Chap. I.] DUTY OF PRESERVING LIFE AND HEALTH. 277

powerful enough to tempt men to suicide, shall be deemed goodcause to justify it, and when 'the follies and vices, as well as theinevitable calamities of life, so often make existence a burthen.

Besides the reasons against suicide derived from philosophyand natural religion, from Christianity, and from the general con-sequences, each case will be aggravated by its own proper andparticular consequences ; by the duties that are deserted ; bythe claims that are defrauded ; by the loss, affliction, or disgrace,which our death, or the manner of it, causes our family, kindred,or friends ; by the occasion we give to many to suspect the sin-cerity of our moral and religious professions, and, together withours, those of all others ; by the reproach we draw upon ourorder, sect, or calling ; finally, by a great variety of evil conse-quences attending upon peculiar situations, with some or other ofwhich every actual case of suicide is chargeable.

Besides these more general motives, fitted to dissuade from sui-cide, one, more particular, may be addressed to all who are temptedin this way. By continuing in the world, and in the practice ofthose virtues which remain within our power, we retain the op-portunity of meliorating our condition in a future state. And thereis no condition in human life, which is not capable of somevirtue, active or passive. Even piety and resignation under thesufferings to which we are called, testify a trust and acquiescencein the divine counsels more acceptable, perhaps, than the mostprostrate devotion ; afford an edifying example to all who observethem ; and may hope for a recompense among the most arduousof human virtues. These qualities are always in the power ofthe miserable ; indeed, of none but the miserable.*

Legislation has been resorted to, both in this country and inEngland, to prevent suicide ; but without any good effect. If thelove of life, so natural to man, the prohibitions of Christianity,the restraints of public opinion, the general consequences andparticular aggravations of every act of this kind, and the othermotives to which I have adverted, are not effectual to preventsuicide, — it is in vain to rely on any enactments of penal law,however severe these may be. The offending party is beyond

Paley’s Moral and Political Philosophy, pp. 223 - 226.