A view of the threats and punishments recorded in the Scriptures, alphabetically composed with some briefe observations upon severall texts / by Zachary Bogan ...

Murderers shall be certainly punished

For, thus God threatens him, that should kill Cain, (though he had murdered his bro∣ther, and was therefore cursed by God.) Whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be ta∣ken on him sevenfold. Gen. 4. 15. If you trans∣late (with Symmachus) Omnis qui occiderit Cain, Septimus ulsciscetur; and interpret (with Hierom* 1.1) Whosoever shall kill Cain, the seventh (i. e. a man of the seventh generation) shall execute vengeance for his murder: it will make more for our purpose, for he saith, it was the opinion of the ancient, that Cain, for an example, was suffered to live till the seventh generation, and then slaine

by Lamech But I suppose, taking vengeance 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 seven times (or sevenfold) is only an expression, to set forth abundance of se∣verity in revenging: as to forgive a man till he hath sinned against him seventy times se∣ven, is only to expresse endlesnesse of mercy in forgiving: viz. without any curious respect to a certaine number of times The barba∣rous people of Malta (and such they were indeed, not for inhumanity, but ignorance) when they saw a viper leap out of the fire upon Pauls hand, as if they thought no sin could have drawne such a punishment upon him sooner then murder, presently said, No•• doubt this man is a murtherer, whom though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live, Act. 28. 4. Suffereth not] or, hath not suffered so the Originall* 1.2; and so Beza renders. as if they made it sure, he would presently die for it: and as it is said, they did, vers. 6.

They are punished in their Persons,

First with a Curse, executed, as it were by the Earth it selfe in revenge, for defiling* 1.3 it with blood. thus Cain was punished. And now thou art cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brothers blood from thy hand. When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yeeld unto thee her strength

A fugitive and a Ʋagabond shalt thou be in the earth, Gen. 4. 11. 12.* 1.4 Alexander, when hee return'd from the Indians, sent let∣ters through Greece to give liberty to all banished men, to returne to their homes, ex∣cepting only such as had been so punished for murder.

2 God's hatred, The Lord will abhorre the bloudy and deceitfull man. Ps. 5. 6 the blou∣dy] Chald. pa: the shedder of innocent bloud: ac∣cording to the Heb: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the man of blouds: For when the word in Hebrew for bloud, is in the plurall number, it is usually meant of unlawfull putting to death. And the reason may be, (if my judgement faile not) because the bloud of any one man can∣not be unlawfully shed,* 1.5 but the bloud of another also must and will bee shed for it, sooner or later: so that every murderer is a shedder of blouds. Whereas, if a Magistrate cause a man to be put to death according to law, only one mans bloud (and scarce that, I meane in the Scripture language,) for the most part is shed, and wee heare no more of it.

3 God's not hearing their prayers. And when yee spred forth your hands (your bloudy hands) I will hide mine eyes: yea though yee make many prayers, I will not heare, your hands are full of bloud, Isa 1. 15. Of bloud▪] for

though, I confesse, by this word are usually expressed other sinnes, besides Murder: yet I believe it is chiefly meant of wrongfull con∣demning men to death, which I make no que∣stion, is a breach of that Commandement, Thou shalt doe no Murder. And that the greatnesse of those sinnes is set forth by this expression (as the fittest for aggravation) it makes much the more for the aggravating of this sinne.

God's not pardoning their sinne. For though there had beene three Kings in Judah, since Manasseh's time: yet it is said in the second booke of Kings ch. 24. v. 4. (speaking of the misery that befell the Jewes for Manasseh's sinnes.) And also for the innocent blood, that he shed (for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood) which the Lord would not pardon.

5 Shortnesse of life. (If they escape a vio∣lent death.) Bloody and deceitfull men shall not live out halfe their dayes, Ps: 55. 23.

