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SERMON VI.

Of DUELS, and SELF-MURDEr.

EXODUS XX. 13.

Thou shalt not kill.

N my laft Discourse, I en- SERM. deavoured to state, diftinctly, VI. the nature of the foul and hor

rid fin of Murder; which is

fo clear to the universal sense of mankind, that it is generally a heavy and infupportable burden upon the confcience of the Criminal himself, and cries aloud to Heaven, for the infliction of peculiar and diftinguished Vengeance, in the judgment of the most barbarous nations. I likewife

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briefly

SERM. briefly considered the several Degrees and VI. Aggravations of this crime, and tried to

infpire fuch a lively Dread and Abhorrence of it, as would put us upon maintaining, always, the ftricteft guard against every Approach towards it, against every thing that might, in its Confequences, lead to it. And this was thought the more neceffary, because vice is in the nature of it progreffive; and the larger fcope it is allowed to take, the human temper, however naturally well difpofed and inclined to virtue, becomes more and more eftranged from it, more and more stupid and infenfible of ill, and confequently prepared for proceeding, gradually, to the very worst Extremes. So that those who never were, as yet, actually Murderers may have, in the vices which they now indulge and cherish, the latent feeds of Murder; and however they may flatter and practice upon themselves the smooth arts of Self-Deceit, they really know not, blinded as they are, and hurried on as they may be, by their extravagancies, what fatal violences they may in the end be rendered capable of committing. But

as

as there are some exceffes, that have a SERM. more clofe and vifible Connection than VI. others with the crime forbidden in the text, it was advised that we be particularly careful to avoid thefe, as fnares of Blood, from whence we have reason to apprehend uncommon danger.

I Now proceed to confider, particularly, two Cases that are of special importance, and they are, Duelling, and SelfMurder: Which must be allowed, on the first proposal of them, to have at least an evident relation to the present subject, and therefore a difcourfe upon them cannot be thought a needless and arbitrary digreffion. -I fhall begin then, according to the order in which they were mentioned, with Duelling,

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"" an infamous, and I think I may justly add, favage practice, fit only to be retained among fierce untamed Barbarians; but " which ought to be banished from every Country profeffing Humanity, and "where Justice, Generofity, and Place"bility are acknowledged to be focial "Virtues,

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SERM. "Virtues, and Ornaments to Human VI. "Nature." Were Mankind entirely

given up, in their original Make, to the direction and guidance of their Paffions; or were there implanted in them strong and irresistible inftincts of Revenge, blindly prompting to deftroy each other; or were they wild and undisciplined as the brutes are, and subject to no Orders and Regulations of Civil Government; nothing better could be expected from them, but that they would furiously affault and prey upon each other. But as they are indued with a superior principle of SelfGovernment to temperate and controul all fudden impulfes of Rage and Anger; as they find with themselves focial affections, and fentiments of common Benevolence; as they know, by experience, that every one stands in need of indulgence, and of having candid allowances made for innumerable indifcretions and involuntary errors, which fpring from Incautiousness and Precipitation, and not from a real Intention to offend; as they are capable, by the exercise of just Reflection, to diftinguish Crimes, and allot to each an equal,

VI.

equal, and not an indifcriminate and dif- SERM. proportioned punishment; as they are united together in Society, and, of confequence, are bound to fubmit to the Laws of it for the preservation of publick Order; and, finally, as they are infpired with a native Horror of Cruelty, and of thirsting after buman Blood: It is furprifing extravagance that they are so apt to magnify trifles into capital Offences, and fuffer themselves to be transported by a vindictive temper to fuch violent Refentments, as are notorious breaches of Equity, and oftentimes occafion moft melancholy fcenes of Diftrefs and Confufion. Men may call this boisterous and inhuman method of proceeding by what Names they please; but it is impoffible, in the nature, of things, that it fhould ever be reconciled with Virtue, Religion, univerfal Benevolence, or with any worthy notions and principles of Honour: "Unless it be "effential to conftitute a Man of Honour,

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(as the modifh affected phrafe is) that " he be inflexibly rigid, and prone to Re

venge, without any thing of Forbear"ance and Mercy, any thing of Benevo

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