The Bibles Abstract and Epitome, Part 71
Gods Justice Murther punished.
ACtuall Murther is either secret, or open.
1. Secret is in poison, or some cunning device: such was Ahabs, who would1 King. 21. not openly murther Naboth, but yet consents thereunto. Such likewise was Davids, who would not slay Ʋriah with his owne hands, but caused him to be put2 Sam. 11. into the battell that he could not escape.
2. Open murther is committed when one with his hands openly and willingly taketh away the life of man: this is condemned by the Lord, Thou shalt not shed Gen. 9. 6.mans bloud, &c. the reason is added, for he was made in the image of God: This is therefore to deface Gods image, and as it were to raze the Princes picture, andExod. 22. 18. great Seale, yea this is so hatefull to God, that he commands that if a beast slay a man, he must be slaine and his flesh not eaten.Deut. 21.
Open murther is committed when one layes violent hands upon himselfe, and this is noted of most impious persons, as Iudas and Achitophet were, which first were cruell to others, then to themselves.
Object. Samson slew himselfe, was he guilty of his owne death?
Answ. Samson when he saw his misery was dishonourable to God, pulled downe the house on the Ph…listines, and dyed himselfe with them, yet can hee not be said properly to kill himselfe, yet it is granted that he dyed, but he purposed not his owne end to himselfe that he might die, but sought to be avenged upon his enemies, which by this meanes he knew vvould come to passe▪ So the ApostlesIudg 16. thought among themselves: If vve preach Christ unto the people, vvee shall dye, yet could not they be said that they killed themselves, when they preached the Gospell, which was the cause of their death.
Samson was a figure of Christ, who vanquished more a… his death, then in all…. Heb. 11.his life: and to cleare him from all suspition, the Authour to the Hebrewes saith, that he did it of faith, numb…ing him with the Saints.
Object. Ionah willed the Marriners to cast him into the sea, was he not guilty of his own death, seeing he consented to what they did.
Answ. Ionah was a Prophet, and therefore knew the will of God in this case: moreoverIon. 1. over he was a figure of Christ, being three dayes in the belly of the fish, as Christ was in the heart of the earth.
Quest. Is there any place of repentance left for them that kill themselves?
Answ. Saint Augustine thinkes hardly of them (saying) there is no place of RepentanceMat. 7. 1. Rom. 14. left for them: Wee must not judge so hardly of them, Iudge not (saith Christ) it is Gods office, who may give them repentance when their soules depart.
The cause of murther. is either profit revenge lust such was Ahabs unto Naboath.1 King. 22. 2 Sam. 18. 2 Sam. 12.
The cause of murther. is either profit revenge lust such was Absoloms unto Ammon.Note.
The cause of murther. is either profit revenge lust such was Davids unto Ʋrijah.
murthered
Abimelech
His brethren, he was slaine by a woman with a peece of aIudg. 9. m…lstone.
King Ag…g
Divers persons, hee was hewed by the Prophet Samuel in1 Sam. 15. 2 Sā. 3. I…r. …9. 22 I…r. 51. 49 2 Sam. 18. 2 King. 21. 2 Chron. 22. 1 King. 22. 2 King 9. 1 King. …. 2 Sam. 4. 2 Sam. 12. Ioel 3. 9. 2 Ch. 24 1 Ki. 2. 2 Ch. 25 Gen. 4. Exod. 2. 11. Ier. 26. 22. Ez…k. 3…. 18 I…horam. 1 C…ron. 21 2 Ki. 15. 2 Ki. 15. Manasseb Eze. 11. 16 Exod. 1. Ch. 14. peeces.
A…ner
Asahel, he was slaine by Ioab treacherously,
Absolom
Amnon, he was after hanged by the haire in a tree.
Amons servants
King Amon, they were all of them by the people slaine.
Athatiah
The Kings seed, she was put to death by Iehojada for the same.
Ahab & Iezebel
Naboth, they were both slaine by the enemy.
Baasha
Nadab his son, Elah was slaine by Zimry.
Baana
Ishbosheth with Rechab, they were put to death by David.
David
Ʋriah, his bloud was of his posterity required.
Edom
Divers persons with Egypt … their lands were both wasted.
Io…sh
Zechariah, he was by his owne servants murthered.
Ioab
Abner, he was slaine at Salomons command by Benaiah.
Ioashs servants
Ioash, they were put to death by King Amaziah.
Kain
Abel, he became a runnagate over the earth.
Mehanem
Shallum, his own son was slaine by Pekah.
Pekah
Pekahiah, he was afterwards slaine by Hoshea.
Pharaoh
Little children, hee was drowned with his army in the Sea.
Saul
Gibeonites, his sonnes were slaine by the Philistines.2 Sa. 31 Gen. 49 Paul. Lev…. Sim…on.
Simeon
Skochemites with Levi, they were cursed for their cruelties.
Zeba
Gideons brethren with Zalmunna: They were both slaineIudg. 8. Chap. 9. by Gideon.
Zimri
King Asa, he burnt himselfe in the Kings mansion▪1 King. 16.
The man
That by violence sheddeth mans bloud shall be a runnagate to hisDeut. 24. 17. Prov. 28. 17. Exod. 21. 12. Gen. 9 6. Deut. 35. 3…. Mat. 26. 32.grave: That smiteth one that dyeth shall dye, and that sheddeth mans bloud, by man shall his bloud be shed: All that take the sword shall perish with the sword, and that kill shall be killed.
The Murtherer
Shall not inherit the kingdome of Heaven, neither shall live halfeRev. 13. 10. Chap. 21. 8. Gal. 5. 21. Psal. 55. 25. Psal. 5. 6. Hos. 4. 2. his dayes: The Lord will abhorre him: and for his sinne will cause the land to mourne, and all that dwell therein, with a destruction of each thing.
Recompence
Shall be none taken for murther (saith the Lord) but inquisitionNumb. 35. 32. &c. Deut. 21. shall be made, that the murtherer may be found; for the Land shall not be cleansed of the bloud that is shed therein, but by the bloud of him that shed bloud.
The Remedy of Murther.
The way
To prevent murther is to keepe our selves from envy and hatred, to take heed of revenge, to be courteous, loving and kind, &c. Following2 Cor. 13. 11. the Apostles counsell, forgiving one another, as God for Christ hath forgiven us: seeking peace and ensuing it. The which that we may all doe, the Lord grant Amen.