6 Violent death.

Before the Law, threatened or prescri∣bed. Who so sheddeth mans blood* 1.6, by man shall his blood be shed, for in the image of God made he man, Gen. 9. 6. So that he de∣stroyes not meerely a man: as he that breakes in pieces the statue of a Prince, doth not onely breake the wood, or the stone. It was either the death of Esau, or

little better, which Rebeccah feared, when she bid Jacob fly from him, adding this reason, Why should I be deprived of you both in one day? Gen. 27. 45.

Ʋnder the Law, prescribed. He that kil∣leth any man shall surely be put to death, Lev. 24 17 repeated, v. 21. A Law that ad∣mitted of no cōposition, or satisfaction. The land cannot be clensed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it* 1.7

Under the Gospel, threatened: For our Saviour told one of his company, (who had cut off the care of a servant of the High-priest's, that came to apprehend him,) Put up thy sword againe into his place; for all that take the sword, shall pe∣rish with the sword, Mat. 26. 52. you have almost the same words in Rev. 13. 10.

They that take the sword] though persecu∣ted, yea, though Christ and his Gospel, be per∣secuted, they may not take sucha 1.8 armes to themselves, no more then a man could take ^a the Priesthood to himselfe; that is, unlesse they are called of God. Even in Tertullian's time, when the Christians had farre lesse reason (there were so many of them) to fear perishing with the sword if they tooke it, then they had when Christ spake those words, yet he saith, they durst not doe it. Cui bello (saith he) non idonei, non prompti fu∣issemus

etiam impares copiis, qui tam libenter trucidamur; si non apud istam disciplinam ma∣gis occidi liceret, quam ••••cidere?

Examples of violent death executed upon murderers, either by the Magistrate, or by God, by the hands of themselves or others, the Scripture affords many. I will produce some of the more noted. As 1 Zeba & Zal∣munna, Kings of Midian. Being taken by Gideon in fight, they were by him after∣ward put to death in cold bloud, for murde∣ring his brethren, Jud: 8. 19. 21. 2 Abi∣melech, with the helpe of the Shechemites had murdered seventy of his own brethren, Jud. 9. 5. But (according to Jothams parable. v. 7) when the Shechemites rebelled, a fire came first out of this bramble and devour'd them, vers. 45. and after that fire came out of them, and devour'd the bramble, vers. 53. For as A∣bimelech was besieging the tower at Thebez; a woman threw down a piece of a milstone* 1.9 upon his head, and brake his scull whereup∣on, lest it should be said, he was slaine by a woman, he caused his armour bearer to run him thorow, and so died, ibid. 3. Agag king of the Amalekites. For having made women childlesse, Samuel hewed him in pieces, after he had taken him, in cold bloud, 1 Sam: 15. 33, and Saul lost his kingdome for sparing him, vers. 33. 4. Rechab and Banah, two of

king Ishbosheths captaines. They murdered their master in his bed, and carried his head to king David, 2 Sam 4. 7. But so farre was he from commending them for what they did: that, although he, whom they had mur∣dered, was his competitour in the kingdome, yet he caused them presently to bee put to death; and cut off their hands, and their feet; and hung them up for a terrour, 2 Sam 4. 12. 5 Zimri, captaine to Elah king of Israel. He murdered his master, and made himselfe king▪ but being afterward besieged in Tirzah by Omri, (whō the people erected in his place,) he set his house on fire over him, and so died, 1 Kings 16. 10, 18. This ex∣ample, Jezabel used, to fright Jehu with all 2 Kings 9. 31. 6 Ahab king of Israel. Hee caused Naboth, upon false witnesse of blas∣phemy, to be stoned to death, that hee might get his possessions, 1 Kings 21. 2, 3. But hee he was afterward, in a fight with the King of Syria, wounded in his chariot; and died of the wound c. 22. 37. Now his bloud run∣••ning out in the chariot; when the chariot came home, it came to passe according to that which Elijah the Prophet threatned him, ch. 21. 19. viz: In the place where dogges licked the bloud of Naboth, shall dogs licke thy bloud event hine. 7 Shallum king of Israel. He ••urdered Zachariah king of Israel, and was

