The Morning exercise [at] Cri[ppleg]ate, or, Several cases of conscience practically resolved

2. Another difficulty in the practise of this rule, ariseth from mens partiality in judging of the circumstances of other mens conditions and their own; we are apt to lessen the circumstances of another ⟨p. 252⟩mans condition, and to over-value our own; another mans concernments seem less to us than they are, and our own greater than they are. Now this difficulty will most eminently appear in Cases of passion, & interest, and those subordinate relations, which are at the greatest distance; another man provokes me, I revenge my self on him; one asks me, would you be contented to be thus dealt withal; I am ready to answer, yea, if I should so provoke another; I aggravate the fault of his provocation, and lessen that of my own revenge, here is passion. I desire a courtesy of a man which he cannot conveniently do for me, he denies me, I think much at him, because I judge the courtesy less, and his obligation to do it greater, than indeed it is; here is interest; I think if I were a Father, I should not carry my self so severely towards my Children; if I were a Master, I should give more liberty to servants, and use them with a greater familiarity; if I were a Minister, I should not gall the consciences of people by so free and open a reproof of sin; if I were a Magistrate, I should make other laws, or punish some crimes more or less, severely: Now if men frequently thus mis-judge, how shall this rule be put in practise?

2. Another difficulty in the practise of this rule, ariseth from mens partiality in judgeing of the circumstances of other mens conditions and their own; wee are apt to lessen the circumstances of another ⟨p. 252⟩mans condition, and to over-value our own; another mans concernments seem less to us than they are, and our own greater than they are. Now this difficulty will most eminently appear in Cases of passion, & interest, and those subordinate relations, which are at the greatest distance; another man provokes mee, I revenge my self on him; one askes mee, would you bee contented to bee thus dealt withall; I am ready to answer, yea, if I should so provoke another; I aggravate the fault of his provocation, and lessen that of my own revenge, here is passion. I desire a courtesie of a man which hee cannot conveniently do for mee, hee denies mee, I think much at him, because I judge the courtesie less, and his obligation to do it greater, than indeed it is; here is interest; I think if I were a Father, I should not carry my self so severely towards my Children; if I were a Master, I should give more liberty to servants, and use them with a greater familiarity; if I were a Minister, I should not gall the consciences of people by so free and open a reproof of sin; if I were a Magistrate, I should make other laws, or punish some crimes more or less, severely: Now if men frequently thus mis-judge, how shall this rule bee put in practise?