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

Ah poor worms! dare you lift up the head, and move a tongue, against the Lord! Did Infinite Wisdom it self want Wisdom, to make a Law to rule the world? And did Infinite Goodness want Goodness to deal mercifully, and as was best, with man! And shall Justice it self be judged to be unjust? And that by you! By such silly, ignorant, naughty and unrighteous ones as you! As if you had the Wisdom and Goodness, which you think God wanted when he made his Laws!

And whereas you tell us of preaching terribly to you, we cannot help it, if the true and righteous Threatenings of God be terrible to the guilty: It is because we know the Terrors of the Lord, that we preach them, to warn you to prevent them. And so did the Apostles before us, 2 Cor. 5.11. Either its true that the unquenchable fire will be the portion of impenitent, unbelieving, fleshly, worldly, unsanctified men, or it is not true: If it were not true, the word of God were not true: and then what should you do with any preaching at all, or any religion! ⟨p. 239⟩But if you confess it to be true, do you think in reason, it should be silenced? or can we tell men of so terrible a thing as Hell, and tell them that it will certainly be their lot, unless they be new creatures, and not speak terribly to them! O Sirs, it is the wonder of my soul that it seemeth no more terrible, to all the ungodly that think they do believe it. Yea, and I would it did seem more terrible to the most, that it might affright you from your sin to God, and you might be saved. If you were running ignorantly into a Cole-pit, would you revile him that told you of it, and bid you stop if you love your life? Would you tell him that he speaks bitterly or terribly to you? It is not the Preacher that is the cause of your danger: he doth but tell you of it, that you may scape. If you are saved, you may thank him: but if you are lost, you may thank your selves. Its you that deal bitterly and terribly with your selves. Telling you of Hell, doth not make Hell: Warning you of it, is not causing it: Nor is it God that is unmerciful, but you are foolishly cruel and unmerciful to your selves. Do not think to despise the patience and mercy of the Lord, and then think to escape by accusing him of being