a mostly german debate on conversion and salvation present to comfort and strengthen him?712 As a good example we are told about the seventeenth–century priest, Johannes Lassenius, serving in the German congregation of St Peter in Copenhagen. He was said to have climbed up on the scaffold in order to comfort the dying delinquent while his body was broken.713 Instead of attacking the clerical presence Hippel suggested that all splendour could be forbidden such as specific clothes and elaborate hairdressing. If the delinquent was not able to walk a very simple carriage could be used and he also wondered whether it was strictly necessary to have children singing.714 Hippel also thought that it was the duty of the priest to give a short speech of warning after the execution. Likewise, the next Sunday a sermon treating the executed as worthy of contempt should be given.715 Others were more outspoken and theologically focused on their critique of Steinbart. August Ernst Renthe, headmaster and priest, in his Unpartheiische Prüfung der Berliner Schrift: Ist es rathsam Mißethäter durch Geistliche zum Tode vorbereiten und zur Hinrichtung begleiten zu lassen? asserted the right and the duty of the government to punish, but it was limited to the temporal world, wherein the crime of taking a life takes place and is punished. The judgement and the punishment of the soul belongs to God.716 The priest cannot know for certain the state of someone else’s heart and therefore must be careful not to give too much comfort – in this Steinbart had a point – but the duty of the priest is to be with the condemned and work for her conversion. Nobody knows when his admonitions are received in the heart and crushes the power of evil. Although a conversion on the scaffolds is unlikely, the priest cannot argue like that. He must take any chance, use any moment. It could never be indecent for a priest to be among those he was set to take care of, and when the priest sees signs of conversion he can feel content over the probability that God will mercifully receive this soul, but there is no reason for him to mention his hope to the condemned, although he can go fur712 Hippel 1769 p 20 sq. 713 Hippel 1769 p 18. 714 Hippel 1769 p 26 sq. 715 Hippel 1769 p 28. 716 Renthe 1769 p 108 sq. 200
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjYyNDk=