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

1. Labour to understand truly every mans condition, so far as you have opportunity; this is easily said, but how shall we come to do it? Thus, when you are in any condition, observe diligently the motions of your own mind, and how your affections then work, and what apprehensions, you then have of things, and what it is that in such a condition you desire, and expect from others; and labour to remember this when you are out of that condition, and to retain the fence which you then had of things.

1. Labour to understand truly every mans condition, so far as you have opportunity; this is easily said, but how shall wee come to do it? Thus, when you are in any condition, observe diligently the motions of your own minde, and how your affections then work, and what apprehensions, you then have of things, and what it is that in such a condition you desire, and expect from others; and labour to remember this when you are out of that condition, and to retain the fense which you then had of things.

2. In cases wherein you are unexperienced, and which you cannot reasonably be presumed to understand, partly because of your distance from that condition, partly because of the opposition of your own interest; and partly because of the mists, and clouds, of your own passion; trust the concurrent experience of others, that are in that condition; and think that you ought not to do that to another, which the generality of mankind count grievous, and that fit to be done, which the most, and wisest in such a condition and relation, do usually expect. If men when they are under, and lye at the mercy of others, generally desire that clemency, and moderation should be used towards them, how just soever thou mayest think thy severity is, and that thou wouldest be contented, that another should deal so ⟨p. 253⟩with thee, yet do not trust thy present apprehensions of things, but believe that thou wilt have the same sense of things, when they lye heavy upon thee, with the rest of man-kind, and when thou art in their circumstances, thou wilt desire quarter as they do; In like manner, that respect and obedience which Parents, and Masters, and Magistrates, do generally expect (even the best and wisest of them) that do thou pay to them; and though it may have some appearance of rigour, and injustice, yet believe that when thou comest to be in the same relation, thou wilt expect the same things as they do; and that thou dost now judge otherwise, proceeds from thy inexperience, and distance from that condition, or from passion and opposition of interest.