3. It is for want of a fuller knowledge of your selves that you are so negligent in your Christian watch, that you do no better guard your senses; that you make no stricter a Covenant with your eyes, your appetites, your tongues: that you no more examine what you think, affect and say: what passeth into your heart or out of it: that you call not your selves more frequently to account; but days run on, and duties are carelessly performed as of course, and no daily or weekly reckoning made to conscience of all. The knowledge of your weaknesses, and readiness to yield, and of your treacherous corruptions that comply ⟨p. 280⟩with the enemy, would make you more suspicious of your selves, and to walk more circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Eph. 5.15. and to look under your feet, and consider your ways before you were too bold and venturous. It was the consciousness of their own infirmity, that should have moved the disciples to watch and pray, Mat. 26.41. [Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.] And all have the same charge, because all have the same infirmity and danger, [What I say to you, I say unto all, Watch,] Mar. 13.37. Did we better know how many advantages our own corruptions give the Tempter, that charge of the Holy Ghost would awake us all to stand to our arms and look about us: 1 Cor. 16.13. Watch ye, stand fast in the faith: quit you like men, be strong:] And Ephes. 6.11, 12, 13, 14. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil: For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places, &c.] When men know not whose legs they stand upon they grow heedless of their way, and quickly slide.
3. It is for want of a fuller knowledge of your selves that you are so negligent in your Christian watch, that you do no better guard your senses; that you make no stricter a Covenant with your eyes, your appetites, your tongues: that you no more examine what you think, affect and say: what passeth into your heart or out of it: that you call not your selves more frequently to account; but dayes run on, and duties are carelesly performed as of course, and no daily or weekly reckoning made to conscience of all. The knowledge of your weaknesses, and readiness to yield, and of your treacherous corruptions that comply ⟨p. 280⟩with the enemy, would make you more suspicious of your selves, and to walk more circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Eph. 5.15. and to look under your feet, and consider your wayes before you were too bold and venturous. It was the consciousness of their own infirmity, that should have moved the disciples to watch and pray, Mat. 26.41. [Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.] And all have the same charge, because all have the same infirmity and danger, [What I say to you, I say unto all, Watch,] Mar. 13.37. Did we better know how many advantages our own corruptions give the Tempter, that charge of the Holy Ghost would awake us all to stand to our arms and look about us: 1 Cor. 16.13. Watch ye, stand fast in the faith: quit you like men, be strong:] And Ephes. 6.11, 12, 13, 14. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil: For we wrastle not againts flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places, &c.] When men know not whose legs they stand upon they grow heedless of their way, and quickly slide.
