Gods Holy Mind Touching Matters Moral, Tract 2 · Part 68
And first concerning the hurt or hinderance of the life of the body of man.
Quest. What are the things that hurt or hinder the life of the body of man?
Answ. They are either things of practice, or things of omission.
Quest: What are the things of practise, that doe hurt or hinder the life of the body of man?
Answ. They are either inward in the heart, or outward in word or in deede.
Of these in Order.
Quest. What are the inward things in the heart that doe hurt or hinder the life of the body of man?
Answ. They are in number foure especially.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Mat. 5.22. Eccles. 7.11.Answ. This; Hastie, rash, vnaduised, vniust and sinfull anger.
Quest. What is rash, vnaduised, vniust, and sinfull anger?
Answ. Such as is either hastily conceiued without iust and sufficient cause, or the cause being iust and weighty, such as is directed amisse: as either against the person, or against the offence only,Num. 24.10. 1 Sam. 17.28. Ephes. 4.26. Gen. 49.6.7. Dan. 3.19. as it is an offence to men, as an iniury and wrong bringing hurt and dammage to men, and not as an offence to God: or such as exceedeth either in time or in measure, and becomes hot fiery anger, furious and raging, troubling the minde, and making a man or a woman forget duty to God and men.
Quest. What is the second inward thing in the heart, that doth hurt or hinder the life of the body of man.
Leui. 19.17. 1 Iohn. 2.9.11. 1 Iohn. 3 15.Answ. This; malice or hatred, which is old anger or continued wrath; and it is anger or wrath kept close in the heart, cloaked and couered for a time with purpose to doe hurt, and waiting for oportunitie to doe mischiefe: such was Cains anger. Gen. 4.5.8.
Quest. What is the highest degree of malice or of old and continued anger?
Answ. Such a malicious affection as is implacable and can neuer be appeased, but is full set at all times, and by all meanes to doe mischiefe: such was the affection of Saul towards Dauid, who though hee wept and acknowledged his fault to Dauid, 1 Sam, 24.17.18.19.20. and againe confessed his sinne, saying behold I hauehave done foolishly, and hauehave erred exceedingly; Psal. 120.6.7. Rom. 1.30.1 Sam. 26.21. yet malice was so deepely rooted in his heart, as he sought Dauids death till his owne dying day.
Quest. What is the worst kind of malice or hatred?
Answ. This; when men malice or hate others,1 Ioh. 3:12. Mat. 10.22. 1 King. 22.8. Ioh. 7.7. either for the good things they see in them, or for telling them of their faults, though they pretend o…her causes of their hatred.
Quest. What if an enemy be a wicked man, is it not then lawfull to hate him?
Answ: No; we may indeed hate his sinne but not his person. Psal. 139.21.22. Dauid hated them not in respect of their persons, but in respect of their sinne as they were enemies to God.
Obiection. Luke, 14.26. Christ saith, If any man come to me and hate not his Father and Mother, & Wife, & Children, & Brethren, & Sisters, & his owne life also: it may seeme therefore that hatred is not vnlawfull.
How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; hatred of Father and Mother, and wife and children, and brethren and sisters, is not there simply commanded nor simply allowed: but the meaning is, that in the comparison of Christ, and of the constant profession of his Gospell, Christians are to dispise Father, Mother, Wife, Children, Brethren, Sisters; yea to hate them, as appeares,Chap. 10.37. Mat.
Quest. What is the third inward thing in the heart that doth hurt or hinder the life of the body of man?
Answ. This; enuie, whereby men grieue and repine at good things that others hauehave, which they would hauehave and cannot; whether they be good things of the minde, or body, or outward good things; & doe hate them for those good things: for enuie is a compound of carnall griefe and hatred. Thus the deuill was a murtherer from the beginning; Ioh. 8.44.Gen. 26.14.15 Gen. 30.1. Nomb. 11.28.29. Mat. 27.18. in that he enuied the good estate of our first parents, & neuer rested vntill hee had thrust them out of it. Thus the high Priests of enuie hated Christ for his most excellent sayings and doings.
Quest. Whence comes it that men enuie others and grieue and repine at the good things of others?Gal. 5.26. 1 Tim. 6.4. 1 Cor. 13.4.
Answ. Out of pride and out of abundance of selfe-louelove.
