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Show 110 NARRATIVE OF by J cws to Jews. Thus the idea tl1at that is prop· erty which the Jaw makes property, is of divine origin. "Take now the case of the Israelites in their exodus from Egypt; they were positively enjoined by tLc Divine command to borrow of their Egyptian neighbora their various costly jewclcrics, not with the idea of returning them, but of appropriating them pcnnanently to their own benefit. "David1 who was a man after God's own heart, did not regard it robbery to obtain from the Priest the shew-bread itself, although to do so he Jcceived the Priest by telling that which, under other circum· stances, would be called a lie. It was essential to his life-to his support. It was not therefore criminal to tell the falsehood in 01·der to obtain the bread. Now, it is upon this very principle that your government and all civil governments employ diplomatic agents, in order to secure by adroitness and craftiness commer· cin] and other advantages; and it is upon the same principle that we pirates justify our proceedings. It is essential to the support and maintenance of our people; and there is as much in the Scriptures to warrant our stratagems to decoy vessels and get tbc ALDERT AND MAR Y. 111 benefit Of their cr.1·gocs, as for your government io obtain advantages by diplomatic adroitness. \Ve must have a living. "But you say we not only rob but murder. But as all appropriations of others' possessions are not essentially robbery, so all killing is not essentially murder. If you will look into the Book of Judges, xiv. 19, you will find that the taking of spoil even by violence ancl bloodshed, is not necessarily a crime-is not necessarily robbery and murder. It is the case of Samson when he had to give thirty changes of raiment to those who had expounded his riddle. It is said: "And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he went down to Askelon and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of " garments unto them which expounded the riddle." Now, notice this particularly, that Samson did all this under the influence of God's Spirit. And you will remember that Paul in IIcbrews mentions Samson with special commendation. "Now, if Samson, and David, and Jacob did such things, we feel justified in proceeding accordingly. " But as I have not time to go into very minute detail, I pass at once to two very important points in |