N02155:48
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.
First. BE Humbled in the sight of GOD. Be Humbled for All thy Sins. — And be Humbled under Temptations to This Sin. — Be Humbled, as long as thou hast a Day to Live. Because they have not been Humbled, Satan has been let loose upon some with greater Violence. When a Sin has been Repented of, there will not now be so much Danger of that Sin, as there was before.
Secondly. BEWARE of such Sins as may Provoke the Holy and Righteous GOD, to leave thee unto This most Horrid Evil.
BEWARE of Pride. When Men will rather not be at all, than be what GOD would have them to be; What Cursed Pride is that!
THIS Produces Murmurings at the Providence of GOD; and causes People to say; 2 King. VI 33. What should I Wait for the Lord any longer?
BEWARE of Self Confidence. Be sensible of thy Weakness; Let him that Stands, take heed lest he fall Be not Confident of thy own Strength to Encounter the Adversary. If GOD should let Satan loose upon thee, he'll be too hard for thee.