Quest. How farre doth enuie carry an enuious person in sinne?
Ans. Both to a wishing of euill and hurt to another and the fall of another,Pro. 17.5. Pro. 24.17.18. Iob. 31.29.30. and to a reioycing in the hurt and euill and the fall that comes to another.
Obiection. Exod: 15. Moses and the people sung praise to God at the destruction of Pharaoh. 1. Sam: 25.39. Dauid reioyced for Nabals death. Prou: 11.10. It is said, When the wicked perish there is ioy: Therefore it may seeme that men may reioyce at the fall of others their enemies.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; Moses and the people, and Dauid reioyced at the ruine and fall of their enemies, not out of an enuious mind, simply delighting in their destruction, but for the execution of Gods iustice on their enemies; and for his mercy in deliuering them from danger and from the hands of their enemies: and thus Gods Children may reioyce at the ruine and fall of their enemies that do pers…cute them & the Church of God: not out of enuie, pleasing themselues in the hurt of any,Psal. 58.10.11. be they neuer so wicked and vile; but out of louelove to God and to his glory; for the manifestation of his iustice: they may magnifie and praise his iustice in punishing such wicked persons.
Question. VVhat is the fourth inward thing in the heart that doth hurt or hinder the life of the body of man?
Answ: This; desire of reuenge, which is when men to satisfie their owne corrupt and troubled minds for wrong done, or supposed to bee done to them;Leuit. 19.18. Luk. 9.54.55. desire to requite euill for euill, and to right themselues by extreamity and by punishment in full proportion, according to their reuengefull mindes.
Obiection. Iudges. 16.28. Samson prayed to God and besought him that he might bee strengthened, to bee avenged on the Philistims; it may seeme that hee had a desire of reuenge, and therefore men may sometimes desire reuenge.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; Samson was raised vp and appointed of God to bee a Iudge and Captaine ouer his people Israel, to auenge the iniuries and wrongs done to them and to himselfe by the Philistims: and though hee was at that time a captiue in the hands of the Philis…ims; yet as hee was able hee went on in executing of his Office, and he called on God to prosper him in the execution of it, being thereunto carried, not with desire of priuate reuenge, but with a pure zeale to Gods glory in discharging his duty, though he lost his life in doing of it, and so his example is no warrant for any to desire reuenge.
Obiection. 1 Reuel: 6.10. The holy Martyrs vnderunder the altar crie out How long Lord holy and true, doest not thou iudge and auenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth; It seemes therefore they desired reuenge and full vengeance on those that hauehave shed their blood, and so it is not vnlawfull to desire reuenge.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; the holy Martyrs in heauen are brought in vnderunder a vision crying for vengeance, not out of any desire of reuenge, not in respect of any wrong or cruelty shewed to them; but out of a louelove and burning zeale to the glory of Christ, that Christ might be glorified in the confusion of his enemies, and their crying for vengeance is rather to shewe what iudgement of God abideth for their cruell persecutors, then what minde they beare towards them; and that their cause cryeth for vengeance as Abels blood did, Gen: 4.10.Gen: 4.10. And to shewe that howsoeuer the Lord delay for a time, yet hee hath not forgotten the blood of his seruants, but that it cries in his eares, and that hee will one day bring their cruell persecutors to their account: that is the meaning of the place, and so this is no warrant to desire reuenge.
Obiection. Psal: 94.1.2.3. The Psalmist prayes to God the auenger that he would take vengeance on the wicked, and hee prayes in faith with a desire to obtaine what he prayed for. Therefore we may likewise desire reuenge.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; the words of the Psalmist there, are rather a prophesie and a prediction, then a prayer.
Againe, the Psalmist there prayes for vengeance on the wicked, not out of a corrupt desire of priuate reuenge as they were his enemies, but as they were the enemies of God incureable, which hee was able to discerne; and out of zeale to Gods glory, and the good of his Church, that the name of God might not be longer blasphemed, nor his Church oppressed, and cruelly wronged, and so this is no warrant for reuenge.
Quest. May not men in vsing the lawfull helpe of the Magistrate for righting of the wrongs done vntounto them, desire reuenge; the Magistrate being Gods Minister to take vengance on them that doe euill, Rom. 13.14?
