To this may well be added the impressive sentiments of the great and pious Bishop Hopkins:

'Truly self-murder, next to the unpardonable sin against the Holy Ghost, is, I think, the most dangerous and most desperate that can be committed; and, because it leaves so little room for repentance, it leaves but very little for hope and charity. Those wretched creatures, whom God hath so far abandoned as to permit them to fall into this horrid crime, had they but any the least care of their eternal salvation, they would certainly tremble when they are offering violence to themselves; considering that they must instantly appear before God, and lift up those hands at his great tribunal which they but a minute before imbrued in their own blood. It is a sin, which, when the devil tempts men unto, he cannot make use of his most prevailing wile and stratagem; for, when he tempts to other sins, he still drills on the sinner with hopes of living to repent and reform, and promises him mercy and forgiveness; but this of selfmurder precludes all such hopes and expectations : for they die in their sins; yea, their death is their sin: and what a forlorn estate are they in who resolve that their last act shall be a damnable sin! These are self-murderers to purpose; and destroy not only their bodies, but their souls too.

Consider, again, that it is a sin committed against the very standard and rule of our love to others for God hath commanded us to love others as ourselves; and, therefore, as we may not murder another, so much less may we murder ourselves. And those who are hurried to this impious act, as they do actually destroy themselves, so they do virtually and interpretatively murder and destroy the whole world; and are as guilty before God, as if, together with themselves, they had murdered their parents, their children, their nearest relations, and all mankind besides: and that, because they destroy that fundamental law which should regulate their love to their neighbours; and which is the stated rule, according to which they should endeavour after their welfare and preservation.

'And, therefore, if ever the devil work upon thy melancholy and discontented pride, to tempt thee to this damnable and almost unpardonable sin, be sure to collect all thy strength unto thee; and, with infinite abhorrence of it, command him to avoid. Let not any shame, or poverty, or horrors of conscience, fasten this hellish temptation upon thee: for, know assuredly, that, if thou hearkenest unto them, and puttest them in execution, there is no

probability, but that thou must pass from temporal sufferings to eternal torments; which, be thy condition in this life never so deplorable and wretched, thou hast no reason to hasten, but wilt, in hell, think that they came too soon upon thee.'

173

CHAP. VII.

REMARKABLE MODES OF SUICIDE, SERIOUS AND BURLESQUE-ARGUMENTS AGAINST IT.

Duplex libelli dos est quod risum movet
Et quod prudenti vitam consilio monet.'

'A two-fold gift in this my volume lies-
It makes you merry and it makes you wise.'

Eternity a serious Thought-Blamable Levity on this awful Subject-Example-Trifles sometimes change the Determination―Jeremiah Clarke-Causes, present Uneasiness and Infidelity Dreadful Ingenuity in the Modes of SuicideThe Geneva Blacksmith-The Surgical Suicide-Suicide Cowardice and Meanness-Roman Laws to disgrace itEnglish Laws-Causes, a bud Life and Infidelity—' The Connoisseur's' Ridicule of it- The World's' Proposal for a Receptacle for Suicides-Dr. Johnson's burlesque Advertisement of Three Patents for Suicide-A Gentleman lately laughed out of Suicide-Ludicrous Poem to him by James Usher, Esq. Whitechapel-Voltaire's Satire upon England-Suicides in France-Laws against them-Suicides occasioned by the most selfish Motives.

It is a subject of astonishment that persons who live in affluence and splendour, who have no subject for solitude-no business to perplex-uo fears

to agitate them-are more miserable in the fulness of their sufficiency than the children of penury and distress. Inaction is not good for man indolent wealth, like the stagnant lake, contributes to its own corruption, and renders itself pestiferous.

'On languor, luxury, and pride,

The subtle fiend employs his spell,
Where selfish sordid passions bide,

Where weak impatient spirits dwell;
Where thought oppressive from itself would fly,
And seek relief from time in dark éternity!'

How thoughtless of an awful futurity must be the man who deliberately attempts his life! Yet we have heard of those who coolly reject with disdain the ignoble halter on so desperate a service, and prefer the more gentleman-like expedient of a sword or a pistol! The same unfeeling carelessness must have characterized that man of consequence who is reported to have remarked, respecting another gentleman who committed suicide by hanging, 'What a low-minded wretch, to apply to the halter! Had he shot himself, like a gentleman, I could have forgiven him!'

We would call up the most awful arguments of religion to prevent the execution of any desperate act of meditated suicide; and possibly the sight of this little book may contribute, as slighter causes have tended to make the wavering balance of the