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

Poor careless souls, you know not now what it is, for the ungodly to see that they are ungodly, by the unresistible light of another world: and for the unholy to feel in Hell that they are unholy, and to be •aught by flames and the wrath of the Almighty, what is the difference between the sanctified and the carnal, between an obedient and a rebellious life: While you sit here, you little know these things: You see them not: you feel them not: and the Lord grant you may never so know them by woeful experience: that you may scape such a knowledge, is the end of all that I am saying to you: But that will not ⟨p. 204⟩be, but by another kind of knowledge, even the knowledge of Belief and serious Consideration.

Poor careless souls, you know not now what it is, for the ungodly to see that they are ungodly, by the unresistible light of another world: and for the unholy to feel in Hell that they are unholy, and to be •aught by flames and the wrath of the Almighty, what is the difference between the sanctified and the carnal, betwen an obedient and a rebellious life: While you sit here, you little know these things: You see them not: you feel them not: and the Lord grant you may never so know them by wofull experience: that you may scape such a knowledge, is the end of all that I am saying to you: But that will not ⟨p. 204⟩be, but by another kind of knowledge, even the knowledge of Belief and serious Consideration.

For your souls sake therefore come into the Light, and try your selves, and huddle not over a work of such unspeakable consequence, as the searching of your hearts and judging of your spiritual state? O be glad to know what you are indeed! Put home the question, Am I sanctified or not? A• I in the Spirit or in the flesh? Be glad of any help for the sure resolution of such doubts. Take not up with sleight and venturous presumptions. It is your own case: your nearest and your greatest case: All lies upon it: Who should be so willing of the plainest dealing, the speediest and the closest search as you? O be not surprised by an unexpected sight of an unrenewed miserable soul at death. It it be so, see it now, while seeing it may do good: If it be not so, a faithful search can do you no harm, but comfort you by the discovery of your sincerity. Say not too late, I thought I had been born again of the Spirit, and had been in a state of grace? I thought I had been a child of God, and reconciled to him and Justified by faith! O what a heart-tearing word would it be