Answ. No, they may not; for so doing they make the Magistrate but an instrum…nt of satisfying their corrupt desire, and they abuse the lawfull helpe of the Magistrate. Men are to vse the helpe of the Magistrate in the wrongs done to them, onelyonly with a desire to relieue themselues,Rom: 12.19. Philip: 4.5. and to helpe forward the common peace, and that Gods iustice and goodnesse may bee manifested for the bettering of those that wrong them. Rom: 12.19. Auenge not your selues, either by your selues, or by the helpe of others: therefore desire not reuenge.
Quest. What are the things outward in word that doe hurt or hinder the life of the body of man?
Answ. They are in number fiue especially.
Quest: What is the first of those?
Prou: 12.18. Mat: 5 22. Rom: 3.14. 1. Co…: 6.10. 2. Ephes: 4.31.Answ. Bitter and cursed speaking, hard, spitefull, venemous and prouoking tearmes: when men breake out into brawling, rayling, reuiling and reproachfull tearmes one against another.
Quest. What is the worst kind of rayling and reuiling?
Answ. This; when men either raile and speake euill of religion it selfe,2. King: 1….4. Act: 24.14. M…t. ….11. 1. Pet 4.14. or d…e raile and reuile religious persons for religions sake, because they are religious and doe truely feare God and make conscience of their wayes.
Quest. Are hard words and bitter tearmes alwayes vnlawfull, and may they neuer be vsed?
1 Sam: 13.13. I…b: 2.10. Isai: 1.10.Answ. Hard words and bitter tearmes may sometimes be vsed, and not be cursed speaking: as when publike persons, Magistrates or Ministers, or other gouernours in families,Luk: 13.32. Luk: 24 25. Gal: 3 1. by vertue of their place and calling vse them not in way of reproach, but in way of iust reproofe, and in louelove intending the good and amendment of those they doe reproue,.
Quest: What is the second thing in word that doth hurt or hinder the life of the body of man?
Answ. This;Iudg: 8 1.2.3. Prou: 15.1. Phillip: 2.14. wrangling and contentious speach betweene parties disagreeing; neither partie will yeeld, but each one striues to hauehave th… last word, whereby difference and disagreement betweene them is increased.
Quest. What is the third thing in word that doth hurt or hinder the life of the body of man?
Answ. This; crying,Ephes. 4.31. and vnseemely lifting vp of the voyce: when men or women being at variance in priuate speeches, doe through choler and malice lift vp their voyces, and speake so loud that they may bee heard a farre off; and thereby they are more encouraged, and incensed one aagainst another.
Quest. What is the fourth thing in word that doth hurt or hinder the life or the body of man?
Answ. This; threatning speech,Psal▪ 94.4. Act: 9.1. when as men or women from an inward dislike and rage in their owne priuate cause doe giuegive out threa…ning words against others, as that they will be meete with them and the like.
Qu…st. What is the fift thing in word that doth hurt or hinder the life of the body of man?
Answ. This; moc…ing, scoffing, and deriding speech,2. Kings… 4.23. Ioh. 1… …. Act 2.1…. 2. Sam … 20. Ephes. 5.4. when as men or women out of hatred and contempt of others doe either in plaine tearmes and wordes mocke and deride them, or gird and taunt them, or iest on them by priuie and close nippes, thereby seeking to disgrace them, and to glad their owne hearts, and to make themselues and other merry by grieuing of them.
Quest. What is the worst kind of mocking, scoffing, and deriding?
Answ. This; when men mocke and scoffe, and taunt others for well doing,2. Chron: 36.16 Psal: 69.11.12. Psal: 119.51. Heb: 11.36. and for refraining from euill, for their pietie and religion, and for the vertues and graces that God hath giuen them. Thus Ismael mocked Isaack. Genes: 21.9.Gen: 21 9. compared with Gal: 4.29.Gal: 4.29.
Obiect. 128 1. King: 18.27 Elijah mocked Baals Priests, and iested on them at noone and saide, cry aloud for he is a God: it may seeme therefore that mocking of others, and iesting on them is not alwayes vnlawfull.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; Elijah mocked Baals Priestes, not with a minde to please himselfe in their disgrace, and to make himselfe and others merry by grieuing of them: but hee vsed that manner of speaking out of his zeale to Gods glory, thereby the more plainely to discouer to them the grossenesse of their Idolatry, in that they were so foolish as to worship such a God as could not heare; and the more sharpely to reprooue them for the same. Thus did Isaijah with the grosse Idolaters of his time, Isai: 44.16. Therefore the practice of Elijah doth not warrant mocking, and scoffing, and deriding.
