Partly from the same cause, joined with pride, King Saul fell upon his sword; viz. to avoid the indignities and miseries which he justly apprehended the Philistines would inflict upon him; and, wrought up to violence by pride and despair, he became his own executioner.

But we may learn some weighty lessons from these and such like examples. Let us look at Saul. He had seen too much of the hand of God to be an infidel. He knew that verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth.' He was fully aware that his sins, his impenitence, his continued disobedience, and opposition to God, had provoked his anger. He advanced from one degree of impiety to another, till he scrupled not to consult the devil himself, and then perished miserably by his own hand. What a solemn warning does this tremendous example hold out to us to fear departing from the clear line of duty, lest we fall by little and little; to cherish every good resolution; and to revere the dictates of conscience! Let us not slight this solemn monitor; nor resist the Spirit of God; nor stifle our convictions; nor violate our engagements; and, as long as we desire to serve God, let us not suppose ourselves abandoned like Saul.

'It might seem surprising, if we were not habituated to the observation, that the example of

Saul, in destroying himself, is defended, applauded, and imitated. The King of Israel sought to hide himself from shame and captivity : and is it not almost fashionable among ourselves for men who are in perplexity and distress to seek relief in suicide? A miserable refuge indeed! Because our circumstances are reduced, our friends desert us, or our characters become infamous, shall we presumptuously rush into the presence of our Judge by an act of the highest rebellion, and thus consign our souls to eternal perdition? What madness can be compared to this? We pronounce not upon the case of those who, by misfortune, temptation, or disease, are deprived of understanding; but where self-murder is committed, as we fear it is in numerous instances, deliberately and with the possession of reason, there is not the least ground to expect forgiveness, since it is an offence for which there can be no repentance. It is also an aggravation of this sin that the self-destroyer not only plunges himself into endless wretchedness, but involves many surviving friends and relations, who have deserved no such treatment from him, in the deepest affliction.

May we, therefore, be prepared for the hour of trial! As it is the grand artifice of the devil to persuade sinners under extreme difficulties to fly to this last act of desperation, it may be of use to

fortify the mind against it by a serious consideration of its heinousness before God, and even of its miserable consequences in society. But our security is not in ourselves. Let us seek protection from Him, "who keepeth Israel." Let us watch and pray; and "take unto us the whole armour of God, that we may be able to withstand in the evil day; and, having done all, to stand." Amen.'---ROBINSON'S Scripture Characters.

158

CHAP. VI.

CAUSES OF SUICIDE, AND ANTIDOTES.

'A breath thou art, Servile to all the skyey influence.'

Climate considered-Contrast between the cowardly Suicide and the patient Sufferer-Grand Cause, Infidelity—Exemplified in Two French Soldiers-In a Gentleman at Greenwich-Contrasted with the patient Resignation of the late Steward of the Duke of Bedford-The Benefit of Christian Education, and the Part of Wisdom.

SOME have reasoned that the moistness of our climate depresses our spirits, and nourishes a melancholy favorable to suicide. We must not, however, too much blame the climate the causes are deeper and more subtle than the atmosphere which surrounds us. Yet how far it may conspire to heighten other more potent causes we pretend not to determine. It has long been fashionable for the French to speak of November as the month in which Englishmen hang themselves; and few have written on fancied suicides without blaming

the weather, and assigning as the period the gloomy month of November.

We have before mentioned it as our opinion that suicide arises from cowardice; and that the greatest hero is he who dares to bear his sufferings with fortitude, patience, and submission, as appointed by a wisdom which cannot err, and overruled by a mercy which does not willingly afflict the children of men.

The contrast between the cowardice of the suicide and the courage of the patient sufferer is forcibly drawn in the following lines by the hand of a lady :

'November hears the dismal sound;

As, slow advancing from the Pole,
He leads the months their wintry round,

The black'ning clouds attendant roll;

When frown a grimmer band-the sons of care,
Dark thoughts, presages fell, and comfortless despair.

Now prowls abroad the ghastly fiend,
Fell Suicide! whom Frenzy bore:
His brows with writhing serpents twin'd,

His mantle steep'd in

gore,

The livid flames around his eye-balls play;

Stern Horror stalks before, and Death pursues his way.

'Hark! is not that the fatal stroke?

See where the bleeding victim lies!

The bonds of social feeling broke,

Dismay'd, the frantic spirit flies.

Creation starts, and shrinking Nature views

Appall'd the blow which Heaven's first rights subdues.