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LXXI. Who should punish an Evil-doer.
REason dictates, that an evil-doer * 1.1 may be punished, not who should pu∣nish him: but that nature sufficiently sheweth, it is most convenient to be done by him that is superior: yet doth it not demonstrate this to be necessary, except superior be taken in that sense, that the evil-doer be thought to have made him∣self thereby inferior to any other, and to have as it were degraded himself from the order of men into the number of beasts subject to man, as some Divines have de∣termined. * 1.2 Democritus: By nature it is ordaind, that the better command the worse. And Aristotle saith, the worse are provided for the use of the better, as well in naturals as artificials. It follows hence, that at least a guilty person ought not to be punisht by another equally guilty: to which purpose is that sentence of Christ, Whosoever of you is without sin * 1.3 (such a sin) let him throw the first stone. Which he therefore spake, because in that age the manners of the Jews were most corrupt, so that they who would seem most pure were in the mire of Adultery and such like crimes, as we may perceive Ro. 2. 22. The same that Christ had said, the Apostle said also: Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art