Quest: What are the things outward in deed, that doe hurt or hinder the life of the body of man?
Answ. They are either in countenance, and in some gesture and carriage of the body, or of some part of the body: or they are other acts and deedes.
Quest. What are the things in countenance, and in some gesture and carriage of the body, or of some part of the body, that doe hurt and hinder the life of the body of man?
Gen: 4.5. Gen: 31.2. 1. Sam. 25.17. Mat: 9.24. Mat: 27.39. Luk: 16.14. Act: 7.54.Answ: All signes and gestures of the body that expresse rash anger, contempt, and despite of heart towards another, or others one or more; as lowring, casting downe the countenance, disdainefull, froward and churlish behauiour, nodding or shaking the head in contempt, snuffing, tushing, geering, gerning, flinging away in a chafe, or the like.
Obiection. Deu: 25.9. The law of God did permit a widow to spit in the face of her husbāds brother, or next kinsmā before the Elders of the City or Place, if hee refused to raise vp seede to his Brother.
Quest. How then is eueryevery gesture of the body, expressing contempt of another, a thing that doth hurt or hinder the life of the body of man, and a degree of murther?
Answ. The Lord might command her so to doe, to manifest his great dislike of the want of louelove in him towards his dead Brother.
Againe, the word may be fitly translated,foreign Deut. 25 9. foreign and spit in his sight (that is) spit on the ground before him, that hee might see her: and that seemes to be the true meaning of that place. Deut. 4.37.Deut. 4.37. God is said to bring the Israelites out of Egypt in his face (that is) in his sight: therefore this is no warrant for any such gesture, expressing the contempt of another.
Quest. What are the other acts and deeds that doe hurt or hinder the life of the body of man?
Answ. They are such as either hurt or hinder a mans owne life, or the life of another or others, one or more.
Quest. What are the acts and deedes that hurt and hinder a mans owne life?
Answ. They are either present meanes of the taking away of a mans owne life, and of selfe-murther; or lingering meanes of taking of it away.
Quest. What are the present meanes of taking away of a mans owne life, and of selfe-murther?
Answ. They are such as doe presently bereaue a man of his life; as when a man or woman layes violent hands on himselfe, or her selfe, and doe murder themselues, by hanging thems…lues, by drowning, or the like:Ephe. 5.29. which is a sinne most monstrous and vnnaturall.
Quest. Whence comes it that men or women lay violent hands on themselues; and what may be the causes of selfe-murder?
Answ. Commonly these; horror of conscience, and dispaire of Gods mercy, as in Judas, Mat. 27.4.5. Feare of worldly punishment or shame, 1 Sam. 31.4. 2 Sam. 17.23. Monstrous pride, when men or women will not bee at all, vnlesse they may be as they list themselues; as when they are plunged into remedilesse & extreame penury, and want of outward things.
Obiection. Judges 16.30. Samson killed himselfe and hee sinned not in so doing: it may seeme therefore that selfe-murder may be sometimes lawfull.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; first, it cannot be properly said that Samson did kill or murder himselfe: he died indeed in the execution of his Office, which was to auenge the iniuries and wrongs done to himselfe and to the Israelites, by the Philistims: yet his intent was not to kill himselfe, but only to take reuenge, though it were to the hazard, and to the losse of his life.
Secondly, he had a speciall direction of Gods spirit to do as he did, and his example is speciall; for he was in his death a figure of Christ, as he conquered his enemies more in his death then in his life: so did Christ.
Quest. For the auoyding of some great danger, or some great sinne: as deniall of Christ in the time of persecution or the like, may it not be lawfull for men to make away themselues.
Mat. 10.23. 1 Cor. 10.13.Answ. No, it may not; in such cases God hath not appointed that as a lawfull remedie; but men are then to helpe themselues (if possibly they can) by flying away, or by other lawfull meanes; and they are to hauehave faith in the promise of God, that he will giuegive an issue in eueryevery temptation.
