A09403:97
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.
but we speak of private evil words or deeds, the evil and hurt whereof redoundeth to private men. And in them we speak not of manifest, gross, and palpable crimes, wherein not only the action is plainly evil, but the intent also: for to excuse or conceal, or to extenuate such, is to make our selves accessory to the evil of them. But we speak of doubtful words or deeds, wherein either the action ⟨p. 48⟩it self, or at the least, the intent of it, may receive a likely excuse, and a probable interpretation of good.
but we speake of priuate euill words or deeds, the euill and hurt whereof redoundeth to priuate men. And in them we speake not of manifest, grosse, and palpable crimes, wherein not only the action is plainely euill, but the intent also: for to excuse or conceale, or to extenuate such, is to make our selues accessarie to the euill of them. But we speake of doubtfull words or deeds, wherein either the action ⟨p. 48⟩it selfe, or at the least, the intent of it, may receiue a likely excuse, and a probable interpretation of good.
And unto these two cautions, add thus much further, that the practise of this duty, for the most part ceaseth, when the Minister is to work upon the conscience of an impenitent or a presumptuous sinner: for then he is not to moderate or mitigate, to colour or excuse, to lessen or extenuate his sins, but to speak of sin as it deserves, and to lay out his sins in their own colours, that so he may humble him, and cast him down.
And vnto these two cautions, adde thus much further, that the practise of this dutie, for the most part ceaseth, when the Minister is to worke vpon the conscience of an impenitent or a presumptuous sinner: for then he is not to moderate or mitigate, to colour or excuse, to lessen or extenuate his sinnes, but to speake of sinne as it deserues, and to lay out his sinnes in their owne colours, that so he may humble him, and cast him downe.