A26955:282
The mischiefs of self-ignorance and the benefits of self-acquaintance opened in divers sermons at…
The mischiefs of self-ignorance and the benefits of self-acquaintance opened in divers sermons at Dunstan's-West and published in answer to the accusations of some and the desires of others / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by R. White for F. Tyton, 1662
THE Mischief of Self-ignorance, AND Benefit of Self-acquaintance. › Part
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
If any of you think that all these matters are to be put to the adventure, and cannot now be known, you are dangerously mistaken. As you may certainly know by Scripture and the Light of Nature, that there is a future Life of joy to the Godly▪ and of misery to the wicked, so may you know by a faithful trial of yourselves, to which of these at present you belong, and whether you are under the promise or the threatening; know yourselves, and you may know whether you are Justified o• Condemned already, and whether you are the Heirs of Heaven or Hell. Surely he that comforteth his servants with the Promise of Glory to all that Believe and are new creatures, and sanctified by his spirit, did suppose that we may know whether we Believe and are renewed and sanctified or not: Or else What comfort can it be to us? If blinded Infidels, have no means to quiet ⟨p. 187⟩themselves but their unbelief, and a conceit that there is no such Life of misery, •hey have the most pitiful O piate to ease •hem in the world: and may as well think •o become immortal, by a confident conceit that they shall never die. If they befool themselves with the ordinary Questions [where is Hell: and what kind of fire is it? &c] I answer them with Augustine [Melius •st dubitare de occultis, quam litigare de •••certis: Illum quippe divitem in àrdore •oenarum, & illum pauperem in refrigerio gandiorum esse intelligendos non dubito: sed quomodo intelligenda illa flamma in inferno, ille sinus Abrahae, illa divitis lingua, ille digitus pauperis, illa sitis tormenti, illa stilla refrigerii, vix fortasse à mansuetè quarentibus, contentiose antem sectantibus nunquam invenitur] that is, [It is better to be in doubt about things that are hidden from us, then to quarrel about things that are uncertain to us. I am past doubt that we must understand that that Rich man was in the heat of Paine, and the Poor man in a refreshing place of Joys: But how to understand that flame in Hell, that bosom of Abraham, that tongue of the Rich man, that finger of the poor man, that thirst of torment, that drop for cooling or refreshment, perhaps will hardly ⟨p. 188⟩