Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-05-22

hO lChllui IlCNdlCHCC Vi cIlIllt
} and especially of homicides is caus
for the deepest thought and enquir,
) by every patriot, and more especiall,
by every one who believes in a Jus
and holy God, and who is able TO Sc
the CRIME of murder in the light il
| which God sees it, and in which h
has revealed it.
When God looked down from Heav
en- and saw the wickedness of men S,
great that he determined to destro,
man from Off the face of the earth
the particular crime mentioned, wa
the one so fearfully prevalent to-day
"The earth was full of violence.
The causes for the fearful prevalenc,
of murder at this time might furnisl
a fruitful theme for discourse, but il
is not within the compass of the topic
the text suggests to-day. | propose
to consider one at least, of the RENE.
dies for the evil, and one prescribed
too by the governor of the universe,
and in the consideration of the RENE
dy we may find one of the causes.
Men have become in their own i'm
Imagination, wiser as legislators than
God himself, and by prescribing other
penalties for murder than that pre-
scribcd by Divine wisdom, have by
doing this, cheapened human life I'M
Ill in many instances it is counted as
of less value by jurors than is mere
property. Human life is the most
valuable trust committed to human
care, and therefore one might expect
it if the divine Legislature were to
make a law, and prescribe a penalty
for its protection, that the law would
be rigid, aud the penalty severe.
This we find in the text he has done.
The first murderer was not punish
ed with death, but was sent out with
mark upon him, that he might be
recognized, aud penalty was pre-
scribed to punish anyone who should
injure Cain; the penalty was rather
for his protection than punishment
aud the result We find in the same
chapter where we find Cain protected.
LImech, a descendant of Cain, slew a
man, and sat down aud sang over it (:
Aud Lamech said unto his wives,
Adah aud Zillah, hear my voice. We
wives Of l.amcch hear my speech, for
| have slain man to my woundimg,
and young man TO my hurt, if
cain shall be avenged seven fold,
truly Lamcch seventy and seven fold. -
Gen, ~ 1924.
This is simply murder set to music
Lamech was SO emboldened by the
protection Of Cain, that he pleaded it
as Il precedent, and this continued uu-
I'll the whole race was corrupted by
il, and the whole earth was filed with
violence. This was Gods first man
ner of dealing with the murderer TO
drive him out from his presence, but
spared and protected his life, aud its
result, murder increased, the earth
was full of it. Thus has it ever been
when the penalty of death has not
been inflicted on the murderer, he
has become emboldemed, and murder
has increased. But God, in order to
stay the fearful tide of violence, in
sututed capital punishment by the
wholesale, with himself as the execu-
tor, aud when he had swept off the
face of murderers from earth by the
flood, and brought Noah and his sons
out of the ark, TO start the race anew
in the world, he started them under
Il new regime, a different system.
One calculated TO prevent the recur-
renee of the violence which culmina-
ted in the total corruption of the race
before the flood. So as one stipula-
tion in the covenant made with
Noah he ordained in the language of
the text. death by the civil magistrate
for murder.
In order to the proper understand
ing of the import and extent of the
application of this text let us notice,
|, the parallel between Adam and
Noah, Each stood in the position of
a progenitor, and federal representa-
tive of the race, and each received
formal grant ofposession, supremacy
and assurance, But there was this
mighty difference. Adam received
possessions when there was no sin
and no curse, while Noah received
possessions when the race had Just
been destroyed for sin, and the earth
cursed for mans sake. The earth had
been filled with violence, and there
fore destroyed. Noah received as
surance that the earth should no
more be deluged by u flood, but he
knew the bloody, ferociOus nature of
man, and therefore trembled at the
thought of such Il responsibility
as rc-pcopling the earth. lie doubtless
inquired with anxious questionings,
will not thy children he as wicked as
those of my predecessor, so that the
earth shall again be filled with muir
der and have again to be destroyed?
lie needed this assurance, as mans
essential nature was not changed,
nor is it yet. But whereby could God
assure him. How could the wicked,
bloody nature of man be restrained ?
The prospect was gloomy and dis
couraging. But God gave to Noah the
assurance that such state of things
as had occurred before the flood
should not again occur. Divine Om-
impotence, and avenging justice were
pledged for his protection. "Whos0
shcddeth mans blood, by man shall
his blood be shed, for in the image of
God made he man." Here then we
have the law for the punishment of
murder by the infliction of the death
penalty instituted. Nor is its inflc-
ton left to the option of men, but is
made imperative, "By man shall his
blood be shed'
2. This was wise and benevolent
statute, designed not simply to pun
ish the criminal, but to protect hu-
man life, to secure peace and happi-
ness, repress violence and crime.
3. This ordinance qDdS designed TO
be Of universal and perpetual obiiga-
ton. 1t is not to be separated from
the conneXion in which it was de-
livered. 1t is part OF the grant of
life and possession on the earth to
the race, and is therefore to continue
as long as the grant of life and pos
session endures, therefore is to be
perpetual. 1t was given to Noah as
Al j