A09403:35
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
Hepieíkeia: or, a treatise of Christian equity and moderation. Delivered publicly in lectures by M. W. Perkins, and now published by the consent of his assigns in Cambridge by a preacher of the wordHepieíkeia: or, a treatise of Christian equitie and moderation. Deliuered publikely in lectures by M. W. Perkins, and now published by the consent of his assignes in Cambridge by a preacher of the word
Cambridge: printed by John Legat, 1604Cambridge: printed by Iohn Legat, 1604
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Both these, are put into the hand of the Magistrate by God himself, to be ordered according to his discretion, and as the circumstance requireth; and of them in order. The extremity of the law, is, when any law of man, is urged and executed straightly and precisely, according to the literal sense, and strict form of the words, and the exactest meaning, that can be made out of the words, without any manner of relaxation, at that time, when there is good and convenient cause of mitigation, in regard of the person offending.
Both these, are put into the hand of the Magistrate by God himselfe, to be ordered according to his discretion, and as the circumstance requireth; and of them in order. The extremitie of the law, is, when any law of man, is vrged and executed straightly and precisely, according to the literall sence, and strict forme of the wordes, and the exactest meaning, that can be made out of the wordes, without any manner of relaxation, at that time, when there is good and conuenient cause of mittigation, in regard of the person offending.
This point cannot well be expressed in sewer words.
This point cannot well be expressed in sewer wordes.
The principal and most material clause in this description of extremity, is in those words. At that time, when there is just ⟨p. 9⟩cause of mitigation, in regard of the person offending. For if there be no good cause of mitigation: then it is not called, extremity: but justice of the law: but when there is good cause, why in a Christian consideration of some circumstances, this justice should be mitigated, and yet is not, but contrariwise is extremely urged, and pressed to the furthest: then it is extremity. Now this extremity of the law, is in this case so far from justice, as indeed it is flat injustice. And herein is the proverb true. Summum Jus summa iniuria; that is, the extremity of the law, is extreme injury. And of this doth the holy ghost mean,