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

I. And to begin with the unrenewed carnal sort, it is they that have the greatest need, to be better acquainted with themselves. O that I knew how to make them sensible of it; If any thing will do it, me thinks it should be done by acquainting them how much their endless state is concerned in it. In order hereunto let me yet add to all that is said already, these few considerations;

I. And to begin with the unrenewed carnall sort, it is they that have the greatest need, to be better acquainted with themselves. O that I knew how to make them sensible of it; If any thing will doe it, me thinkes it should be done by acquainting them how much their endless state is concerned in it. In order hereunto let me yet adde to all that is said already, these few considerations;

1. If you know not yourselves, you know not whether you are the children of God, or not: nor whether you must be for ever in Heaven or Hell; no nor whether you may not within this hour behold the angry face of God, which will frown you into damnation. And is this a matter for a man of Reason to be quietly and contentedly ⟨p. 185⟩ignorant of? It is a business of such unspeakable concernment, to know whether you must be everlastingly in Heaven or Hell, that no man can spare his cost or pains about it, without betraying and disgracing his understanding: you are sure you shall be here but a little while: Those Bodies you all know, will hold your souls but a little longer: As you know that you that are now together here attending, must presently quit this room and be gone; so you know that when you have staid a little longer, you must quit this world, and be gone into another. And I think there is not the proudest of you but would be taken down, nor the most sluggish or dead-hearted but would be awakened, if you knew that you must go to endless misery, and that your dying hour would be your entrance into Hell. And if you know not your selves, you know not but it may be so. And to know nothing to the contrary, would be terrible to you if you well considered it, especially when you have so much cause to fear it. O Sirs, for a man to sit here senselessly in these seats, that knows not but he may burn in Hell for ever, and knows not because he is blind and careless; how unsuitable is it to the principle of self love and