Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?
Ver. 14. Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth?] q.d. Do ye think, O my friends, that I am in a fit of spiritual frenzy, and so far out of my wits, that tearing, as it were, my flesh with mine own hands, I mean to sue any cruelty towards myself, and willingly to betray mine own life? (Vatab.) Non sum ira crudelis, ut totus perdi velim, I am not yet so cruel to myself (whatever you may gather by my complaints and outcries) as utterly to cast away my confidence and all care of my life and soul. See 1 Samuel 19:5. To despair in part and for a time may befall a godly man. See Mr Perkins's discourse of Spiritual Desertion, where he remembereth that Luther lay (after his conversion) three days in desperation. And the like is recorded of Mr Robert Bolton. Aliqui suspicantur Iobum respondentem, &c. (Pineda). But of any good man that destroyed himself we read not. David's life was in his hand continually (and he in daily danger of losing it), yet have I not forgotten thy law, saith he, Psalms 119:109, which flatly forbiddeth all the degrees of suicide, as the worst sort. That Satan tempted Job to this sin some do probably collect from this text. A man is to expect, if he live but his days, saith a reverend casuist, A theologian (or other person) who studies and resolves cases of conscience or doubtful questions regarding duty and conduct to be urged to all sins, to the breach of every branch of the ten commandments, and to be put to it in respect of every article of our creed.