See beloved, we may not believe our selves, before we have examined our selves: for we are false hearted, and the notablest cozener that deceiveth most, for one time that he deceiveth others, ten times deceiveth himself. Because the flesh is a wily servant, and will lye like Gehezi to his master,1 and face him that it hath not sinned, when it cometh from sin: therefore as Elisha examined his servant,2 so the soul must examine her servant, that is, man must be jealous of himself, and take himself for a liar, for a flatterer, for a dissembler, until he be throughly acquainted with himself: ⟨p. 136⟩for no man is so often beguiled as by himself, by trusting his double heart, and taking his own word without further trial. If Paul had bid us examine others,3 we would have sifted them like Satan. Satan hath desired to sift thee (saith Christ to Peter) so we have a desire to sift others. Even Peter which was sifted of satan, longed to sift John, & know what he should do, before he hearkened to his own charge. Therefore the help of examination is a needful preservative, although we were as sound as Peter. They which are suspected of a crime, do not examine themselves, but are examined of others, least they should be partial: but a Christian must examine himself of his crime,4 and be his own judge, his own accuser, and his own condemner: for no man knoweth the spirit of man, but the spirit which is in man, which will condemn him if he be guilty, and tell him all that he hath done, and with what mind he did it, and what he deserveth for it. This is the private arraignment, or close sessions, when Conscience sits in her chair to examine, and accuse, and judge, and condemn her self, because she will not be condemned of God.
See beloued, wee may not beleeue our selues, before we haue examined our selues: for we are false hearted, and the notablest cousiner that deceiueth most, for one time that he deceiueth others, tenne times deceiueth himselfe. Because the flesh is a wilie seruaunt, and will lye like Gehezi to his master,1 and face him that it hath not sinned, when it commeth from sinne: therefore as Elisha examined his seruant,2 so the soule must examine her seruaunt, that is, man must bee iealous of himselfe, and take himselfe for a liar, for a flatterer, for a dissembler, vntill he be throughlie acquainted with himselfe: ⟨p. 136⟩for no man is so often beguiled as by himself, by trusting his double heart, and taking his own word without further trial. If Paul had bid vs examine others,3 we would haue sifted them like Sathan. Sathan hath desired to sift thee (sayth Christ to Peter) so we haue a desire to sift others. Euen Peter which was sifted of sathan, longed to sift Iohn, & knowe what he should do, before hee hearkened to his owne charge. Therefore the helpe of examination is a needfull preseruatiue, although we were as sound as Peter. They which are suspected of a crime, doe not examine themselues, but are examined of others, least they should be partiall: but a Christian must examine himselfe of his crime,4 and be his owne iudge, his owne accuser, and his owne condemner: for no man knoweth the spirite of man, but the spirit which is in man, which will condemne him if he be guiltie, and tell him all that hee hath done, and with what minde he did it, and what he deserueth for it. This is the priuate araignment, or close sessions, when Conscience sits in her chaire to examine, and accuse, and iudge, and condemne her selfe, because she will not bee condemned of God.
- 12. Kin. 5. 25.
- 22. Kin. 5. 26.
- 3Luk. 22. 31.
- 41. Cor. 2. 11.
