would leave the memory of a hero behind him? Religion will not endure the duelling principle, any more than all the heresies since Simon Magus. It is a principle so full of pride and passion and revenge; so tempestuous and absurd; so absolutely unallied to reason and good nature, that polished heathenism would be ashamed of it. In a word, it is as contrary to the tendency and temper of christianity, as Hobbes' creed is to the apostles, as light is to darkness, as God is to the devil."

Perhaps, you imagine you must part with the character of a gentleman, or a man of honour, if you refuse a challenge; but fear it not." As long as the laws are on our side, the heraldry is all safe. And if it were otherwise, let us remember we are christians. If there happens a competition between these two pretensions, let us drop the gentleman and keep the christian; for he is a person of the best quality.

"But you are afraid your rival will post you up for a coward, and what then? Why then, you should mind it no more than the railing of a man in a fever, or a proclamation from Bedlam." Thus far that ingenious writer.

But the case is far different, if your enemy draw upon you and assault you; for then, your first business is to keep within the compass of self-defence, as long as you can; and if any mischief happen afterwards, and bloody events ensue, you stand justified by the laws of God and man, and may answer for it with innocence and honour whether in this world or the next.

CONCLUSION.

THUS I think it hath been made abundantly evident, both by the light of reason and scripture, that the practice of selfmurder can never be justified, and that it is a crime of heinous and flagrant guilt both in the account of God and man. These immortal spirits of ours are ordained for a season to dwell in tabernacles of flesh and blood; curious tabernacles they are indeed, the work of inimitable skill and the structure of a divine architect. The Almighty Builder is the great proprietor of his own work. We must remember therefore we are but tenants, and not lords: we have no right to demolish these fleshly buildings at our pleasure, but are bound to maintain and repair them under all their totterings and decays, till they become untenantable and can be sustained no longer. If we presume to destroy these earthly dwellings, or suffer them to fall by our ill management, we must give a solemn account of such a guilty conduct to our great and sovereign Lord. I have therefore endeavoured to manifest in various instances, that every step and tendency toward the destruction of one's self has something highly criminal in it, and partakes of the guilt of this sin. We throw ourselves

wilfully out of the hope of the favour of God, when we wilfully violate his laws, and especially in such awful and important instances as relate to life and blood.

When we read therefore the histories of such tragical occurrences, let us endeavour to make a wise and pious improvement of those mischiefs which we cannot prevent. When we hear fresh tidings weekly of such unhappy creatures as lay violent hands on themselves; such as lavish away their lives by riotous extravagances, or thoughtless intemperance; such as run along on the precipices of death, and the very edge of destruction, being hurried on by vain glory or wild wagering; such as expose their blood, their souls, and their eternal hopes, in foolish contests of honour, and upon trifling quarrels ; I say, when we hear of these things, let us lift up our eyes and our hearts to heaven, and give thanks to the distinguishing mercy of God, which hath preserved us from these guilty and fatal mischiefs. Blessed be the Lord, that our names are not written in those dreadful stories! That we have been secured by his grace from those temptations, and have been kept thus far walking in the paths of life and peace! and at the same time let us, by a devout wish, entrust our lives and souls to his keeping. Then let us pity poor mankind who are subject to the rage of such criminal and destructive passions, and who feel the dreadful effects of them And with a spirit of sacred compassion, let us offer up an humble complaint and prayer to our God, and say, "How long, O Lord, how long shall Satan reign and triumph among the children of men? How long shall the adversary of God and souls, make use of the weakness, the folly, and the madness of mankind to hurry them off from the stage of life, and to drag them down to his own dark dominions? O send forth thy light and thy truth, and the power of divine love, to rescue and heal a sinful world, and to save souls from perishing!" Amen.