A26955:566
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.
As there is a double use of Physicians; one General, to teach men the common Principles of Physic, and read them Lectures of the nature of diseases, and their causes and remedies; and the other particular, to apply these common precepts to each individual person as they need; So is there a double use of ministers of the Gospel, One ⟨p. 412⟩to deliver publicly the common doctrines of Christianity concerning mans sin and misery, and the remedy, &c. and the other to help people in the personal application of all this to themselves. And they that take up only with the former, deprive themselves of half the benefit of the ministry.
As there is a double use of Physicions; one General, to teach men the common Principles of Physick, and read them Lectures of the nature of diseases, and their causes and remedies; and the other particular, to apply these common precepts to each individual person as they need; So is there a double use of ministers of the Gospel, One ⟨p. 412⟩to deliver publikely the common doctrines of Christianity concerning mans sin and misery, and the remedy, &c. and the other to help people in the personal application of all this to themselves. And they that take up only with the former, deprive themselves of half the benefit of the ministry.
1. In public how skilful and diligent should we be, in opening the hearts of sinners to themselves! The Pulpit is but our candlestick, from which we should diffuse the holy Light into all the Assembly: Not speaking the same things of all that are before us, as if it were our work only to trouble men, or only to comfort them: but as the same Light will show every man the things which he beholdeth in their varieties and differences; (we see by the same sun a man to be a man, and a beast to be a beast, and a bird to be a bird;) so the same word of truth which we deliver, must be so discovering and discriminating, as to manifest the ungodly to be ungodly, and the carnal to be carnal, the worldling to be a worldling; the hypocrite to be an hypocrite, and the enemies of holiness to be as they are; and the sincere to be sincere; and the renewed soul to be indeed