N02155:24
A call to the tempted. A sermon on the horrid crime of self-murder, preached…
A call to the tempted. A sermon on the horrid crime of self-murder, preached on a remarkable occasion, / by the memorable Dr. Increase Mather. ; And now published from his notes, for a charitable stop to suicides. ; [Five lines of quotation in Latin]
Boston: printed by B. Green, 1723
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
III. DISTRESS of Conscience is that from which the Devil does many times, take occasion to Tempt Men unto the Sin of Self-Murder. Saul was in Distress of Conscience, as well as otherwise Distressed; and therein he would have Starved himself to Death. See 1 Sam. XXVIII.15, 22, 23. — Judas is in Distress of Conscience; And Then! — he flies to the Halter, that he may let out his wretched Soul. The Burden of a Guilty and a Wounded Conscience, it is Intolerable. It is said, Prov. XVIII.14. Who can bear it? Poor Creatures having such a Wounded Spirit, and being under the strong Delusions of Satan, often think to obtain some ease by ruining of themselves. Especially when Inward & Outward Troubles meet together, (as oftentimes they do) ⟨p. 6⟩Miserable Creatures are in danger of becoming Guilty of this Crime; Satan takes this Advantage to Tempt them unto it. It seems, as if Job were thus Tempted; though he had the Grace to Resist and Conquer the Temptation. He was in Affliction upon Temporal Accounts; At the same time he thought, GOD was his Enemy; He felt the Terrors of GOD in his Soul. GOD suffered Satan to terrify him with frightful Dreams. He was Tempted hereupon to choose the most Ignominious Death, rather than be in such Misery. He says, Job VII 15 My Soul chooseth Strangling, and Death rather than Life. But the Mercy of GOD Preserved him from laying Violent Hands upon himself! —
III. DISTRESS of Conscience is that from which the Devil does many times, take occasion to Tempt Men unto the Sin of Self-Murder. Saul was in Distress of Conscience, as well as otherwise Distressed; and therein he would have Starved himself to Death. See 1 Sam. XXVIII.15, 22, 23. — Iudas is in Distress of Conscience; And Then! — he flies to the Halter, that he may let out his wretched Soul. The Burden of a Guilty and a Wounded Conscience, it is Intolerable. It is said, Prov. XVIII.14. Who can bear it? Poor Creatures having such a Wounded Spirit, and being under the strong Delusions of Satan, often think to obtain some ease by ruining of themselves. Especially when Inward & Outward Troubles meet together, (as oftentimes they do)