Epißleof S. Paul to Titus. CHAP.3.2. agreement: and whereas lawis akind ofwarre, and fo ought to be the 58; haft procurer of peace , it is the firft courfeofmany difiempered f'pirits, before ever their aduerfariebe aduertifed or warned of it. But fuchper- Cons forget that iuf ice and rnercie arefrfters, and that inflict without mercy is but cruelty. 2. here is law, but no equirie, for equitie is the breeder ofvnity,&mother ofpeace,but their law filleth theworld with brablingcontentions: and' ;. what is their law for moll part, but tome quirkeor trickeof law, tending to extremitieof wrong andproouing in the endbut coufenage anddilhoneft etaftines,as may daily appeare in anumber ofinen, who (like the fle(h-flies,feede altogether vpon fellers and wounds,or like the fouldier,that cannot hue by peace,but by wart) not hauing that eflate oftheir owne, which their great thoughts, and high conceits carrie them veto , nor yet Gods biefíing vpon the little they haue, would gladlypery vpon others, and by fome quirkeof law, hook in that which equitie would neuer afford them;but the i(fue (hew. eth, that all their pretences are hut chokes oftheir iniquirie. Others plead, why it is my right, and why fhould I not haue ir, I will notdoofe it if the lawwill glue it me: and when they haue a man on the hippe (as we fay)andat aduantage, they follow himwith all extremitie, euen to the making of dice of his bones. It is true, that men that de- maund no morebut their right, arecounted very hone(( men,and it is e- fteemed but a reafonable thing ifa man aske but his owne, although he demaund all that: but yet it is as true, that he that is a ftriel hander' for his right alwaies,cannot but fometimcs go beyond the bounds of equi- tie, which muff yeeid famepart of the right; andof loue, which (eebCerb Lew,r;.r. not her ow'', that is , not all her owne. And whofoeuer thou art , that cana fo nimbly take all aduantages and forfeitures, confider whether God deale fo, or thou wouldft haue him to deale fo (lriElly with thee: doth he (hike fo Tooneas thou haft finned, and foToone as hehath thee at an aduantage ? and yet hemight fay, I hope I doe nomorebut iuf}ice and law, I require but my couenant. Oh therefore let cuerie Chriftian lookeinto this clearemirrour; and fay with himlelfe,Ohhow foftlyand tenderly doth ourGod deale with finnefullfle(h? he layeth not about him,nor prefently bringeth the forfeit of his law vpon mee , but bath tent out his gofpel a mercifull moderator of that rigour, without which euery day would bring a newt deluge of iudgement againfl all flefh: e- uen fomuli I in imitationof my heauenly father,deale withmy brethré, not feeke or take the forfeires which the lawe !Offered) me to do,but by Chriftian foftaeffe which theGofpel teachethme, remit of tharrigour and extremitie : for (hall the Lord powre our a lea of mercievponmee, and (hall not I let onedroppe fall vpon my brother ? and would pot I 0 o 3 haue
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