A26955:486
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.
Moderate Fears then are given to Believers for their necessary preservation ▪ that walking among enemies and snares, they may take heed and scape them. But when this passion doth exceed, it abuseth us▪ and drowns the voice of Reason: It maketh us believe that every temptation is a sin, and every sin is such as cannot stand with grace, and will hardly ever be pardoned by Christ. Every sin against knowledge and conscience, doth seem almost unpardonable: and if were deliberate after profession of religion▪ it seems to be the sin against the Holy Ghost. As children and other frightful persons that fear the Devil by way of Apparitions, do think in the dark he is ready ⟨p. 341⟩to lay hold on them, and they look when they see him: so the fearful Christian, as still thinking that thing he feareth is upon him, or coming upon him. The fear of an unregenerate unpardoned state, doth make him think he is in it; and that the fear of the wrath of God doth make him think that he is under it; and the fear of damnation makes him imagine he shall be damned. It is wonderful hard in a frightful state, or indeed in any passion that is strong, to have the free use of Judgement for the knowing of our selves, and to discern any grace, or evidence or mercy, which is contrary to our fears; Especially when the Feeling of much corruption, doth turn our eyes from the observation of the good, and we are still taken up with the matter of our disease.
Moderate Fears then are given to Believers for their necessary preservation ▪ that walking among enemies and snares, they may take heed and scape them. But when this passion doth exceed, it abuseth us▪ and drowns the voice of Reason: It maketh us believe that every temptation is a sin, and every sin is such as cannot stand with grace, and will hardly ever be pardoned by Christ. Every sin against knowledge and conscience, doth seem almost unpardonable: and if were deliberate after profession of religion▪ it seems to be the sin against the Holy Ghost. As children and other frightfull persons that fear the Devil by way of Apparitions, do think in the dark he is ready ⟨p. 341⟩