The Mischiefs of Self-Ignorance, Title page – Dedication 1
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.
For if a man think himſelf to be ſomething when he is nothing, he deceiveth himſelf: But let every man prove his own work; and then ſhall he have rejoycing in himſelf alone, and not in another▪ For every man ſhall bear his own burden.
…, Printed by R. White for F. Tyton, at the three daggers in Fleet-ſtreet, 1662. ….
To the right Honourable Anne Counteſs of Balcarres, &c.
Madam,
THough it be uſual in Dedications to proclaim the honour of inſcribed names, and though the proclaiming of yours be a work that none are like to be offended at that know you, they eſteeming you the honour of your …x and nation; yet that you may ſee I intend …ot to diſpleaſe you by any unſafe or unſa…oury applauſe, I ſhall preſume here to lay … double diſhonour upon you: The one by …refixing your name to theſe lean and haſty …ermons: The other by laying part of the …ame upon your ſelf, and telling the world …at the fault is partly yours that they are …bliſhed; Not only yours I confeſs: For had it not been for ſome ſuch auditors as Chriſt had, Luk. 20.20. and Mark 12.13. and for the frequent reports of ſuch as are mentioned Pſal. 35.11. I had not written down all that I delivered, and ſo had been uncapable of ſo eaſily anſwering your deſires. But it was you that was not content to hear them, but have invited them to recite their meſſage more publikely: as if that were like to be valued, and effectual upon common hearts, which through your ſtrength of charity and holy appetite, is ſo with yours. My own thoughts went in the middle way; neither thinking as thoſe that accuſed theſe Sermons of injurious tendencie, againſt — I know not whom, or what. (that have been ſo long in contention, that they dream they are ſtill contending, and fancie every word they hear, from thoſe that their uncharitableneſs calleth adverſaries, to ſignifie ſome hoſtile terrible thing; as the ſcalded head doth fear cold water:) nor yet did I thinke them worthy to be tendered by ſuch a publication to the world: But valuing your judgement, and knowing that the ſubject is of great neceſſity, though the manner of handling be dull and dry, I hope it may be profitable to ſome; and I find nothing in it to be hurtful unto any, an… therefore ſubmit, and leave you both to bear the blame, and take the thanks, if any be returned.
I perceive you value the ſubjects which you have found in the practice of your ſoul to be moſt uſeful: As they that know God would fain have all others to know him; ſo thoſe that know themſelves, do love the Glaſs, and would have others to make uſe of it: I wonder not if your experience of the benefits of ſelf-acquaintance, provoke you to deſire to have more partakers in ſo profitable and ſo ſweet a…knowledge. Had you not known your ſelf, you had never known your Saiviour, your God, your way and …our end, as you have done: you had never …een ſo well acquainted with the ſymptomes …nd cure of the diſeaſes of the Soul; the …ature and exerciſe of grace, the way …f mortification, and the comfortable …upports, refreſhments and fore-taſts of …eavenly believers: you had never ſo clearly …en the vanity of all the pomp and fulneſs …f the world, nor ſo eaſily and reſolutely de…iſed its flatteries and baits, nor ſo quietly …rn variety of afflictions; nor imitated …oſes, Heb. 11.25, 26. nor received the … Character, Pſal. 15. He that is a ſtranger … himſelf, his ſin, his miſery, his neceſſity, &c. is a ſtranger to God, and to all that might denominate him wiſe or happy. To have taken the true meaſure of our capacities, abilities, infirmities, and neceſſities, and thereupon to perceive what is really BEST FOR ƲS, and moſt agreeable to our caſe, is the firſt part of true practical ſaving knnowledge. Did the diſtracted mindleſs world conſider, what work they have at home for their moſt ſerious thoughts and care and diligence, and of what unſpeakable concernment and neceſſity it is, and that men carry within them the matter of their final doom, and the beginning of endleſs Joy or ſorrows, they would be called home from their buſie-idleneſs, their laborious-loſs of precious time, and unprofitable vagaries, and