N00343:26
A sermon occasioned by the execution of a man found guilty of murder: preached…
A sermon occasioned by the execution of a man found guilty of murder: preached at Boston in New-England, March 11th 1685/6. : (Together with the confession, last expressions, and solemn warning of that murderer, to all persons; especially to young men, to beware of those sins which brought him to his miserable end.) / By Increase Mather, teacher of a church of Christ.A sermon occasioned by the execution of a man found guilty of murder: preached at Boston in New-England, March 11th 1685/6. : (Together with the confession, last expressions, and solemn warning of that murderer, to all persons; expecially to young men, to beware of those sins which brought him to his miserable end.) / By Increase Mather, teacher of a church of Christ.
Boston: printed by Richard Pierce for Joseph Brunning book-seller, 1686
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.
2. They that are in Civil Authority, may and ought to take away the Lives of Men, that shall commit Crimes, by the Law of God worthy of Death. The Apostle therefore saith concerning the Magistrate: He is the Minister of God to thee for good: But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the Sword in vain; for he is the Minister of God: a Revenger, to execute Wrath upon him that does Evil. Rom. 13.4. Private Revenge is evil, but public Revenge on those that violate the Laws of God, is good. The Magistrate is Gods Vice gerent. As none can give Life but God, so none may take it away, but God or such as he has appointed. It is thei• work to see that the Lives of Men be taken from them, when God has said, That they shall surely be put to Death. Hence David speaks, as in Psal. 101.8. I will ea•ly destroy all the Wicked of the Land, that I may cut off all the Wicked Doers from the City of the Lord. God had put the Sword into his ha•• for that end; that so he might clear the L•nd of wicked Malefactors, who were worthy of Death, and he was resolved to see Justice done. But private persons are not to arrogate to themselves that which is the Magistrates proper ⟨p. 9⟩work. Men must have lawful Authority for what they do, else in taking away Life, they became guilty of Murder. Suppose a person to have committed never such Capital Crimes, if a private person, or one that has no Legal Authority, shall take away his Life, he is guilty of Murder.
2. They that are in Civil Authority, may and ought to take away the Lives of Men, that shall commit Crimes, by the Law of God worthy of Death. The Apostle therefore saith concerning the Magistrate: He is the Minister of God to thee for good: But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the Sword in vain; for he is the Minister of God: a Revenger, to execute Wra•h upon him that does Evil. Rom. 13.4