Christian ethics -- Fiction; Christian fiction; Conduct of life -- Fiction
Atten. Pray tell me concerning the first, how he made away himself?
Wise. Why, he took a knife and cut his own Throat, and immediately gave
up the Ghost and died. Now what can we judge of such a mans condition;
since the Scripture saith, No murderer hath eternall life, &c. but
that it must be concluded, that such an one is gone to Hell. He was a
murderer, a Self-murderer; and he is the worst murderer, one that slays
his own body and soul: nor doe we find mention made of any but cursed
ones that doe such kind of deeds. I say, no mention made in holy Writ
of any others, but such, that murder themselves.
And this is the sore Judgment of God upon men, when God shall, for the
sins of such, give them up to be their own Executioners, or rather to
execute his Judgment and Anger upon themselves. And let me earnestly
give this Caution to sinners. Take heed, Sirs, break off your sins,
lest God serves you as he served Mr. Badmans Brother: That is, lest he
gives you up to be your own Murderers.
Atten. Now you talk of this. [Picture: Take note symbol] I did once
know a man, a Barber, that took his own Raisor, and cut his own Throat,
and then put his head out of his Chamber-window, to shew the neighbours
what he had done, and after a little while died.
Wise. [Picture: Take note symbol] I can tell you a more dreadful thing
than this: I mean as to the manner of doing the fact. {168c} There was
about twelve years since, a man that lived at Brafield by Northampton,
(named John Cox) that murdered himself; the manner of his doing of it
was thus. He was a poor man, and had for some time been sick (and the
time of his sickness was about the beginning of Hay-time;) and taking
too many thoughts how he should live afterwards, if he lost his present
season of work, he fell into deep despair about the world, and cryed
out to his wife the morning before he killed himself, saying, We are
undone. But quickly after, he desired his wife to depart the room,
Because, said he, I will see if I can get any rest; so she went out:
but he instead of sleeping, quickly took his Raisor, and therewith cut
up a great hole in his side, out of which he pulled, and cut off some
of his guts, and threw them, with the blood up and down the Chamber.
But this not speeding of him so soon as he desired, he took the same
Raisor and therewith cut his own throat. His wife then hearing of him
sigh and fetch his wind short, came again into the room to him, and
seeing what he had done, she ran out and called in some Neighbours,
who came to him where he lay in a bloody manner, frightfull to behold.
Then said one of them to him, Ah! John, what have you done? are you
not sorry for what you have done? He answered roughly, ’Tis too late
to be sorry. Then said the same person to him again, Ah! John, pray to
God to forgive thee this bloody act of thine. At the hearing of which
Exhortation, he seemed much offended, and in angry manner said, Pray!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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