A discourse of constancy in two books chiefly containing consolations against publick evils written in Latin by Justus Lipsius, and translated into English by Nathaniel Wanley ...

CHAP. X.

Of punishment the Third End; that it is good both in respect of God, Men, and him that is punish∣ed.

PUnishment I confess respects evil Men, but is no evil it self. For First, it is good if you respect God, whose eternal and immoveable law of Justice doth require that the crimes of Men be either amended, or re∣moved out of the vvay. Now cha∣stisement amends those that can be vvashed out; and those vvhich can∣not, punishment takes away. It is good also in respect of Men, amongst vvhom no society could stand and continue; if all things vvere per∣mitted vvith impunity to turbulent and desperate spirits. As the punish∣ment of petty Thieves and Murther∣ers,

conduces to every Mans private security: So does that of the greater and most famous ones to that of the publick welfare. Those divine ani∣madversions upon Tyrants, and the great riflers of the World ought ne∣cessarily sometimes to intervene, that there may be examples to admonish us,

—That there is a wakeful Eye Of justice, which doth all descry.

And vvhich to other Potentates and people may cry out,

—Thus warn'd by others miseries, Learn justice and the Gods not to despise.

It is good: Thirdly, if you con∣sider those very persons that are pu∣nished. For it is for their sakes; since it is not so properly a revenge, or an utterly destroying judgement, as a gentle cohibition and restraint from

Sin, or to speak it fully vvith the Graecians a punishment not a revenge, for that Gracious Diety

Never consults his Anger that from thence He may severest punishments dispense.

As that Impious Poet said piously. As Death is sometimes sent in Mer∣cy to good Men before they sin: So to the incorrigeable vvicked in the midst of their Sins, because they are so devoted to them, that unless they be cut off, they cannot be divorced. God therefore stops their unbridled course, and vvhile they are commit∣ing sin for the present, and design∣ing others for the future; he merci∣fully takes them away. To conclude all punishment is good, as it respects justice, as on the contrary impunity is evil, which makes Men sinful, that is miserable Men to continue so longer. Boetius said well, wicked

Men are more happy under punish∣ment, than if Iustice should inflict none at all upon them; and he gives this reason, because some good is come amongst them (to wit) punishment, which in all the heap of their other crimes they never yet had.