A26955:336
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.
This much I have said both to stay yo• from misunderstanding what I said before concerning the Power of conviction […] conversion (for few Auditories wa•• hearers that will be still excepting, if Ca••tion stop not every hole) and also to […] you to the fuller understanding of the ••••ter its self of which I treat. But excepti• •••mat regulam in non exceptis, Exceptio• strengthen and not weaken any Rule […] proposition, in the points not except•• Still I say that out of these cases the […] knowledge of a sinful miserable state, […] so great a help to bring us out of it, […] its hardly imaginable how rational me•• can wilfully continue in a state of su•• exceeding danger, if they be but well acquainted that they are in it. I know a Har••ned heart hath an unreasonable obstin••• opposition against the means of its […] recovery: But yet men have some use […] ⟨p. 223⟩Reason and self preserving Love and care, •r they are not men (and if they be not […], they cannot be sinful men) And though little transient lightnings oft come •o nothing, but leave some men in greater darkness; yet could we but set up a ••anding Light in all your consciences, could we fully convince and resolve the unrege•ate that they cannot be saved in the carnal state and way that they are in, but must be sanctified or never saved, what hopes should we have that all the subtleties •nd snares of Satan, and all the pleasures and gain of sin, and all the allurements of ungodly company could no longer hinder you from falling down at the feet of mercy, and begging forgiveness through the blood of Christ, and giving up yourselves in Covenant to the Lord, and speedily and resolutely betaking yourselves to an holy life! Could I but make you throughly known unto your selves, I should hope that all the unsanctified that hear me, would date their Conversion from this very day; and that you would not delay till the next morning, to bewail your sin and misery, and fly to Christ, lest you should die and be past hope this night.