572 THE UNLAWFULNESS OF SELF-MURDER. or honours, that in opposition to all the warnings of death, which they receive both from their own disorders of body, and the kind admonition of friends, yet they will fatigue their flesh daily, waste their best spirits, and wear out life apace to accomplish their secular designs. Though it often happens that before they compassed their end they die ; their schemes are broken, their projects vanish ; and they are gone to appear before the judg- ment-seat of Christ, to give an account how their life was spent, and why they died so soon. It is granted indeed that there may be some loud and plain calls of providence to risk our health and even life itself on some special occasions: And when persons of a lower rank amongst mankind must labour for daily food to support themselves and their families, it is very hard to determine precisely how far they should obey the craving necessities of their household, by expo- sing themselves to great inconveniences and dangers in their daily labours, or how far theyshould confine themselves in a medicinal way for the recovery of their strength. In such cases every man must put all circumstances into the balance, and by seeking di- vine direction, and consulting his friends he must determine for himself according to his best prudence : And if death seizes him in the course of his labour and duty, he resigns up his life to providence, and his soul into the hands of a faithful Creator and Redeemer. But my designed reproof lies here, viz, when it is evident that persons are under no such necessity, and they have no plain call either from God or men, to waste nature and health at so prodigal a rate, yet they wilfully lavish their strength and throw away life itself in the pursuit of things that are by no means necessary in their circumstances. This sort of conduct shews that their hearth are set too eagerly upon this world, and they precipitate themselves rashly into eternity by too vehement a de- sire of the things of time. There is another way also, whereby persons may be said to hasten their own death, and that is, when sickness comes upon them, and yet out of mere humour and obstinacy, they renounce all the aids of medicine. They refuse the friendly touch of the lancet, because they were never let blood in their lives, nor their fathers before them. They will not endure a blister to be raised in the most important easethat requires it, for, " I am resolved," say they, " never to be Head alive, but will go to the grave with a whole skin." Or perhaps from the silly squeamishness of a nice imagin- ation they set themselves against those necessary medicines which are the only visible methods of relief. Like children they refuse a potion because it is bitter or nauseous ; and yet they can neither be bribed nor flattered, as children are, into a. self-denial in this
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