not one of the most insignificant of those that hastened the depravation of the morals of that once glorious Rome. Do we find that those who have seen Russia in its present state, discern more vice, more robberies, more murders now than before the time of Elizabeth? Do they not on the contrary find more virtue, more corrected vice? But if we wish to have a more clear and satisfactory proof of its sufficiency, let us look to Tuscany. We shall there find that the criminal records bear witness to the truth of the assertion, that lenity is the best corrector of vice; every one must have heard of the effect—the greater crimes almost disappeared; the lesser ones diminished.
But against us, many will bring that thread-worn argument of this doctrine having been from the beginning, and having been continually prevalent. From the beginning it was not; for Cain had a mark set upon him, that none should kill him: and by whom and upon whom was it placed? By God, upon a murderer. It was indeed ordained by God, against the Jews, that for certain crimes they should be stoned, but this nation was stiff-necked and obdurate of heart. Besides this, theocracy can be no rule for democracies and monarchies: guided specially by the hand of God, every crime in that nation, was a crime against him, and hence its magnitude was increased ten-fold. The Romans, besides, as above stated, adopted a contrary plan. It is therefore evident, that it has not been universally prevalent. But even if it were so, what then?—What nation on the face of the earth has not always joined with its ideas of God the passions of men? The obdurate and vindictive Jews made their God passionate, revengeful, visiting the sins of the father on the third and fourth generation.[1]—The
- ↑ Such was the explanation this people gave of one of the most beautiful and reassuring passages in the Old Testament—Exod. xx. 5. Where God promises that he will support the generation of the wicked to the 3d and 4th generation, but of the good to thousands.
