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

II. I am next to persuade Believers t• know their Graces and their happiness. Good is the object of voluntary knowledge: but Evil of forced involuntary knowledge, unless as the knowledge of ev•• tendeth to some Good. Therefore methink you should be readyest to this part of th• study of your selves. And yet, alas, th• presumptuous are not more unwilling t• know their sin and misery, then some perplexed Christians are backward to acknowledge their Grace and Happiness. How har• is it to convince them of the tender love of God towards them, and of the sincerity o• their Love to him? and to make them believe that they are dear to God when they loa•• themselves! how hard is it to persuade the• that the Riches of Christ, the promises of the Gospel, and the Inheritance of the Saints, belong to them! And the Reasons among other• are principally these.

II. I am next to perswade Believers t• know their Graces and their hap•piness. Good is the object of voluntar• knowledge: but Evil of forced involuntar• knowledge, unless as the knowledge of ev•• tendeth to some Good. Therefore methink you should be readyest to this part of th• study of your selves. And yet, alas, th• presumptuous are not more unwilling t• know their sin and misery, then some per•plexed Christians are backward to acknowledge their Grace and Happiness. How har• is it to convince them of the tender love of God towards them, and of the sincerity o their Love to him? and to make them believe that they are dear to God when they loa themselves! how hard is it to perswade the that the Riches of Christ, the promises of the Gospel, and the Inheritance of the Saints, belong to them! And the Reasons among other are principally these.