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 matter, where about this public equity is conversant: is the right and convenient, and the moderate and discrete execution of the laws of men.

The matter, where about this publicke equitie is conuersant: is the right and conuenient, and the moderate and discrete execution of the lawes of men.

Laws of men, made by lawful authority, according to Gods law, and for the common good are, and are to be esteemed, bones and sinews to hold together, props and pillars, to uphold the common-wealth, and all societies. God therefore hath given to Kings, and to their lawful deputies: power and authority, not only to command and ⟨p. 7⟩execute his own laws, commanded in his word: but also to ordain and enact, other good and profitable laws of their own, for the more particular government of their people, and to be helps for the better executing of the laws of God. And also to annex a punishment and penalty, to the said laws: which penalty is to be according to the quality of the fault, greater or less: in so much that they may in many cases, (if the common good so require) inflict even death it self. And further God hath given these gods upon earth, a power as to make these laws, and annex these punishments: so also upon mens defaults and breaches, hath he given them authority to execute the law so made, and to inflict upon the offender, the punishment annexed.

Lawes of men, made by lawfull authoritie, according to Gods law, and for the common good are, and are to be estemed, bones and sinewes to hold to gether, proppes and pillers, to vphold the common-wealth, and all societies. God therefore hath giuen to Kings, and to their lawfull deputies: power and autoritie, not onely to commaund and ⟨p. 7⟩execute his owne lawes, commanded in his word: but also to ordaine and enact, other good and profitable lawes of their owne, for the more particular gouernement of their people, and to be helpes for the better executing of the lawes of God. And also to annexe a punishment and penaltie, to the said lawes: which penaltie is to be according to the qualitie of the fault, greater or lesse: in so much that they may in many cases, (if the common good so require) inflict euen death it selfe. And further God hath giuen these goddes vpon earth, a power as to make these lawes, and annexe these punishments: so also vpon mens defaults and breaches, hath he giuen them authoritie to execute the law so made, and to inflict vpon the offender, the punishment annexed.