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176 own life, or the life of others. No condition of loss or sufferings can justify an impatient with.g for death & still less putt.g an end to life.

 Suicide or self murder & whatever tendeth to deprive ourselves of life is forbidden by this precept. God has appointed us our Nation in this World & we are not to discharge ourselves . We must wait his appointed time. All persons who put an end to their own lives (& thro' the restrain.g grace of God, such instances of a most unnatural crime are rare), are chargable with great & aggravated guilt. Their fear of present or future evils in life, lead.g them to this horrid crime, shews them to be of a dastardly spirit, - & their deliberately rush.g into death for refuge from present trouble, argues their great impiety & bold defiance of the authority, & justice of God.
 Shall a deserter be punished with death by the hands of men? What then will be his condition, who quits his station here & rushes into the presence of his Creator, unsummoned & unprepared? Into the presence of his "almighty judge in the very act of insult.g him, & without the possibility of repentence.
 The condemnation of such an enormous offender, we can neither conceive or express. From trouble here, which for ought he knows might have been but of short duration, had he patiently waited the issue, he throws himself headlong into hell, the only place suitable for such rebels against God & inhuman murderers of their own souls.