would be ſtudying their hearts, while they are doting about a multitude of impertinencies, and would be pleaſing God while they are purveying for the fleſh; and they would ſee that it more concerneth them to know the day of their ſalvation, and now to lay up a-treaſure in Heaven, that they may die in faith, and live in everlaſting Joy and Glory, than i… the crowd and noiſe of the ambitious, covetous, voluptuous Senſualiſts, to run after a feather, till time is paſt, and mercy gone, and endleſs woe hath unexpectedly ſurprized them. Yet do theſe dead men think they live, becauſe they laugh, and talke, and ride, and goe, and dwell among gnats and flies in the ſun ſhine, and not with worms and duſt in darkneſs: They think they are awake, becauſe they dream that they are buſie; and that they are doing the works of men, becauſe they make a pudder and a noiſe for finer cloaths, and larger room, and ſweeter morſels, and lower congees and ſubmiſſions than their poorer undeceived neighbours have: They think they are ſailing to felicity, becauſe they are toſſed up and down: And if they can play the Jacks among the fiſhes, or the wolves or foxes in the flocks of Chriſt, or if they can attain to the honour of a Peſtilence, to be able to do a great deal of …urt, they are proud of it, and look as high …s if they ſaw neither the Grave nor Hell, …or knew how quickly they muſt be taken down, and laid ſo low, that [the Righteous ſhall ſee it, and fear, and laugh at …hem, ſaying, Lo, this is the man that made not God his ſtrength, but truſted in …he abundance of his riches, and ſtrength…ed himſelf in his wickedneſs▪ Pſal. 52.…, 7. [Behold, theſe are the ungodly that …roſper in the world, and increaſe in rich…s; ſurely they are ſet in ſlippery places, and caſt down to deſtruction and brought to deſolation as in a moment; and utterly conſumed with terrors; As a dream when one awaketh, ſo, O Lord, when thou awakeſt, thou ſhalt deſpiſe their image, Pſal. 73. Though while they lived they bleſſed themſelves, and were praiſed by m…n; yet when they die they carry nothing away; their glory ſhall not deſcend after them; like ſheep they are laid in the grave: death ſhall feed on them, and the upright ſhall have dominion over them in the morning; Man in honour abideth not; he is like the beaſts that periſh; This their way is their folly; yet their poſterity approve their ſayings, Pſal. 49. As the proverb is, At laſt the wolfs skin is brought to the market, and the Foxes to the Furrier. They ſhall find that God is not afraid to lay the hand of Juſtice on the ſtouteſt of them, and will be as bold with ſilk…n ſhining gallants, as with the pooreſt worms; and will spit in the face of that mans glory, who durſt ſpit in the face of the Glory of his Redeemer; and will trample upon the intereſt which is ſet up againſt the intereſt of Chriſt. The jovial world do now think that ſelf-ſtudy is too Melancholy a thing: and they chooſe to be diſtracted for fear of being melancholy: and will be Mad in Solomons ſenſe, that they may be wiſe and happy in their own: Eccleſ. 2.2. The heart of fools is in the houſe of mirth, and the heart of the wiſe in the houſe of mourning, Eccleſ. 7.4. and yet there is moſt Joy in the Hearts of the wiſe, and leaſt ſolid peace in the hearts of fools: They know that conſcience hath ſo much againſt them, that they dare not hear its accuſations and its ſentence: They dare not look into …he hideous dungeon of their hearts: nor per…ſe the accounts of their bankrupt ſouls, nor …ead the hiſtory of their impious unprofitable …ives, leſt they ſhould be tormented before …e time: They dare not live like ſeri…us men, l…ſt they ſhould loſe thereby the …lights of bruits. O ſinful men! againſt …hat light, both natural and ſupernatural, … they offend! They ſee how all things haſte …way; The names of their predeceſſors are …ft as a warning to them; every corps …at is carried to the grave, being dead, yet …eaketh: and every bone that is thence …ſt up, doth riſe as a witneſs againſt their …xury and luſt: and yet they will have …eir wills and pleaſure while they may, …atever it coſt them: and they will ſet …eir houſes on fire that they might have one merry blaze, and warm them once before they die.
