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

In general consider, it is by the Light of knowledge that all the affairs of your souls must be directed: And therefore while you know not your selves, you are in the dark, and unfit to manage your own affairs. your Principal error about your selves will have influence into all the transactions of your lives, you will neglect the greatest duties, and abuse and corrupt those which you think you do perform. ⟨p. 93⟩While you know not yourselves, you know not what you do, nor what you have to do, and therefore can do nothing well. For instance.

In generall consider, it is by the Light of knowledge that all the affairs of your souls must be directed: And therefore while you know not your selves, you are in the dark, and unfit to manage your own affairs. your Principall error about your selves will have influence into all the transactions of your lives, you will neglect the greatest duties, and abuse and corrupt those which you think you do performe. ⟨p. 93⟩While you know not yourselves, you know not what you do, nor what you have to do, and therefore can do nothing well. For instance.

1. When you should Repent of sin, you know it not as in yourselves, and therefore cannot savingly Repent of it. If you know in general, that you are sinners, or know your gross and crying sins, which Conscience cannot overlook, yet the sins which you know not because you will not know them, may condemn you. How can you Repent of your Pride, Hypocrisy, Self-love, Self-seeking, your Want of love and fear, and trust in God, or any such sins which you never did observe? Or if you perceive some sins, yet if you perceive not that they reign and are predominant, and that you are in a state of sin, how can you Repent of that estate which you perceive not? Or if you have but a sleight and superficial sight of your sinful state and your particular sins, you can have but a superficial false Repentance.