Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
To The Editor Of The Freemasons' Magazine.
To the EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE .
SIR , THE following dissuasive from Suicide is extracted from " The Salmans , " a pathetic little Tale , published some years ago : The turn of thought is so striking and well expressed , that I am persuaded itvviil be agreeable to 3 our readers . Your printing it , therefore , will oblige your humble servant ,
PIUMANUS . fC ( T ^ L ' E . ON , moved with his earnest and unfei gned compassion , _ ^ replied , ' Though a stranger , thou pitiest me ! were I only p itied where I ought to be respected , I were not driven to this excess . Awa 3 , young man , I can bear no more ! O what this afflicted heart hath suffered ! I am tired of life—it hath become heavy and
disgusting ; death will relieve me—the grave will afford me repose . ' ' Who told thee so ? ' said Evander , ' < What stranger returning from that awful bourn , hath administered peace to thy trembling heart , and bid thee fear no ckmger ? Prove that thy sufferings are ° too severe , to be capable of increase ; prove'that no ' possible change in thy condition can aggravate thine affliction , then allege thine excuse . But tho
. u canst not . Added to thy present misery , torments tearinothe delicate texture of thy veins , loathsome distemper , captivity and thraldom may overwhelm thee . Plunge not therefore into another state of existence , till thou hast proved all the ills of the present ; fly not for refuge to . a tremendous uncertainty : worse things may befiil thee . Who would not blame the mariner , if , overtaken by a storm in the wide
ocean , he steered his vessel to an unknown shore , exposing his valuable cargo to be shipwrecked on rocks and hidden shelves , rather than persevere with steadiness , and by exertino- his skill , elude or withstand the tempest ? Exert th y fortitude ; pour the balm of patience on th y bruised spirit . Fortitude and patience were iven thee for the day of dangeruseless elseuseless in tho
g , ; paths of peace and security . Forgive me , royal stranger , if my arguments seem offensive . Forgive me , if zeal to preserve thine old age from ruin , animate my speech with unbecoming freedom . Know that the miseries of mankind often flow from an internal ori < rin , from the habits and dispositions of the mind . For if our hearts a ' re
vitiated by evil passions , and our reason blinded b y false opinion , we foster in our breasts the principles of discontent " and despondency . If we conceive illicit desires , if we pursue unattainable enjoyments ^ and are afflicted with imaginary sufferings , we become morose , anx ' ions , and despondent :- for anxiety begets despair . We cherish a wayward loomyand unsocial humourOur taste for happiness
, g , . becomes extinct . Hideous spectres arise , haunting , menacing , and pursuing us . For imagination , the hireling of opinion , conjures legions of infernal shapes , clothes them with terror , and pours them unrelenting on our trembling dejected spirits . Imagination exaspe-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
To The Editor Of The Freemasons' Magazine.
To the EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE .
SIR , THE following dissuasive from Suicide is extracted from " The Salmans , " a pathetic little Tale , published some years ago : The turn of thought is so striking and well expressed , that I am persuaded itvviil be agreeable to 3 our readers . Your printing it , therefore , will oblige your humble servant ,
PIUMANUS . fC ( T ^ L ' E . ON , moved with his earnest and unfei gned compassion , _ ^ replied , ' Though a stranger , thou pitiest me ! were I only p itied where I ought to be respected , I were not driven to this excess . Awa 3 , young man , I can bear no more ! O what this afflicted heart hath suffered ! I am tired of life—it hath become heavy and
disgusting ; death will relieve me—the grave will afford me repose . ' ' Who told thee so ? ' said Evander , ' < What stranger returning from that awful bourn , hath administered peace to thy trembling heart , and bid thee fear no ckmger ? Prove that thy sufferings are ° too severe , to be capable of increase ; prove'that no ' possible change in thy condition can aggravate thine affliction , then allege thine excuse . But tho
. u canst not . Added to thy present misery , torments tearinothe delicate texture of thy veins , loathsome distemper , captivity and thraldom may overwhelm thee . Plunge not therefore into another state of existence , till thou hast proved all the ills of the present ; fly not for refuge to . a tremendous uncertainty : worse things may befiil thee . Who would not blame the mariner , if , overtaken by a storm in the wide
ocean , he steered his vessel to an unknown shore , exposing his valuable cargo to be shipwrecked on rocks and hidden shelves , rather than persevere with steadiness , and by exertino- his skill , elude or withstand the tempest ? Exert th y fortitude ; pour the balm of patience on th y bruised spirit . Fortitude and patience were iven thee for the day of dangeruseless elseuseless in tho
g , ; paths of peace and security . Forgive me , royal stranger , if my arguments seem offensive . Forgive me , if zeal to preserve thine old age from ruin , animate my speech with unbecoming freedom . Know that the miseries of mankind often flow from an internal ori < rin , from the habits and dispositions of the mind . For if our hearts a ' re
vitiated by evil passions , and our reason blinded b y false opinion , we foster in our breasts the principles of discontent " and despondency . If we conceive illicit desires , if we pursue unattainable enjoyments ^ and are afflicted with imaginary sufferings , we become morose , anx ' ions , and despondent :- for anxiety begets despair . We cherish a wayward loomyand unsocial humourOur taste for happiness
, g , . becomes extinct . Hideous spectres arise , haunting , menacing , and pursuing us . For imagination , the hireling of opinion , conjures legions of infernal shapes , clothes them with terror , and pours them unrelenting on our trembling dejected spirits . Imagination exaspe-