O Madam, how happy are you (if one on earth may be called happy,) that have looked home ſo often and ſo ſeriouſly, that now you can dwell at home in peace, and need not, as the ungodly, be a terror to your ſelf, nor run away from your ſelf, nor ſeek a place to hide you from your ſelf: when impious vagrants have ſo abuſed their Conſciences, that they dare not converſe with them, nor meet them alone or in the dark! what a mercy is it, that in the great Reconciler you are reconciled to your Conſcience, and that it doth not find you out as an enemy, but is a meſſenger of peace and of good tidings to you! That you need not the ſmiles of great ones to refreſh you, nor pompous entertainments, complements, plays or ſports to recreate you and drive away your ſorrows; but that you can find more bleſſed and delectable company and employment at home; That you can daily retire into your ſelf, and there peruſe a richer treaſure, than bodily eyes on earth can ſee; and there be taken up with a far more contenting ſatisfactory employment, and a more fruitful and pleaſant converſe and recreation, than any creature in Court or Countrey can afford: That your Joy is laid up where the hand …f violence cannot touch it; and that they …hat can deprive you of eſtate, and liberty, and …fe, yet cannot take your comfort from you. That when fleſhly unthrifts love not home, …ecauſe all is spent, and they can expect no …etter entertainment there than want, con…ſion, chiding and diſtreſs, you can with…aw from a coufuſed troubleſome world, in… a well-furniſhed and adorned ſoul, reple…ſhed with the precious fruits of the Spirit, …d beautified with the image of your Lord!
Madam, what ſweet and noble employ…ent have you there, in compariſon of that …hich worldlings are troubled with abroad! …here you may read the ſentence of your …ſtification, as foregoing and foreſhewing … publike final ſentence of your Judge: …ere you can converſe with God himſelf, … in his vindictive Juſtice, but as he is …ve: For the love that dwelleth ſo plen…fully in you, doth prove that God dwel…h in you, and you in him, 1 Joh. 4.7, … 16. There you may converſe with Chriſt …ur head, that dwelleth in you by faith, …heſ. 3.17. and with the Holy Ghoſt who …elleth in you, and hath communion with …, by the beams of his illuminating, ſan…fying, Confirming and comforting grace: There, as in his Temple you are ſpeaking o… his Glory, (1 Cor. 3.16, 17. & 6.19 with Pſal. 29.9) and rejoycing in his holy praiſe, and remembring what he hath don… for your ſoul: There you can peruſe th… Records of his Mercy, and think with gra…titude and delight, how he did firſt illumi…nate you, and draw and engage your hear… unto himſelf: what advantage he got upo… you, and what iniquity he prevented by th… mercies of your education, and how he ſecretly took acquaintance with you in your youth▪ How he delivered you from worldly fleſhly ſnares; how he cauſed you to ſavour th… things of the Spirit: how he planted you i… a ſound well ordered Church, where h… quickened and conducted you by a lively faithful Miniſtery, and watered his gifts by their conſtant powerful preaching of his word where Diſcipline was for a defence, an… where your heart was warmed with th… communion of the Saints, and where you learned to worſhip God in ſpirit and in truth; and where you were taught ſo effectually by God to diſcern between the precious and th… vile, and to love thoſe that are born of God whom the world knoweth not, that no ſubtil…ties or calumnies of the Serpent can unteach it you, or ever be able to ſeparate you from …at love. You may read in theſe ſacred …cords of your Heart, how the Angel of … Covenant hath hitherto conducted you, …rough this wilderneſs towards the land of …omiſe; how he hath been a cloud to you in … day, and a pillar of fire by night; how … Lord did number you with the people that … his flock, his portion, and the lot of his in…itance: and led you about in a deſert land, …tructed you, and kept you as the apple of … eye. (Deut. 32.9.10.) His Manna …th compaſſed your tent: his doctrine hath …pped as the rain, and his words diſtilled as … dew; as the ſmall rain upon the tender …, and as the ſhowres upon the graſs, (v. 2.) … his beloved you have dwelt in ſafety by …; and the Lord hath covered you all … day long, (c. 33.12.) when ſtorms have …, he hath been your refuge; and