2. That is not the course; we must cast the world out of our 1hearts, not cast our selves out of the world. It is both unseemly and extremely unlawful. It is unseemly: for it is true, we ought willingly to depart out of this world; but it is monstrous base, like cowards to run away out of the battle. Thou art Gods soldier, and appointed to thy standing; and it is a miserable shame to run out of thy place. When Christ the great Captain sounds a retreat; then it is honourable for thee to give place. Besides, thou art Gods tenant, and doest hold thy self as a tenant at will: the Landlord may take it from thee, but thou canst not without disgrace surrender at thy pleasure; and it is extreme slothfulness to hate life, only ⟨p. 744⟩for the toils that are in it. Secondly, and as it is unseemly, so it is unlawful, yea damnable. It is unlawful: for the soldier that runs away from his Captain, offends highly; so doth the Christian that makes away himself: and therefore the commandment is not only, Thou shalt not kill other men, but generally, Thou shalt not kill, meaning neither thy self, nor other men. Besides, we have no example in Scripture of any that did so, but such as were notorious wicked men, as Sa•l, Ahithophel, Judas, and the like. Yea, it is damnable: for he that leaveth his work before God calls him, loseth it, and besides incurs eternal death. As the soldier that runneth away, dyeth for it, when he is taken: so the Christian that murdereth himself, perisheth; I say, that murdereth himself, being himself.
2. That is not the course; we must cast the world out of our 1hearts, not cast our selues out of the world. It is both vnseemely and extremely vnlawfull. It is vnseemely: for it is true, we ought willingly to depart out of this world; but it is monstrous base, like cowards to runne away out of the battell. Thou art Gods souldier, and appointed to thy standing; and it is a miserable shame to runne out of thy place. When Christ the great Captaine sounds a retrait; then it is honorable for thee to giue place. Besides, thou art Gods tenant, and doest hold thy selfe as a tenant at will: the Landlord may take it from thee, but thou canst not without disgrace surrender at thy pleasure; and it is extre•me slothfulnesse to hate life, onely ⟨p. 744⟩for the toyles that are in it. Secondly, and as it is vnseemely, so it is vnlawfull, yea damnable. It is vnlawfull: for the souldier that runnes away from his Captaine, offends highly; so doth the Christian that makes away himselfe: and therefore the commandement is not onely, Thou shalt not kill other men, but generally, Thou shalt not kill, meaning neither thy selfe, nor other men. Besides, wee haue no example in Scripture of any that did so, but such as were notorious wicked men, as Sa•l, Achitophel, Iudas, and the like. Yea, it is damnable: for hee that leaueth his worke before God calls him, loseth it, and besides incurres eternall death. As the souldier that runneth away, dyeth for it, when he is taken: so the Christian that murdereth himselfe, perisheth; I say, that murdereth himselfe, being himselfe.
- 12. Against self. murder.2. Against selfe. murder.
