A26955:206
The mischiefs of self-ignorance and the benefits of self-acquaintance opened in divers sermons at…
The mischiefs of self-ignorance and the benefits of self-acquaintance opened in divers sermons at Dunstan's-West and published in answer to the accusations of some and the desires of others / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by R. White for F. Tyton, 1662
THE Mischief of Self-ignorance, AND Benefit of Self-acquaintance. › Part
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
They have now the faithful Ministers of Christ, inviting them in his name to come to him and receive the riches of his grace, and beseeching them in his stead to be reconciled unto God, (Mat. 22. 2 Cor. 5.19, 20.) But they stop their ears, and harden their hearts, and stiffen their necks, and love not to be disturbed in their sins, but are angry with those that are solicitous for their salvation, and revile them as too precise and strict, that tell them of the One thing needful, and persuade them to ⟨p. 125⟩choose the better part, and tell them where their sin will leave them. They take them for their friends that will encourage them in the way that God condemneth, and be merry with them in the way to endless sorrow, and flatter them into security and impenitency till the time of grace be past; but they hate them as their enemies that faithfully reprove them, and tell them of their folly, and call them to a safer better way. Alas, Sirs, there would not be so many Nations, Congregations, and Souls now left in darkness and misery by their own doing, having driven away the Mercy of the Gospel, and thrust their faithful Teachers from them, if they knew themselves. Men would not triumph in their own calamity, when they have expelled their faithful Teachers, (the dust of whose feet, the sweat of their brows, the tears of their eyes, and the fervent prayers and groans of their hearts must witness against them,) if they knew themselves. They would not be like a mad man that glorieth that he hath beaten away his Physician and his friends, and is left to himself, if they knew themselves. When they have the earnest Calls of the Word without, and convictions and urgings of the Spirit of God, ⟨p. 126⟩and their Consciences within, they would not wilfully go on, and cast these mercies at their heels, if they knew themselves.
They have now the faithfull Ministers of Christ, inviting them in his name to come to him and receive the riches of his grace, and beseeching them in his stead to be reconciled unto God, (Mat. 22.