The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1850-02-27
Vol. vi.

suit Is OHcICus VI SN"6 " s''''~- isSTD -
return, or when blow is received, OF re-
turning q blow. Our Saviour, with his
eye fixed upon this vindictive spirit, and
knowing how readily men yield to the i'm.
pulse of passion, guards his followers a
gaiust il. lie tells US not to give loose
reign 10 our passions in any case, not to
vent our spleen in returning evil for evil;
but in our intercourse with one another,
we shall exercise calm, forgiuing spirit.
How utterly preposterous to suppose,
that our Saviour intended by these words
to annul the sanctions of law, and subvert
the administration Of public justice. Are
we so to love our enemies, as 10 permit
the thief, the adulterer, the murderer to
dash forth loose upon society, reckless and
sordid and riot in the full licence ofimpnui.
ty! Must we break down the SAFE guards
of civil society and let loose upon our
families these mcn of blood and lust, be-
cause our Saviour has told us not to re-
sist evil! l ask, if these passages teach
the repeal of the law Of capital punish
ment, do they not also teach the repeal Of
every law which tends to punish the guilty,
and protect the innocent! Is not this the
necessary inference from the argument of
our opponents! Christ was friend to
law. He was friend to government
He came not TO destroy the law but to full.
fiji. He declares that heaven and earth
should pass away sooner than one jot or
title Of the moral law should fail. By suf.
fering the extreme penalty of that law in
his own person. he proclaimed the justice
Of the statute. the wages of sin is DEATH
When the chastisement of our peace was
upon him, he bowed his head to the stroke
OF justice, anu died upon the cross, the just
for the unjust. To what desperate straits
are men driven when they set up their
own fancies and prejudices as safe rule
Of Interpretation, and thus pervert the
right ways Of the Lord.
Let us dismiss this feature of the sub
ject, and proceed to inquire whether we
havs any direct evidence in the New Tes-
lament !. support Of our position. And
here prfrnlt US 10 say in the outset, if we
had no evidence in the New Testament in
favor of our position. If that book were
entirely silent in relation to the matter, it
would not follow that the law itself was
repealed. All history, both sacred and
profane,'is united in its testimony that the
law of capital punishment was a perma-
nent regulation throughout the Jewish E.
economy; that the same law was in exis-
tence and in actual practice when Christ
came into the world. Now let it be re-
that the Old Testament is to be
regarded as permanently binding as a
rule of faith and practice, except those
parts that are cancelled away in the New.
Have we then any direct evidence in the
New Testament that this statute, which
was in actual operation among the Jews
for ages back, is repealed! Is there any
declaration among the teachings of Christ
and his apostles, which can be construed
even into virtual repeal? The one which
W nave already noticed in the Sermon of
Christ, has been found to be irrelavent.-
The passage contains not shadow Of
evidence upon the subject. If the law it.
self be so extremely barbarous, so shock
ing to all the tender feelings Of humanity,
as our modern reformers would tell US,
strange that our Saviour and his Apostles,
who were so loud in their opposition to
evils, should have left this relic
Of heathenism untouched.
Are there any illusions to the subject
in the New Testament either for or against!
We allege, that there is number. And
these very illusions instead Of amounting
to q repeal ofthe law, contain proof posi-
tive, we think, that the law was regarded
as a just one. sss9 81. liloty sa
Let us look at a few. lst. The lam
guage Of Christ to Peter. Math. s: g.,
Peter, jealous to defend his Master against
The attacks Of his prosecuting foes, drew
his sword and struck off an ear ofthe SER
want o. the High Priest, Now a sword,
we know is an instrument of death. .
When Peter struck, he evidently intended
o kill. What was the language Of Christ
after witnessing the action Of Peter
Put up thy sword into his place For all
hat take the sword shall perish with the
,word." What is the meaning ofthis Ian