The Marrow of Sacred Divinity - William Ames (1642)

1. IUstice which respects the condition of our Neighbour absolutely considered, doth either respect the person of our Neighbour, or his outward commodities.

2. That which respects his person doth either respect his life, or his purity.

3. That which respects his life is humanity, and it is commanded in the sixt Commandement. For seeing here mans life is properly provided for, or as the Scripture speakes; Gen. 9. 5, 6. The soule of man and the bloud of man; all that duty which is here handled is rightly set forth under the man: of humanity.

4. This Commandement doth not properly treat of the life of the brute Creatures, because they are in mans power, Gen. 9. 2. 3. Neither have they common society with man: yet because a fit disposition toward the life of man doth infer some respect to another image of his, which is found in other living Creatures: and cruelty against them is wont to declare a certaine inhumane disposition, or by little and little accustome to it: therefore clemency and inclemency towards the brute Creatures, doth, pertaine also hitherto as a certaine appendix.

5. Humanity is a vertue whereby we are inclined to preserve the life of our Neighbour, and quietnesse thereof by lawfull meanes.

6. But this is performed two wayes, namely by supplying things helpfull, and hindering things hurtfull.

7. But seeing the life of man which ought to be preserved is twofold, spirituall, and corporall, hence the duties of humanity are some spirituall, and some corporall.

8. The spirituall dutie is to doe all things according to our power, which may further the edification of our Neighbour.

9. Of this kind are, prayer; good example and admonition, which are required of all.

10. For although these immediatly in regard of their next end, be generall duties of charity, yet mediatly and in respect of the remote end, they pertaine to the furtherance of the spirituall life of our Neighbour. Iames 5. 20.

11. There is the like reason, of ceasing from due offices pertaining to the salvation of our Neighbour, of consenting with other in their sins, and of offence given to them, which are sins opposed to those duties: for these doe alwayes hurt the spirituall life of our Neighbour, Ezec. 3. 18. & 13. 19. & 33. 6. 8. Rom. 14. 15. 1. Cor. 8. 11.

12. But although as the soule is more noble then the body, so the spirituall life is of greater price then the corporall; and so those sins which doe make against the spirituall life of our Neighbour are greater, (an equall comparison being made) then those which hurt the body: yet they doe not so really pertaine to the hurting of our Neighbour: because hurting and bodily death it selfe is wont to be brought on men, by necessity of coaction: but spirituall death cannot be brought upon one by another unlesse he be in some sort willing and doe consent, so that is own action is the immediate cause of it.

13. Also it is required of superiors that have power, and authority, that they study to further the salvation of inferiors by their authority.

14. There be divers degrees of our duty toward the corporall life of our Neighbour, that it may be kept quiet and safe.

15. The first degree hereof is, in those vertues which doe keepe us far from any hurting of our Neighbour.

16. Of this kind, are Meekenesse, Patience, Longsuffering, and placablenesse, or pardoning of wrong.

17. Meekenesse is a vertue which doth moderate anger. Prov. 17. 17. 1. Cor. 13. 4. Numb. 12. 3. Now the man Moses was very meek; above all men who were on the face of the Earth. Gal. 5. 22. The fruits of the spirit restraining of anger, goodnesse, gentlenesse.

18. Unto this is opposed, slownesse and wrath.

19. Slownesse is a want of Iust anger. 1. Sam. 12. 13.

20. Wrath is an inordinate stirring up of anger. Gen. 49. 7. Cursed be their anger because it was fierce, and their wrath because it was cruell. Eccles. 7. 10. Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry, for anger resteth in the bosome of fooles.

21. The degrees of wrath are, provoking of the mind waxing hot, and hatred.

22. Patience is a vertue which moderates anger that is stirred up by grievous wrongs. Luke 21. 19. Colossians 1. 11. 1. Thess. 5. 14.

23. Long-suffering is a continuance of patience, although it have beene long provoked. Proverbs 14. 29. & 15. 18. & 16. 32.

