N02155:32
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.
ITS true, The Elect of GOD may be grievously Tempted unto this Sin. The Gaoler was one of those. — Yea, many of the Elect have been so, in the pangs of the New-Birth, at their First Conversion unto GOD. And some have been so, after their Conversion. The Best of Saints upon earth, may be so. Of Job, I have told you. I may tell you, of Luther, — And of many more — when the Devil has no hope of prevailing, yet he will Tempt unto this Crime. He will do it, only to vex and molest the faithful Servants of GOD! — He therefore Tempted our Blessed JESUS Himself unto it. See Mat. IV.6. —
ITS true, The Elect of GOD may be grievously Tempted unto this Sin. The Gaoler was one of those. — Yea, many of the Elect have been so, in the pangs of the New-Birth, at their First Conversion unto GOD. And some have been so, after their Conversion. The Best of Saints upon earth, may be so. Of Iob, I have told you. I may tell you, of Luther, — And of many more — when the Devil has no hope of prevailing, yet he will Tempt unto this Crime. He will do it, only to vex and molest the faithful Servants of GOD! — He therefore Tempted our Blessed JESUS Himself unto it. See Mat. IV.6. —
BUT, except it be in case of Distraction; it is a rare thing for Satan thus to prevail over any that belong unto GOD. If he do, yet the Execution cannot be so dispatched, as to leave no space of Repentance. Therefore, it is very observable, that though we read of some of the Elect of GOD in the Scripture, that have been Tempted unto this Crime, yet none were left actually to Commit it, but such as we have cause to look upon as Reprobates, Were a Saul, an Ahithophel, a Zimri, & a Judas, any other?
BUT, except it be in case of Distraction; it is a rare thing for Satan thus to prevail over any that belong unto GOD. If he do, yet the Execution cannot be so dispatched, as to leave no space of Repentance. Therefore, it is very observable, that though we read of some of the Elect of GOD in the Scripture, that have been Tempted unto this Crime, yet none were left actually to Commit it, but such as we have cause to look upon as Reprobates, Were a Saul, an Achitophel, a Zimri, & a Iudas, any other?