552 THE UNLAWFULNESS OF SELF-MURDER. SECT. Ill.The Pretences for Self-murder, and the Motives to it examined and answered SOME of the pretences for this criminal practice have been obviated already, while we were displaying the guilt, the folly, and the danger of it : Let us now come to consider the rest of the chief motives wherewith this temptation is enforced : And here we shall see what mere shadows, most of them are, what poor thin colours of argument, such as one would think should never pass upon a creature who retains the exercise of his reason, and pretends to any share of understanding or fore-thought, since the infinite concerns of an eternal futurity so vastly over-balance all present appearances. L One person finds his circumstances sinking in the world, or it may be, he is over-whelmed at once with the loss of his estate " I cannot bear," saith he, " the thoughts of poverty.. What ! to be brought to a morsel of bread, and live like a beg- gar ! I had rather die than bebeholden tocharity to keep mealive." Answer. This is the pride of thy spirit, O man ; but is it not incomparably better to mortify this pride, and submit to the will and providence of thy Creator, for a few days here on earth in a state of trial, than to plunge thyself into a state of certain and everlasting wretchedness ? Perhaps it will be replied, " But I am in starving circum- stances, I am afraid I shall perish with want, why, may I not then hasten my dismission from this world and prevent my fears ?" I answer, whatever fears are prevented by this rash and bloody experiment, your real and more dreadful sorrows will be hastened. You want the supports of life here; but will you there - fore send yourself into a world ofuniversal want and sorrow, where you shall have no supply, where your necessities of various and unknown kinds shall be ever raging and violent, and where you shall obtain no manner of relief, no, not a drop of water to cool your tongue in the midst of torments ? Besides, I think there are no persons in such a condition in our nation, but that either by the laws' of the land, or by a pro- per application to persons of beneficence, they may find relief from starving, if they are but sincerely willing to labour as far as their capacity admits, and then apply themselves to proper methods and toproper persons, in order to obtain this relief. The providence of God corresponds with his promises ; Ps. xxxiv. 10. " Though the lions roar and suffer hunger, yet they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing, that is neces- sary for them ;" Ps. xxxiii. 18. 19. " The eye of the Lord is upon them that-fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine ;" Ps. xxxvii. 3. " Trust in the Lord, and do good, so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed."
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