§. 104. Of Cases wherein Iustice is to be executed without pitty.
BEcause the taking away of a mans life doth ordinarily work compassion in men, the law, in the case of despising his Law, would have no pitty or compassion to be shewen.
The Greek word here translated, a 1.1 Mercy, commeth from a root that signifieth b 1.2 pitty, or compassion. The word of my text is five times used in the New Testa∣ment. It is twice attributed to God. Once as he is the subject thereof, and stiled Mercies of God, Rom. 12. 1.
An other time as he is the Father and fountain of mercies, 2 Cor. 1. 3. Twice the word that signifieth bowels, is joyned with it, as Bowels and mercies, Phil. 2. 1. And bowels of mercies, Col. 3. 12. The fist place is my Text. A negative being added to this word, as here it is, without mercies, sheweth that there may be cases wherein no pitty is to be manifested. This is exemplified in Gods peoples dealing with the Ca∣naanites, Deut. 7. 2. and with Idolaters, Deut. 13. 7, &c. and with wilfull murtherers, Deut. 19. 13. Though God himself be infinite in mercy, yet there are cases wherein the Lord will have no mercy, Isa. 9. 17. Ier. 13. 14. Hos. 1. 6.
This may be by reason,
- 1. Of the hainousnsse of the sin.
- 2. Of the obstinacy of the sinner.
- 3. Of the contagion whereby others may be infected.
This may be a good admonition to such as are in place of authority to consider the kinds of offences, the disposition of persons offending, and the danger that may follow upon undue pitty:
In these and such like, cases they that stand in Gods room, and bear his Image, must set God before their eyes continually, and labour to have their hearts possessed with such a zeal of Gods glory, as their ears may be stopped against the cries of such malefactors, and their eyes closed against their teares, or other signes of anguish.