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

And Self-ignorance will also corrupt your Thanksgiving, and turn it into sin and folly. Is it not shame and pity to hear an unpardoned enemy of Holiness, and of God, to thank God that he is Justified and Reconciled to God, and Adopted to be his child, and made a member of Jesus Christ? And to hear a carnal unregenerate person give thanks for his Regeneration and Sanctification by the Holy Ghost? As it is to hear a leper give thanks for perfect health, or a fool or mad man thank God for making him wiser then his neighbours. Is it not pity to hear a miserable soul thank God for the Grace which he never had▪ and one that is near eternal misery to thank God for making him an heir of Glory! O how many have thanked God Pharisaically for the pardon of their sins, that must for ever suffer for those sins! How many have thanked him for giving them the assured hopes of Glory, that must be thrust out into endless misery! As I having known ⟨p. 128⟩many, that by their friends and by themselves have been flattered into consi••• hopes of life, when they were ready […] die, have thanked God that the were […] well, and the worst was past; which in […] eyes of judicious standers by, was not […] least aggravation of their sad and deplo•••ble state. Methinks it is one of the saddest spectacles in the world to hear a […] thanking God for the assurance of salva•••on, that is in a state of condemnation, and like to be in Hell for ever! These absurdities could not corrupt your highest duties, and turn them into sin, if you knew your selves.

And Self-ignorance will also corrupt your Thanksgiving, and turn it into sin and folly. Is it not shame and pitty to hear an unpardoned enemy of Holiness, and of God, to thank God that he is Justified and Reconciled to God, and Adopted to be his child, and made a member of Jesus Christ? And to hear a carnal unregenerate person give thanks for his Regeneration and Sanctification by the Holy Ghost? As it is to hear a leper give thanks for perfect health, or a fool or mad man thank God for making him wiser then his neighbours. Is it not pitty to hear a miserable soul thank God for the Grace which he never had▪ and one that is near eternal misery to thank God for making him an heir of Glory! O how many have thankt God Pharisaitally for the pardon of their sins, that must for ever suffer for those sins! How many have thanked him for giving them the assured hopes of Glory, that must be thrust out into endless misery! As I having known