The Christian Governor in the Commonwealth and Private Families, Exposition 1 · Part 23
I will destroy all the wicked of the Land.
THE reformation (further) entended by the Prophet concerneth punishment, or the persons vvhom he vvould send to punishment. The punishment is destruction, if the offence deserue it, as before in the fift verse: or rooting out and cutting off. Heere he speaketh of sharpe punishments, which he voweth to inflict vponupon stubborne and notorious offendours; not (partially) some, but (indifferently) all.
From whence learne,Doct. that it is no crueltie in the Magistrate to punish sharpely by destroying or cutting off, eueryevery lewd & pernicious euill doer. And, this is the part of a wise gouernour; who (therefore) is compared to a skilfull Husbandman that fanneth his Corne, to the end hee may souer betweene the Chaffe and pure Graine, Prouerb. 20.26. For, so a vvise King, that is Ruler, will scatter the wicked, breaking the knot and fellowship of Drunkards, Epicures, Swearers in common talke, Theeues, and such Mates, and turne the wheele ouer them, that is, seuerely punish them, or (as it were) thresh them, as Men vsed to thresh Bread-corne, in those times, with a Cart wheele. So Esa. 28.27. & Deut. 21.20.21. GOD commandeth the Father to bring forth his owne Sonne to death, when his fault deserueth it. In this case (also) the Husband must not spare the Wife that lyeth in his bosome, nor a friend his dearest friend, Deut. 13.6.9. Asa was not cruell to his Grand-mother, who deposed her, because shee had set vp an Idoll in a groue, 2 Chron. 15.16. if hee had beene gentler to her, hee had beene cruell to himselfe, and sharpe to others. Moses, a milde man, yet commanded the Leuites to slay eueryevery man his Companion that had sinned in the idolatrie of the Calfe, Exod. 32.27. and hee sayth, that God so commaunded. Samuel, a good man, yet hewed Ag…g in pieces before the Lord in Gilgal, 1 Sam. 15.33. and Dauid himselfe, a good King, did put the enemies of God vnderunder Sawes, and vnderunder iron-harrowes, and vnderunder axes of iron, 2 Sam. 12.31. And, is not the God of merciemercy incomparably mercifull, of whom yet it is sayd, Hee smote great Kings, for his mercy endureth for euer, and slew mighty Kings, for his mercy endureth for euer? Psal. 136.17.18.
The Reasons.
First, the Magistrates sword should be defensiue to the good, and offensiue to the euill: for, he beareth not the sword in vaine, Rom. 13.4. and, it is iust that they who offend the Law should be offended by the Law.
Secondly, it is the Lords commandement, that euill doers should bee rooted out. Now, if it be crueltie in the Ministers of Iustice to roote them out, how can it be but hee must be cruell, who comma…nds them to be rooted out?
Thirdly, due and well seasoned seueritie toward grose offendours is many wayes profitable: it may bee a medicine to the offendour to heale his soule by repentance; it may bee a bridle to those who would offend in like manner, to pull them from sinne. And, it is the onelyonly meanes to discharge the Magistrate and to cleare the Countrie from the guilt of enormious facts.
Vses.
Vse 1.A reproofe to those who interpose themselues for the sparing of desperate Malefactors, or who exclaime if they be duely executed, as doe Papists, who in their infamous Bookes, charge the highest Soueraigntie with wading in the bloud of Recusants, where yet nothing hath beene more familiar to the same, then to breathe mildnesse and fauour toward them, if any grace could supple them. Which maketh (also) against those who (commonly) vse such arguments as these are, for the impuni…y of such as hauehave made themselues by their horrible errours, Men of death: as that hee is a proper man, a personable man, a man of a high wit, and good parentage: and, is it not pitie to cast away a Man? but, is it not pitty that a proper man should vndoe a profitable man? that a witty man should kill an honest man? and, hee who hath good parentage, spoyle him that hath good graces? Also, to take away a bloody person by the stroke of Law, is not to cast away a man, but to preserue mankinde.
An encouragement to good MagistratesVse. 2. who seuerely proceede against hainous offendors, and trespasses of an horrible kinde. For, such shall hauehave the Lord to …eare them out against all vile speeches, complaints, and murmurings of wicked tongues. Hee hath commanded them to doe Iustice; and, if they louelove Iustice, he will take part with them against all their accusers. Such as desire and cast to liue dissolutely, may open against them, and they that would (being themselues great) without the controlement of an authoritie greater, riot and ride Poste into all impeachment of higher gouernement, that they only may raigne, will not sticke (perhaps) to put in lying and scandalous Billes against them in Courts aboue: but God, who commanded their seruice, will backe it, and those who shall execute it for his glory. This doth concerne you (Christian Lord) and may much incourage… you, and your reuerend associates and helpers, when euill men and vnruly, taxe your iust, and (for matter obiected) faultlesse and most indifferent (I speake my conscience) proceedings heere. What matters (worthy blame) may be done by some corrupt persons about you (vnknowen vntounto you) I know not: I will not defend them, neither you (I perswade my selfe) if you knew them: But for your owne persons, I doubt not but I may say, that euen in matters distastefully apprehended by some, you hauehave had cleane hands, and a pure heart. I speake this to incourage you to goe on, and no way, (as knoweth the searcher of all hearts) to insinuate, by courting of authoritie. For, though I desire to exercise my vveake gifts, in the Ministerie that is committed vntounto me, with your ayd and countenance, for the repulsing of oppositions that may be made against it by persons of corrupt hearts and life, yet I would not buy your credit so deare as (for it) to bring my person out of credit with the Lord, by a lye. So much for the punishment, the persons follow whom the Prophet will punish.