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

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 ⟨p. 18⟩sisters, and go always hand in hand: they are the two pillars, that uphold the throne of the Prince: as you cannot hold mercy, where Justice is banished, so cannot you keep Justice where mercy is exiled: and as mercy without Justice, is foolish pity, so Justice without mercy, is cruelty. So that as these men have banished mercy, so within a short time, they will send Justice after her, and cruelty and oppression will come in their rooms, which are the very overthrow of all estates.

2. And secondly, for the most part, such men doe gaine more by lawe, then by equitie, more by extremitie, then by mittigation: ⟨p. 17⟩as the souldier liues better by warre, then by peace; and as the flesh-flie, feedes on the wound, that cannot feede on the sound flesh: so these men gaine by law, that which they can neuer get by equitie: for equitie and moderation breede vnitie, and if all men were at vnitie, what should become of them? but extremitie breeds variance: for (in reason) one extremitie drawes on an other, and so in mens variances they are set on worke: and the more the better for them. These men therefore, sticke 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 extremitie of it,) they care not, though equitie were troden vnder foote: and that law may raigne vpon the earth, and they by it: they care not, though mercie take her to her wings, and flie to heauen. These men (for all their goodly shewes) are the decayers of our estate, and enemies to all good gouernment. For though they haue nothing in their mouthes, but Iustice, Iustice, and haue banished mercie, yet let them know, that Iustice will not stay where mereie is not. They are