The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-28

ci tae HuitoI OF me Times Dispatch:
ment against capital punishment. nrfnt-
cd In your issue of Sunday. May II. i,
the view that the Bible is antiGuated
ii,mq OF no value as guide to Iegis-
thinks thus. Apparently he regnrds
me HOLY Scripture with some respect
oHt thinks he knows the real meaning
other people. o''
II seems, however. that he relies too
much on a rather imperfect nie,nopv
as to what the Scripture really does
| say. That nuddlc. printed as quo.
teton: but consisting OF n combination
which lie attempts TO pass OF AZ 81
IanIs. makes IL difficult TO take him
seriously as competent expositor.
or even ns careful reader OF the
in H lhe ' hfss no eapi,ai Ppnishment
CURES us TO suppose that he does not
know this. but Il little more OF that
s not b sbsaSe Wh ai we are told doth
have prevented his making such -
statement. illusions to capital nun
ishment arc plentiful. in both Old and
New Testaments. as anybody can see
who VIII look. Authorizations OF cant
tai punishment. to be executed By hu-
in ina" sev sqair plaor are eGpiicltiy given
see Genesis tx. O; Exodus xxi. 1914:
to 81 and XIV s,i -; Numbers xxxv is
~ deuteronomy XIX
In the New Testament. capital punish
ment is recognized as nm existing in
stltu'ion in the world, and there is no
hint that Christians are expected TO
seek its abolition. See Romans xiii.
Much confused thinking on this and
some Diner subjects would be avoided
II the distinction between this world
ana me k!ngdom Of Christ We're not so
come when the Kingdoms of this world
shail have become the kingdoms OF
Christ thevclntion Nj. l5). but for tie
present the difference between the two
is vital. The failure and faithlessness
OF the protesting church resuitinp
IN miserable ENHANCEMENT OF the
vigorously condemned by the New
Testament writer's fJames ". 4: Reeve
Christian should be the official eYecn
TONER for the State seems an unhat-
msraI. IN tact. nonstrous thing: hut
II Christian holds such position
the perplexities arising are OF his own
making-he should seek q different po-
sitlon n he finds himself trying the
ters; II his conscience acquIts him, that
Is matter between him and his Mas
ter Ter SO. too, for christion to he
ment, either for Il particular criminal.
or in a general way. is certainly
curious situation. II by no means
with the worlds criminals against the
worlds justice; nor that he ought TO
tions regarding what the Bible says
When Christians undertake to man
age the worlds affairs according TO the
worlds principles, they may succeed
very well. but At the cost OF more or
less personal unfaithfulness to Christ
When they try to apply principles that
are peculiarly Christian TO admins
tration OF affairs Of state. especially n
maudlin caricnturo of the doctrine OF
grace TO the administration of law
and justice. they usually make n sad
mess both of human Justice and of
Christianity.
The law of Moses was given to Gods
earthly people for their earthly gov
eminent. and its principles are doubt
less absolutely. right. though its de-
ton but Israel The Christian be-
lever. being viewed as dead and
risen with Christ, is supposed to be
guided by spiritual and heavenly prn-
cipies. which are not adapted to the
worlds use. nor indeed to its COM
prehension. q Corinthians. IL. I'D
Mr.. Whites point as to establishing
cities OF refuge is not well taken.
Nobody has proposed to enact the law
of Moses here in Virginia. The qties-
ishment for wilful murder right"
Now. the law of Moses requires this
punishment Then, either such pun
ishncnt Is right or the law OF Moses
contains an uDrighteous requirement..
That is all that the 'law of Noses has
i can see.
1T may be we'll to add, however. that
if any one calls the law OF Moses
"barbarous." "uncivilZed." etc, he sets
AT naught not only st. Paul URomans
vii. 12), but the Lord Jesus Christ also
tMatthew V, II; Luke xvi. 81; xiv. 81.
John V, 46. 40. c. NJ Il.
Richmond.