Expository notes, with practical observations; towards the opening of the five first chapters of the first book of Moses called Genesis. Delivered by way of exposition in several lords-dayes exercises.: By Benjamin Needler, minister of the gospel at Margaret Moses Friday-Street, London.

Quest. 22. vers. 15.

Why did the Lord so farre indulge Cain, that he would not permit him to suffer death, though guilty of murder?

Some say, Credibile est antiquitus. gra∣vium [Resp 1] delictorum leves fuisse poenas, sed cùmeae progressu temporis contemnerentur, ventum ad mortem. If this could be cleared, it would be a strong argument for punishing [ 2] theft with death.

Propter hominum raritatem: Because of the scarcity of persons then living, that God might provide for the encrease of the world, he spares Cain.

Because there was then lesse feare of doing hurt by example. Malefactors are [ 3] punished for others sake, as well as their owne, that by their example, others may beware of committing the same crime, lest they bring upon themselves the same pu∣nishment.

God would convince Cain, that he was [ 4] in an errour, when he said, Every one that findeth me shall slay me.

God is not the God of confusion, A taxy, Levelling, 'Tis not for every one, for pri∣vate persons, to act as Magistrates, in determining matters criminall, nor yet as executioners, in binding, or killing those that are worthy of bonds, or death.

It is true, He that sheddeth mans blood, by man shall his blood be shed; by man, that is, not by every man; but by the Ma∣gistrate, saith Paul, speaking of the Ma∣gistrate, He is the Minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that * 1.1 doth evill.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Rom. 13.4