A65285:2370
A Body of Practical Divinity
A body of practical divinity consisting of above one hundred seventy six sermons on the lesser catechism composed by the reverend assembly of divines at Westminster : with a supplement of some sermons on several texts of Scripture / by Thomas Watson ...
London: printed for Thomas Parkurst, 1692
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
5. To shed the Blood of any Righteous Person aggravates the Sin. First, Hereby Justice is perverted. Such a Person being innocent, is unworthy of Death. Secondly, A Saint being [Greek or Hebrew], a Public Blessing; he lies in the Breach to turn away Wrath: So that to destroy him, is to go to pull down the Pillars of a Nation. Thirdly, He is precious to God, Isa. 15.43, 44. He is a Member of Christ's Body; therefore what Injury is offered to him, is done to God himself, Acts 9.4.
5. To shed the Blood of any Righteous Person aggravates the Sin. First, Hereby Justice is perverted. Such a Person being innocent, is unworthy of Death. Secondly, A Saint being 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, a Publick Blessing; he lies in the Breach to turn away Wrath: So that to destroy him, is to go to pull down the Pillars of a Nation. Thirdly, He is precious to God, Isa. 15.43, 44. He is a Member of Christ's Body; therefore what Injury is offered to him, is done to God himself, Acts 9.4.
Caution I. Tho this Commandment forbids Private Persons, Thou shalt not kill, to shed the Blood of another, (unless in their own Defence,) yet such as are in Office must punish Public Offenders; yea, with Death, else they sin. To kill an Offender is not Murder but Justice. A Private Person sins if he draws the Sword, a Public Person sins if he put up the Sword. A Magistrate ought not to let the Sword of Justice rust in the Scabbard. As the Magistrate should not let the Sword be too sharp by Severity, so neither should the Edge of it be blunted by too much Lenity.
Caution I. Tho this Commandment forbids Private Persons, Thou shalt not kill, to shed the Blood of another, (unless in their own Defence,) yet such as are in Office must punish Publick Offenders; yea, with Death, else they sin. To kill an Offender is not Murder but Justice. A Private Person sins if he draws the Sword, a Publick Person sins if he put up the Sword. A Magistrate ought not to let the Sword of Justice rust in the Scabbard. As the Magistrate should not let the Sword be too sharp by Severity, so neither should the Edge of it be blunted by too much Lenity.