A26955:612
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.
They are not abused in their judgement by the temptations of evil company, or of worldly fleshly things as you are; For these temptations more hinder us from judging our selves then other men. They are the messengers of Christ appointed to give to each their portion: and should not their judgement be regarded in the business committed to their trust? And it is not one man or two, or a hundred only, that are of this mind: Open thy case to all the judicious faithful Ministers in the land, or in the world, and open it truly, and they will all tell thee that if thou die without converting sanctifying grace, thou art lost for ever; and that all the world cannot save thee from the everlasting wrath of God. Try as many of them as you will, and see if all of them tell you not the same thing. And is all this nothing to thee, presumptuous sinner, that in the judgement of all the most able faithful Minsters of Christ, thy soul should be in a state of death? Art thou wiser then all the best and wisest, in the matters of their own profession? If all the Physicians in the country should tell thee, that thou hast a disease that will certainly be thy death, unless thou take some ene effectual medicine in time, I think thou wouldest not ⟨p. 440⟩slight their judgement, and say, They are too censorious, that thou knowest thy condition better then they! I think it would affright thee to seek after the remedy. And why should not the judgement of the faithful Ministers, about the state of thy soul, be so far regarded, as to awaken thee to a more careful enquiry, and stir up a preventing and remedying fear? If the judgement of Christs officers be not regardable, then there is no matter of terror in excommunication; nor no matter of comfort in Ministerial Absolution.
They are not abused in their judgement by the temptations of evil company, or of worldly fleshly things as you are; For these temptations more hinder us from judging our selves then other men. They are the messengers of Christ appointed to give to each their portion: and should not their judgement be regarded in the business committed to their trust? And it is not one man or two, or a hundred only, that are of this mind: Open thy case to all the judicious faithful Ministers in the land, or in the world, and open it truly, and they will all tell thee that if thou die without converting sanctifying grace, thou art lost for ever; and that all the world cannot save thee from the everlasting wrath of God. Try as many of them as you will, and see if all of them tell you not the same thing. And is all this nothing to thee, presumptuous sinner, that in the judgement of all the most able faithful Minsters of Christ, thy soul should be in a state of death? Art thou wiser then all the best and wisest, in the matters of their own profession? If all the Physicions in the countrey should tell thee, that thou hast a disease that will certainly be thy death, unless thou take some ene effectual medicine in time, I think thou wouldest not