A26955:418
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.
4. It is for want of Self-acquaintance that we make not out for help against our sin to Ministers or other friends that could assist us: And that we use the confirming Ordinances with no more care and diligence. All the abilities and willingness of others, and all the helps of Gods appointment, will be neglected, when we should employ them against our sins; so far as self-ignorance doth keep us from discerning the necessity of them.
4. It is for want of Self-acquaintance that we make not out for help against our sin to Ministers or other friends that could assist us: And that we use the confirming Ordinances with no more care and diligence. All the abilities and willingness of others, and all the helps of Gods appoin•ment, will be neglected, when we should imploy them against our sins; so far as self-ignorance doth keep us from discerning the necessity of them.
5. It is for want of a fuller knowledge of our selves, that many lie long in sins unobserved by themselves: and many are on the ⟨p. 284⟩declining hand, and take no notice of it. And how little resistance or mortifying endeavours we are like to bestow upon unknown or unobserved sins, is easy to conceive. How many may we observe to have notable blemishes of Pride, ostentation, desire of preeminence and esteem, envy, malice, self-conceitedness, self-seeking, censoriousness, uncharitableness, and such like, that see no more of it in themselves, then is in more mortified men? How ordinarily do we hear the Pastors that watch over them, and their friends that are best acquainted with them, lamenting the miscarriages, and the careless walking and declining of many that seem Religious, when they lament it not themselves, nor will not be convinced that they are sick of any such disease, any more then all other Christians are? Hence comes the stiffness of too many […] all that can be said to […] them: and that they are […] reproof, and think reprovers […] wrong: and its well if it abate not Christian love, and procure not some degree of hatred or displeasure. Like a man that is entering into a consumption, and takes it for an injury to be told so, till his languishing and decay convince him.