The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-03-22

mitted to him, carrying with him during that
long lapse of time vivid recollection of the
august manner by which it had been commu-
nicated to him. And perceiving that period
Of three generations from Noah embraced
the lapse of at least ten centuries, it is quite
easy to imagine how this mandate could de-
scend orally to the time of the jewish Com
monwealth.
Four centuries succeeding the deluge, the
human race began to form into powerful
tribes and kingdoms, the most remarkable of
which was the Egyptian monarchy, which at
that early period of the worlds history was
the seat of the arts and sciences, and the
centre of powerful regal court. But, amid
abounding wickedness and degeneracy, the
world had become wholly committed to Poly
theism, obliterating the remembrance of Je-
hovah. In order that His name should be
perpetuated unmixed with idolatry, Jehovah
committed to a nation to be wholly conse-
Grated to Himself the divine oracles. Under
the most august circumstances he commits to
Moses the divine code, and repeats with in
creasing emphasis the mandate regarding tae
enforcement of the death penalty. ''He that
smiteth man, so that he die, shall be surely
put to DEATH" 1t is true that the worship
ping of idols was attended with like penalty,
but this has an easy explanation in the fact
that the Jewish Commonwealth was
pure theocracy. Jehovah covenanted with
the Jews in the twofold capacity of God and
King, and in the tabernacle, and subsequently
in the temple, was established His throne,
where the Shekinah, the visible presence of
their king, constantly reminded them of their
obligations to him in their civil capacity,
whilst the august ceremonials of the spiritual
enactments symbolized their future deliverer,
and bound them in allegiance to Jehovah.
The Jews having solemnly elected Jehovah
to be their King, and covenanted allegiance
to Him in their civil capacity, the worship
ping of idols was punishable with death, not
because it was sin against Jehovah, but be-
cause it was treason against their King.
We might safely rest our argument at this
point of the discussion, did not the advocates
for the abolition of the death penalty deny
dates. 1t must, however, be manifest to the
most casual reader of the Scriptures that the
divine Author of Christianity and His apos-
ties regarded with equal force, validity, and
divine authority the inspiration which guided
them, and that which inspired the patriarchs;
dictated law amid the terrors of Sinai and
which moved in elegiac and ecstatic song,
and prophetic announcement, the hearts
Of holy seers. That the prejudice
and incredulity of the Jews might
be left utterly without excuse, the Divine
Author of Christianity and His apostles con-
tinually appealed to the declarations of the
Old Testament writers, supplemented by the
declaration of Paul, that ''All scripture is
given by inspiration of God" Proceeding
thus far in our argument for the enforcement
of the death penalty derived from the Old
Testament authority, it is now proposed to
briefly supplement what has been said by
reference to the conduct of Christ and His
apostles during their ministry.
The Divine Author of Christianity and His
apostles were always bold in denouncing
specific sins, and usually adapted their dis
courses to the character of their audtories.
Therefore, if the death penalty was the relic
of barbarism set forth by those who advocate
its abolition, upon what principle do they
account for the uniform silence of Christ and
His apostles regarding the criminality and
inhumanity of the law? Always recognizing
the power and authority of civil government,
whether de jare or de factO, the Divine Author
of Christianity and His apostles carefully dis
tinguished between the claims OF civil gov
ernment and those which belong to personal
piety and the spiritual kingdom. Obliga-
tions to Caesar were enforced, as fully COM
porting with the duties which belong to
Christianity. By them governments were
recognized as institutions existing by and de-
rived from Divine authority, and that the
''sword is a terror to evil-doers." So far from
denying the authority of the civil govern
ment, they constantly recognized it, and held
themselves always subject to its mandates.
Paul declared himself not only Christian
and an ambassador of Christ, but also
Roman citizen, and boastfully claimed the
protection of its laws. And Christ, when
arrayed before PLATE upon the charge of
treason against the government of Caesar,
although sensible that there was attached
to that crime the penalty of death, plainly
recognized the power and authority of the
Roman tribunal to enforce the penalty. 1t
does not weaken our argument to introduce
the plea that the charge against Christ was
false; the arraignment, the trial, the convic-
ton, and the punishment, however governed
by perjury, all prove that the government
possessed the power and authority to inAict
for adequate causes the death penalty, which