when … compaſſed you on every ſide, he hath … you as in his pavilion, and his Angels …ve pitcht their tents about you, and born … up: you have been fortified in troubles, … enabled comfortably to undergoe them: … war and in peace; in your native country … in forreign lands; among your friends … among your enemies; in Court and Coun…; in proſperity and adverſity, you have …nd that there is none like the God of Iſrael, who rideth upon the heaven i… your help, and his excellency on the skie▪ The Eternal God hath been your refuge and underneath are the everlaſting arm… (Deut. 34.26, 27.) You may remembe… the mercies of your younger years, of you… maried ſtate, and of your widdow-hood your comforts in your truly Noble Lord though troubled and interrupted by his death yet increaſed by the conſideration of his fe…licity with Chriſt; your comfort in you… hopeful iſſue, though abated by the injur… of Romiſh theft, which ſtole one of the Roſe… of your Garden, that they might boaſt of th… ſweetneſs when they called it their own: (… may well ſay, ſtole it, when all the chea… was performed by unknown perſons in th… dark; and no importunity by you or … could procure me one diſpute or conference i… her hearing, with any of the ſeducers, be…fore her perſon was ſtoln away.) Though comforts conveyed by creatures muſt hav… their pricks, yet your experience hath partly taught you (and more will do) that by all th… mixtures of ſower and bitter ingredients your Father doth temper you the moſt whole…ſome compoſition; He chaſteneth you fo… your profit, that you may be partaker o… his Holineſs (Heb. 12.10.) and the leaſ… degree of Holineſs cannot be purchaſed at too dear a rate. His rod and ſtaffe have comforted you: and whatever are the beginnings, the End will be, the quiet fruit of Righteouſneſs, when you have been exerciſed therein: And though man be mutable, and friends, and fleſh, and heart have failed you, yet God is ſtill the ſtrength of …our heart, and your portion for ever, Pſal. …3.26. O the variety of learning that is …ontained in the ſecret writings of a ſanctified heart! The variety of ſubjects for the moſt …ruitful and delightful thoughts, which you …ay find recorded in the inwards of your …oul! How pleaſant is it there to find the …haracters of the ſpecial Love of God, the …eaments of his Image, the tranſcript of … Law, the harmony of his gifts and graces, …e witneſs, the ſeal and the earneſt of his …pirit, and the foretaſts and beginnings of …ternal Life! As Thankfulneſs abhors …livion, and is a Recording grace, and keep…h Hiſtories and Catalogues of Mercies; ſo … it a Reward unto it ſelf; and by theſe Re…rds it furniſheth the ſoul with matter for …he ſweeteſt employments and delights; Is it … pleaſant to you there to Read, how God …th confuted the objections of diſtruſt? how … he hath condeſcended to your weakneſs, and pardoned you when you could not eaſily forgive your ſelf? how oft he hath entertained you in ſecret with his Love? and viſited you with his conſolations? How neer him ſometimes you have got in fervent prayer, and ſerious meditation? And when for a ſeaſon he hath hid his face, how ſoon and ſeaſonably he returned? How oft he hath found you weeping, and hath wiped away your tears? and calmed and quieted your troubled ſoul? How he hath reſolved your doubts, and expelled your fears; and heard your prayers? How comfortably he hath called you His Child; and given you leave, and commanded you to call him Father; when Chriſt hath brought you with boldneſs into his preſence! How ſweet ſhould it be to your remembrance, to think how the Love of Chriſt hath ſometime exalted you above theſe ſublunary things! How the Spirit hath taken you up to Heaven, and ſhewed to your faith the Glory of the New Hieruſalem, the bleſſed company of thoſe Holy ſpirits that attend the Throne of the Majeſty of God, and the ſhining face of your glorified Head! By what ſeaſonable and happy Meſſengers he hath ſent you the Cluſter of Grapes as the firſt fruits of the land of promiſe! and commanded you oft to Take and Eate the Bread of Life? How oft he hath reached to your thirſty ſoul the fruit of the Vine, and turned it ſacramentally into his blood, and bid you drink it in remembrance of him, till he come and feaſt you with his fulleſt Love, and ſatisfie you with the pleaſure and preſence of his Glory.
