LET.

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If by confent Mr. H. means permiffion, all the evil ever perpetrated on earth has been perpetrated by God's permiffion; for otherwise it could not have been perpetrated at all. But if he means approbation, we muft deny the propofition. Many things are permitted, which are not approved of. Of his approbation or disapprobation we have other rules by which to judge.

P. 16." And whenever pain or "forrow fo far overcome my patience, "as to make me tired of life, I may "conclude that I am recalled from my "ftation in the clearest and most ex"prefs terms."

Then may every man put an end to his own life when he thinks proper. The "patience" of fome people is foon "overcome;" and perhaps there are few Englishmen, who

have

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have not found themselves "tired of LET. "life," in one part or other of the month of November; but happily prevented from hanging themselves by a sense of higher obligation, they have returned to bufinefs, and done excellent fervice to their country, in the month of January. The station. of a centinel is not, nor is it fuppofed to be, a ftation of eafe, but of duty. A good foldier endures hardship; and a good Christian must do the fame. Affliction is "a call, "in the most clear and express "terms," not to fullennefs and fuicide, but to the exercise 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

one

LET. one day fit down with him at the

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

P. 16. "Tis providence surely 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 " deserted my post or station?”

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

P. 16. "When I fhall be dead, the principles of which I am compofed "will ftill perform their part in the "univerfe, and will be equally use"ful in the grand fabrick, .as when they compofed this individual crea"ture."

They

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

"The difference to the whole will "be no greater than betwixt my be

ing in a chamber and the open "air. The one change is of more importance to me than the other; " but not more so to the universe."

This is the old argument, that "the "life of man is of no greater impor"tance to the univerfe than that of "an oyster."

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 Rehearsal," 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 some importance to the perfon concerned. LET

LET.

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LETTER

W

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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 "thofe actions which disturb fociety? By the principles which he has im

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 difappro"bation, if we ever obferve them in "others. Let us now examine whe"ther fuicide be of this kind of "actions."

Be