A26955:480
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.
And thus I have showed you how self-ignorance hindereth the conquest and mortifying of sin, even in the Godly, and now shall add some further motives.
And thus I have shewed you how self-ignorance hindereth the conquest and mortifying of sin, even in the Godly, and now shall add some further motives.
2. Not knowing our selves, and the secret corruptions of our hearts, doth make sin surprise us the more dangerously, and break forth the more shamefully, and wound our consciences the more terribly. The unsuspected sin hath lest opposition, and when it breaks out doth like an unobserved fire, go far before we are awakened to quench it. And it confoundeth us with shame, to find our selves so much worse then we imagined. It overwhelmeth the soul with despairing thoughts to find it self so bad, when it thought it had been better. It breedeth endless suspicions and fears, when we find our former opinions of our selves confuted, and that contrary to our expectations we are surprised where we thought we had been safe: we are still ready to think what ever we discern that is good within us, that we may as well be mistaken now as we were before. And thus our present self-ignorance when discovered, may hinder all the comforts of our lives.
2. Not knowing our selves, and the se•ret corruptions of our hearts, doth make sin surprize us the more dangerously, and break forth the more shamefully, and wound our consciences the more terribly. The unsuspected sin hath lest opposition, and when it breaks out doth like an unobserved fire, go far before we are awakened to quench it. And it confoundeth us with shame, to find our selves so much worse then we imagined. It overwhelmeth the soul with despairing thoughts to find it self so bad, when it thought it had been better. It breedeth endless suspicions and fears, when we find our former opinions of our selves confuted, and that contrary to our expectations we are surprized where we thought we had been safe: we are still ready to think what ever we discern that is good within us, that we may as well be mistaken now as we were before. And thus our present self-ignorance when discovered, may hinder all the comforts of our lives.