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

so a man of holy experience in the mysteries of sanctification, that is much conversant at home, and acquainted with his own heart, is able (if other helps concur) to speak what he feels, to God and man, and from his particular observation and experience, to frame his prayers and spiritual conference; and an hypocri•• from Reading and common observation, may do something affectedly that's like it: but careless self-neglecting worldlings are usually dumb about such matters, and hear you as they do men of another Country, that talk in a language which they do not understand, or at least cannot make them any answer in.

so a man of holy experience in the mysteries of sanctification, that is much conversant at home, and acquainted with his own heart, is able (if other helps concur) to speak what he feels, to God and man, and from his particular observation and experience, to frame his prayers and spiritual conference; and an hypocri•• from Reading and common observation, may do something affectedly that's like it: but careless self-neglecting worldlings are usually dumb about such matters, and hear you as they do men of another Countrey, that talk in a language which they do not understand, or at least cannot make them any answer in.

But if any of you will needs think more basely and maliciously, of the cause of holy ⟨p. 173⟩prayer and conference in believers, let us leave them for the present (to the Justification of him that gave them the spirit of supplication which you reproach,) and let us only enquire what is the Reason that men that can discourse as handsomely as others, about worldly matters, have nothing to say (beyond a few cold affected words, which they have learnt by rote) either to God or man, about the matters of the soul, the methods of the spirit, the workings of a truly penitent heart, or the elevations of faith, and the pantings of desire after God. Why are you dumb when you should speak this language, and frequently and delightfully speak it? Is it because your Reason is lower then those mens that do speak it, whom you despise? and that you are naturally near kin to idiots? No; you are wise enough to do evil: You can talk of your trades, your honours or employments, your acquaintance and correspondencies all the day long; You are more wordy about these little things, then the Preachers themselves that you count most tedious are about the greatest. You are uch longer discoursing of your delusory oyes, then the Lovers of God, whose souls ong after him, are in those Prayers, which