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

And hence it is, that as proud, ungodly sensual men, were never sound Believers, so they oft-times fall from that opinionative common faith which they had, and of all me• do most easily turn Apostates: It being just with God that they should be so far forsaken as to vilify the remedy, that would not know their sin & misery, but love it and pertinaciously hold it as their felicity.

And hence it is, that as proud, ungodly sensuall men, were never sound Believers, so they oft-times fall from that opinionative common faith which they had, and of all me• do most easily turn Apostates: It being just with God that they should be so far forsaken as to vilifye the remedie, that would not know their sin & misery, but love it and pertinaciously hold it as their felicity.

4. If you Know not your selves, you will not know what to do with your selves, nor to what end and for what work you are to live. This makes the Holy work neglected, and most men live to little purpose, wasting their days in matters that them selves will call impertinent when they come to die: as if they were good for nothing else. Whereas if they knew them selves, they would know that they are made and fitted for more noble works. O man, if thou ⟨p. 109⟩•ere acquainted well with thy faculties ••d frame, thou wouldest perceive the •ame of God thy Maker, to be so deeply ••graven in thy nature, even in all thy parts •nd powers, as should Convince thee that ••ou wast made for him; that all thou art and […] thou hast, is nothing worth, but for his ••rvice: As all the parts and motions of […] clock or watch, are but to tell the hour […] the day. Thou wouldst know then the eaning of Sanctification and Holiness: hat it signifieth but the Giving God his wn; and is the first part of Justice; without which, no rendering men their due can ove thee Just: Thou wouldst then know e unreasonableness and injustice of ungodliness and all sin: And that to serve thy eshly lusts and pleasures with those noble faculties that were purposely formed to ove and serve the Eternal God, is more absurd and villainous, then to employ the ighest officers of the King, in the sweeping of your chimneys, or the serving of our swine. Remember it, unreasonable, cutish man, the next time thou art going to thy lusts and sensual delights. It is no wiser a course thou akest: It is no more honourable or ust: but as much worse, as God