not moderate the extremity of his law, there should not be one man left upon earth, but all in one hour cast into hell: but God stayeth his Justice, and stayeth his law, yea stayeth us, who our selves would execute the law upon our selves and so cast our selves into hell, he keeps us out and gives unto us a longer time to repent. And this is true in all men: to some, he gives longer, to some shorter, but to every one some, where as the law gives not one hour to any man, nay the law is so far from giving time to repent, that it admits no repentance at all, no though a man should sin but once, and instantly after that one sin, humble himself in repentance and crave forgiveness, the law will not accept him to favour, nor yield forgiveness, nor allow his repentance: for the law can do nothing but this: either justify and reward ⟨p. 72⟩him that fulfils it, or condemn and punish him that breaks it, further then this the law by it self goeth not.

For whereas we by our sinnes, doe euery houre plunge our selues into hell, as a man that violently castes himselfe into a gaping gulfe: see Gods wonderfull mercie, we thrust our selues in, and he puts vs backe: he staieth ⟨p. 71⟩vs with his own hand, and so keepes vs out. See what a sea of mercies the Lord doth power vpon man: for how can that but be an infinite sea of mercies, which is shewed to so many thousands of men, so many thousand times in one houre. If his mercie did not moderate the extremitie of his lawe, there should not be one man left vpon earth, but all in one houre cast into hell: but God staieth his Iustice, and staieth his lawe, yea stayeth vs, who our selues would execute the law vpon our selues and so cast our selues into hell, hee keepes vs out and giues vnto vs a longer time to repent. And this is true in all men: to some, he giues longer, to some shorter, but to euery one some, where as the law giues not one houre to any man, nay the law is so far from giuing time torepent, that it admits no repentance at all, no though a man should sinne but once, and instantly after that one sinne, humble himselfe in repentāce and craue fogiuenes, the law will not accept him to fauour, nor yeild forgiuenes, nor allowe his repentance: for the law can do nothing but this: either iustifie and reward