have not found themselves "tired of
"life,” in one part or other of the
month of November; but happily
prevented from hanging themselves
by a fenfe of higher obligation, they
have returned to business, and done
excellent fervice to their country, in
the month of January. The station
of a centinel is not, nor is it fup-
posed to be, a station of ease, but
of duty. A good foldier endures
hardship; and a good Chriftian must
do the fame. Affliction is " a call,
"in the most clear and express
"terms," not to fullennefs and fui-
cide, but to the exercife of patience,
refignation, and fortitude.
"For

"even hereunto are we called;" and
our commander himself has fet us the
example.

Let us follow him with

alacrity and chearfulness, and we shall

LET.

V.

one

LET. one day fit down with him at the

V.

right hand of the Majefty in the heavens-This is a philofophy that has fome comfort in it, and is worth cultivating.

P. 16. "'Tis providence furely that "has placed me at this present in this "chamber: but may I not leave it "when I think proper, without being "liable to the imputation of having "deferted my poft or ftation ?"

Is there no difference, then, between your walking out of life, and your walking out of one room into another?

66

P. 16. "When I fhall be dead, the

principles of which I am compofed "will still perform their part in the "univerfe, and will be equally ufe"ful in the grand fabrick, as when

V.

They may be fo. Your clay, like LET. that of Alexander, may stop a bunghole.

"The difference to the whole will "be no greater than betwixt my being in a chamber and the open "air. The one change is of more "importance to me than the other; "but not more fo to the universe."

This is the old argument, that "the "life of a man is of no greater impor"tance to the universe than that of an "oyfter."

As far as this argument goes, then, there would be no harm done, if the whole fpecies were to take arms, and, like Bayes's troops in the Rehearial, "all kill one another." But we know that the life of man is no infignificant matter in the eye of God: and Mr. H. himself feems to think it of fome importance to the perfon concerned. LET

LET:

VI.

LETTER VI.

WE

E are next to enquire, whether fuicide be any breach. of our duty towards our neighbour.

P. 17. "How does it appear that "the Almighty is difpleafed with "those actions which disturb fociety? By the principles which he has im

66

planted in human nature; and "which infpire us with a fentiment "of remorfe if we ourselves have "been guilty of fuch actions, and "with that of blame and disappro"bation, if we ever observe them in "others. Let us now examine whe"ther fuicide be of this kind of "actions."

Be

VI.

Before we enter upon the exa- LET. mination here propofed, it is obvious to remark, that there is no inftinct, or "principle implanted" in human nature, which feems to be more univerfal and more forcible than that of an averfion to fuicide. For a man to destroy himself is directly against the voice and the very prime inclination of nature. Every thing defires to preserve itself. "No man "hateth his own flesh, but nourisheth "and cherifheth it." And therefore, nations in general, as taught by the immediate voice of nature, by the very first accents which fhe utters to all, have abhorred men's laying violent hands upon themselves: and to fhew their abhorrence, have decreed to pursue self-murderers, after their death, with the highest marks of ig

nominy.