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 in the second place, this doctrine and the very scope of this text, condemns another sort of men, which are more cumbersome; that is to say, such men as have nothing in their mouths, but the law, the law: and Justice, Justice: in the mean time forgetting, that Justice always shakes hands with her sister mercy, and that all laws allow a mitigation. The causes of this evil are two.

But in the second place, this doctrine and the very scope of this text, condemnes another sort of men, which are more combersome; that is to say, such men as haue nothing in their mouthes, but the lawe, the lawe: and Iustice, Iustice: in the meane time forgetting, that Iustice alwaies shakes hands with her sister mercie, and that all lawes allowe a mittigation. The causes of this euill are two.

1. The general corruption of mans nature, which is always ready, to deal too hardly with other men: as also too mildly with themselves, and partially in their own causes.

1. The generall corruption of mans nature, which is alwaies readie, to deale too hardly with other men: as also too mildely with themselues, and partially in their owne causes.

2. And secondly, for the most part, such men do gain more by law, then by equity, more by extremity, then by mitigation: ⟨p. 17⟩as the soldier lives better by war, then by peace; and as the flesh-fly, feeds on the wound, that cannot feed on the sound flesh: so these men gain by law, that which they can never get by equity: for equity and moderation breed unity, and if all men were at unity, what should become of them? but extremity breeds variance: for (in reason) one extremity draws on an other, and so in mens variances they are set on work: and the more the better for them. These men therefore, stick so precisely on their points, and on the very tricks and trifles of the law, as (so the law be kept, and that in the very extremity of it,) they care not, though equity were trodden under foot: and that law may reign upon the earth, and they by it: they care not, though mercy take her to her wings, and fly to heaven. These men (for all their goodly shows) are the decayers of our estate, and enemies to all good government. For though they have nothing in their mouths, but Justice, Justice, and have banished mercy, yet let them know, that Justice will not stay where mercy is not. They are