SERMON XXXV

AGAINST THE CRIME OF MURDER

But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile;

thou shalt take him from my altar, that he may die. — EXODUS xxi. 14.

AS

S the end and happy result of society was our mutual protection from the depredations which malice and avarice lay us open to, so have the laws of GOD laid proportionable restraints against such violations as would defeat us of such a security. — Of all other attacks which can be made against us,

that of a man's life, —which is his all, being the greatest, - the offence, in God's dispensation to the Jews, was denounced as the most heinous, and represented as most unpardonable. — At the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man. - Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed. Ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer ;- he shall surely be put to death. So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are, for blood defileth the land; and the

land cannot be cleansed of blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it. -For this reason, by the laws of all civilised nations, in all parts of the globe, it has been punished with death.

Some civilised and wise communities have so far incorporated these severe dispensations into their municipal laws, as to allow of no distinction betwixt murder and homicide, at least in the penalty ;-leaving the intentions of the several parties concerned in it to that Being who knows the heart, and will adjust the differences of the case hereafter.— This falls, no doubt, heavy upon particulars -but it is urged for the benefit of the whole. - It is not the business of a preacher to enter into an examination of the grounds and reasons for so seeming a severity. - Where most severe, they have proceeded, no doubt, from an excess of abhorrence of a crime, - which is, of all others, most terrible and shocking in its own nature, and the most direct attack and stroke at society; - as the security of a man's life was the first protection of society, the groundwork of all the other blessings to be desired from such a compact.— Thefts, oppressions, exactions, and violences of that

for it.

the injury ir

reparable. No after-act could make amends What recompense can he give to a man in exchange for his life? What satisfaction to the widow, the fatherless, to the family, the friends,

--

cut off from his protection, perhaps destitute, perhaps

ever!

the relations,

and rendered miserable for

No wonder, that, by the law of nature, this crime was always pursued with the most extreme vengeance ; — which made the barbarians to judge, when they saw St. Paul upon the point of dying a sudden and terrifying death, No doubt this man is a murderer;

who, though he has escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.

The censure there was rash and uncharitable; but the honest detestation of the crime was uppermost. They saw a dreadful punishment, they thought; and in seeing the one, they suspected the other. - And the vengeance which had overtaken the holy man, was meant by them the vengeance and punishment of the almighty Being, whose providence and honour were concerned in

pursuing him, from the place he had fled from, to that island.

The honour and authority of God is most evidently struck at, most certainly, in every such crime, and therefore he would pursue it; it being the reason, in the ninth of Genesis, upon which the prohibition of murder is grounded; for in the image of GOD created he man; as if to attempt the life of a man had something in it peculiarly daring and audacious; not only shocking as to its consequence above all other crimes, but of personal violence and indignity against GOD, the author of our life and death. — That it is the highest act of injustice to man, and which will admit of no compensation, --I have said.

But the depriving a man of life, does not comprehend the whole of his suffering ; — he may be cut off in an unprovided or disordered condition, with regard to the great account betwixt himself and his Maker. He may be under the power of irregular passions and desires. -The best of men are not always upon their guard. And I am sure we have all reasons to join in that affecting part of our Litany, — That amongst other evils, — GOD would deliver us from sudden death; that

we may have some foresight of that period to compose our spirits, prepare our accounts,

and put ourselves in the best posture we can to meet it; for, after we are most prepared, it is a terror to human nature. —

The people of some nations are said to have a peculiar art in poisoning by slow and gradual advances. In this case, however horrid, -it savours of mercy with regard to our spiritual state; -for the sensible decays of nature, which a sufferer must feel within him from the secret workings of the horrid drug, give warning, and show that mercy which the bloody hand that comes upon his neighbour suddenly, and slays him with guile, has denied him. - It may serve to admonish him of the duty of repentance, and to make his peace with GOD, whilst he had time and opportunity. -The speedy execution of justice, which, as our laws now stand, and which were intended for that end, must strike the greater terror upon that account. - Short as the interval between sentence and death is, it is long, compared to the case of the murdered. Thou allowedst the man no time, said the judge to a late criminal, in a most affecting manner;

thou allowedst him not a moment to