Natural Life to be denied. I QI Chrift to theDeath. Nothing in this world is fo dear to na- tural man as his life. And therefore death is a thing that he knows not how to choofe nor to fubmit to, if he could avoid it.. In three cafes only I remember that Heathens themfelves have chofen death. Firft in cafe offome extream torment or other mifery, which they had no other hope to prevent or end. But this was but a choofing a fpeedier or eafier Death before a more grievous death, though remote ; or before a death that had fo great a mifery for its forerunner: or at leaft before fuch a life as is a continual death. And fo the conque- red lieathenswould frequently kill themfelves, to prevent a more difhonourable cruel death from the hand of the Con- queror ;. And fo many a one in uncurable inifery wifheth rather to die then endure it; partly becaufe that the fuffe- ring is fo great as to overcome all the comforts of life (For I yield that fome degrees ofmifery with life are more terrible to nature then death; ) and partly becaufe that they know they mull die at tail however. Secondly in a defire of fame, that they may leavebehind them an honourable name when they are dead.. But this is not todefire death but life. Fain they would live for ever : and becaufe they know that it can- not be obtained ( on earth, ) they had rather die fome honou- rable death a little fooner, that their names may live, when they are dead , then to die ignominioufly fhortly after., Thirdly, And fome have chofen to die for the publike good of their Countreys. But as its very uncertain whether the de- fire of a living Name were not their greater motive, fo it was but a choofing a prefent death for their Countrey,before a lat- ter unavoidable death:without any fuel' advantage.In all thefe cafes a natural man may ventureon death, that knows he can- not fcape it long, but mull fhortly die, whether he will or no. But if they could avoid it, there's very few would fubmit to death, but believers :. and none but in one of thefe cafes, i. To end or avoid fomeextream. intolerable, uncurable mi- fery. 2.To deliver their Countrey or friends. 3 .And whether any would do it upon their ungrounded hopes of better things in, the life to corne,, I leaf to confiderati.on, But if it be taken.
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