A26955:439
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.
O what pillars have been shaken by prosperity? what promises broken? what sad eruptions of Pride and worldliness? What openings and sad discoveries of heart, doth this alluring charming trial make! And why is it that men know not themselves when they are exalted, but because they did not sufficiently know themselves, when they were brought low, nor suspected enough the purposes and promises of their hearts, in the day of their distress!
O what pillars have been shaken by prosperity? what promises broken? what sad eruptions of Pride and worldliness? What openings and sad discoveries of heart, doth this alluring charming tryal make! And why is it that men know not themselves when they are exalted, but because they did not sufficiently know themselves, when they were brought low, nor suspected enough the purposes and promises of their hearts, in the day of their distress!
4. We would little think, when the Heart is warmed and raised even to Heaven, in holy Ordinances, how cold it will grow again, and how low it will fall down? And when we have attained the clearest sight of our sincerity, we little think how quickly all such ⟨p. 304⟩apprehensions may be lost: and the misjudging soul, that reckons upon nothing but what it sees, or feels at present, ma• be at as great a loss, as if it had never perceived any fruits of the spirit, or lineament of the Image of God upon it self. Ho• confident upon good grounds is […] an honest heart of its sincerity? How certain that it desireth to be perfectly Holy ▪ 1. That it would be rid of the nearest deare• sin. 2. That it loves the Saints, 3. That […] loves the light of the most searching Ministry. 4. And loveth the most practical sanctifying truths. 5. And loves the Ministry […] means that have the greatest and most powerful tendency to make themselves more […] (all which are certain evidences of sincerity.) How clearly may the Heart percei all these, and write them down; and […] ere long have lost the sight and sense […] them all, and find it self in darkness an confusion, and perhaps be persuaded th all is contrary with them! And when they read in their Diary, or Book of Heart accounts, that at such a day in examination they found such or such an Evidence, and such a one at another, and many at a third yet now they may be questioning whether all this were not deceit, because it seem