Menno Simons on ... capital punishment

If the transgressor should truly repent before his God, and be born of him, he would then also be a chosen saint and a child of God, a fellow-partaker of grace, a spiritual member of the Lord's body, sprinkled with his precious blood, and anointed with his Holy Ghost ... and for such an one to be hanged on the gallows, put on the wheel, placed upon the funeral-pile, or in any manner be harmed by another christian, who is of one heart, spirit and soul with him, would look somewhat strange and unbecoming, according to the compassionate, merciful, kind nature, disposition, Spirit and example of Christ, the meek Lamb, which example he has commanded all his chosen children to follow.

Again, If he remain impenitent, and his life be taken, one would do nothing else but unmercifully rob him of the time of repentance, of which, in case his life were spared, he might yet avail himself. [p. 407]

All excerpts are from The complete works of Menno Simon (Elkhart, Ind., 1871).

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