Quest. What are the lingring meanes of taking away of a mans owne life, and of selfe-murder.
Answ. They are such as fret and weaken the body, and impaire the health of it by degrees, and by little and little.
Quest. What are those things that fret and weaken the body, and impaire the health of it by degrees?
Answ They are foure especia…ly.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Pro. 23.29.30. Isa. 5.11. Hose. 7.5.Answ. Intemperancie in dyet, surfeting, riot, and excesse in eating and drinking, which brings sicknesses and diseases on the body.
Quest. What is the second lingring meanes, fretting and weakening the body, and impairing the health of it by degrees?
Pra. 20.4. Pro. 21.25. Pro. 2.18.19.Answ. Idlenesse, and vnchastity, and abusing of the body to who…dome and vncleanesse; whereby men or women bring grieuous and foule diseases on their bodies.1 Cor. 6.18.
Quest. What is the third lingring meanes of taking away of a mans owne life, and of selfe-murder?
Answ. A carelesse and wilfull neglect,2 King. 20.7. 1 Tim. 5.23. a refusing of the good meanes of help, that serue to preserue the life of the body: as wholesome dyet, cloathing and physicke; especially in the time of sicknesse.
Quest. What is the fourth lingring meanes of taking away of a mans owne life, and of selfe murther?
Answ. This; a vo…untary rushing into danger, either certaine and vnauoydable, or very likely, whithout any iust calling from God: as when men rush into houses infected with the plague, ride through dangerous places needlesly without weapons, in a brauery take on them to ride, runne, or goe so farre in such a time, which they cannot doe without hurt to their bodies, only for a little gaine or such like,Mat. 4.6.7. which is a tempting of God.
Quest. May not the body be weakened, and the health of it bee impayred by inward causes alone, without any outward act or deede?
Answ. Yes it may, and many times it is;1 Tim. 6.10. Psal. 55.23. Pro. 17.22. as by distrustfull carking care, worldly sorrow, griefe, enuie, and the like. 2 Cor. 7 10. Psal. 112.10. Pro. 14.30.
Quest. What are the acts and deeds that hurt or hinder the life of another, or others, one or more?
Answ. They are either acts and deeds proper only to publike persons and gouernours; whether they bee Magistrates, o… g…ue…n…urs in the Family, or common to publike persons, and to priuate persons.
Quest: What are the acts and deeds proper only to publike persons and gouernours; whether Magistrates or Gouernours in the Family, that hurt and hinder the life of another, or others, one or more?
Answ. They are foure especially.
Q …st. What is the first of those?
A…sw. This; any wicked and vniust Law, Statute,Exod. 1.15.16.22. Dan. 3.4.5.6. Ordinance, Edict, charge or command, made or giuen by publike persons and gouernours: when publike persons and gouernours abuse their authority and power tyrannously,Dan. 6.7.8.9. Mat. 2.16. to entrap or to destroy others by any wicked and vniust Law, Statute, Ordinance, Edict, or command.
Quest. What is the second act and deed, proper only to publike persons and gouernours: whether Magistrates or Gouernours in the Family, that doth hurt and hinder the life of another, or others, one or more?
Answ. This; giuing of vniust and wrong Iudgement, awarding of sentence in causes iudiciall, contrary to right and equitie:Amos. 2.6. Amos. 6.12. 1 King. 21.11.12.13. Pro. 17.15.26. Luk. 23.24.25. when publike persons giuegive vniust iudgement in matters ciuill, concerning Lands or goods, or in matters criminall concerning the body or life, doe wittingly and willingly giuegive wrong iudgement, either to the condemning of the innocent, or to the iustifying and deliuering of the guilty and euill doer: herein they are murderers.
Quest. VVhat is the third act and deede, proper only to publike persons and gouernours; whether Magistrates or Gouernours in the Family, that doth hurt or hinder the life of another, or others, one or more?
Exod. 23.7. 1 Sam. 22.17.18.19. Acts. 12.2. Iam. 5.6. Gen. 16.6. Leuit. 25.43. Deut. 25.2.3.Ans. This; the inflicting of vniust and vndue punishment on others: when publike persons, Magistrates, or Gouernours in the Family, out of their rage and passion, either punish the innocent and such as hauehave not offended, or they exercise tyrannous cruelty and extreamity in correcting and punishing them that doe offend; and doe punish offenders vnmercifully.
