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

— Illum ego jure Despiciam, qui scit quanto sublimior Atlas ⟨p. 132⟩Omnibus in Lybia sit montibus; hic tamen idem Ignoret quantum ferrata distet ab arca.

Is it not a laborious madness to travail into far Countries, and compass Sea and land, to satisfy a curiosity; and to be at so much cost and pains to know the situation, government, and manners, of the Cities and Countries of the world, and in the mean time to be utterly strange at home, and never bestow one day or hour in a serious survey of heart and life! To carry about a dark, unknown, neglected soul, while they are travelling to know remotest things that less concern them? Me thinks it is a pitiful thing, to hear men ingeniously discoursing of the quality, laws and customs of other Nations, and of the affairs of Princes, and Common-wealths, and of the riches and commodities of Sea and land, and to be mute when they should express their acquaintance with themselves, either in confession and prayer to God, or in any humble, experimental conference with men. To trade abroad, and utterly neglect the trade of godliness at home. To keep correspondency with persons of all degrees, and to have no correspondence with themselves. ⟨p. 133⟩To keep their shop-books and accounts with diligence, and never regard the Book of Conscience, nor keep account of that for which they must ere long be accountable to God. Its a pitiful thing to see men turn over voluminous histories, to know what hath been done from the beginning of the world, and regard no more the history of their own lives, nor once look back with penitent remorse upon their ungodly careless Conversations, nor say, What have we done? To see men have well-furnished Libraries, and read over a multitude of Books, and never read the state and records of their souls!

Is it not a laborious madness to travail into far Countreys, and compass Sea and land, to satisfie a curiosity; and to be at so much cost and pains to know the scituation, government, and manners, of the Cities and Countreys of the world, and in the mean time to be utterly strange at home, and never bestow one day or hour in a serious survey of heart and life! To carry about a dark, unknown, neglected soul, while they are travelling to know remotest things that less concern them? Me thinks it is a pittifull thing, to hear men ingeniously discoursing of the quality, laws and customs of other Nations, and of the affairs of Princes, and Common-wealths, and of the riches and commodities of Sea and land, and to be mute when they should express their acquaintance with themselves, either in confession and prayer to God, or in any humble, experimental conference with men. To trade abroad, and utterly neglect the trade of godliness at home. To keep correspondency with persons of all degrees, and to have no correspondence with themselves.