A practical exposition of the X. Commandments with a resolution of several momentous questions…A practical exposition of the X. Commandements with a resolution of several momentous questions…

But for the better Understanding of the Object of the Command, we shall proceed to speak to it, and the act of killing (which is the second thing) complexedly, and if we consider killing in reference to a mans self, it is certainly understood here; for that being the sum of all the commands of the second Table, thou shalt love thy Neighbour, as thy self, it must be understood as repeated in each of them; as here, thou shalt not kill thy Neighbour more than thy self, or shalt preserve him as thy self, which supposeth that it is not free for a man to wrong himself more than to wrong others; and generally these reasons whereby the Lord restraineth us from killing others, will also hold in restraining us from killing, and other ways wronging our selves; therefore there is no question, if it be a sin to wrong, hurt or torture others, whether in body or in their soul, as to the tranquillity and quiet frame thereof, and any ways to procure or further their death, it will be no less so to do thus to our selves; because love to our selves is the pattern that we ought to walk by in loving others.

But for the better Understanding of the Object of the Command, we shall proceed to speak to it, and the act of killing (vvhich is the second thing) complexedly, and if we consider killing in reference to a mans self, it is certainly understood here; for that being the sum of all the commands of the second Table, thou shalt love thy Neighbour, as thy self, it must be understood as repeated in each of them; as here, thou shalt not kill thy Neighbour more than thy self, or shalt preserve him as thy self, which supposeth that it is not free for a man to wrong himself more than to wrong others; and generally these reasons whereby the Lord restraineth us from killing others, will also hold in restraining us from killing, and other ways wronging our selves; therefore there is no question, if it be a sin to wrong, hurt or torture others, whether in body or in their soul, as to the tranquillity and quiet frame thereof, and any ways to procure or further their death, it will be no less so to do thus to our selves; because love to our selves is the pattern that we ought to walk by in loving others.

We may be guilty of the breach of this Command in reference to our selves by omissions as well as by commissions, as when things needful for entertainment and health of the body are, either designedly, or with an excessive misregard to health and life, omitted.