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

Fourthly, to forgive private and personal wrongs.

Fourthly, to forgiue priuate and personall wrongs.

Of all these briefly, and in order.

The first duty of private Equity, is to bear with the defects and infirmities of mens natures, with whom we live, as long as they break not out into any great inconvenience, ⟨p. 36⟩or enormity. These infirmities are manifold: as for example: frowardness or morosity of nature; bastines; slowness of conceit; dullness of wit; suspiciousness; desire of praise, and such like. These and many other natural infirmities, must a Christian man bear and tolerate patiently, in those with whom he converseth, as with his wife, his child, his servant, his friend, his neighbour, &c. And so long must he bear with them, as they are kept within a mean, and break not out into extremity. Of these the holy Ghost speaketh, Prou. 19. 31. It is the glory of a man to pass by an infirmity: that is, if he seeth in his brother weaknesses of nature, which do not arise from settled malice, or cankered corruption, it is a mans glory and praise, always so far to moderate himself, as not to see them, nor to take notice of them, at least not to be moved, nor disquieted at them: and oftentimes, so little to regard them, as though they were not done. To this end saith the Apostle, 1. Cor. 13. Love suffereth all things, that is, all things that may be borne with good conscience, & are done ⟨p. 37⟩by them whom we love. Now any thing may be borne with good conscience, which is either so private, or so small, that the wrong is only ours, and no dishonour thereby ensueth to Gods glory, nor ill example to the Church: all such things love suffereth. And indeed it is the property of true love, to pass by many wants: and the more that a Christian is rooted in true love, the more infirmities will he pass by, in them whom he loves: he setteth no limits to himself, how many or how long to bear, but even all that are infirmities of nature: many hard words, many angry fits, many needles surmises, many unkindnesses, will he put up, and (as it were) not see them, whose heart is possessed with true love, wisdom, and the scare of God: and thus must every one do that will practise Christian Equity. For this is a mans glory, and commendation. Let us lay this doctrine nearer to our consciences, by considering the nature of this virtue in some few examples.