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

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 ⟨p. 46⟩is bound, to make the best he can, of a bad action: but to make it worse then it is, there is no case, wherein a man may do it, without plain injury to his brother. If any man reply, and say, I am not to spare my self, nor excuse my own faults, but to judge as hardly of my own sayings and doings, as they deserve, why then should I not also do so to another? The answer is ready. Because a man knoweth not another man, so well as himself. Words and deeds are known to other men, but a mans heart is known to himself alone: therefore for thy own sayings and doings, thou art also able to judge of thine own heart, and of thy purpose and intent in so speaking and doing: but of another man, thou canst say he spake or did thus or thus: but his heart, his purpose, & intent in so doing, thou canst not judge: & therefore thou mayest not judge so sharply of another mans sayings and doings, as of thine own. To make an end of this point: in the performance of this duty, two cautions must be remembered: first, that we speak not of continued courses, in doing or speaking ⟨p. 47⟩evil, but of particular speeches and actions: for not an action or a speech, but the course of life shows what a man is: one evil speech or action may be excused, but a continued course in doing or speaking evil, may be by no means coloured or excused. Secondly, we speak not of manifest & public enormities, as of treasons against the Prince or state: for therein it may be dangerous to the Prince, and hurtful to the state, to have any thing coloured, concealed, or excused. In such cases, we must set aside our duty to our brother, and remember our duty to the head and whole body: and better it is, that one member be cut off, then that the whole body perish:

But the world is farre too blame herein: for they can extoll their owne well-doing, and twentie waies excuse their euill doing: but as for other men, they can debase their well doing, and aduance their euill doing; nay it is a common thing, to make a badde man worse then he is, and to speake of an euill action, and of mens faults worse then they are; yea to speake worse, euen of ill men then they deserue. But it is flat Iniustice, not onely to speake euill of that that is good, but euen to make an euill thing worse then it is. Many cases there are, wherein a man