24. Placablenesse is a vertue whereby we doe easily forgive a wrong done to us. Mat. 18. 21. 22. Luc. 17. 3. 4.

25. The second degree of this duty is in those vertues, which doe cherish society of life, as, concord, and benevolence which hath joyned with it, curtesie, affability, and equanimity.

26. Concord, is a vertue whereby we doe easily agree with others in those things that are good. Philippians 1. 27. & 2. 2. & 4. 2.

27. Benevolence is a vertue whereby we wish all things prosperous to others. 1. Cor. 13. 4. Charity is kind.

28. Unto these are opposed discord, dissention and enmity, &c. Gal. 5. 20.

29. A third degree of this duty is in those endeavours whereby the life it selfe of our Neighbour, is defended, furthered, and cherished.

30. An indeavour to defend, promote, and cherish the life of our Neighbour, doth containe all those duties, whereby we may be conserving causes of the life of man. Prov. 24. 10.

31. Unto these are opposed all those sins, whereby the life of men is hurt, as fiercenesse, cruelty and the like. Pro. 20. 10.

32. All these are contained under the name of Homicide.

33. Homicide is the injust killing of a man.

34. Now that killing and hurting also is unjust, which is either not done by a just authority, that is, that that is publick, or which is equall to publick; or not upon a just cause, or not in due order, or upon an intention that is not just; for those foure conditions ought alwayes to concurre to a just killing; if one of them be wanting, Homicide is committed.

35. Also rash anger must be referred to Homicide, so far forth as it tends to the hurting of the life of our Neighbour. Mat. 5. 22. Whosoever is angry with his brother unadvisedly.²⁴²

36. But in those words it is given to understand that all anger is not condemned, for that only is reproved which is rash, that is, which hath no just cause, or observes no just measure. Otherwise the force of anger, as zeale of God, is often commended. Gen. 30. 2. Ex. 11. 8. & 16. 20. & 23. 19. Numb. 16. 15. & 31. 14. 2. Kings 13. 19. And hatred it selfe, Psalme 139. 21. 22.

37. This is for the most part peculiarly belonging to the sixt precept, that those things which are forbidden, may sometime (in another consideration) be not amisse, and sometime well and rightly done in obedience toward God.

38. So he that killeth another upon meere chance, to whom he gave no cause, whilest he is about a lawfull worke when and where it is lawfull, fit diligence being used, doth not sin. Deut. 19. 5.

39. Such also is the reason of a necessary defence, so as desire of revenge be wanting. For this is an unblameable defence granted to every one.

40. Sometime also God is obeyed by killing. Deut. 13. 9. Namely when it is done by authority, and command from God. 1. Sam. 15. 18. 19.

41. No man hath power from God, by common Law to kill that man of set purpose whose innocency he knoweth of.

42. Neither is there any power of man, which can give sufficient authority to any subject, to slay him, whom he knowes to be innocent, and not to deserve death.

43. Therefore a war can never be just on both sides, because there cannot be cause of death on both sides.

44. Neither is it lawfull in any war to intend their occasion who are not in some sort partakers of such like cause.²⁴³

45. But if there be present a lawfull cause, together with a just authority and intention, and a just manner be used, the war it selfe, or warfare, is not against Religion, Iustice, or Charity, Num. 31. 3. 1. Sam. 18. 16. & 25. 28. 1. Chron. 5. 22. Luc. 3. 14. Rom. 13. 4. 1. Pet. 2. 14.

46. Also the same conditions observed, it is lawfull for those who have skill in weapons. 1. Chron. 5. 18. Psal. 143. 1. To offer and apply their help to lawfull Captaines; to make war. Luc. 3. 14. 1. Cor. 9. 7.

47. No Law of God permits any one to kill himselfe.

48. Yet it is lawfull and just sometime for one to expose himselfe to certaine danger of death.

49. Nay sometime the case is wherein one may and ought to offer himselfe to death. Ionah 1. 12.