The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1850-02-20

such thing taught in the Old Testament.
But it is alleged, that these enactments
are. purely judicial; they are not moral,
and consequently not obligatory upon any
nation, but the Jews, to whom they were
given. Now if we had no other
evidence to prove the binding character Of
this law, then that which it contains on
its face, it might satisfy. The very fact,
that the Great Law Giver has dwelt upon
this regulation with SO much emphasis and
particularly, taking up whole chapter
in defining the crime and affixing its pen
atty. carries with it strong presump,ive
evidence that the statute was not merely
to be a transient judicial statute, but strict.
ly moral, and therefore obligatory.
But to dismiss this, let us go back to a
period anterior to the existence of the
Jewish race, to time long before God
entered into a covenant with Abraham,
when the Jews, as distinct race, were
not known in the world, and consequently
when no judicial statutes Tor the govern
ment of that nation were in existence,
and there we can find a passage upon this
very point, as clear and explicit as those
already alluded to. y.dro yaan, sta.ooao
u, And here let me lay down a general
rule for interpreting the Old Testament
Scriptures, a rule which, if properly ul-
derstood and appreciated, would blow up
a great deal Of the loose theology of the
present day, not only upon this question,
but others incidentally connected with it.
If you attempt to argue with a man upon
the subject Of capital punishment, or the
obligation of the Sabbath, &C., and quote
a passage from the Old Testament in
proof of your position, you are sure to be
met with the singular reply, ooh that is in
the Old Testament We have nothing 10
do with it. It has all passed away" &c.
These hackneyed phrases are in the mouth
Of every one who attempts to oppose the
obligation Of the Sabbath, or the law OF
capital punishment. They have planted
themselves houghtlossly upon this ground,
without ever properly considering the dan
ger Of the position. and the rottenness of
the theory upon which their whole system
is based. , TAD, .t.. .t .....
The rule to which | refer is this: Any
ordinary command or injunction given to
the race of man before the days of Abra-
ham, is to be regarded as perpetually
binding upon the human family. make
use of the word ordinary here, in contra
: distinction to extraordinary, Or local, fol
there were some precepts of the latter de-
scrption given for specific purpose, a
the time, but which were speedily set aside
by God, the reasons for which they were
: given no longer existing. Until the days
of Abraham, who lived some two thousand
years after the creation of the world, the
Jewish race did not exist. for they were
the descendants OF Abraham. Hence the
commands which were given to- our race
previous to his day, cannot be regarded
as transient, but as broad and authorita
tive as any precept in the whole Bible.
With this broad principle before us, le
us cite you to precept that was uttered
in the days of Noah, some four hundred
, years before Abraham fourished 1t il
, found Genesis TX: 5, 6. sand surely
, your blood Of your lives will require, a
the hand Of every beast will require it
and at the hand of man, at the hand o
every mans brother will require the life
Of man. Whose ,sheddeth mans blood
r. by man shall his blood be shed, for in the
| image of God made he man. ~
, Here then is a precept well worthy o
our notice, an injunction which went fortl
from the mouth Of God almost in the in
, fancy of our race. It seemed that thu
Almighty looked with such indignant hor
ror upon the dreadful crime of murder
f that after having swept down a race o
, lmurdarers and overwhelmed them in ;
Iws..ery grave, at the outset of anethe
race s he wsula have this ba broad principle
oflaw and justice emblazoncd on theYery
: front of his statute book, as the basis O
tan sound Legislation upon the subject
Ind It is no Jewish law this; but it is
}breqd, sweeping. universal in its extent ex'tsl
and as perpetual in its obligation as iht
flaws which were inscribed by 1.-THE fin
ger icf the Almighty on tables Of stone
amid the thunders Of Sinai. Notice, too
the reasons which God has assigned 70
lat e th;, ,,ov, olfx, TI,bx