A26955:643
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.
Hind. 3. Another great impediment of the Knowledge of ourselves, is, that self love so blindeth men that they can see no great evil in themselves or any thing that is their own: It makes them believe that all things are as they would have them be; Yea and better than they would have them: For he that would not indeed be Holy, is willing by himself and others to be thought so: Did not the lamentable experience of all the world confirm ⟨p. 482⟩it, it were incredible that self-love could so exceedingly blind men. If Charity think no evil of another, and we are very hardly brought to believe any great harm by those we love; much more will self-love cause men to see no evil by themselves, which possibly they can shut their eyes against: it being more radicated and powerful than the love of others. No arguments so cogent, no light so clear, no oratory so persuading, as can make a self-lover think himself as bad as indeed he is, till God by grace or terror shall convince him. When you are preaching the most searching sermons to convince him, self-love confuteth or misapplieth them; When the marks of trial are most plainly opened, and most closely urged, self-love doth frustrate the preachers greatest skill and diligence: When nothing of sense can be said to prove the piety of the impious, and the sincerity of the formal hypocrite, yet self love is that wonderful Alchemist, that can make gold not only of the basest metal, but of dross and dirt: Let the most undeniable witness be brought to detect the fraud and misery of an unrenewed soul, self-love is his most powerful defender; No cause so bad which it cannot justify; and no person so miserable but it will pronounce ⟨p. 483⟩him happy, till God by Grace or wrath confute it. Self-love is the grand Deceiver of the world.
Hind. 3. ANother great impediment of the Knowlege of ourselves, is, that self love so blindeth men that they can see no great evil in themselves or any thing that is their own: It makes them believe that all things are as they would have them be; Yea and better than they would have them: For he that would not indeed be Holy, is willing by himself and others to be thought so: Did not the lamentable experience of all the world confirm