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

2. The abounding of Hypocrisy showeth how little men are acquainted with themselves. I speak not here of that gross Hypocrisy which is always known to him that hath it, but of that close Hypocrisy, which is A professing to be what we are not, or to believe what we believe not, or to have what we have not, or to do what we do not. What Article of the faith do not most among us confidently profess? What Petition of the Lords prayer will they not put up? Which of the Commandments will they not profess their obedience to? While the stream of their conversation testifieth, that in their hearts there is none of the Belief, the Desire, or the Obedience in sincerity which they profess▪ Did they know themselves, they would be ashamed of the vanity of their profession, and of the miserable want of the things professed; and that God who is so nigh their mouths is so far from their hearts. If you heard an illiterate man profess, that he understandeth all the Languages and Sciences, or a beggar boasting of his wealth, or a parrot taught to say that he is a Man; would you take any of these to be the words of one that knows himself? Quid est vita Hypocrita (inquit Gregor.) ⟨p. 61⟩sissy quaedam visio phantasmatis, quae hic •stendit in imagine, quod non habet in veri•ate? Sure they are in the dark that spend •heir days in dreaming visions: But they have •heir eyes so much on the beholders, that •hey have no leisure to peruse themselves: They are so careful to be esteemed good, •hat they are careless of being what they seem. Quo magis exterius hominibus place•nt, eo see interius aspicere neg•••unt, to•osque see in verbis prximorum […], & •anctos se esse astimant, quia […] haberi […] hominibus pensant, ut Gregor. Mor.

2. The abounding of Hypocrisie showeth how little men are acquainted with themselves. I speak not here of that gross Hypocrisie which is allwayes known to him that hath it, but of that close Hypocrisie, which is A professing to be what we are not, or to believe what we believe not, or to have what we have not, or to do what we do not. What Article of the faith do not most among us confidently profess? What Petition of the Lords prayer will they not put up? Which of the Commandements will they not profess their obedience to? While the stream of their conversation testifieth, that in their hearts there is none of the Belief, the Desire, or the Obedience in sincerity which they profess Did they know themselves, they would be ashamed of the vanity of their profession, and of the miserable want of the things professed; and that God who is so nigh their mouths is so far from their hearts. If you heard an illiterate man profess, that he understandeth all the Languages and Sciences, or a beggar boasting of his wealth, or a parrot taught to say that he is a Man; would you take any of these to be the words of one that knows himself? Quid est vita Hypocrita (inquit Gregor.)