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

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 ⟨p. 174⟩trouble you with their length: Many a time have I been forced to hear your dreaming incoherent dotage: how copious you are in words that signify no greater matters then flesh pleasing, or fanciful honour• and accommodations; I had almost said, the•• chaff, or straw or dirt. One may he•• you from morning to night, from day to day, discoursing in variety of company, on various subjects, with freedom and plausible ingenuity; And when all is se• together, it is but a hodge podge of earth and flesh and windy vanity, a frothy puddle. A• the ridiculous Orator, Magno Conatu & hiatu nihil dicitis: You strain and gap• an hour or a day together to say nothing set all the words of a day together, and peruse them at night, and see what they are worth: There's little higher then visible materials, (that I say not, then the dunghill or your shadows,) then meat and drink, and play and complement, then houses, or lands, or domineering affections o actions, in many hours or days discourse.