But the volumes of mercy written in your heart, are too great to be by me tranſcribed. I can eaſily appeal to you that are acquainted with it, whether ſuch Heart-employment be not more pleaſant and more profitable, than any of the entertainments that flaſhy wit, or gaudy gallantry, or merriments, luxurit, or preferments can afford? Is it not better converſe with Chriſt at home, than with ſuch as are deſcribed, Pſa. 12. abroad? To dwell with all that bleſſed retinue, Gal. 5.22, 23. than with Pride, Vainglory, Envy, Diſſimulation, Hypocriſie, Falſhood, time-waſting, ſoul-deſtroying pleaſures, to ſay nothing of the filthineſs which Chriſtian years abhor the mention of, and which God himſelf in time will judge, Eph. 5.3, 4, 5, 6. Heb. 13.4. and the reſt recited, Gal. 5.19, 20, 21. If ungodly perſons do find it more unpleaſant to converſe at home, no wonder, when there is nothing but darkneſs and defilement; and when they have put God from them, and entertained Satan, ſo that their hearts are like to haunted houſes, where terrible cries and apparitions do make it a place of fear to the inhabitants. But if their ſouls had ſuch bleſſed inhabitants as yours; could they meet there with a reconciled God, a Father, a Saviour and a ſanctifier; had they ſouls that kept a correspondency with Heaven, it would not ſeem ſo ſad and terrible a life, to dwell at home, and withdraw from that noiſe of vanity abroad, which are but the drums and trumpets of the devil, to encourage his deluded followers, and drown the cries of miſerable ſouls. Your deareſt friends and chiefeſt treaſure, are not abroad in Court or Country; but above you, and within you; where then ſhould your delightful converſe be, but where your friends and treaſure are? Matth. 6.21. Phil. 3.20. Col. 3.1, 2, 3, 4. When then is almoſt nothing to be found in the converſation of the world, but diſcord and diſtraction, and confuſion, and clamours, and malice, and treachery, is it not better to retire into ſuch a heart, where notwithſtanding infirmities and ſome doubts and fears; there is order, and concord, and harmony, and ſuch Peace, as the world can neither give nor take away? O bleſſed be the hand of Love, that blotted out the names of Honour, and Riches, and Pleaſures, and carnal intereſt, and accommodations, from your heart; and inſcribed his own in Characters never to be obliterate! That turned out Ʋſurpers, and ſo prepared and furniſhed your heart, as to make and judge it ſuch, as no one is worthy of it but himſelf. O what a Court have you choſen for your abode? How high and Glorious! how pure and holy! unchangeable and ſafe! How ambitiouſly do you avoid ambition? How great are you in the lowlineſs of your mind? How high in your Humility? Will no lower a place than Heaven content you to converſe in? (For Heart-converſe and Heaven-converſe are as much one, as beholding both the Glaſs and Face:) Will no lower correspondents ſatisfie you than the Hoſt of Heaven? Cannot the company of imperfect mortals ſerve your …urn? Nay, can you be ſatisfied with none below the Lord himſelf? Well, Madam, if you will needs have it ſo, it ſhall be ſo: What you judge BEST FOR YOƲ, ſhall be yours: what you had rather be, …ou are: and where you had rather dwell, …ou ſhall: and ſeeing you have underſtood …hat One thing is neceſſary, and have …hoſen the Good part, it ſhall not be taken from you, Luke 10.41, 42. Having firſt ſought the Kingdom of God and his Righteouſneſs, you ſhall have ſuch Addionalls as will do you good, Matth. 6.33. Rom. 8.28. Pſal. 84.11. You have learned to know while God is yours, how little of the Creature you need, and how little addition it maketh to your happineſs (You are Wiſe enough if you live to God; and honourable enough if you are a member of Chriſt; and rich enough if you are an heir of heaven; and beautiful enough if you have the image of God: and yet having made your choice of theſe, how liberally hath God caſt in as overplus, the inferior kind; which you find in loſing them? As if he had ſaid t… you, as to Solomon, 2 Chron. 1.11. [Becauſe this was in thine heart, and thou ha… not asked riches, wealth or honour, no… the life of thine enemies, neither yet ha… asked long life; but haſt asked Wiſdo… and knowledge for thy ſelf— Wiſdo… and Kowledge is granted to thee; and will give thee Riches, and wealth, and ho…nour—]; as if God would convin… even fleſh itſelf that none are like the ſer…vants of the Lord: And when the envio… one hath ſaid, that You ſerve not God ſo nought, though he hath been permitted … put forth his hand, and touch you in your deareſt friends and relations; your peace, your habitation and eſtate, yet hath he ſo reſtrained him, and ſupported you, as may eaſily convince you that the Worſt of Chriſt is better than the Beſt of the World, or Sin.
I have purpoſely been long in opening the felicity of Heart-converſe, as a matter of your own experience, both for the exciting of you to a life of Thankfulneſs to God, and that this undigeſted Treatiſe which you have drawn out into the light, may come to your hands with ſome ſupply, in that part of the Application which doth moſt concern you: And becauſe your Name may draw the eyes of many others to read this Preface, I ſhall add here a few Directions to thoſe that would be well acquainted with themſelves, and would comfortably converſe at home.
