The mischiefs of self-ignorance and the benefits of self-acquaintance opened in divers sermons at…

Self-knowledge would teach Ambitious men, to prefer the calmest safest station, before the highest; and to seek first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness, and to please him most carefully that hath the Keys of Heaven and Hell: and to be content with food and raiment in the way, while they are Ambitious of a higher Glory. It would tell them, that, so dark and frail a creature should be more solicitous to Obey then to have Dominion; and that large Possessions are not the most ⟨p. 24⟩congruous or desirable Passage, to a narrow grave; and that it is the highest dignity to be an heir of Heaven. Would men but spend some hours time, in the study of themselves and seriously consider what it is to be a Man, a sinner, a Passenger to an endless life, an expectant of so great a change, and withal to be a profest Believer, what a turn would it make in the cares, and the desires, and conversations of the most?

Self-knowledge would teach Ambitious men, to prefer the calmest safest station, before the highest; and to seek first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness, and to please him most carefully that hath the Keyes of Heaven and Hell: and to be content with food and rayment in the way, while they are Ambitious of a higher Glory. It would tell them, that, so dark and fraile a creature should be more solicitous to Obey then to have Dominion; and that large Possessions are not the most ⟨p. 24⟩congruous or desireable Passage, to a narrow grave; and that it is the highest dignity to be an heire of Heaven. Would men but spend some houres time, in the study of themselves and seriously consider what it is to be a Man, a sinner, a Passenger to an endless life, an expectant of so great a change, and withall to be a profest Believer, what a turne would it make in the cares, and the desires, and conversations of the most?

O amatores mundi (inquit Angust.) cujus rei gratia militatis? — Ibi quid nisi fragile plenum periculis? et per qu•t pericula pervenitur ad majus periculum? percant haec omnia, et dimittamus haec vana et inania, conferamus nos ad solam inquisitionem eorum quae finem non habeant.] i. e. What strive you for, O worldings? Whats here but a brittle glass full of dangers? and by how many dangers must you come to greater dangers? Away with these vanities and toys, and let us set our selves to seek the things that have no end]