Self-Preservation
J. W. Burn. Acts 16:27-28 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword… Do thyself no harm. I. Physically. The body is God's handiwork, "fearfully and wonderfully made." It has been redeemed by Christ, and is a temple of the Holy Ghost. Do not harm it therefore — 1. By overwork. 2. By excessive exercise. 3. By undue exposure. 4. By enervating indolence or pleasure. 5. By neglecting the means of its support in health or its recovery in sickness. We shall have to give an account for deeds done in the body in more senses than one. II. MENTALLY. How august the gift of intellect with its faculties of memory, reason, imagination, etc., and how delicate and susceptible of injury. There are laws of mind as well of matter which cannot be disobeyed without severe retribution. Do thy mind no harm — 1. By overstrain. Some of the highest in examination lists have done poorly in life, because their academic honours represent not so much useful and healthy knowledge, but so much cram. 2. By neglect. The mind gets into an otiose and diseased state for want of exercise. III. EMOTIONALLY. How rich a gift is feeling, and how soon and easily is the heart injured or broken! Do thyself no harm — 1. By over-sensitiveness. 2. By deliberate petrifaction. 3. By anxiety. Guard love against unworthy objects; hope against unreasonable expectations; joy against exhaustible sources. Cultivate the best friendships; "Be content with such things as ye have"; never despair. IV. SPIRITUALLY. Here the greatest harm can be done. Here injury may be irreparable. 1. Communion with God, who is the soul's life, may be broken off. 2. The soul may die to its richest inheritance in time and eternity. Do it no harm, therefore, by neglecting the means of grace, prayer, Bible study, Christian fellowship, etc., nor by the allowance of any known sin. V. SOCIALLY. Under this head may be grouped a variety of interests in which great damage may be done. A man may harm himself — 1. Commercially, by unwise speculations, wrong methods, indolence, etc. 2. In his friendships by bad associations, want of thought, forbearance, etc. 3. Politically. The Christian and unfailing rule of self-preservation is, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God...and thy neighbour as thyself." (J. W. Burn.) Parallel Verses KJV: And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. WEB: The jailer, being roused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.