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Not to the object specially designed,
Howe'er momentous in itself it be,
Good to prevent or curb depravity,

Is the wise Legislator's view confined.

His spirit, when most severe, is oft most kind

As all authority on earth depends

On Love and Fear, their several powers he blends,

Copying with awe the one Paternal Mind.

Uncaught by processes in show humane,

He feels how far the act would derogate

From even the humblest functions of the state,

If she, self-shorn of majesty, ordain

That never more shall hang upon her breath
The last alternative of Life or Death,

WORDSWORTH.

INTRODUCTION.

THE subject of this book, lying at the very foundations of human society, is connected also with some of the most important principles of morals and religion. The adequate consideration of its bearings upon our views of the administration of the Divine government in Eternity, would alone demand a volume.

It hath been debated whether there be any such thing as Justice apart from Expediency; but the reality of all foundations of morals and religion may be as successfully questioned in the same way. Methinks a questioner on this point will soon come to rest in the conclusion, that in such a world as this, irreligion is as good as devotion.

Now it is a pithy remark of a German author, that if the world is to be supported by lies, those that are old, as they have already got a good currency, are better than those that are new. And this may be applied to the very ancient prejudice, if men please to call it such,

entertained by mankind, that punishment by death is the only proper medicine for the crime of murder. All mankind have thought thus, because God has so clearly made known his thoughts upon the subject. The prejudice is as old as the repeopling of the world after the deluge; it was solemnly sanctioned by the ordinance of God; it has obtained in all nations even more universally than the custom of sacrifices; and it hath the testimony of the human conscience universally in its favor.

An old writer says, it were endless to enumerate the echoes of the Christian Law, which those Rocks that oppose it, do themselves reverberate; so that a man intently listening, may gain the beginning, middle, and end of some of those very precepts which they reject.

The anchor of Divine Revelation is so good a one to hold the human mind in cases that might otherwise be doubtful, that we are surprised at the readiness with which some men will slip the cable and let it go. We hold to the inspired record, and maintain its authority as supreme above all earthly legislation.

At the same time we dwell fully upon the argument from Expediency, for that is all in favor of the Scriptures. Human Experience, though often too late, finds out the same lessons, which have been taught for our instruction beforehand by Divine Wisdom.

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