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

How patiently do we think we could bear affliction, till we feel it! And how easily and piously can we exhort others unto patience, when we have no sense of what they suffer! But when our turn is come, alas, we seem to be other men. Suffering is now another thing; and Patience harder then we imagined. And how inclinable are we to hearken to temptations, to use sinful means to come out of our sufferings! Who would have thought that faithful Abraham should have been so unbelieving as to equivocate in such a danger, and expose the chastity of his wife to hazard, as we read in Gen. 12.12, 13, 19.? And that he should fall into the same sin, again on the same occasion, Gen. 20. to Abimelech, as before he had done with Pharaoh! And that Isaac should after him fall into the same sin, in ⟨p. 318⟩the same place! Gen. 26.7. The Life o• Faith doth set us so much above the fear of man, and show us the weakness and nothingness of mortal worms, and the faithfulness and all-sufficiency of God, that o• would think the frowns and threatenings […] a man should signify nothing to us, wh•• God stands by, and giveth us such amp•• promises and security for our confirmation and encouragement: And yet wh•• base dejectedness, and sinful compliance• are many brought to through the fear […] man, that before the hour of this temptation, could talk as courageously as any▪ This was the case of Peter, before mentioned: and of many a one that hath wounde• conscience, and wronged their profession by too cowardly a disposition: which if it were fore-known, we might do more for our confirmation, and should betake our selves in time to Christ in the use of means for strength. Few turn their backs on Christ, or a good cause in time of trial, that are jealous of themselves before hand, and afraid lest they should forsake him: Few fall that are afraid of falling: But the self-ignorant and self-confident are careless of their way, and it is they that fall.