Capital Punishment.
Much public interest has been aroused by the recent debate in Parliament on the subject of Capital Punishment. Judging by press reports, the debate was conducted in an atmosphere of considerable excitement, and there is reason to suppose that the vote at the end of the debate may have been influenced to some extent not so much by the exercise of sober judgment as by sentimental and emotional appeal. There are those who hold, no doubt sincerely, that in any circumstances it is wrong to take human life. Others are persuaded on the grounds of justice and in the interests of society that it would be a miscarriage of justice to spare the life of a convicted murderer. But in between those holding these definite and opposite views there is a large body of the public who hold no definite views on this subject. For us, however, the Word of God puts the matter beyond dispute in no uncertain way, as the following passages show, “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God made He man” (Gen. 9 and 6); “Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death; but he shall surely be put to death . . . so ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are; for blood it defileth the land, and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein but by the blood of him that shed it” (Num. 31 and 31-35). The Apostle Paul, when defending himself before Festus, said, “I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest. For if I be an offender, or have committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die.” Here Paul admits by implication that there were things under Roman law which were worthy of death, and he held this so strongly that if he had been guilty of committing these things he would not refuse to die. In the view of Scripture, both Old and New Testaments, which we hold express the mind of God infallibly and inerrantly, capital punishment is not only permissible but it is absolutely obligatory.
It is necessary as a measure of justice. Some object to this view as being inconsistent with the morals of Christianity. That it is inconsistent with modern views of Christian morality we readily allow, but that it is inconsistent with true Christianity we do not accept. The mercy of the Gospel is itself firmly based on the principle of inflexible and eternal justice. The demand of God’s justice is “The wages of sin is death” and “Without shedding of blood there is no remission.” The blood of Christ is the answer to that demand, and on that precious blood the Gospel mercy is based. The modern gospel of mercy without regard to justice is not only false morality but it is extremely dangerous. The evils corrupting the social life of Britain to-day are in large measure a direct consequence of this false charity, and to remove the death penalty on the grounds of this false conception of
mercy would only invite greater evils still. Another serious consideration in agreement with the Word of God is that to abolish the death penalty would adversely affect the security and safety of society. The public subscribe large sums of money to uphold the principle and practice of justice in order to procure the security and safety of the nation. Any measure which makes it easier for a criminal to murder a fellow being interferes with the safeguards of society, and from that point of view the removal of the death penalty would be a very real danger.
However, the abolition of the death penalty has not yet passed into law. It may never become the law in Britain. In the meantime the duty of every praying person is plain, Let them seek by prayer that the Lord, in whose hand the king’s heart is as wax, would so overrule matters as to preserve the law of His own Word in this solemn matter. It is a privilege open to every man and woman to communicate directly with their respective Members of Parliament, making their views plain.
God, the Afflicted Believer’s Portion.
Disconsolate spirit, thou that like the dove, canst find no resting place upon earth, here is a refuge for thee; a sure and sweet and abiding refuge; choose God for thy portion and heaven for thy home. Here are new objects worthy of thy highest regard, adequate to fill your largest desires, and fitted alike by their greatness and their stability to secure your everlasting happiness. That thou hast seen the vanity of the world is well; God has thus been preparing thee for discovering the value of religion; but beware of resting at this point, as if despondency were a proof of piety; or as if the discovery of this world’s vanity were the only article of religion. Remember that many a man is bitterly dissatisfied with his present state, and often weary with the world, who has yet no portion in God; and that it is not enough that his affections be withdrawn from things “seen and temporal” unless they are transferred to things “unseen and eternal.” Seek not to remain in a neutral state or to cherish unconcern or indifference, so long as thy heart beats within thee, it will yearn after some object on which its desires and affections may be fixed; and if the world cannot allure them, or be unworthy of them, no happiness can be enjoyed until they rise above the world to God. By the discipline of His providence, by every successive disappointment or bereavement with which he has visited thee, God has been saying, “Seek ye my face”; let every wounded spirit reply, “Thy face, Lord, will I seek.” There are many that say, “Who shall show us any good?” but my prayer will be, “Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon me,” “God is the portion of my soul, therefore will I trust in Him”; “My heart and my flesh faint and fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever,” “Therefore though the fig tree should not blossom, and there be no fruit in the vine,
though the labour of the olive should cease, and there be no herd in the stall, I will rejoice in the Lord; I will joy in the God of my salvation.”—Rev. Jas. Buchanan, D.D.