SECTIONVI. 571 spirits out of various materials : These make a fearful waste of the vitals, anddestroy all the inward springs of nature and life. 1%Iany a poor feeble creature has been deluded into death and the grave by the false and flattering supports which they imagine they had received from their daily drains : Where this custom prevails, it is most pernicious and fatal : The bottle of cordials is perpetually frequented : They want it almost hourly ! the stomach is palled, the natural appetite to food is ruined, the pulse continues to beat a few weeks, or a few days, by the forge of their beloved liquors ; and then they drop into the pit. It is strange that persons should make such haste to their own destruction, especiallywhen friends and physicians around them have given them so many warnings, and would fain call them back from their precipitate and fatal career to the grave ! Titers are many of the wealthy and polite parts of mankind, and too many of the fairer pieces of human nature, who are be- toyed into this snare, and ruined beyond relief, without suspect- ing the guilt of what they daily practise. All, the art of medi- cine labours in vain to rescue life from the prevailing force of diseases, where the thoughtless patient is perpetually nourishing the disease ante takes part with death against the physician. Their conduct is a medley of inconsistencies ; they pray for life, and make no conscience of sinning against their own prayers. Little do those unhappy creatures think bow they violate the sixth commandment of the law of God, While they are sipping their deadly potions : And though they are often admonished, yet they will not believe, but go on to dritu and die. And as for the lowest rank of mankind, they send them, selve out of the world at all ages in baste by these, hot and fiery liquors. Little young wretches are taught theuse of drains in the most early parts of life, and begin to destroy their na- ture betimes. If they survive childhood, they become a sickly race and useless pieces of the nation. The elder people of that rank reel in our streets till the grave receives them unless the venders of these strong liquors be in some measure limited, and their mortal trade restrained, it is cer- tain the church-yards must be enlarged to receive the dead. If a tomb-stone could be well afforded for every such sinner, the inscription of it ought to be this, " here lies a self- murderer." II. Another instance wherein some persons thoughtlessly approach to the guilt of selfmurder is, that when they feel na- ture impaired, and distemper growing apace upon them, yet they obstinately refuse the most necessary means of health and recovery. $ome are so passionately engaged In the pursuit of riches
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