SECTION I. 547 be more .severe who wilfully destroys the body which God has given him ? God has been pleased toset a guard upon human life by forbidding all those excesses and irregularities of appetite and passion which injure health; and tend to the ruin of our natures ; and doubtless the actual destruction of our natures is a more heinous crime in his sight. IX. Consider further, how inconsistent is this practice with that dependence on the providence of the Almighty, that hum- ble waiting for God, that trust and hope in divine mercy, and that patience, resignation and,quiet submission which are due to God our supreme governor. Suppose he is pleased to tryus with a delay of answer to our prayers, with poverty, disappoint- ment, sickness, pain or trouble in the flesh, must we resolve to die presently ? This is breaking away fromGod's hand in an unwarrantable manner ; it is a renouncing of that self- dedication and surrender which we have made of ourselves to God; it is utterly contrary to that humble devotedness to the will of God which christianity requires of all its professors. How can I say, I am the Lord's or thy will be done; when I will not so much as let him determine in which world I shall serve him, the visi- ble or the invisible ? Perhaps it is the present purpose of God to put you under this instance of probation, as part of the trial of your obedience in order to a future reward ; it is the language of Divine Provi- dence when we are exercised with any pressing affliction, as Let tee see hots you will honmir my sovereignty with holy submis- sion, with constancy and patience ; let me see whether you will glorify your Creator, your governor, and your Lord, in the passive as well as in the active parts of life. No, says the self- murderer, I will not endure this trial ; I will rid myself of this hardship ; I will bear it no longer ; I have no patience, nor will I submit to this method of divine probation ; I will hasten my appearance before the judgment seat ; there let my judge deter- mine my final estate according to the days of my past life and past trials, for I will not suffer my state of probation tobe pro- longed any farther." How is it possible now that such a rebel- lious creature can ever expect favour or absolution at the hands of God his judge ? Thus I have finished the considerations which in my opinion give abundant proof of the unlawfulness of such a practice, and I would conclude them with this solemn sentence, the man who can take all these arguments into his view, and in the full exer -' else of his reason will after all venture upon so unnatural and aggravated a crime, and will plunge himself into eternity on such groundless presumptions of divine pardon, must in the com- mon sense of mankind here and in, his own awakened conscience s[w2
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=