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

3. A man that in adversity is touched with penitent and mortifying considerations, and strongly resolveth, how holily and diligently he will live hereafter, if he be recovered or delivered from his suffering, doth ofttimes little think what a treacherous heart he hath, and how little he may retain of all this sense of sin or duty, when he is delivered, and that he will be so much worse then he seemed or promised, as that ⟨p. 298⟩he may have cause to wish he had been afflicted still. O how many sick-bed promises are as pious as we can desire, that wither away and come to almost nothing, when health hath scattered the fears that caused them! How many with that great imprisoned Lord, do, as it were, write the story of Christ upon their prison walls, that forget him when they are set liberty! How many are tender-conscienced in a low estate, that when they are exalted, and converse with great ones, do think that they may wast their time in idleness and needless, scandalous recreations, and be silent witnesses of the most odious sins from day to day; and pray God be merciful to them when they go to the house of Rimmon: and dare scarcely own a down-right servant, or hated and reproached cause of God! O what a preservative would it be to us in prosperity, to know the corruption of our hearts, and foresee in adversity what we are in danger of! We should then be less ambitious to place our dwellings on the highest ground; and more fearful of the storms that there must be expected. How few are there (to a wonder) that grow better by worldly greatness and prosperity? Yea how few that held their own, and grow ⟨p. 299⟩not worse? And yet how few are there (to a greater wonder) that refuse, or that desire not this perilous station, rather then to stand safer on the lower ground! Verily, the lamentable fruits of prosperity, and the mutability of men that make great professions and promises in adversity, should make the best of us jealous of our hearts, and convince us that there is greater corruption in them, then most are acquainted with, that are never put to such a trial. The height of prosperity shows what the man is indeed, as much as the depth of adversity.

3. A man that in adversity is touched with penitent and mortifying considerations, and strongly resolveth, how holily and diligently he will live hereafter, if he be recovered or delivered from his suffering, doth ofttimes little think what a treacherous heart he hath, and how little he may retain of all this sense of sin or duty, when he is delivered, and that he will be so much worse then he seemed or promised, as that