LAW IN RELATION TO MURDER. 



99 



the hearts of their parents, to run at the least 

 signal of their will, to sha-e in their benignant 

 smile or approbation, and to avoid every species 

 of conduct &quot;that would produce the least uneasi 

 ness or pain would be the unceasing aim of all 

 the youthful members of the family circle. In 

 sickness, they would smooth their pillows, and 

 alleviate their sorrows, watch like guardian 

 angels around their bed, drop the tear of affec 

 tion, and pour (he balm of consolation into their 

 wounded spirits. In the decline of life, they 

 would minister with tenderness to their support 

 and enjoyment, guide their feeble steps, sympa 

 thize with them in their infirmities, cheer and 

 animate their dejected spirits, and render their 

 passage to the tomb smooth and comfortable. 

 And how delighted would every parent feel 

 amidst such displays of tenderness and affection ! 

 There is perhaps nothing in the whole range of 

 human enjoyment that creates a higher and more 

 unmingled gratification to parents, than the duti 

 ful and affectionate conduct of their offspring. It 

 sweetens all the bitter ingredients of human life, 

 and ;idds a relish to all its other comforts and en 

 joyments. It imparts a continual satisfaction 

 and serenity to the parental breast ; it smooths 

 th 3 wrinkles of age ; it cheers the spirits under 

 th infirmities of declining nature, and makes the 

 dj ing bed of old age comfortable and easy. And 

 thfl joy and satisfaction thus felt by parents would 

 be reflected into the bosom of their children ; 

 which would produce a union of interests, a cor 

 diality of affection, and a peace and tranquillity 

 of mind in every member of the family, which no 

 adverse occurrence in future life could ever effec 

 tually destroy. 



From the family circle the emanations of filial 

 piety would spread and diffuse themselves through 

 all the other departments of society. The same 

 spirit of love and dutiful respect which united 

 and endeared parents to children, and children 

 to parents, would unite one family to another, 

 one village to another, one city to another, one 

 province to another, one kingdom and empire to 

 another, till all the tribes of the human race were 

 united in kindness and affection, as one great 

 and harmonious family. Every dutiful child 

 would become a faithful and obedient servant, a 

 docile scholar, and a loyal and submissive sub 

 ject, when placed in those relations ; and would 

 prove a blessing and an ornament to every so 

 ciety of which he was a member. -And every 

 dutiful and affectionate parent, when placed in 

 the station of a king, or a subordinate ruler, would 

 display a parental affection towards every mem 

 ber of the community over which he was appoint 

 ed. Hence it might easily be shown, that an un 

 interrupted and universal observance of this sin 

 gle precept, viewed in all its connexions and 

 bearings, would completely regenerate the world 

 and that the peace, the harmony, and the pros 

 perity of all the nations of the earth, will ulti 



mately depend on the spirit of filia. piety being 

 infused into every family. &quot; Honour thy father 

 an;l thy mother,&quot; says the Apostle, &quot; which is 

 the first commandment with promise ; that it may 

 be well with thee, and that thou mayest live long 

 upon the eaith&quot; These words, which are fre 

 quently repeated in Scripture, are not empty 

 sounds ; nor ought they to be deprived, even 

 unde- the Christian dispensation, of their obvious 

 and literal meaning. Filial piety has a natural 

 tendency to produce health, long life, and pros 

 perity ; and could we trace the whole of the secret 

 history of Providence in reference to this precept, 

 we should, doubtless, find this position abundantly 

 exemplified. At any rate, were it universally 

 practised, it would carry along with it a train of 

 blessings which would convert the tumults and 

 convulsions of nations into peace and tranquillity, 

 and transform the moral wilderness of this world 

 into a scene of verdure, beauty, and loveliness, 

 which would enrapture the mind of every moral 

 intelligence; and among its other benefits, 

 &quot; length of days, and long life and peace,&quot; would 

 undoubtedly &quot; be added&quot; to the other enjoyments 

 of mankind. 



THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT. 



&quot;Thou shalt not kill.&quot; 



This precept forbids the taking away of the 

 life of sensitive or intelligen* existence. The 

 command is absolute, without the least excep 

 tion, as it stands in the Deca ogue; and it is 

 universal, extending to every rational and moral 

 agent. It implies that, as every sensitive and 

 every intelligent being derived its existence 

 from the omnipotent Creator of heaven and earth, 

 no one has a right to deprive it of that existence, 

 except that Being by whom it was bestowed. 

 And, whatever exceptions to the universality of 

 this law may be admitted, they can be admitted 

 only on the authority of the Lawgiver himself, 

 who is the Original Fountain of existence to all 

 his creatures. The principal exceptions to this 

 law are the following: 1. The man who has 

 violently taken away the life of another is com 

 manded, by the authority of God, to be put to 

 death. &quot; Whoso sheddeth man s blood, by man 

 shall his blood be shed.&quot; This is the dictate of 

 reason as well as of revelation ; for no human 

 power can reca/l the departed spirit or re-animate 

 the lifeless corpse, and no adequate compensation 

 can ever be given for such a crime.* 2. The 

 life of the lower animals is permitted by the same 



Notwithstanding the considerations here stated, 

 the Author is doubtful whether the Creator has con 

 ceded to man the right of taking away the life of 

 another, even in case of murder. If the passage here 

 quoted ought to be considered as a prediction rather 

 than a law, as is most probable, it will afford no war 

 rant for the destruction of human life ; and there is 

 no other injunction of this kind which has any rela 

 tion to the New Testament dispensation. 



