The merits and demerits of capital punishment have been hotly debated for decades. Most of the arguments put forth are nothing more than the reasonings of men. That is what makes Punishment By Death: A Defense of Capital Punishment such a unique work. It was written in the 1840's by George B. Cheever, pastor the Church of the Puritans in New York City and author of numerous books including Lectures on The Pilgrim's Progress. Cheever approaches the issue of capital punishment for murder primarily on the basis of what the Bible teaches in both the Old and New Testaments. Beginning with Genesis 9:6, "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, my man shall his blood be shed, for in the image of God made he man," Cheever systematically works his way through the Old Testament and then answers the arguments raised by modern religious opponents of capital punishment by using the words of Jesus Christ and the Apostle Paul and other New Testament passages to support the Biblical position. In addition to his arguments directly relating to Bible texts, some of the topics Cheever covers are: The difference between justice and revenge; the ends of punishment considered; the difference between punishment in this life and in the life to come; fearfulness and efficacy of punishment by death; the potential repentance of the criminal; what constitutes the perfect criminal jurisprudence; how the abrogation of the punishment of death places a premium on the crime of murder; the reality of retributive justice; and imprisonment for life vs. punishment by death.
With the merits of capital punishment continually being debated in our society today this book is a breath of fresh air in its clear outlining of the biblical position. Cheever says: "It is well known that penal laws, with their sanctions, contemplate not reformation, but punishment. Punishment is the end; the effort at reformation is subservient and secondary. The penalty of violated law is suffering, nor reformation. If it were not suffering, if it were not severity to the offender, if it were mere reformation, it could not be called penalty. What sort of logic would it be to say to the thief, You shall pay the penalty of your crime by being reformed, or to the murderer, You shall atone for your violation of the highest law, human and divine, by being made good and happy?"
Punishment By Death: A Defense of Capital Punishment is a paperback book, 212 pages in length, with an introduction and biographical sketch of George B. Cheever by William C. Nichols. It will be available for shipment the second week of December. We will ship your order postpaid if placed with us prior to the 15th of December.
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