you shall not kill” that the judge does not kill the innocent, but that it is the law that does it… And God can kill since He is the giver of life and death: “It is I who slay, and bring to life.”[471] Therefore the kings whom God has authorized to rule can kill in the exercise of their justice. It is also said to the Romans that those who do such things deserve to die.[472] And about the judges he says that they do not wear the sword in vain, but serve God.[473] The judge is justified to condemn to death in accordance with the Scripture that says, “as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them before me!”[474] Then he mentions also Cyprian who, referring to the place in the Old Testament where God says to the tribe,
If someone entices you in your cities saying, “let us go and serve alien gods,” show him no mercy but be sure to kill him; and you kill him first, and then they shall kill those who are in the city.[475]
He says this in explanation of another text, “remembering the commandment, Matathias slaughtered those who offered sacrifices to the idols.”[476] And since these things were commanded before the arrival of Christ, they are all the more valid after his appearance…
CHAPTER 69
THE ARGUMENTS OF AEGIDIUS CARLERII (CONTINUED)
Saint Augustine, speaking about the City of God, was standing on a bloody ground when he said, “If someone is killed justly, he is killed by the law and not by the lawyer.” And Saint Jerome says, “It is not cruelty but kindliness to punish the sins for God.” And by punishment he means death, as is evident by his examples of Phinehas and his justice,[477] the justice of Elijah,[478] the justice of Simon of Canaan who
