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

Would men but first be acquainted with themselves, and pass an impartial judgement on the affections and actions that are nearest them, and that most concern them, they would be more competent, and more compassionate Judges of their brethren, that are now so hardly used by them. Its excellent advice that Austin gives us, Quum aliquem reprehendere nos necessitas coegerit, cogitemus, utrum tale sit vitium, quod nunquam habuimus; & tunc cogitemus nos homines esse, & habere potuisse, vel quod tale habuimus & jam non habemus; & tunc memoria tangat communis fragilitatis, ut illam correctionem non odium sed misericordia praecedat: Sin autem invenerimus nos in eodem vitio esse, non objurgemus, sed ingemiscamus, ⟨p. 72⟩& ad aequaliter deponendum invitemus.] i. e. [When necessity constraineth us to reprove any one, let us think whether it be such a vice as we never had our selves: and then let us think that we are men▪ and might have had it: Or if we once had such but have not now, then let the remembrance of common frailty touch us, that compassion and not hatred may lead the way to our reproof: But if we find that we have the same vice our selves, let us not chide, but groan, and move (or desire) that we may both equally lay it by.]

5. It shows how little men know themselves, when they must needs be the Rule to all other men, as far as they are able to command it; and that in the matters that mens salvation dependeth on, and in the smallest, tender, disputable points; and even in those things where themselves are most unfit to judge. In every controverted point of doctrine, (though such as others have much better studied then themselves) he that hath strength to suppress all those that differ from him, must ordinarily be the umpire; so is it even in the modes and circumstances of Worship. Perhaps Christ may have the honour to be called the King of the Church, and the Scripture have the honour ⟨p. 73⟩to be called his Laws: but indeed it is they •hat would be the Lords themselves; and […] is their Wills and Words that must be the aws; and this under pretence of suberving Christ, and interpreting his Laws; hen they have talked the utmost for Councils, Fathers, Church, Tradition, it is themselves that indeed must be all these; or nothing but their own conceits and Wills must go for the sense of Decrees, or Canons, Fathers or Tradition. Even they hat hate the power and serious practice of Religion, would fain be the Rule of Religion to all others: And they that never new what it was to worship God in Spirit and truth, with delight and love and suitableness of soul, would needs be the Rule of Worship to all others, even in he smallest Circumstances and Ceremonies. And they would be the Governors of the Church, or the Determiners of its mode of Government, that never would be rought under the Government of Christ themselves. If it please them better to spend he Lords day in Plays or Sports, or complement or idleness, then in learning the will of God in his word, or worshipping im, and begging his mercy and salvation. nd seriously preparing for an endless