SECTION VI. 566 that great destroyer, and set a guard on yourself all round from the assaults of the like temptation in time to come. VI. Since you have found by dangerous experience how un safe you are in your own, hands, and that your life and soul are not secure there, commit yourself daily by repeated exercises of faith and importunate prayer into the hands ofChrist : His great office and divine employment is to take care of the souls which . are committed to him, and those " who come unto him shall in nowise be cast out ;" John vi. 37. The holy apostle " knew whomhe had believed, or trusted in, and was assured that he was able tò keep what he had committed to him against the great day ;" 2 Tim. i. 12. By holy devotions rise often up to heaven ; G° Dwell in the secret place of the Most High, abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Say to the Lord, be thou my refuge and my fortress, my God, in thee will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler. He shall give his angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways. The lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under thy feet. Thou shalt call and God will answer thee : He will be with thee in trouble, he will deliver and honour thee. With long life he will satisfy thee, and shew thee his salvation ;" Ys. xci. 1, 2, 3, 11, 13, 15, 16. Thus join the two excellent advices of our Saviour toge- ther, " watch and pray daily that ye enter not into temptation," and wait for success from heaven : " May the God of peace sanctify you throughout, and may your spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless unto the comingof our Lord Jesus Christ ;" 1 'Tess. v. 23. Amen. SECT. VI.Cautions against all approaches to Self- murder, viz. Intemperañce, Duelling, 4e. IF I were to add any thing to this discourse concerning the sin of self- murder, I think it might not be utterly improper to put in a caveat against those practices which have a tendency to this sin, and which in some measure partake of the guilt of it, though the sinner himself doesnot intend violence against his own life. Give me leave then to name a few of these practices, which when set in this light, will appear highly criminal, how innocent soever theyare esteemed by thoughtless men. I. The first of this kind that I shall mention is intemperance, and an unguarded indulgence of all the appetites of nature, and the sensualities of the animal life. Frequent feasting to the full on rich and savoury dishes, gratifying the palate with varieties of high-seasoned food, and . loading the stomach with daily excesses, is one ofdestroying life. ti
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