A26955:430
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.
When the stream of the times and authority shall change, and put the name of Truth on falsehood, how many may be, carried down the stream?
When the stream of the times and authority shall change, and put the name of Truth on falshood, how many may be, carried down the stream?
How zealous have many been for a faithful Ministry, that have turned their persecutors, or made it a great part of their Religion to revile them, when once they have turned to some Sect that is possest by the malicious spirit! (especially the Papists and Quakers are famous for such language of reproach: though the former excel the later much in the slandering part, and the later ⟨p. 294⟩excel in the open bawling and incivility of speech.)
How zealous have many been for a faithfull Ministry, that have turned their persecutors, or made it a great part of their Religion to revile them, when once they have turned to some Sect that is possest by the malicious spirit! (especially the Papists and Quakers are famous for such language of reproach: though the former excell the later much in the slandering part, and the later ⟨p. 294⟩excell in the open bawling and incivility of speech.)
And O that we could stop here, and could not remember you how faithfully and honestly some have seemed to love and obey the word of God, and to delight in the Communion of Saints, that by seducers have been brought to deny the divine authority of the Scriptures, and to turn their backs on all Gods public Ordinances of Worship, and excommunicate themselves from the Society of the Saints, and vilify or deny the works of the spirit in them! Little did these men once think themselves, whither they should fall, under the conceit of rising higher: And little would they have believed him that had told them, what a change they would make. Had these men known themselves in time, and known what Tinder and Gunpowder was in their hearts, they would have walked more warily, and its like have scaped the snare: but they fell into it, because they feared it not. And they feared it not, because they knew not or observed not, how prone they were to be infected.