Moreover, ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of
a
murderer
Though he would give all his wealth and substance, all his
estates and possessions, and whatever he is worth in the world;
for all that a man has he will give for his life; but these are
not to be taken, nor anything, and everything his friends may
offer for him; all is to be rejected, the life of such a man is
not to be saved on any consideration:
which is guilty of death;
as he is who kills a man willingly and purposely; but one may be
guilty of killing another, and yet not be deserving of death,
when it is done ignorantly and accidentally with respect to him,
for which reason this clause is added: but he shall be surely put
to death; by the order of the civil magistrate; and if this is
not done either through want of evidence, or the fault of the
judge, or the criminal clemency of the chief governor, God sooner
or later will take vengeance on such a person.