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Setting aside those who love life only for reasons which ought not to have such weight with them, and who would prolong it only to abuse it, I shall show you some better reasons for this attachment; derived from nature, from society, and from religion.

I. WE NATURALLY LOVE LIFE; and this argument alone is sufficient to prove the innocence of that love.

II. WE LOVE LIFE FOR THE SAKE OF SOCIETY, AND THE CONNECTIONS WE HAVE CONTRACTED IN IT. A husband and a wife, — living in the happiest union, and looking forward to a great length of days, and to many comforts, — are threatened with sudden separation by death. Can any one blame the tender and lively regrets which both of them experience at this unlooked-for parting? And again; a man whose high station enables him to render important services to society may, without presumption, wish on this account for a lengthening of his days.

III. WE MAY LOVE LIFE FROM A PRINCIPLE OF PIETY AND RELIGION.

1. Since life is a gift from God's bounty, a favour which He grants to us, why should we not love it in this point of view? Why, when it pleases the great Disposer of our days to prolong the course of them, should we not testify our joy by the sincerest thanksgivings?

2. Religion attaches us to life by another consideration, in which all of us are greatly concerned: and that is, the imperfection of the great work of our salvation; the just awe and fear of appearing at God's judgment-seat before we have set our accounts in order, and made our preparations for eternity.

3. One more consideration, very consistent with such true humility, is — that of our good example; the light of which we may innocently, and even holily, wish to shine still longer, "in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation."

(S. Partridge.)

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KJV: Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me.

WEB: Let my soul live, that I may praise you. Let your ordinances help me.