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

Let therefore our conclusion be, to exhort every man, into whose hands is put the execution of laws, to show himself as wise, in executing them, as were our forefathers in the making of them: that is, as well to regard the Mitigation which is concealed, as the Extremity which is expressed: so shall ⟨p. 31⟩the lawmakers wise intent be performed, public equity preserved, and much Injustice and hard dealing prevented.

Let therefore our conclusion be, to exhort euery man, into whose hands is put the execution of lawes, to shew himselfe as wise, in executing them, as were our forefathers in the making of them: that is, as well to regard the Mitigation which is concealed, as the Extremitie which is expressed: so shall ⟨p. 31⟩the lawmakers wise intent be performed, publike equitie preserued, and much Iniustice and hard dealing preuented.

Now in regard of this, that hath been delivered touching public Equity, lawyers must not think, that I have gone beyond the compass of my calling, and encroached upon their liberties. For they are to know, that the laws of men, are policy, but Equity is Christianity. Now Christianity was, before there were any laws of men: and therefore they must be ordered according to the rules of Christianity. Again, Divines must take lawyers advise, concerning Extremity, and the letter of the law: good reason then that lawyers take the Divines advise, touching Equity which is the intent of the law. Moreover, their law is but the minister of equity; but our law the word of God is the fountain of Equity: therefore the principal rules of Equity, must they fetch from our law: considering that law without equity, is plain tyranny. Lastly, in the first Christian Commonwealth that ever was, namely, the Jews, the Divines, that is, the ⟨p. 32⟩Priests of those days, were the only lawyers: for their positive laws were the Judicial laws, given by God himself, whose interpreters were the Priests and Levites. If therefore, once the Divines had so much to do with positive laws, it may not now be thought amiss, if they give advice out of the word of God, touching the equal execution of the laws of men.