Quest. May not publike persons and gouernours bee cruell in sparing offenders and malefactors?
Answ. Yes, they may: in sparing those that ought to bee punished, they many times bring the plagues of God on whole societies, on Townes, Cities or Counnryes; and they lay them open to Gods vengeance,Num. 35.31.32 33.34. 1 King. 2.31.32. which is great cruelty. 1 Sam. 15.1 Sam. 15.26. Saul spared Agag who should hauehave beene slaine, and that caused the Lord to take away the Kingdome from him and his posterity. vers. 26.
Quest. What is the fourth act and deede proper only to publike persons and gouernours; whether Magistrates or Gouernours in the Family, that doth hurt or hinder the life of an other or others, one or more?
Answ. Cruell oppressing of others; when Magistrates,Gen. 10.8.9. Iere. 22.13.17. Micha. 3.1.2.3. Z…ph. 3.3. Iam. 5.4. or Gouernours in the Family, do cruelly wrong and oppresse those that be vnderunder them: as by laying too heauy burthens on them, by getting what they can from them for their owne priuate gaine; by vsing their labours for little or no wages and the like: whereby they make them wearie of their liues.
Quest. What are the acts and deeds common both to publike and priuate persons, that hurt or hinder the life of another, or others one or more?
Answ. They are either such as tend to the hurt of the body of another or others, and yet for the present take not away the life: or such as doe hurt the body and take away the life of another, or others one or more.
Quest. VVhat are the acts and deeds common both to publike and priuate persons, that doe hurt or hinder the life of the body of another or others, one or more; and yet for the present take not away the life?
Answ. They are fiue especially.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. This; hard and cruell dealing with others,1 King. 21.15, 16. Pro. 11.26. Isa. 5.8. Amos. 8.4.5.6. 1 Thes. 4.6. 1 Cor. 6.8.10. Iam. 2.6. oppressing and wronging them; either by encroaching on them by violent ext…rtion, as inclosers; such as ioyne house to house: such as ingrose commodities, as Corne, or the like; or by fraud and circumuention in bargayning; or by troubling and vexing them with vniust suites and vndue courses in Law, or other molestations: whereby they are worne out, and depriued of meanes of life.
Quest. VVhat is the worst kinde of oppressing and wronging of others?
Answ. This;Exod. 22.21.22 Deut. 24 14 17 Ierem. 22.3. Zach. 7.10. when men oppresse and wrong impotent feeble▪ poore persons, strangers, Fatherlesse, Orphants, or Widowes.
Quest. VVh…t is the second act or deede common both to publike and priuate persons, that tendeth to the hurt of the body of another, or others, one or more; and yet for the present take not away the life?
Answ. This; Combining with others, and conspiring with them, and lying in wait for the killing, or for the mischeiuing of another or others, one or more. 2 King. 9.14.15. 2 King. 25.23.24. Iere 11.19.21. Iere. 18.18. Pro. 1.11. Acts. 23.12.13.
Quest. What is the third act and deede common both to publike and priuate persons, that tendeth to the hurt of the body of anoother or others, and yet for the present takes not away the life?
Iudg. 16.9. &c. 1 Sam. 18.25. Mat. 26.48. Act. 7.52. Mat. 10.21. Luk. 21.26.Answ. This; the betraying of another or others, into the hands of those that vniustly seeke his or their life and ouerthrow; especially the betraying of the Prince and chiefe Magistrate, or of those to whom men are bound by some neere and speciall bond: as of Father, Mother, Wife, Children, and such like.
Quest. What is the fourth act and deede common both to publike and priuate persons, that tendeth to the hurt of the body of another or others, and yet for the present takes not away the life?
2 Sam. 17.1.2.3 Pro. 1.10.11. 2 Sam. 11.14.15. & 12.9. compared. 2 Sam. 2.14.15.16.Answ. This; procurement and stirring vp of such meanes and instruments as may take away the life of another or oothers; by counsell, by inticement, by writing, by hyring some to lye in waite to kill them; by stirring vp either for pleasure or cruelty, to quarrell or fight one with another; or the like.
Quest. What is the fift act and deede common both to publike and priuate persons, that tends to the hurt of the life of the body of another or others: and yet for the present takes not away the life?
