A Body of Practical Divinity

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.

Caution II. Neither doth this Commandment, Thou shalt not kill, prohibit a Just War. When Mens Sins grow ripe, and long Plenty hath bred Surfeit. Then God saith, Sword, go through the Land, Ezek. 14.17. God did abet the War between the Tribes of Israel and Benjamin. When the Iniquity of the Amorites was full, then God sent Israel to commence a War against them, Judg. 11.21.

Caution II. Neither doth this Commandment, Thou shalt not kill, prohibit a Iust War. When Mens Sins grow ripe, and long Plenty hath bred Surfeit. Then God saith, Sword, go through the Land, Ezek. 14.17. God did abet the War between the Tribes of Israel and Benjamin. When the Iniquity of the Amorites was full, then God sent Israel to commence a War against them,