A learned and very useful commentary on the whole epistle to the Hebrews wherein every word and particle in the original is explained ... : being the substance of thirty years Wednesdayes lectures at Black-fryers, London / by that holy and learned divine Wiliam Gouge ... : before which is prefixed a narrative of his life and death : whereunto is added two alphabeticall tables ...

§. 205. Of the future estate of self-murtherers.

A Question is moved of self-murtherers, whether there is any hope of their sal∣vation, or no.

Answ.

• 1. All the instances that the Scripture giveth of self-murtherers, are branded for Reprobates, as Saul, Achitophel, and Iudas.
• 2. We have as little ground of hope for them, as for any.
• 3. The order of the Church in denying them Christian buriall, im∣ports as much.
• 4. The very Heathen had such a Law, which forbid their buriall.

Yet because the wayes of the Lord are unsearchable, and the mercies of the Lord infinit, and the work of his Spirit unconce•…•…vable (For at the moment of death the Spirit can work Faith, and repentance,) we cannot, we may not pass a peremptory sentence on them.

Pretences alledged for the hope of the salvation of many of them, are these.

1. They may be distracted in their witts.

Answ. Such are not to be accounted self-murtherers. Our Law doth acquit such.

2. They do it to avoid sin: or to prevent such Tortures as they fear may draw them from the profession of the true Faith.

Answ. 1. They are undue pretences. For,

• 1. No evill is to be done upon pretence of good. Rom. 3. 8.
• 2. A meer passive evill is not sin.
• 3. The pretended evill may by the Divine Providence be prevented.
• 4. The remedy used is the worst of evills. It is like the Flounders lea∣ping out of hot water into flaming fire.

The pretence of preventing torments that might cause Apostacy, implieth Pu∣sillanimity and Infidelity: As if God could not prevent, or mitigate, or give suffi∣cient Strength, Courage, and Comfort in all Tortures.

3. Some pretend an hastning of their heavenly glory thereby. Heathen Au∣thors give instances hereof, namely of Cleambrot us, and Cato.

Answ. That is no way to hasten, but for ever to exclude ones self from hea∣venly glory.

4. Some, thinking to give evidences of their salvation, set down the confi∣dence they have in Gods mercy, and leave it written in their pocket•…•…s, that it may be seen by Survivers.

Answ. It is a plain mockage of God to crave pardon for a sin to be com∣mitted. It is like the prayers of single Combatants, who immediatly before their seeking to kill one another, make pretence of praying to God. This their pre∣tence is an evidence against them.

This should move people to take heed of Tempting God. It was the answer that Christ gave to the Devill, when he tempted him to cast himself down from a pinacle of the Temple, whereby he might have killed himself, Matth. 4. 7.

For preventing this sin,

• 1. Give no place to the Devill. Ephes. 4. 27.
• 2. Resist the Devill stedfast in the Faith. 1 Pet. 5. 9.
• 3. Pray against spirituall desertions. Psal. 51. 11.
• 4. Oft meditate on the horrible nature and fearfull issue of this sin.
• 5. Take heed of solitarines.
• 6. Set God always before thee, and reason as Ioseph did. Gen. 39. 9.

Notes

• Insepultus ab∣•…•…iciatur. Senec, controvers. 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• Pretences for hope of the salvation of self-murthe∣rers.
• Euse•…•…. Eccles. hist. l. 8. c. 12.
• Cic. Tusc.
• Quest. 1. l. 1. Senec. Epist. 24.