Milton, d. 1674, says:─
“Nor love thy life, nor hate: but what thou liv’st
Live well; how long or short permit to Heaven.”
Sir Thomas Browne, d. 1682, author of “Religio Medici,” wrote, “Suicide is, not to fear death, but yet to be afraid of life.”
Sir Wm. Temple, d. 1699, said, “A man should depart this life when he has no further pleasure in remaining.”
Henry Dodwell, the learned Non-juror, d. 1711, was the author of an “Apology for Suicide.”
Robert Fleming, d. 1716, Nonconformist Minister, wrote “The command ‘thou shalt not kill’ forbids suicide as well as homicide.”
George Sewell, d. 1726, in a poem called “The Suicide,” writes:─
“When all the blandishments of life are gone,
The coward shrinks to death, the brave live on.”