Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

But Magistrates by their Diligence in their places, acting up to their trust, and a due Execution of Justice may secure our Banks, and set up a standard against wickedness even then when it cometh in upon us swelling and roaring like a Flood. God in Deut. 13.6. &c. made this Law, That if any one should offer to tempt another to Idolatry, though the Person doing it were his Brother, the Son of his Mother, or his Son or his Daughter, or the Wife of his Bosom, or a Friend, that was as his own Soul, let him be never so near, and never so dear, yet if He should say, Let us go and serve other Gods, His Friend and most intimate Relation being thus tempted, should surely kill him, his hand should be first upon him, and afterward the hand of all the people, and they should stone him with stones till he died. And now observe what was the end and design hereof. You have it set down in verse 11. All Israel shall hear and fear, and shall do no more any such wickedness as this is among you. This will be in terrorem, it will ⟨image 164⟩scare and fright the wretches, such an Act of Justice will ring and grow famous, it will be talked of both in Town and Country, and wheresoever the report comes it will strike an awe upon men, so that they shall not add to do the like.

But Magistrates by their Diligence in their places, acting up to their trust, and a due Execution of Justice may secure our Banks, and set up a standard against wickedness even then when it cometh in upon us swelling and roaring like a Flood. God in Deut. 13.6. &c. made this Law, That if any one should offer to tempt another to Idolatry, though the Person doing it were his Brother, the Son of his Mother, or his Son or his Daughter, or the Wife of his Bosom, or a Friend, that was as his own Soul, let him be never so near, and never so dear, yet if He should say, Let us go and serve other Gods, His Friend and most intimate Relation being thus tempted, should surely kill him, his hand should be first upon him, and afterward the hand of all the people, and they should stone him with stones till he died. And now observe what was the end and design hereof. You have it set down in verse 11. All Israel shall hear and fear, and shall do no more any such wickedness as this is among you. This will be in terrorem, it will ⟨image 164⟩