Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-04-13


10 which those might flee and be safe, who
had accidentally slain a man. Now, in.
asmuch as the law of "capilal punish.
ment,' according to his position, is to be
perpetual, why does not the necessity for
those cities now exist, and by what rule OF
economy are they dispensed wih2 Is it
because the innocent do not stand in need
OF the same protection, or is it because The
wisdom Of men so far exceeds the wisdom
OF God 10 the present age, that they have
devised better system.
We will next examine his finishing ar
gument. He says, 1T would seem that
nothing more Is necessary to illustrate the
strong and determined views Of the word
of God on this SUBJECT; and yet, there is
one case more which carries the principle
home and settles it. | refer to the follow
ing" Exodus Xxx: 90: "But if the OK
were wont 10 pnsh with his horn in time
pas, aud it hath been testified 10 his own
rr, and he hath not kept him in, but that
he hath killed man or a woman. the OK
shall be stoned aud his owner also shall
be put to DEATH" Il know not" saws
the Dr., THAT there is another case which
as strongly as this reaches after the often
der, aud demands mis- life, and that more
convincing " illustrates the safeguards
with which God surrounds the life of The
virtuous." "Ihis ca Sc" hesayS "carries
the principle home and there settles it,"
and this, he thinks, is the strongest case
that can be found which reaches after the
offender and demands his life. Now if
this be the strongest case, we will put the
rest Of the cases which he has cited with
it; and then we will apply the next verse
and try the strength of the whole. And
that we may the Setter understand the
whole connection, we will read both vrrs-
es 29lh verse: But if the OK were wont
10 push with his horn in time past, and it
hath been testified to his owner, and he
hath not kept him in, but that he hath
killed man or a woman the OK shall
be stoned, and his owner also shall be put
20 death''-3Oth verse If there be laid
on him a sum of money, then he shall
give for the ransom of his life, what<oev-
er is laid upon him" Is this likewise a
" general principle" by which Noah's pos
teritv 10 all ages must abide? This he
does not tell US: neither does he give usa
rule by which to separate them. He adj
mits neal the close Of his remarks, that
manv of the regulations (laws) ofthe Jew.
ish economy were brought to a close by
the production Of The christian dispensa-
ton but it does not follow tina, all the
laws, regulations which regulated tina,
people were abrogated. He probab| Y sup
poses, that we are at liberty to select sue
parts as will best suit our own conven-
fence; as he did in selecting his quotations
from the 2lst chapter of Exodus. think
really, as he is so choice of" general prin'
ciples," that if he will take the trouble to
stsearch diligently as for hidden treasures, u
there might be found in the New Tesla
ment some of those general principles
which, in their nature aud tendency
would be calculated TO produce happiness
and secure to US, not only our natural life
and its attendant blessings, but if practl.
ca!lv applied, would enable US SO TO regu
| LATE our intercourse with each other. as tC
yield the peaceabIe fruits OF righteous
ness" aud produce in our bosoms the ap
prevail of a good conscience and the assur
ance of Divine favor. These principle
may be found PARTICULAR Y 10 the 5th, oh
and 7.h chapters Of Matthew the 6,f
chapter of Luke, and in many other part;
of the New Testament.
He next proceeds 10 notice some objec'
tons that might lie raised by the advocates
of the abolition of capital punishment.
And, first, he tells. Us that 1.-The case o
Cain the first murderer, is produced te
prove that it is wrong to infict capita
punishment: and unfortunately for GU
argument it proves too much; because
not only proves tina, the life ofIhe murder
or must not be taken as the price OF In
cult, but he must be allowed to go a
large "a fugitive and vagabond on tn
earth" May more seven fold vengeance
,,o, .on,e dawn upon he wretch whC