Lifes Preservative Against Self-Killing, Tract · Chapter 2 · Section 34
§. 34. Obſervations from indirect ſelf-murder.
Vſes.The uſes of the former doctrine about indirect ſelf-murder, are ſpecially three.
1. Men ſelf-deceived.Firſt, it ſerves for our inſtruction; that we may ſee that many men are deceived in their ſelf-pleaſing courſes; whereby they promiſe to themſelves much comfort and good; but indeed reape death and deſtruction, by their own meanes and procurements: according to the Proverb, There is a way which ſeemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the waies of death bProv. 14 12.: as is apparent, by the courſe of our firſt parents Adam and Eve: deſtroying themſelves, and us in them, by following their own wits and wills, without obedience to their Maker.
Cauſes of ſelf-deceit.The true cauſes of this deceit and errour of man in this point, are foure.
1. Vnbeliefe.Firſt unbeliefe of Gods threatnings, while men truſt to lying vanities, upon groundleſſe preſumptions, and erroneous carnall principles, and miſinformations, and miſconſtructions; willing to bee perſwaded, and to beleeve that which ſtands beſt with their liking and ſinfull condition; ſo corrupting their underſtanding to give a falſe verdict againſt the truth of God, to their owne deſtruction.
2. Self-conceit.Secondly, men are ſelf-beguiled, by ſelf-conceit of the goodneſſe of their unſound eſtates, and by being taken up with contentment in the preſent ſeeming good of their ſelf-pleaſing ſinfull courſes: for that they did never throughly ſee, and apprehend the miſerable badneſſe of their owne wretched eſtates, nor did truly ſee, and taſte the excellency and ſweetneſſe of a better.
3. Proſperity of the wicked.Thirdly, men are here ſelf-deceived, by reſting upon the preſent viſible dealing of God with many as bad, or worſe than themſelves, whom they ſee ſtill to proſper in their ill courſes: Becauſe judgement is not ſpeedily executed, therefore their hearts are ſet to doe evill; being perſwaded that it ſhall bee as well with them, as others of their owne ranke, that they ſee flouriſh and doe well enough, as they thinke.
4. Shifting the blame.Fourthly, men deceive themſelves, by ſhifting off the blame of their ill courſe, from themſelves, to other concurring, or acceſſary cauſes of their evill wayes; as Adam did to Eve: as if they were freed by the temptations or partnerſhip of others with them in evill. But the condemnation of acceſſaries doth condemne, and not cleare the principals.
Predeſtination is blameleſſe.But, they that to cleare, or encourage themſelves in their naughty courſes, ſhift off the blame thereof to Gods Predeſtination, are impudently impious; by both making God the author of ſin, and alſo by traducing his juſtice, for unjuſtly puniſhing them; that, by their owne verdict, are blameleſſe: But God Predeſtinates no man to an end, without reſpect of meanes, whoſe uſe is within the compaſſe of a mans power, and wherein he himſelfe is a voluntary agent; ſo that predeſtination offers no force to any mans will: and therefore a man living in a ſinfull courſe, of his owne chooſing and liking, cannot blame God, or his Predeſtination; ſeeing that God both gives him ſufficient meanes, and invitation to come out of that ſinfull ſtate.Obſerve. Men ſelf-binded. So men that runne into evill courſes, are by their own meanes darkened in their judgements, and doe wilfully put out their owne eyes of their underſtandings, that they may feareleſly goe on to their own ruine, in their owne wayes of deſtruction. Who is ſo blinde as he that will not ſee?
Deceived.Many mens eſtates are found by themſelves, in the end, to be farre worſe, and more deſperate than they expected; and this alſo many come not to ſee untill it is too late, and paſt all hope of amendment, or recovery; which by carefulneſſe and good heed taking in time, might have been prevented.
Vſe 2. Conſideration of our courſes.The ſecond uſe is for admonition; that wee doe well conſider our courſes what they be, and whither they tend; that we may not dare to venture upon that, which may make us acceſſary to our owne deſtruction: It is diſhonourable and uncomfortable for a man to ſuffer by his owne deſervings, or procurement. And therefore, we are to obſerve how the Apoſtle Peter adviſes us, That none of us doe ſuffer as an evill doer, 1 Pet 4 15.
Repent and reforme.If we be entred upon an unwarrantable courſe, then are we to breake off, and to make haſt to returne by true repentance, and to walk in the way that leades to life. And therefore, I conclude with the Prophet, Caſt away from you all your tranſgreſſions, whereby ye have tranſgreſſed, and make you a new heart, and a new ſpirit; for why will ye die ô houſe of Iſrael? For, I have no pleaſure in the death of him that dyeth, ſaith the Lord God: wherefore turne your ſelves, and live yee. Ezek. 18.31, 32.
That we may doe ſo, we muſt beware of ſelf-conceitedneſſe and obſtinacy, in our owne ſelf-will'd wayes; and be carefull to liſten to good counſell, and advertiſement; and to conſider the latter end, and not the preſent contentment, and faining flattery of evill courſes.
Vſe 3. Men ſin againſt themſelves.The third uſe is an intimation; to ſhew unto thoſe that doe deſperately or careleſly venture upon courſes tending to their owne ſelf-deſtruction; that they are not only guilty of ſinnes againſt God, and their Neighbours immediately; but even alſo againſt themſelves, in ſelf-murder, a crime of the vileſt nature; for which they ſhall be arraigned before God, and ſuffer; their owne wrongs being revenged upon themſelves, and their own unjuſt and unnaturall ſuffering at their owne hands, being puniſhed upon themſelves by the hand of God.
Obſerve 1. Ill courſes are moſt harmfull to the doers of them.Where it is obſervable, that man being both the wrong-doer, and wrong-ſufferer in the ſame act by himſelfe, doth juſtly ſuffer by the hand of God, for wronging his creature, and for breaking his Law, in mans ſelf-reſpect, and uſage of himſelfe. The conſideration of which terrible end of ſuch courſes, redounding to the deſtruction of the doers, ſhould affright men from them.
Obſerve 2.Where it is alſo remarkable, that a man cannot wrong God or others, but by ruinating himſelfe therewithall; and ſo all ill courſes doe prove a puniſhment to the doers of them: and therefore, if there were any true love in ſuch perſons to themſelves, they would abandon all ſuch courſes as tend to the ruine and perdition of the entertainers, or proceeders in the ſame.