murdered by Menahem; who came in his place. 2 kings 15. 10 14. 8 Pekah. Hee made himselfe king of Israel, by the murder of Pekahiah; and was afterwards murdered by Hoshea, who came in his place, 2, Kin. 15. 25. 30▪ 9 The servants of Amon King of Judah. They murdered him in his house; and were all of them afterward put to death by the people: who made Josiah king in his steed, 2 Kings 21. 24, 10 Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah. Having made her selfe Queen of Judah by the murder of all the seed royall except Joash (whom Jehosheba hid. 2 Kings 11. 2) shee was afterward slaine at the command of Jehoiada, v. 16. 11 Joash King of Judah. He caused Zachariah the son of Jeho••ada to be stoned to death, and was afterward murdered by his own servants. 2 Chr. 24. 24. 12 Those servants but now mentioned, they were put to death by Joash his sonne Amaziah, who reigned after him, ch. 5. 3.

7 The last punishment of murderers, which they s••ffer in their persons, is Hell. for he, whom John saw sitting upon the throne, hath said it himselfe, that murderers shall have their part in the Lake that burneth with fire and brimstone, Rev: 21. 8.

They are punished in their Countries.

1 With Famine. There was three yeares famine in Israel, for Sauls murdering the Gi∣beonites, 2 Sam. 21. 1.

2 Conquest and destruction by enemies. Such as befell the Jewes, upon the rebellion of Jehoiakim. Surely, at the command of the Lord, came this upon Judah; to remove them out of his sight: for the sinnes of Manasseh, ac∣cording to all that he did; and also for the inno∣cent bloud which he shed, for he filled Jerusalem with innocent bloud which the Lord would not pardon, 2 Kings 24. 3, 4.

They are punished in their Posterity.

By Death, or some other great calamity: as you may see 1 In Joab, according to David's threat to him. For, when Joab had trecherously murdered Abner (who came over to him) by taking him aside to speak with him, thus he spake, I, and my kingdome are guiltles before the Lord for ever from the bloud of Ab∣ner the sonne of Ner, let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his fathers house, and let there not faile from the house of Joab, one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staffe; or that falleth on the sword, or that lack∣eth bread, 2 Sam. 3. 28, 29. See also Solomon's threat concerning him, 1 Kings 2. 33. after

which, it is said also, that hee himselfe was slaine by Benaiah, at the command of Solomon, even when he hung upon the altar. 1 Kings 2. 28. to 34. For God will not be a refuge for murderers: neither were the cities of refuge appointed for them, Deut. 19. 11: 2 In David, (for the murder of Ʋriah,) according to Nathans threat, Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house: because thou shast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Ʋriah the Hittite to be thy wife, 2 Sam: 12. 10. 3 In Saul (for murdering the Gibeo∣nites) For when the Gibeonites were asked by David, what satisfaction they desired: they demanded seven of Sauls sonnes; and hung them all up with his consent, 2 Sam: 21 9 4 In Ahab, for murdering Naboth. For Jo∣ram his son King of Israel, was by Jehu▪ (who was already anointed king in his stead) shot to death with an arrow, as hee sate in in his chariot, 2 Kings 9. 24. See what he sayes, when he had kil'd him, v. 25 26 It was not long after, ere Jehu put to death all the rest of his familie; causing the heads of se∣ventie of his sonnes, to be brought to him at one time, to Jezreel in baskets, c 10. 7. Thus you see how loud, and how long, bloud crieth: and how deeply it staineth; so that no∣thing but bloud will fetch it out again▪ espe∣cially if it be in a place, where the true reli∣gion

is professed: for then the punishment will be, as to one, that hath defiled God's dwel∣ling: which must needs anger him exceed∣ingly, Num: 35, 33, 34. So yee shall not pollute the land, wherein yee are: for bloud it defi∣leth the land; and the land cannot be cleansed of the bloud, that is shed therein, but by the bloud of him that shed it. DEFILE not therefore the land which yee shall inhabit wherein I DWELL: for I the Lord DWELL among the children of Israel.

