A26955:594
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.
Answ. This Question is of very great use, and therefore the more carefully to be resolved; I shall answer it therefore, 1. Negatively, and 2. Affirmatively.
1. No mans judgement of your state is to be taken as absolutely infallible or divine: nor is man to be believed as God is with a divine belief: when they tell you, that [If you are regenerate, you are justified] then they do but tell you what God ⟨p. 430⟩hath told you, and therefore this is to be taken as of infallible certainty, not as it is their word, but as it is Gods: so also when they tell you, that [if you are unconverted you are not forgiven] But when they tell you, that [you are converted or unconverted, pardoned or unpardoned,] this judgement is not to be taken as infallible or Divine.
2. For the bare matter of fact (whether you Repent or not; whether you had rather be Holy or unholy, &c.) there is no Minister that can know your Heart so well as you your selves may know it: except in case when Melancholy or passion, or a weakness of understanding on one side, or a wilfulness of presumption on the other side, doth make men judge of their own condition quite contrary to the evidence that appeareth in their lives to others.