A09403:95
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.
And further in this duty, one thing more is to be remembered, namely, that we must not give too sharp a censure, even of the open and manifest evil sayings, or doings of our brother: we must not judge them to be done carelessly, when it may be they are done ignorantly: nor deliberately, when it may be they are done rashly: nor presumptuously, ⟨p. 45⟩when it may be they are done upon infirmity: nor to be done upon hatred or malice to us, when it may be they are done for an other cause: nor may we judge an evil thing, to be done for want of conscience, when it may be, it is done for want of heedfulness: but always we must remember, to make the best we can, even of another mans infirmities. And as, if our brother do well, we are to acknowledge it, and commend him for it: So if he do amiss, we must not make it worse then it is.
And further in this dutie, one thing more is to be remembred, namely, that we must not giue too sharpe a censure, euen of the open and manifest euill sayings, or doings of our brother: we must not iudge them to be done carelesly, when it may be they are done ignorantly: nor deliberately, when it may be they are done rashly: nor presumptuously, ⟨p. 45⟩when it may be they are done vpon infirmitie: nor to be done vpon hatred or malice to vs, when it may be they are done for an other cause: nor may we iudge an euill thing, to be done for want of conscience, when it may be, it is done for want of heedfulnesse: but alwaies we must remember, to make the best we can, euen of another mans infirmities. And as, if our brother doe well, we are to acknowledge it, and commend him for it: So if he doe amisse, we must not make it worse then it is.
But the world is far too blame herein: for they can extol their own well-doing, and twenty ways excuse their evil doing: but as for other men, they can debase their well doing, and advance their evil doing; nay it is a common thing, to make a bad man worse then he is, and to speak of an evil action, and of mens faults worse then they are; yea to speak worse, even of ill men then they deserve. But it is flat Injustice, not only to speak evil of that that is good, but even to make an evil thing worse then it is. Many cases there are, wherein a man