OOF

Thus then, if we are faithful to our consciences and impartial in the examination of our lives and tempers, we may soon come to a right determination of this important question, What is the true state of our souls towards God? and in what condition we are to die? Which, as it is the most important, so it is the last instance of self knowledge I shall mention. And with it close the first part of this subject, 197 bonimex9 1891 on 1 o bo tedse ti niste teoM mids tot seods Jud yus nous

„noi studari pyn aid to am

Showing the great excellency and advantage of

this kind of science.

91 od 39 I DJ

0 of mond no subject

HAVING in the former part of the laid open some of the main branches of self knowledge, or pointed out the principal things, which a man ought to be acquainted with, relating to himself, I am now, reader, to lay before you the excellency and usefulness of this kind of knowledge, as an inducement to labour after it, by a detail of the several great advanta ges attending it, which shall be recounted in the following chapters, to ovog grill sin qid (Vi gods JT, vods tencile di ei dini ban gonoraus ils haze of mid bangallup kom od gretos bnm etdgarish zeol hd nila (CHAP. Le bus ; 2900 tubeu Eoft leg od ba, piratapes oft-vi wd a + Self knowledge the spring of self possession,

deinny plociti odt lo inq I. ONE great advantage of self knowledge is, that it gives a man the truest and most cont stant self possession.echni Adagiyuh A man that is endowed with this excellent knowledge is calm and easy or more gren sids

1. Under affronts and defamation. For he thinks thus: "I am sure I know myself better than any man can pretend to know me. This calumniator hath, indeed, at this time missed his mark, and shot his arrows at random; and it is my comfort, that my conscience acquits me of his angry imputation. However, there are worse crimes which he might more justly accuse me of; which, though, hid from him, are known to myself. Let me set about reforming them; lest, if they come to his notice, he should attack me in a more defenceless part, find something to fasten his obloquy, and fix a lasting reproach upon my character.'

There is a great deal of truth and good sense in that common saying and doctrine of the Stoicks, though they might carry it too far, that

it is not things but thoughts that disturb and hurt us.' Now as self acquaintance teaches a man the right government of the thoughts, (as is shown above, Part I. chap. XIV.) it will help him to expel all anxious, tormenting, and fruitless thoughts, and retain the most quieting and useful ones; and so keep all easy within. Let a man but try the experiment, and he will find that a little resolution will make the greatest part of the difficulty vanish.

2. Self knowledge will be a good ballast to the mind under any accidental hurry or disor der of the passions. It curbs their impetuosity; puts the reins into the hands of reason, quells the rising storm, ere it makes shipwreck of the

No. 6.

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conscience; and teaches a man to leave off contention before it be meddled with, it being much safer to keep the lion chained than to encounter it in its full strength and fury. And thus will a wise man, for his own peace, deal with the passions of others, as well as his own. "Self knowledge, as it acquaints a man with his weaknesses and worst qualities, will be his guard against them; and a happy counterbalance to the faults and excesses of his natural temper.

3. It will keep the mind sedate and calm under the surprise of bad news, or afflicting providences.

For am I not a creature of God? And my life and comforts, are they not wholly at his disposal, from whom I have received them; and by whose favour have I so long enjoyed them; and by whose mercy and goodness. I have still so many left ?ymbicor iz 1

A heathen can teach me, under such losses of friends, or estate, or any comfort, to direct my eyes to the hand of God, by whom it was lent me, and is now recalled; that I ought not to say, it is lost but restored. And though I be injuriously deprived of it, still the hand of God is to be acknowledged; for what is it to me, by what means, he that gave me that bless ing, takes it from me again?

He that rightly knows himself, will live every day dependent on the divine Author of his mer

Prov. xvii. 14. I sú podata

cies, for the continuance and enjoyment of them. And will learn from a higher authority than that of a heathen moralist, that he hath nothing he can properly call his own, or ought to depend upon as such. That he is but a steward employed to dispense the good things he possesses, according to the direction of his Lord, at whose pleasure he holds them; and to whom he should be ready at any time cheerfully to resign them.-Luke xvi. 1.

4. Self knowledge will help a man to pre serve an equanimity and self possession under all the various scenes of adversity and prosperity.

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Both have their temptations: To some the temptations of prosperity are the greatest; to others, those of adversity. Self knowledge shows a man which of these are the greatest to him: And, at the apprehension of them, teach es him to arm himself accordingly, that nothing may deprive him of his constancy and self possession, or lead him to act unbecoming the man or the christian.or

We commonly say, no one knows what he can bear, till he is tried. And many persons verify the observation, by bearing evils much better than they feared. Nay, the apprehension of an approaching evil often gives a man a greater pain than the evil itself. This is owing to inexperience and self ignorance.teri

A man that knows himself, his own strength and weakness, is not so subject as others to