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

And I make this distinction of the law of the land, and the word of God, because we are to know this for a rule: That every extremity, which a law in the strictest acception doeth afford, is not warrantable to be urged by the word of God: and yet notwithstanding it is good, convenient, and requisite, that the extremity be warranted by the law, because in some cases, it must needs be executed. The laws of men, may ordain and appoint extremities: but the law of God must tell us, when to urge them, and when to moderate them: So then, when a man takes the extremity, he doeth that, that is always warrantable by the law: but in some cases, is not warrantable by Gods word, ⟨p. 25⟩which commandeth a Mitigation, when there is good reason for it. But he that taketh the extremity, when there is no just cause of mitigating it, and again doth mitigate it, when there is cause, his course is not only warrantable by the laws of men, but even by the laws of God also. For it is the duty of every Christian man, to remember in all his bargains and dealings, that his manner of dealing, must not only be warranted by the laws of the land, but even by Gods word also: and this is to be known and taken for a general rule in all this treatise. And he that will duly consider the true difference of extremity and moderation, as they are here described, may see how to carry himself in all his dealings, so as they may be warrantable: both by our own laws, and by the word of God.

And I make this distinction of the lawe of the land, and the word of God, because we are to knowe this for a rule: That euery extremitie, which a law in the strictest acception doeth affoard, is not warrantable to be vrged by the word of God: and yet notwithstanding it is good, conuenient, and requisite, that the extremitie be warranted by the lawe, because in some cases, it must needes be executed. The lawes of men, may ordaine and appoint extremities: but the law of God must tell vs, when to vrge them, and when to moderate them: So then, when a man takes the extremitie, he doeth that, that is alwaies warrantable by the lawe: but in some cases, is not warrantable by Gods word, ⟨p. 25⟩which commandeth a Mittigation, when there is good reason for it. But he that taketh the extremitie, when there is no iust cause of mitigating it, and againe doth mittigate it, when there is cause, his course is not onely warrantable by the lawes of men, but euen by the lawes of God also. For it is the dutie of euery Christian man, to remember in all his bargains and dealings, that his manner of dealing, must not onely be warranted by the lawes of the land, but euen by Gods word also: and this is to be knowne and taken for a generall rule in all this treatise. And he that will duely consider the true difference of extremitie and moderation, as they are here described, may see how to carrie himselfe in all his dealings, so as they may be warrantable: both by our owne lawes, and by the word of God.