The Odiousnesse of this sinne, and how certaine it is to be punished, may be further gathered out of the Scriptures thus,

1 By the strictnesse of God's requiring the blood shed (as if it were a thing more his owne, then other things) even at the hand of a beast, that hath neither hand, nor reason, Gen. 9. 5. For if a beast killed a man, yea, though it were an Oxe (the most usefull beast of any,) it was to be stoned to death: and none of his flesh was to be eaten, Exod. 21. 28.

2 By the strictnesse of God's inquiring af∣ter it. I doe not read of his making inqui∣sition, for any thing but this: and for this he allowes times of purpose, as if it were a bu∣sinesse, which he constantly does, and which he will not by any meanes omit. When hee maketh inquisition for blouds, be remembreth

them. Ps. 9. 12. No wonder then, there are such strange discoveries of murder, so deeply concealed, so long agoe committed. Sithence he, who is the searcher even of hearts, maketh inquest for it: and shall not he search* 1.10 it out? See Isai 26. 21. I might produce many exam∣ples of such discoveries, if it were not beyond my bounds.

3 By the strictnesse of the Enquiry, which he prescribed to the Elders of the Is∣raelites, when they found a man slaine, and it was not knowne, who kill'd him. As like∣wise by the forme of prayer given them, wherein they wereto desire God, not to lay even such a man's bloud to their charge, Deut. 21. 1.

4 By Davids charge to Solomon concer∣ning Joab, for murdering Abner and Amasa* 1.11: Let not his hoary head goe downe to the grave in peace, 1 Kings 2. 5.

5 By the punishment, which the Sheche∣mites suffered, for helping. Abimelech in the murder of his brethren: viz: the slaughter of themselves; and the utter ruine of their city, by the hand of Abimelech himselfe. Then God sent an evill spirit betweene Abimelech, and the men of Shechem, and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech. That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Je∣rubaal might come, and their blood come upon

Abimelech thir Brother which slew them, and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in Killing of his brethren, Judg. 9. 23, 24.

6 Lastly, by what is said of the importu∣nate cries of such, as have been murdered: which are sure to be heard; Rev: 6. 10. How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge, and avenge our bloud, on them that dwell on the earth?

What ever thou doest, let the life of a man be precious in thy sight. If thou hast the invitation of an opportunity to Save it: as thou hatest bloud, doe it. For there are but two waies, To Save life, or to Kill Mark: 3. 4. If thou hast the provocation of an inju∣rie to destroy it; as thou lovest life, doe it not. For if thou hast not hated bloud, even bloud shall pursue thee, Ezek: 35. 6. Take heed of a bloudy hard heart. How many Murderers, are there, that never lifted up their hand to hurt a man?

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ep. 125. ad Dama∣sum.
• * 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.3

  Num. ••5. 33.
• * 1.4

  Just. lib. 13. c. 5.
• * 1.5

  Num. 35. 33:
• * 1.6

  Or, His blood shall be shed, (that is certainly shed, one way or o∣ther: sooner, or later.) So saith the Vulgar, making Haadam to be the No∣minative case, and Baadam to look back∣ward, tran∣slating, Quisquis effuderit sanguinem humanum, fundetur sanguis il∣lius.
• * 1.7

  Num. 35. 33.
• a 1.8

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 they that take; that is, usurpe, saith Be∣za. In Parri∣cidio n••lla satis justa causa ad sceleris pa∣trocinia praetexi potest, Ju∣stin. l. 16. c. 1.
• * 1.9

  He that kill his brethren upō a stone, was alm••st kild him∣selfe under a stone.
• * 1.10

  Ps. 44. 21,
• * 1.11

  Whom he murdered most trea∣cherously embracing ••hē so closly that their blood came out upon his girdle, and his shooes, v. 5.