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this passage should be interpreted as teaching the sacred inviolability of human life, and commanding what was, in the state of mankind at the time it was revealed, the most expedient, and therefore the justest punishment for murder; but in applying it to the present state of society, it must be understood as commanding us to inflict whatever punishment we can discover to be most effectual in preventing murder—i.e., to be the most expedient."
In the above passage, with one exception, I entirely concur. I think it not only an ingenious, but an exceedingly beautiful interpretation, of that much used, may I not be permitted to say, much abused text? The exception is, that I do not believe the death penalty was ever expedient; but I will not urge this topic, as it would be unsuitable in our society. The 'Archbishop of Dublin, in his second lecture on the subject alluded to, uses the following words:—"That political economy should have been complained of as hostile to religion will probably be regarded, a century hence, (should the fact then be on record) with the same wonder, almost approaching to incredulity, with which we of the present day hear of men's having sincerely opposed, on religious grounds, the Copernican system. But, till the advocates of Christianity shall have become universally much better acquainted with the true character of their religion, than they have ever yet been universally, we must always expect that every branch of study, every scientific theory, that is brought into notice, will be assailed on. religious grounds, by those who have either not studied the subject, or who are incompetent judges of it; or, again, who, in addressing themselves to such persons as are so circumstanced, wish to excite and* take advantage of the ignorant."
I gladly avail myself of these enlightened sentiments of that eminent man, and I apply them to the subject I have now in hand, in the fullest confidence that men will yet, in this light look, upon the present opinion of many, in relation to scriptural declarations upon the subject of death punishment.
There is one other point, in relation to the question of capital punishment, to which I should like to draw your attention, but my time warns me that I must but just allude to it. It is to me matter of deep astonishment, how men, who believe in an eternity of punishment so severe that we have no words in which to convey an adequate idea of its horrors, are found to be the advocates of hastening their guilty brethren out of life, and away from the possibility of repentance; for they say that "there is no repentance in the grave." This point is of deep importance in relation to the question at issue, and should be taken into serious consideration by-all who have any doubts about the propriety and expediency of abolishing capital punishment.
I commend this great question to your warmest feelings and to your soundest judgment, and from both I confidently anticipate a favourable verdict.