Ezod. 2.13. Exod. 21.15. Leuit. 24.19. Deut. 27.24. Mat. 26.67. Acts. 23.2. 2 Cor. 11.24.25.Answ. This; Vniust violence with the hand in striking, beating, wounding, or mayming of another, or others; especially striking, beating, wounding, or mayming of Parents or Superiours.
Quest. What are the acts and deeds common both to publike and priuate persons, that hurt the body and take away the life of another, or other?
Answ. They are either such acts and deeds as by manifest violence shed the blood, and take away the life of another or others: or by some secret and cunning deuice, doe shed the blood, and take away the life of another or oth…rs.
Of these in Order.
Quest. What are the acts and deeds common both to publike and priuate persons, that by manifest violence shed the blood, and take away the life of another or others?
Answ. They are acts and deeds whereby men doe openly and willingly take away the life of another, by sword,Gen. 4.8. 2 Sam. ….27. 2 Sam. 4.6; 7. Mat. 14.10. dagger, knife, gunne, rope, or any like instrument and meanes whatsoeuer.
Quest. When is the sinne of taking away the life of another or others openly by sword, dagger, knife, rope, gunne, and the like instrument and meanes whatsoeuer, most vile and odious?
Answ. When it is committed without regard either of place, calling, or condition; or of nature, or of multitude.
Quest. How is it committed without regard of place, calling, or condition?
Answ. Thus; when a man openly and willingly, by sword,1 Sam. 24.7.14. 1 Sam. 20.9.10 11. 1 King. 16.7.9 2 Chro. 24.21. 1 Thes. 2.15. Mat. 2.16. 1 Pet. 3.6. dagger, knife, rope, or gunne, sheds the blood, and takes away the life of his Prince, or other Magistrate ouer him; of his Pastor, of his Master, especially when they are executing their office; or of an Infant, or such like; or when the wife openly and willingly by sword, dagger, knife, rope, or gunne, sheds the blood, and takes away the life of her husband; or the husband openly and willingly by sword, dagger, knife, rope, or gunne, sheds the blood, and takes away the life of his wife: the husband is not to strike his wife, much lesse to shed her blood, or take away her life.
Quest. How is the sinne of taking away the life of another, or others, openly and willingly by sword, dagger, knife, rope, or gunne, committed without regard of nature?
Answ. Thus;Gen 4.8. Iudg. 9.6. 2 King. 3.27. 1 Tim. 1.9. when a brother openly and willingly by sword, dagger, knife, rope, or gunne, sheds the blood, and takes away the life of his brother or sister, the father the child; and especially the child the life of the father or mother.
Quest. How is the sinne of taking away the life of another or others, openly and willingly by sword, dagger, knife, rope, or gunne, or such like instrument, or meanes committed without regard of multitude?Gen. 34.25. Gen. 49.5.6.7. 1 Sam. 22.18.19.
Answ. Thus; when it is done on many by adding murder to murder, though they be strangers. 2 Kin. 10.7. Act. 12.2, 3.
Quest. Is shedding of the blood, and taking away the life of another or others, by sword, dagger, knife, gunne, or the like instrument and meanes of death alwayes vnlawfull and a sinne?
Answ. No; it is sometimes lawfull, and no sinne at all.
Quest. How is it lawfull, and no sinne at all?
Answ. In three cases.
Quest. VVhat is the first of those?
Answ. This; when God commands it exraordinarily; so Abraham might lawfully hauehave killed his sonne Isaac, the Lord bidding him to doe it, Gen. 22.2.Gen. 22.2. Ioshua had commandement from God to destroy the Canaanites, Iosh. 1.4, 5, 6.Iosh. 1, 4, 5, 6.
Quest. VVhat is the second case wherein the taking away the life of another or others, is lawfull?
Answ. This; when the Lord stirres vp men extraordinarily by his Spirit, and by speciall instinct to doe it, as Phinehas was, Num. 25.7, 8.Num. 25.7.8. Psal. 106.30, 31.Psal. 106.30.31 and as Samuel was, 1 Sam. 15.33.1 Sam. 15.33.
Quest. VVhat is the third case wherein the shedding of the blood, and taking away the life of another or others, openly and willingly by sword, dagger, knife, rope, gunne, or the like instrument of death is lawfull?
