The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-01-22
For the Spirit Of Democracy.
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
TcoNTINUED.1

laaqag [coNrINUED.1
The evidence, in the Old Testament,
claimed by its advocates to warrant capi.
tai punishment, was considered last week;
and that in the New, will now be exam
insd. Before this is done, let it be remem-
bered, that the New Testament is to be
regarded as being Of perpetual obligation,
As sufficient rule of faith and practice;
and that no part of the Old is OF binding
force now, unless made so by the New.
: The evils growing out of confounding the
moral, civil and ceremonial laws, have al
ready, to some extent, been exposed; and
the blending Of the precepts of the Gospel
with the law Of the Old Testament, is no
less wrong, and equally source Of hu-
man misery. Disregarding the rule above
has tended more to mistify and obscure
the otherwise plain truths Of the Gospel,
than anything else, and enables wicked
and designing men, by perverting the
word Of God, to find precedent and divine
warrant for the commission of almost all
manner Of inconsistencies and enormities.
For instance, the military chief, with his
hands raised to heaven, crimsoned with
human gore, very devoutly imploring God
10 give him success and protection while
committing acts so cruelty barbarous, that
the moral sense Of savage even would
be shocked thereby;-the slave holder,
whip in hand, beseeching God to protect
and perpetuate the "patriarchal institu-
ton" Of fslavery-that kings rule by divine
right-the union of church and state
that oil civil governments are ordained of
God-and the hanging Of men by the
neck till dead. All these incongruilies are
but few Of the many specimens Of like
character that might be given, for which
warrant is claimed to be found in the Old
Testament; alt Of which naturally grow
out Of a disregard to the rule above given.
However strange it may appear, yet it is
true, that to all these absurd inconsisten-
ciss many of the vicegerents Of God on
earth, and Of the especially called" ex-
Founders Of the Gospel Of peace and good
will among men, not only say, Amen,
Amen, but sustain them. Some Of the
clergy are found praying for the perpetua-
ton Of wicked kings-others for the suc-
cess OF armies-others for the union Of
church and state-others advocating the
doctrine that all civil governments are or
dained Of God, and that the hanging Of
men by the neck till dead is of divine ap-
pointment-while others sustain severing
the church South from the church North.
because the people North do not acknowl-
edge slavery a " divine institution" What
amass ofincongruities are here presented
to view in a few words. 1t would seem
that the faithless watchmen on the walls Of
Zion had determined to bring into disre-
pute and render Of none effect the word
Of God. Yet it is cheering to know that
the benevolent character of God, the Gre
ator, is becoming to be better understood
than heretofore, and the mild precepts Of
the Gospel moro fully complied with;-
and that the truth Of the Gospel, although
once shrouded in the Egyptian darkness
Of error and superstition, now scars above
al, a bright and shining light to the great
and good men Of the world, cheering them
in their dreary pilgrimage here on earth,
and will continue, like the sun at noon
day, without cloud to mar its brilliancy,
when falsehood is expelled by it from the
face Of the earth.
Matthew 26 52: Then said Jesus
unto him, Put up again thy sword into his
place: for all they that take the sword
shall perish with the sword" Rev. i3: 10:
afIe that leadeth into captivity shall 60
into captivity: he that killeth with the
sword must be killed with the sword"
Acts IS: ri: "If be an offender, or
Rave committed anything worthy Of death,
refuse not to die" Romans l3: "Let
every soul be subject unto the higher pow
ers, For there is no power but Of God,".
&c. These passages are relied upon to
prove capital punishment Of divine au-
thorisy. The exposition Of the Rev. Mr..
Campbell, Of the text first above, (Which
may be more fully seen, by reference to
communicador Of his, published last win
tst in aths esprit Of Democracy,'') win
now Be examined, TO see II ii can stand