See beloved, we may not believe our selves, before we have examined our selves; for we are falsehearted, and the notablest cozener that deceiveth most, for one time that he deceiveth others, ten times he deceiveth himself. Because the flesh is a wily servant, and will lie like Gehezi to his Master, & face him that he hath not sinned, when it cometh from sin; therefore as Elisha examined his Servant, so the soul must examine 1her servant, that is, man must be jealous of himself, and take himself for a liar, for a flatterer, for a dissembler, until he be 2throughly acquainted with himself; for no man is so often bebeguiled as by himself, by trusting his double heart, and taking his own word without further trial. If Paul had bid us examine ⟨p. 34⟩others, we would have sifted them like Satan. Satan hath desired 3to sift thee, (saith Christ to Peter) so we have a desire to sift others. Even Peter which was sifted of Satan, longed to sift John, and know what he should do, before he harkened to his own charge. Therefore the help of examination is a needful preservative, although' we were as sound as Peter. They which are suspected of a crime, do not examine themselves, but are examined of others, lest they should be partial: but a Christian 4must examine himself of his crime, and be his own judge, his own accuser, and his own condemner: for no man knoweth the spirit of man, but the spirit which is in man, which will condemn him if he be guilty, and tell him all that he hath done, and with mind he did it, and with what mind he did it, and what he deserveth for it. This is the private arraignment, or close sessions, when Conscience sits in her chair to examine, and accuse, and judge, and condemn her self, because she will not be condemned of God.
See beloved, we may not believe our selves, before we have examined our selves; for we are falshearted, and the notablest cousoner that deceiveth most, for one time that he deceiveth others, ten times he deceiveth himself. Because the flesh is a wily servant, and will lie like Gehezi to his Master, & face him that he hath not sinned, when it cometh from sin; therefore as Elisha examined his Servant, so the soul must examine 1her servant, that is, man must be jealous of himself, and take himself for a lyer, for a flatterer, for a dissembler, until he be 2throughly acquainted with himself; for no man is so often bebeguiled as by himself, by trusting his double heart, and taking his own word without further tryal. If Paul had bid us examine ⟨p. 34⟩others, we would have sifted them like Satan. Satan hath desired 3to sift thee, (saith Christ to Peter) so we have a desire to sift others. Even Peter which was sifted of Satan, longed to sist John, and know what he should do, before he harkened to his own charge. Therefore the help of examination is a needfull preservative, altho' we were as sound as Peter. They which are suspected of a crime, do not examine themselves, but are examined of others, lest they should be partial: but a Christian 4must examine himself of his crime, and be his own judge, his own accuser, and his own condemner: for no man knoweth the spirit of man, but the spirit which is in man, which will condemn him if he be guilty, and tell him all that he hath done, and with mind he did it, and with what mind he did it, and what he deserveth for it. This is the private arraignment, or close sessions, when Conscience sits in her chair to examine, and accuse, and judge, and condemn her self, because she will not be condemned of God.
- 12 Kin. 5. 25
- 22 Kin. 5. 26
- 3Luk. 22 31
- 41 Cor. 2. 11.
