The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1873-03-21
From the United Presbyterian
THE DEATH PENALTY.
UmbPF H.

end Hiiful slaughter OF human oe-
irg, as it is seoffngIy termed, is rap
idly passing away in this country
During the last three years, one hun
dred and fifty murders have occurred
in the city of New York, and only
one murderer executed. So far as
esn be sscertained, about slx hundred
murders occur annually in the United
States, not estimating the Ku-klux
outrages, and not more than ten or
fifteen are punished. In some States
the death penalty has been repealed !;
in others the penalty has been placed
in the hands Of the jury, and in 9TH
Eers where the law has been retained,
trials for the most part have become
. mere mockery Of all law and JUS
tics. This is sad state of things to
the thoughtful mind which has any
proper regard for the welfare Of our
country and yet more sad to the
man who has the fear Of God in his
heart.
It may be asked, why are Chris
tain men sad on account Of this state
Of affairs / answer, ~ 1t is a
violation of the Immutable law OF
God; (2.) 1t is an attempt Of man to
usurp the throne of God, and take
into his own hands the enactment of
laws which should regulate the sd
ministration of the divine govern
msnt; (S) If persisted in, it cannot
fail to bring upon this nation the most
direful calamities "a 1t is en- open,
fragrant violation OF the law of love to
God and to our fellow-men.
It is hoped, with the divine assist
anee, to make plain, direct appeal
to the divine law and human con-
seriousness which may convince the
doubling minds Of some of our coun-
trymen on this momenteus question.
But no rational man can be convinced
contrary to evidence. It, therefore,
necessarily devolves upon the advo-
Gates Of cspital punishment for mur-
der, to prove, in 8 conclusive manner,
that it rests upon divine foundation,
and involves the highest interests of
the human race, so far, at least, as
the affairs of this earth are concern
ed, and, more or less, indirectly, their
everlasting welfare.
, Let rs see, then, if the position, so
generally accepted in our day, that
the murderer is entitled to ''a com
Portable living and a natural death"
from the hand OF the civil govern
ment be not
A VIOLATION oF THE INIMUTABLE LAW
: OF GOD.
What says the law? "Thou shalt
not kill.' "Whoso sheddeth mans
blood, by man shall his blood be
shed for in the image of God made
he man." aye shall take no salts
faction for the life of a murderer,
which is guilty of death, or Iaulty 10
die; but he shall be surely put to
death" The first of the three pas
ssges here quoted is the very words
Of the moral law. The two following
are inseparably connected with and
= component part Of that law, By way
OF explanation, and application to
civil rulers.
Civil government is a divine insti-
tuition, among other things to pro-
tect the lives of its subjects, as far as
possible, and punish criminals as God
has directed; to prevent private re-
venge, even of the death of our near
est relatives. (See Romans, xiii. L
"A. "Vengeance is mine, j will
repay, saith the Lord.' Therefore,
the civil magistrate is 'the minister
OF God, revenger to execute wrsth
upon him that doeth evil.' TIE
simple declaration of the divine will
ought to be sufficient for the direc-
ton Of mans conduct. But, alssl ! it
Is not so. Even since Satan caused
him to believe that the transgression
Of the divine will would make him
equal, II not superior, TO God, his
mind has become enmity against God
himself and he fairly attempts to
set himself above God, both in eccles-
iastical and civil government. Let
US calmly reflect if this awful
statement be not true.
The laws given to the Jewish na-
ton were Of three classes-tbe moral,
the judicial and the ceremonial. God
himself in the moral law
in the ten commandments
as the moral governor of the rational
universe. This law is an emsnatiOn
from the attributes of Jehovah, and
Is as unchsngeable' as his beng,
to this law is inseparably
connected with mans happiness,
while :he transgression Of it is equal
icy connected with his misery. 10
The judicial law, be appears as their
chief magistrate, or civil ruler. This
.aw embOdies both the moral and the
or, in other words, it
contains some provisions especially
applicable to the ceremonial, and
others derived from the moral. So
Tar, then, as the judicial law had 3
moral bearing, it was merely tie
carrying out, or application, Of the
moral. In all repects it is essential
ly the moral law, although we may
gather from it certain details spplics-
bic only to the peculiar state Of the
Jews. In the ceremonial law, God
is seen as the High Priest ard King
Of his Church. These ceremonial
laws were their 'sehool-masteT" to
bring them to the knowledge OF
Christ. And at his resurrection and
ascension tLese laws were totally
abroeated. (Heb. vii, viii. 6-S)
What. then, was the relation OF the
iudicial law to the ceremonial ? II
was superior TO the latter, its guide
and director. Being essentially NOR
al in its very nature, having IN itSeh
nothino whatever typical, iE was EN-
nloVed to regulate the ceremonies.
Won might Just IS well ssy that the
c;1-;I laws OF all nations are ceremon-
al and that they were sbrogated win
the Jewish ceremonial Law, as to
assert ,hst the judicial laws OF the
Jevs wore sbrogated with the cere-
monIaI. Whist was there typical in
,bo nnnishment Of the murderer with
desth ? Ye wise msa OF this age,
please inform US
r have seen an edition OfRidgeley's
BODY of Divinity, revised, corrected
md illustrated, with notes, by Cns
John N. Wilson OF this Wilson /
have no knowledge whatever. But
q be has embodied, in q note to the
,ixth commandment, Vol. III, pp.
,s6-399, the modern arguments
against the death penalty for mur-
Ter, it is suitable that the reader in
Dur next Dumber, should hsve the
benefit OF his profound philosophy.
Feb. 10, '73. G. WEBSTER
Is FRIDAY AN UNLUCKY DAY?
Friday, long regarded as day of
- L Nv.A