A26796:363
The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption…
The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ, or, Discourses wherein is showed how the wisdom, mercy, justice, holiness, power, and truth of God are glorified in that great and blessed work / by William Bates.The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ, or, Discourses wherein is shewed how the wisdom, mercy, justice, holiness, power, and truth of God are glorified in that great and blessed work / by William Bates.
London: printed by J. Darby for Nathaniel Ranew and Jonathan Robinson and Brabazon Aylmer, 1674
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1. The greatest Ignominy attended it, and that in the account of God and Men. As honour is in honorante, it depends upon the esteem of others; so infamy consists in judgment of others. Now in the account of the World every Death inflicted for a Crime is attended with disgrace: But that receives its degrees from the manner of it. To be executed privately is a favour, but to be made a spectacle to the multitude, increases the dishonour of one that suffers. When Death is speedily inflicted, the sense of shame is presently past; but to be exposed to public view for many Hours, as a Malefactor, whilst the Beholders detest the Crime, and abhor the ⟨p. 178⟩Punishment, is an heavy aggravation of it. Beheading which is suddenly dispatched by a Sword, a military Instrument, and therefore more honourable, was a Privilege: But to hang on the Cross, was the most conspicuous mark of the public Justice and Displeasure: a special Infamy was concomitant with it. Among the Jews hanging on a Tree was branded with the Curse: Therefore God commanded that the bodies of those that were hanged on a tree, 1should be taken down in the Evening, that the Land might not be defiled with a Curse. And the judgment of other Nations was answerable: for it was only inflicted on the most infamous Offenders,2 as Fugitives, Slaves, Thieves, and Traitors, such whom the lowness of their Quality, or the height of their Crimes rendered unworthy of any respect. Hence 'tis, that Cicero to aggravate the Cruelty of Verres in crucifying a Roman Citizen, calls it an unnamed wickedness. No Eloquence could equal the evil of it.
1. The greatest Ignominy attended it, and that in the account of God and Men. As honour is in honorante, it depends upon the esteem of others; so infamy consists in judgment of others. Now in the acount of the World every Death inflicted for a Crime is attended with disgrace: But that receives its degrees from the manner of it. To be executed privately is a favour, but to be made a spectacle to the multitude, encreases the dishonour of one that suffers. When Death is speedily inflicted, the sence of shame is presently past; but to be exposed to publick view for many Hours, as a Malefactor, whilst the Beholders detest the Crime, and abhor the