The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1883-05-31
JACKSON, OHIO, THURSDAY, MAY 81, 1883.

| IcTuS uOSG SeueTdl duu peIeulpGOIrs
The reason assigned for its penalty is
founded on the essential nature and
relations of man. This reason is as
true now as it was in the days Of
Noah, and ought to have the same
force with all who believe in the
spiritual dignity Of man, if man is
somewhat more than an assemblage Of
digestive organs, and senses, and an
understanding that judges according
to sense. If in addition to these he
has any attributes which reflect, how
ever dimly, the excellences of the
Deity, then he who wilfully and ma
liciously defaces this image of God,
deserves the same doom that the like
outrage deserved when this law was
enacted. Nor is there anything con-
nected with the time or manner of its
delivery, to lead us to suppose that it
was meant to be special, or temporary.
It was given in Immediate connection
with that covenant of which the seal
still remains in the ever occurring bow
Of Heaven. 1t was delivered not to
the head of particular tribe or nation,
but to the second progenitor Of the
human race; not under any peculiar
and pressing exigency, but at the COM
mencement of a new order of things.
1t stands at the beginning of the new
world, stretching it's sanction over all
people down to the end Of time, to
prevent the outbreaking of that vio-
lence which had filled the world that
was swept away. 1t is idle to tell US
that the circumstances, and with the
circumstances, that the character Of
society has been materially changed,
and that the present high state of civ
ilization the seven enactments which
were necessary for ruder condition
of society are no longer needed. Have
the essential attributes of man chang
ed? Does he bear any less of the
image of God now than he did in the
days of Noah? Is it any less crime
to destroy that image now than it was
then?
The law has no respect to any pc
culiar proneness to violence existing
at the time it was enacted; but passing
over everything that is variable and
accidental, it seizes on mans relation
to God, involving the distinctive and
unchanging attributes of humanity
as sufficient reason for its fearful
penalty. So long as these attributes
remain unchanged, the law must
stand in full force, unless repealed by
the same authority that enacted it and
where is the evidence that it has been
repealed? The abrogation Of the
specialties Of the Jewish code, which
were enacted thousand years after
this law, left this untouched. The
ceremonial and other enactments Of
the Mosaic code were intended by God
evidently for season only, and for a
certain purpose, and for certain ma
tion, as the reader well knows, and he
directed his minister Moses to put the
two general laws, the 10 command
ments and this blood edict in the GER
emonial law was abrogated by the
coming Of the Messiah, but these are
still in force, as is evident by the New
Testament. We find that this law,
as given to Noah, does, in terms too
plain to be misunderstood, and too
peremtory to be set aside, direct that
the murderer shall be put to death.
We find this law spreading from Noah
through Gentle nations, and after
ward incorporated into the Jewish
code. We find it surviving the de-
struction Of that code, because it ex-
listed before it-existed independent
of it, among other nations, while that
code was yet in force.
And we find that the gospel, so Tar
from undermining the foundation on
which this law rests, only strengthens
and establishes it. From Calvary,
where the dignity and Importance of
man as the child of God, and the heir
Of Immortality, receive their fullest
illustration, this law goes forth with
increased force. Not only was man
created in the image of God, but
Christ, the Son of God, died for him.
Let him who dares to lay the hand Of
lawless violence upon being so high
ly born and redeemed at so costly
price, the depository of such mysteri-
Gus interest, undergo the doom decreed
by him who alone knows the value Of
life and the solemn meaning Of death.
That the criminal should be punished
for his crime is not a truth summed up
from the tardy teachings of experience
it is an immediate and peremptory deci
sion of the moral sense. Whether pun
ishment is useful to society or not is alto
gether a different question, and to be de-
cided ON different grounds. The positive
penal laws by which we punish crimes
that trespass upon the rights of others,
and violate social order, have their origin
in that sense of justice which is one of
the spontaneous products of human rea-
son. No social compact could ever give
the right; no considerations of utility
could ever establish it, if the ground were
not laid for it in the moral nature of
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