Equity
Charles Buck Theological Dictionary [1]
Is that exact rule of righteousness or justice, which is to be observed between man and man. Our Lord beautifully and comprehensively expresses it in these words: "All things whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so to them, for this is the law and the prophets, " Matthew 7:12 . This golden rule, says Dr. Watts, has many excellent properties in it.
1. It is a rule that is easy to be understood, and as easy to be applied by the meanest and weakest understanding, Isaiah 35:8 .
2. It is a very short rule, and easy to be remembered: the weakest memory can retain it: and the meanest of mankind may carry this about with them, and have it ready upon all occasions.
3. This excellent precept carries greater evidence to the conscience, and a stronger degree of conviction in it, than any other rule of moral virtue.
4. It is particularly fitted for practice, because it includes in it a powerful motive to stir us up to do what it enjoins.
5. It is such a rule as, if well applied, will almost always secure our neighbour from injury, and secure us from guilt if we should chance to hurt him.
6. It is a rule as much fitted to awaken us to sincere repentance, upon the transgression of it, as it is to direct us to our present duty.
7. It is a most extensive rule, with regard to all the stations, ranks, and characters of mankind, for it is perfectly suited to them all.
8. It is a most comprehensive rule with regard to all the actions and duties that concern our neighbours. It teaches us to regulate our temper and behaviour, and promote tenderness, benevolence, gentleness, &c.
9. It is also a rule of the highest prudence with regard to ourselves, and promotes our own interest in the best manner.
10. This rule is fitted to make the whole world as happy as the present state of things will admit.
See Watts's Sermons, ser. 33. 5: 1:; Evan's Ser. ser. 28; Morning Exercises at Cripplegate, ser. 10.
King James Dictionary [2]
EQ'UITY, n. L. oequitas, from oequus, equal, even, level.
1. Justice right. In practice, equity is the impartial distribution of justice, or the doing that to another which the laws of God and man, and of reason, give him a right to claim. It is the treating of a person according to justice and reason.
The Lord shall judge the people with equity. Psalms 98
With righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity. Isaiah 11
2. Justice impartiality a just regard to right or claim as, we must, in equity, allow this claim. 3. In law, an equitable claim. "I consider the wife's equity to be too well settled to be shaken." 4. In jurisprudence, the correction or qualification of law, when too severe or defective or the extension of the words of the law to cases not expressed, yet coming within the reason of the law. Hence a court of equity or chancery, is a court which corrects the operation of the literal text of the law, and supplies its defects, by reasonable construction, and by rules of proceeding and deciding, which are not admissible in a court of law. Equity then is the law of reason, exercised by the chancellor or judge, giving remedy in cases to which the courts of law are not competent. 5. Equity of redemption, in law, the advantage, allowed to a mortgager, of a reasonable time to redeem lands mortgaged, when the estate is of greater value than the sum for which it was mortgaged.
Webster's Dictionary [3]
(1): ( n.) An equitable claim; an equity of redemption; as, an equity to a settlement, or wife's equity, etc.
(2): ( n.) A system of jurisprudence, supplemental to law, properly so called, and complemental of it.
(3): ( n.) Equality of rights; natural justice or right; the giving, or desiring to give, to each man his due, according to reason, and the law of God to man; fairness in determination of conflicting claims; impartiality.
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature [4]
"is that exact rule of righteousness or justice which is to be observed between man and man. Our Lord beautifully and comprehensively expresses it in these words: 'All things whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so to them, for this is the law and the prophets' ( Matthew 7:12). This golden rule, says Dr. Watts, has many excellent properties in it.
1. It is a rule that is easy to be understood, and easy to be applied by the meanest and weakest understanding ( Isaiah 35:8).
2. It is a very short rule, and easy to be remembered: the weakest memory can retain it; and the meanest of mankind may carry this about with them, and have it ready upon all occasions.
3. This excellent precept carries greater evidence to the conscience, and a stronger degree of conviction in it, than any other rule of moral virtue.
4. It is particularly fitted for practice, because it includes in it a powerful motive to stir us up to do what it enjoins.
5. It is such a rule as, if well applied, will almost always secure our neighbor from injury, and secure us from guilt if we should chance to hurt him.
6. It is a rule as much fitted to awaken us to sincere repentance upon the transgression of it as it is to direct us to our present duty.
7. It is a most extensive rule, with regard to all the stations, ranks, and characters of mankind, for it is perfectly suited to them all.
8. It is a most comprehensive rule with regard to all the actions and duties that concern our neighbors. It teaches us to regulate our temper and behavior, and promote tenderness, benevolence, gentleness, etc.
9. It is also a rule of the highest prudence with regard to ourselves, and promotes our own interest in the best manner.
10. This rule is fitted to make the whole world as happy as the present state of things will admit. See Watts, Sermons, serm. 33, volume 1; Evans, Sermons, serm. 28. (See Ethics).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia [5]
ek´wi - ti : Is synonymous with "uprightness," which is found in Proverbs 17:26; Isaiah 59:14; Malachi 2:6 in place of the King James Version "equity." Ecclesiastes 2:21 has "skilfulness" and the Revised Version, margin "success" for the King James Version "equity." The context favors this translation of כּשׁרון , kishrōn , which is derived from כּשׁר , kāshēr , "to succeed."
Equity is the spirit of the law behind the letter; justice is the application of the spirit of equity; honesty is the general everyday use of justice or fairness, equity being the interior or abstract ideal. The Court of Equity overrides the Court of Common Law, deciding not upon terms, but the spirit of the deed.
