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 before we make an end of this Public Equity, one point is necessary to be handled in few words. Some may object, If moderation be intended, and included in our law, as well as Extremity, why then is extremity only mentioned in the law, and not this mitigation, which they so much do urge unto us? The answer is ready. The law expresseth and urgeth the extremity, to fray ⟨p. 29⟩men thereby, from coming within the danger of the extremity; and concealeth the mitigation, least it should be an encouragement to offend: yet intending it as well as the extremity, and leaving it in the hand of the Magistrate, to put in practise, when just occasion is offered, as well as the extremity. Herein appeareth the great wisdom of the lawmakers, our ancient forefathers, who well and wisely foresaw, that though mitigation be as necessary as extremity, and oftentimes more: yet because of the ill consciences of the most men, and the readiness of all men to offend, thought it fitter to express the extremity in plain terms; thereby to keep ill men within the compass of obedience, and closely to leave the mitigation to the discretion of the Magistrate. So then our lawgivers concealed the mitigation, and expressed it not in their laws, in good policy, and to good purpose. If we therefore do only take the extremity, we take only one part of their intent, and show our selves unwise, and shallow witted, who cannot see the wisdom, which they ⟨p. 30⟩closely concealed, in wise and Christian policy.

Now before we make an ende of this Publike Equitie, one point is necessarie to be handled in few words. Some may obiect, If moderation be intended, and included in our law, as well as Extremitie, why then is extremitie onely mentioned in the law, and not this mitigation, which they so much doe vrge vnto vs? The answer is readie. The law expresseth and vrgeth the extremitie, to fray ⟨p. 29⟩men thereby, from comming within the danger of the extremitie; and concealeth the mitigation, least it should be an encouragement to offend: yet intending it as well as the extremitie, and leauing it in the hand of the Magistrate, to put in practise, when iust occasion is offered, as well as the extremitie. Herein appeareth the great wisdome of the lawmakers, our auncient forefathers, who well and wisely foresaw, that though mitigation be as necessarie as extremitie, and oftentimes more: yet because of the ill consciences of the most men, and the readines of all men to offend, thought it fitter to expresse the extremitie in plaine tearmes; thereby to keepe ill men within the compasse of obedience, and closely to leaue the mitigation to the discretion of the Magistrate. So then our lawegiuers concealed the mitigation, and expressed it not in their laws, in good pollicy, and to good purpose. If we therefore doe onely take the extremity, we take onely one part of their intent, and shew our selues vnwise, and shallow witted, who cannot see the wisedome, which they