The Mischiefs of Self-Ignorance, Part 19
Hind. 3. THE third extrinſecal Impediment to ſelf-knowledge, is, Converſing only with ſuch as are as bad as our ſelves; and not with ſuch whoſe lives display the spiritual endowment, and excellencies which we want. Among the Ethiopians, it ſeemeth no deformity to be Black: Seneca ſaith, that no man is to be upbraided with that which is vitium humani generis, the common fault of all the world, or of the country where he lives: for this were but to upbraid him that he is a man, or that he was born in ſuch a time or place: Though Chriſtians that know better the common diſeaſe, do know that there muſt be common humiliation and remedie; yet theſe indeed are the thoughts of moſt: They know not that it is a matter of diſhonour and lamentation, to be no better then the moſt, and to lie in the common corruptions of the world, and to have no better hearts then they had by Nature. To hear preachers talk of [Holineſs, and a Divine Nature, and a new birth, and of being made new Creatures, and of living in the Love of God, and in the joyful Hopes of endleſs Glory] doth ſeem to them but as the talk of a world in the ſun, or the deſcription of an Angel, which humbleth not them at all, for not being ſuch, nor exciteth in them any great deſires to be ſuch: As long as they ſee not the perſons that are ſuch, they think theſe are but devout imaginations, or the pious dreams of melancholy men; and that indeed there are no ſuch perſons in the world: or if there be, that they are but as the Papiſts Saints, here and there one to be admired and canonized, and not upon pain of damnation to be imitated. They judge of all the world, or almoſt all, by thoſe about them; And they think that God ſhould be unmerciful if he ſhould condemn ſo great a number as they ſee are like themſelves; and ſhould ſave none but thoſe few tranſcendent ſouls, that they are deſcribed, but hear unacquainted with.
It ſometimes melteth my heart, in pitty of many Great ones of the world, to think how hard a mater it is for them to know indeed what Holineſs is; when they ſeldome hear ſo much as one Heavenly prayer or Diſcourſe, or any ſerious talke of the matters of Sanctification, and communion with Chriſt! When prophaneſs and inhumane wickedneſs dwell about them, and make ſuch as are but civil and temperate, and good-natur'd perſons to ſeem Saints: When they ſee but few that fear the Lord, and Love him unfeignedly, and live by faith: and thoſe few are perhaps of the more cold, and timerous, and temporizing Strain, that ſhew forth but little of the Heavenly nature, and the vertues of their holy faith; that dare ſcarce open their mouths to speak againſt the wickedneſs which they ſee or hear: that dare not diſcourſe like the Saints of the moſt High, and the heirs of Heaven, for fear of being made the ſcorn and by-word of the reſt, or of falling under the frowns and diſlike of their ſuperiors; ſo that they live among others almoſt like common men, ſave only that they run not with them to their exceſs of ryot; and think it enough that by ſuch forbearance of groſs ſin, they are in ſome meaſure evil ſpoken of: When they that ſhould let their light ſo ſhine before men, that they might ſee their good works, and glorifie their heavenly Father, (Matth. 5.15.16.) do hide their Religion, and put their Light as under a buſhel, and not in a Candleſtick, that it might give light to all that are in the houſe; and ſo when Religion never appeareth in its proper ſplendor and power, and heavenly tendencie, to thoſe Great ones that have no better company; what wonder if they never know themſelves, nor truly underſtand the nature, neceſſity or excellency of Religion? When they know it, for the moſt part, but by hereſay ▪ yea and when they hear it more reproached then applauded, it muſt be a miracle of mercy that muſt make ſuch men to be ſincerely and heartily Religious. When they ſee ſo many about them worſe then themſelves, and ſo ſew better, and thoſe few that are better do hide it and live almoſt as if they were no better; and when the godly whom they ſee not, are deſcribed to them by the Serpents ſeed, as if they were but a company of whining melancholy brainſick hypocrites; who can expect that ever ſuch men ſhould ſavingly know themſelves or Chriſt, unleſs a wonder of mercy reſcue them, and bring them from this darkneſs and deluſion into the light? O how oft have I wiſhed in compaſſion to many of the Great ones of the world, that they had but the company which we that are their inferiors have! that they did but hear the humble, holy heavenly language, that we have heard? and hear the faithful fervent prayers, that many poor Chriſtians pour out before the Lord! and ſaw but the humble, harmleſs, exemplary and heavenly lives, of many poor Chriſtians, that are repreſented to them as the filth and the off-ſcouring of the world, and perhaps no more regarded then Lazarus was at the Rich mans gate, Luk. 16. Did they but ſee and hear and know ſuch holy and heavenly Believers, and were as well acquainted with them as we are, how many of them would better know themſelves, and ſee what they want, and what they muſt be, and better diſcern between the righteous and the wicked, between thoſe that fear God, and that fear him not! Mal. 3.18.