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

Now, suppose a young boy pinched with hunger, cold, and poverty, steals meat, apparel, ⟨p. 13⟩and other things for relief, being pressed to it by want, and not having knowledge, or grace to use better means: to put this person to death, for this fact, is the extremity of the law, in respect of the circumstances of the person, who did it, being a child: and of the end, for which he did it, to relieve his wants.

Now, suppose a young boy pinched with hunger, cold, and pouertie, steales meate, apparell, ⟨p. 13⟩and other things for releife, beeing pressed to it by want, and not hauing knowledge, or grace to vse better meanes: to put this person to death, for this facte, is the extremitie of the law, in respect of the circumstances of the person, who did it, beeing a childe: and of the end, for which he did it, to releiue his wants.

Now the moderation in this case is, when upon these considerations, that first, he is not an old, nor a practised thief: but young and corrigible; one that being reformed, may live long, and prove a good member in the common wealth: and secondly, that his theft was not heinous, but the things he stole were of small value: and thirdly, that he did it not upon a malicious, cruel, and injurious intent, but to relieve his hunger and want. The equity or moderation, I say in this case, is not to inflict death, (for that were extremity) but to determine a punishment, less then death: yet such a one, as shall be sufficient, to reform the party from his sin, to punish the fault, to terrify ⟨p. 14⟩others, and to satisfy the law.

Now the moderation in this case is, when vpon these considerations, that first, he is not an olde, nor a practised theife: but young and corrigible; one that beeing reformed, may liue long, and prooue a good member in the common wealth: and secondly, that his theft was not hainous, but the things he stole were of small value: and thirdly, that he did it not vpon a malitious, cruel, and iniurious intent, but to releiue his hunger and want. The equitie or moderation, I say in this case, is not to inflict death, (for that were extremitie) but to determine a punishment, lesse then death: yet such a one, as shall be sufficient, to reforme the partie from his sinne, to punish the fault, to terrifie