N02155:39
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.
IT may be said; I will Repent, and Pray for the Pardon of my Sin, before I do it. I Answer; What a Delusion of Satan! I have read indeed of a Philosopher, who called upon his Gods, and so threw him self into the Fire to his own Destruction. But canst thou think, That GOD will hear such Prayers? No, — Psal. LXVI.18. If I regard Iniquity in my Heart, the Lord will not hear me. If thou comest before GOD, with bloody Resolutions in thy Heart, GOD will not accept of thy Prayers. He says, Isa. I.15. When you make many Prayers, I will not hear; your hands are full of Blood. Nor can this be called, Repentance: For ⟨p. 12⟩a man to Confess a Sin, and be Resolved still upon the Commission of it! No, Tis he who Confesseth and Forsaketh, that shall find Mercy.
USE 2. HENCE it is an EVIL THING to SPEAK FAVOURABLY, either of Self-Murder, or of Self-Murderers. There have been those who have undertaken to justify Self-Murder in some cases. [See Voet. vol. 4. Disp. de laesione sui-ipsius.] Pagan Philosophers taught, That it was lawful for Persons to Murder themselves, that they might save their Reputation; or prevent falling into the hands of their Enemies. — Famous the Story of Lucretia.—
IN what we call, The Second Book of the Maccabees, we find celebrated an Action of one Rasis, for which the Jews cry him up as a Martyr; but Austin censures him for a Criminal Self-Murderer, with Reasons that cannot be answered.
IN what we call, The Second Book of the Maccabees, we find celebrated an Action of one Rasis, for which the Iews cry him up as a Martyr; but Austin censures him for a Criminal Self-Murderer, with Reasons that cannot be answered.