A09403:65
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.
So for fines and rents, the law saith, Thou mayest make the most of thine own, if thou ⟨p. 23⟩stretch this law as far as the very words will bear, then mayest thou make such fines and rents, as may grind the faces of the poor, so as no man shall live under thee: but thus to do is Extremity, and beyond the purpose of the law.
So for fines and rents, the lawe saith, Thou maiest make the most of thine owne, if thou ⟨p. 23⟩stretch this law as farre as the very wordes will beare, then maiest thou make such fines and rents, as may grinde the faces of the poore, so as no man shall liue vnder thee: but thus to doe is Extremitie, and beyond the purpose of the lawe.
The moderation in this case is, not to take all thou mayest get, but so to fine and rent thy lands, as he that takes them, may live of them: The reason of this Mitigation is, because envy and hatred, may often make many men offer more for a farm, then it is worth, to cross and hurt their neighbour, or to get all into their own hand. Here therefore, though the law doeth yield thee all that, which a man doeth willingly offer, yet must thine own conscience be a law unto thee, to make thee a moderator of that extremity.
The moderation in this case is, not to take all thou maist get, but so to fine and rent thy lands, as he that takes them, may liue of thē: The reason of this Mittigation is, because enuie and hatred, may often make many men offer more for a farme, then it is worth, to crosse and hurt their neighbour, or to get all into their owne hand. Here therefore, though the lawe doeth yeild thee all that, which a man doeth willingly offer, yet must thine owne conscience be a lawe vnto thee, to make thee a moderator of that extremitie.