Answ. This; when men are directed by the written word of God to doe it?
Quest. How are men directed by the written word of God to doe it?
Answ. In three cases.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Gen. 9.6. Exod. 2.27, 28.29. Deut. 17.5.6.7. Iosh. 7.24.25. 1 King: 2, 31, 46, Rom: 13.4.Answ. This; In case of publike Iustice, when Princes and Magistrates doe by direction from the Word of God, and according to wholesome Lawes grounded on the same, giuegive sentence of death against malefactors that deserue death: and then executioners vnderunder them, doe by their appoyntment shed the blood, and take away the liues of those malefactors so condemned.
Quest. What is the second case wherin men are directed by the written word of God to shed the blood, and to take away the life of another or others, openly & willingly by sword, dagger, knife, rope, gunne, or the like instrument or meanes of death?
Answ. This; in case of lawfull and iust warre,Gen. 14.14.15.16.19.20. Exod. 17.9.10 Mat. 8.9. Luk. 3.14. Act. 10.1.2.3. when Princes and gouernours on iust and weighty causes, as for the defending of the libertie of their countrey, either against rebellion within, or inuasion of enemies without; or for the recouering of it being lost, or for the defence of religion, and the truth of God, and the like, doe vse the sword in warre, and do wage battell, and their Souldiers doe in warre so vndertaken kill their enemies.
Obiect. 1 Chron. 22.8. God refused Dauid, and would not hauehave him to build his temple, because he was a man of war and blood: therefore it may seeme vnlawfull for Princes and Gouernors to wage battell, and to make warre.
Quest: How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; Dauid was not refused, as if the Lord had disallowed the battels that hee fought against the enemies of God: for Dauid saith, The Lord taught him to fight, Psal. 18.34, 39.Psal. 18.34 39. Psal. 144.1.Psal. 144.1. but because the Temple was a figure of Christ, whose kingdome should bee peaceable, and therefore that the shaddow and the Body might fully agree, the Lord would hauehave the materiall Temple to bee builded by Salomon, a peaceable man.
Obiection. Math. 5.44. Christ bids vsus LoueLove our enemies.
Quest. How then may Princes wage warre with their enemies, and slay them?
Answ. Princes are to louelove their enemies, yet so as they louelove their owne subiects more dearely: for LoueLove is to begin at home, and is first to bee expressed to those that are neerest to vsus, and then to those that are further off in degree, euen to our enemies: and therefore Princes may and ought to wage warre with enemies that doe violently assault their Subiects, and they may and ought to take away the liues of such enemies, if otherwise their Subiects cannot bee safe.
Quest. What is the third case wherein men are directed by the written word of God to shed the blood, and take away the life of an other or others openly and willingly by sword, dagger, knife, rope, gunne, or the like instruments or meanes of death?
Exod. 22.2.Answ. This; in case of necessarie and iust defence, when a man is of necessitie for the defence of himselfe driuen to kill another or others, and hee doth it iustly and in right manner.
Quest. When is a man of necessitie driuen to kill another or others, for the defence of himselfe, and for the safegard of his life?
Answ. When hee is openly, and so suddenly assaulted, as that hee can by no other meanes defend himselfe, and saue his life, either by yeelding, or by going backe and flying, or by some suffering, or by helpe from others, or from the Magistrate; the Magistrate being absent, and it being full of danger to wait for his comming: in this case God puts the sword into the priuate mans hand.
Quest. How doth a man in necessary defence of himselfe kill an other or others iustly and in a right manner?
Answ. When hee doth it presently in the time of the assault, and whilest the violence is offered:) for if hee doe it afterwards, it is not iust defence, but reuenge:) and hee doth it also with an intention onelyonly to defend himselfe, and not to kill, and with a mind that had rather not kill: and he so strikes the party that assaults him, as that he is sorry for the necessitie of hurting him.
Quest. May not a man in some cases defend himselfe and others by voluntary combat, by single fight, by fighting with another, hand to hand, and so fighting kill another?
Answ. No, he may not; voluntary combate or single fight betweene man and man is neuer lawfull in any case whatsoeuer; because in eueryevery voluntary combate men hazard their liues without warrant from God, which is a tempting of God, and the killing of a man in such a combate is murder.