Page:The Net of Faith.pdf/645



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." Ani by punishment he means death as is evident by his examples of Phinehas ani his justice, the justice of Elijah, the justice of Simon of CaananCanaan [sic] who sent fiery serpents on the magicians, the justice of Peter in punishing Ananias and Saphira, the justice of Paul who humbled Elymas the magician, and he adds: "If thy own brother, or friend, or wife, should dare to defile truth, let thy hand fall upon them, and shed their blood." So much Jerome. The old saints have certainly gathered enough food for the sword so that it would not starve! (:All these arguments are false, and meant only to confuse the issues and to justify violence.:) Num.25:7–8.

1-Ki. 18:40.

Reference to the old legend of Simon Magus (Acts8:9–24) who is supposed to have reverted to his old practice of sorcery and to become a persistent antagonist of the Apostle Peter.

Acts 5:1–10.

Acts. 13: 8–11. 218*