Sermons upon Deuteronomy

This was declared sufficiently yesterday. Now he treateth here of a more heinous murder: which is, that a man having conceived hatred and rancour against his neighbour, lieth in wait for him, and killeth him wilfully: for that is the term that is proper to the murders that are committed of set purpose and prepensed malice. And that kind of murder is unpardonable: to grant favour in such a case, is to overthrow the whole order of nature, and all laws written. So then, it is not without cause that God saith here, thine eye shall not spare him. For sometime we make our market of other mens welfare, of their profit, or of their harms, according to the common proverb, which saith that we cut large thongs of other mens leather. When a man hath offended, the Judge, who was not hurt by it, ne suffered any harm, will easily pardon it. What, saith he? It was a small matter. But if a man had done the like to him: he could find in his heart that God should thunder down from heaven for the punishing thereof: and yet [in another mans case] he doeth make a mow at it. Tush (says he) this may well be let slip, this will vanish away of it self. See how a man shall oftentimes be moved to pity and compassion towards some one, and deal cruelly with some other: yea he will become cruel to a whole realm to spare one man. This is daily seen: O say they, this poor man is to be pitied. Yea, but in the mean time, if a wicked deed do pass unpunished, all the whole realm is defiled and corrupted by it, and it is a provoking of Gods wrath against the whole Nation. Again, others take example by it to give themselves to all lewdness, when they be in hope that crimes shall scape unpunished. Men consider not that such kind of mercy is the cause of innumerable cruelties, and that it turneth to the common confusion of all men. And therefore whereas our Lord saith that we must not spare him that hath done such evil deeds; it is to show that we must not be merciful after our own manner, to overthrow a great number for the sparing of one man; but that we must have an eye to right and indifferency.

This was declared sufficiently yesterday. Now he treateth here of a more heynous murther: which is, that a man hauing conceiued hatred and rancour against his neighbour, lyeth in waite for him, and killeth him wilfully: for that is the terme that is proper to the murthers that are committed of set purpose and prepensed malice. And that kinde of murther is vnpardonable: to graunt fauour in such a case, is to ouerthrowe the whole order of nature, and al lawes written. So then, it is not without cause yt God saith here, thine eye shall not spare him. For sometime wee make our market of other mens welfare, of their profite, or of their harmes, according to the common prouerbe, which saith that wee cut large thongs of other mens lether. When a man hath offended, the Iudge, who was not hurt by it, ne suffered any harme, will easily pardon it. What, saith hee? It was a small matter. But if a man had done the like to him: he could finde in his heart that God shoulde thunder downe from heauen for the punishing thereof: and yet [in another mans case] hee doeth make a mowe at it. Tush (saies he) this may well be let slippe, this will vanish away of it selfe. See howe a man shall oftentimes be moued to pitie and compassion towards some one, and deale cruelly with some other: yea he wil become cruel to a whole realme to spare one man. This is dayly seene: O say they, this poore man is to bee pitied. Yea, but in the meane time, if a wicked deede do passe vnpunished, all ye whole realme is defiled and corrupted by it, and it is a prouoking of Gods wrath against the whole Nation. Againe, others take example by it to giue themselues to all leawdnesse, when they bee in hope that crimes shall scape vnpunished. Men consider not that such kinde of mercie is the cause of innumerable cruelties, and that it turneth to the common confusion of all men. And therefore whereas our Lord saith that we must not spare him that hath done such euill deedes; it is to shewe that wee must not be mercifull after our owne manner, to ouerthrowe a great number for the sparing of one man; but that we must haue an eye to right and indifferencie.