1. Are we to take care of our own lives? Yes: No man ever yet hated his own flesh, but nourisheth and cherisheth it, Eph. 5:29. Must we endeavour the preservation of them? Yes: Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life, Job 2:4. Are we to be careful of our diet? Yes: Hast thou found honey, eat so much as is sufficient for thee, Prov. 25:16. Are we to use physic when we need it? Yes: Take a lump of figs and lay it upon the boil, Isa. 38:21. And are we to be cheerful? Yes: for a merry heart doeth good like a medicine, Prov. 17: 22.

2. But may we deny Christ to save our lives? No: he that so saveth his life shall lose it, Matt. 16:25. May we commit any wilful sin to save our lives? No: we must do no evil that good may come, Rom. 3:8. But what we do for the preservation of our own lives, must it be with an eye to God's glory? Yes: That I may live, and keep thy word, Ps. 119:17. Live and praise thee, ver. 175.

3. Are we to be compassionate even to the brute creatures? Yes: A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast, Prov. 12:10. Are we to be careful of the lives of others as well as of our own? Yes: It was Cain that said, Am I my brother's keeper? Gen. 4:9. Are we to do what we can in our places for the relief of those who are exposed to violence? Yes: We must deliver them that are ready to be slain, Prov. 24:11,12. Must we succour the distressed, like the good Samaritan? Yes: Go thou and do likewise, Luke 10:87.

4. Are we to support the lives of those who are in straits? Yes: The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me, Job 29:13. Are we to be meek towards those that provoke us? Yes: showing all meekness toward all men, Titus 3:2. And are we to be merciful toward those who need us? Yes: Put on, as the elect of God, bowels of mercy, Col. 3:12.