A saint or a brute the certain necessity and excellency of holiness, &c. ...…

3. Especially, it is desirable and Pleasant to Know those things that most concern us: Needless speculations and curiosities we can spare: There is a Knowledge that brings more pain then pleasure; Yea there is a Knowledge that will torment. But to know our own affairs, our greatest and most necessary affairs; to know our threatened misery to prevent it, and to know our offered Happiness to obtain it; to know our Portion, our Honour, our God, what can be more Pleasant to the mind of man! Other mens matters we can pass by: But to Know such things concerning our own souls, as what we must be and do for ever, and what course we must take to be everlastingly happy, must needs be a feast to the mind of a wise man. Ask but a soul that is haunted with temptations to unbelief, whether any thing would be more welcome to him, then the clear and satisfying apprehensions of a lively faith? Ask one that lieth in tears or groans, through the feeling of their sin, and the fears of the wrath of God, and doubtings of his love, whether the satisfying Knowledge of pardon, and reconciliation, and divine acceptance, would not be more pleasant to them, then any of your merriments can be to you? Ask that poor soul that hath lost the apprehension of his Evidences of grace, and walks in darkness, and hath no light, that seeks, and cries, and perceives no hearing, whether the discovery of his Evidences, the assurance that his Prayers are accepted, and the light of Gods countenance shining on him, would not be Better to him then any Recreation, or any Pleasure the earth affords. Ask any man at the hour of death, that is not a block, Whether now the Knowledge of his salvation would not be Better and more Pleasant to him, then all the lust, or sport, or honours of the world.

3. Especially, it is desireable and Pleasant to Know those things that most concern us: Needless speculations and curiosities we can spare: There is a Knowledge that brings more pain then pleasure; Yea there is a Knowledge that will torment. But to know our own affairs, our greatest and most necessary affairs; to know our threatened misery to prevent it, and to know our offered Happiness to obtain it; to know our Portion, our Honour, our God, what can be more Pleasant to the mind of man! Other mens matters we can pass by: But to Know such things concerning our own souls, as what we must be and do for ever, and what course we must take to be everlastingly happy, must needs be a feast to the mind of a wise man. Ask but a soul that is haunted with temptations to unbelif, whether any thing would be more welcome to him, then the clear and satisfying apprehensions of a lively faith? Ask one that lyeth in tears or groans, through the feeling of their sin, and the fears of the wrath of God, and doubtings of his love, whether the satisfying Knowledge of pardon, and reconciliation, and divine acceptance, would not be more pleasant to them, then any of your merriments can be to you? Ask that poor soul that hath lost the apprehension of his Evidences of grace, and walks in darkness, and hath no light, that seeks, and cryes, and perceives no hearing, whether the discovery of his Evidences, the assurance that his Prayers are accepted, and the light of Gods countenance shining on him, would not be Better to him then any Recreation, or any Pleasure the earth affords. Ask any man at the hour of death, that is not a block, Whether now the Knowledge of his salvation would not be Better and more Pleasnt to him, then all the lust, or sport, or honours of the world.