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

7. Doth it not manifest how little men know themselves, when in every suffering that befalls them, they overlook the Cause of all within them, and fall upon others, or quarrel with every thing that standeth in their way. Their contempt of God doth cast them into some affliction, and they quarrel with the Instruments, and meddle not with the mortal cause at home. Their ⟨p. 83⟩sin finds them out, and testifieth against them; and they are angry with the •od, and repine at Providence, as if God himself were more to be suspected of the Cause then they. Yea, it is become with many a serious doubt, Whether God doth not Necessitate them to sin; and, Whether they omit not duty merely because he will not give them power to perform it; and, Whether their sin be any other then a Relation unavoidably resulting from a Foundation laid by the hand of God himself. Do men know themselves, that will sooner suspect and blame the most Righteous, Holy God, then their own unrighteous carnal hearts? Man drinketh up iniquity like water; but there is no unrighteousness with God. Saith Innocent, [Conceptus est homo in foetore luxuria, quódque deterius est, in labe peccati; natus ad laborem, timorem, dolorem, &c. Agit prava, quibus offendit Deum; offendit proximum; offendit seipsum; agit turpia, quibus polluit famam, polluit personam, polluit conscientiam: Agit vana, quibus negligit sana; negligit utilia; negligit necessaria.] Man is conceived in the filth or stink of luxury (or lust,) and which is worse, in the stain of sin: born to labour, fear, and pain, &c. He doth that which is evil, to the offence of God; his neighbour ⟨p. 84⟩and himself: He doth that which is filthy, to the polluting of his fame, his person and his Conscience: He doth that which is vain, neglecting what is sound and profitable, and necessary.] And is not such a frail and sinful wight, more likely to be the cause of sin then God? and to be culpable in all the ill that doth befall us?

7. Doth it not manifest how little men know themselves, when in every suffering that befals them, they overlook the Cause of all within them, and fall upon others, or quarrel with every thing that standeth in their way. Their contempt of God doth cast them into some affliction, and they quarrel with the Instruments, and medle not with the mortall cause at home. Their