The Sun.
London, England, 1840-12-26 00:00:00

PUNISHMENT OF DEATH.

The fact that Christ never referred to capital pu-
nishment es an institute for good, ought of itseif to be
a reason for setting it aside. But the fact that, both by
direct precept and example he did set it aside, makes it
altogether a matter of astonishment that it ever was
adopted by the Christain world. Under the ministra-
tion of death, or Old Covenant, the magistrate's
porser, in principle and practice, was extended to minor
offences. Under the ministration of life, Christ denies
its first admission, and the last is impossible ; when a
principle is not admitted in its first application, it can-
not be extended to higher degrees. Its first admission
was, " Thou hest heard it aforetime said, An eye for
eye, and a tooth for a tooth ;' but I say unto you that
ye resist not evil ; but whosoever shall smite thee on
thy right cheek, turn to him the other also ; be not
overcome of evil, bus overcome evil with good, that ye
may be the children of your Father in heaven ; for he
maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and
sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust ; he ye per-
fect as your Father in heaven is perfect." The crime
of fornication and adultery were sins which came di-
rectly under the denomination of capital offences under
the former dispensation. Our Lord reversed that order
by specific precept and example. The Scribes and
Pharisees we are informed brought unto him a woman
taken in adultery, and said, " Master, Moses in the law
commanded us that such should be stoned, what sayest
thou ?" The reply was, " Him that is without fault
let him first cast a stone at her." The whole penalty
enjoined was, "Go and sin no more." Had it been
nteuded to admit the principle of Capital Punishment
into the present dispensation, our Saviour would not
have substituted divorce for Capital Punishment. It is
true, that no direct precept is given in regard to mur-
der ; but murder is certainly included under the diffe•
rent degrees of crime which it is the will of heaven to
pardon—a fact which affords a more summary way of
settling the dispute in the universal adaptation of the
Gospel to all and every crime, " Verily, I say unto you,
all manner of sin and blasphemies shall be forgiven unto
men," murder and every subordinate crime included.
We could not possibly conceive a case of more aggra-
vated murder than that of the Saviour himself ; the ma-
jesty of his person, the innocence of his character, the
purity of his principles, the meekness of his deportment,
indeed the perfect exhibition of every moral attribute
which he displayed, placed him transcendently beyond
the possibility of evil. I et, in defiance of all moral
consideration, and every natural impulse which hu-
manity or justice could prompt, they gave him over to
an ignominious condemnation. Instead of that proving
a motive to vindictive feeling, it formed the plea for the
highest commiseration. Accordingly, he instructed his
disciples, in the proclamation of the glad tidings, to be-
gin first at Jerusalem ; and we know the result was that
many of the principal actors in the horrid drama became
obedient to the faith. Thus 1 conceive that Capital
Punishment formed no element of the Christian system.
It is ahhorent to the whole tenor of Christianity, and
to every sanctified feeling of the human mind.—Lecture
on Capital Punishments, by James M' Ewan.

TII E ACCIDENT-RELIEII SOCIETY.—The in-
crease of accidents since the frost set in has compelled
this Society to appeal to the City authorities for assistance.
The estimate of the annual number of accidents is 20,000
in the metropolis; and the Society was instituted to give
immediate relief to the families of the poor industrious per-
sons who suffer accidental injuries. It was stated at the
Mansion-house, a few days ago, that with only 501. at
their bankers', the Committee were giving away weck!y
160 quitrtern loaves, 1201bs. of good meat, and 60 cwt. of
coals, besides potatoes in large quantities.