Suicide

(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

Richard Baxter (1615–1691)

"Self-murder is but the devil's work; a flying from God to Satan, from Him who is the giver of life, to him who was a murderer from the beginning. To kill oneself is to shut the door of mercy upon oneself forever."

 

John Flavel (1627–1691)

"There is more mercy in Christ, than sin in us. This keeps the tempted soul from laying violent hands upon itself, for why should I hasten into Hell, when I may flee to Christ?"

 

Richard Greenham (1535–1594)

"The devil suggests that death is better than life; and that to rid oneself of life, is to be rid of woe. Whereas he who kills himself, does cast both body and soul into everlasting destruction."

 

John Owen (1616–1683)

"Despair drives the sinner to destroy himself, thinking thereby to be rid of misery--when indeed he does but cast himself into eternal misery."

 

William Perkins (1558–1602)

"To kill a man is murder; to kill oneself is murder against oneself, which is no less a sin before God."

 

Arthur Pink (1886–1952)

"Self-destruction is self-damnation. The suicide rushes unbidden and crimson-handed into the presence of his Judge."

"To die in rebellion against God by one's own hand, is to plunge both body and soul into Hell."

 

Richard Sibbes (1577–1635)

"The least drop of true grace, is stronger than all the powers of Hell--and is enough to keep the soul from self-destruction."

 

Charles Spurgeon (1834–1892)

"Self-murder is a dreadful crime. He who ends his life with his own dagger, does but leap from the fire into the flame."

"Suicide does not end suffering, but begins it. It is not the end of trouble, but the door into ten thousand times more sorrow."

"The result of self-murder is to seal the soul's doom. To die impenitent is fearful, but to die by one's own hands is to enter eternity with crimsoned hands and despairing heart."

"The poor suicide dreams of finding rest, but awakes in everlasting unrest. He sought the grave, but found Hell."

"To attempt to escape affliction by suicide, is to take up the far heavier affliction of eternal anguish."

"Self-murder is that crime of all crimes, the most sure of damnation, if a man commits it willfully and in his sound mind!"

 

Thomas Watson (1620–1686)

"Satan tempts to self-murder, persuading the soul that thereby it shall be freed from misery. But it is but to leap out of the frying pan into the fire; from temporal torment, into eternal torment."

"Hope is the helmet that keeps the Christian's head from the bullet of despair and self-murder."

 

God Almighty

"You know that no murderer has eternal life in him." (1 John 3:15)

"But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars--their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death." (Revelation 21:8)

 

So far as God's view of suicide, we are assured that He is holy, righteous and just in all that He does: "Far be it from You to do such a thing--to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?" Genesis 18:25

 

Addition materials on suicide:

The Guilt, Folly, and Sources of Suicide by Samuel Miller, 1805

12 Things You Need to Know About Suicide by Curtis Knapp

Can a Christian Commit Suicide? by Tim Conway