Direct. 1. Let him not overvalue or mind the deceitful world, that would have fruitful converſe with God & with himſelf: Truſt not ſuch a cheater, as hath robbed ſo many thouſands before us; eſpecially when God and common experience do call out to us to take heed: The ſtudy of Riches, and riſing, and reputation, and pleaſures agreeth not with this ſtudy of God, and of our hearts: And though the world will not take acquaintance with us, if we come not in their faſhion, nor ſee us, if we ſtand not on the higher ground; yet it is much better to be unknown to others, than to our ſelves: Though they that live upon the trade, do thinke there is no fiſhing like the Sea, yet thoſe that take it but on the by, will rather chooſe the ſmaller waters, where though the fiſh be leſs, yet few are drowned, and made a prey to the fiſh that they would have catched. A retirement therefore muſt be made, from the inordinate purſuit of worldly things, and the charms of honours, riches, and delights: And if ſome preſent loſs do ſeem to follow, it is indeed no loſs, which tendeth unto gain. He will catch no fiſh that will not loſe his flie. Me thinks they that ſincerely pray [Load us not into temptation,] ſhould not deſire to have bolts and barrs between God and them, and to dwell where ſalvation is hardlieſt attained! Deſire not to be planted in any ſuch place, (though it ſeem a Paradiſe,) where God is moſt unknown, and uſed as a ſtranger, and where Saints are wonders, and examples of ſerious piety are moſt rare, and where a Heavenly Converſation is known but by reports, and reported of according to the malice of the Serpent, and repreſented but as fancie, hypocriſie or faction: where ſin moſt proſpereth, and is in leaſt diſgrace; and where it is a greater ſhame to be a Saint than to be a ſwine; a ſerious Chriſtian, than a ſeared ſtupified ſenſualiſt: Bleſs you from that place where the weeds of vice are ſo rank, as that no good plant can proſper neer them: where gain is Godlineſs; and impiety is neceſſary to acceptable obſervance; and a tender Conſcience, and the fear of God, are characters of one too ſurly and unplyable to be countenanced by men; where the tongue that nature formed to be the Index of the mind, is made the chiefeſt inſtrument to hide it; and men are ſo conſcious of their own incredibility, that no one doth believe or truſt another: where no words are Heart-deep, but thoſe that are ſpoken Againſt Chriſts cauſe and intereſt, or for their own; where a vile perſon is honoured, and thoſe contemned that fear the Lord: Bleſs you from the place where truth is intollerable, and untruth cloaked with its name: where holineſs is lookt at as an Owle or enemie, and yet hypocriſie muſt ſteal its honour from it: where he is a Saint that is leſs wicked than infamous tranſgreſſors; and where Dives life is blameleſs temperance; and where Pride, Idleneſs, Fulneſs of bread, and filthy fornication and laſciviouſneſs, are the infirmities of Pious and excellent perſons: where great ſins are ſmall ones, and ſmall ones are none; and where the greateſt muſt have no reproof, and the Phyſicion is taken for the greateſt enemy: where chaffe is valued at the price of wheat, and yet the famine is of choice: where perſons and things are meaſured by Intereſt; and duty to God derided as fully, when ever it croſſeth the wiſdom of the world, and hated as ſome hurtful thing when it croſſeth fleſhly men in their deſires: And where Dives Brethren are unwarned; and none are more ſecure and frolick, than thoſe that to morrow may be in Hell; and as at the Gladiators sports, none complain leſs than thoſe that speed worſt, quia caeſi ſilent, ſpectatores vociferantur. Old Travellers are uſually moſt addicted to end their days in ſolitude; Learn to contemn the world at cheaper rates than they; Neither hope, nor wiſh to live an Alexander, and die a Socrates; A Crowd or concourſe, though of the greateſt, where is the greateſt tumult of affairs, and confluence of temptations, is not the ſafeſt place to die in: and I have moſt mind to live where I would die. Where men are Barbari moribus, etſi non natione; Chriſtians in Name, and infidels in Converſation: the ſweetneſs of their Chriſtian names will not preſerve them or you from the danger of their unchriſtian lives: It was not the whole of Lots deliverance to be ſaved from the flames of Sodom, but it was much of it to be freed from their malitious rage, and filthy grievous converſations: The beſt medicine againſt the Plague, is to keep far enough from the place that hath it. The Proverb ſaith, He ſhall have fleas that will lye with the dogs. Deſire not that condition, where all ſeem friends, but none are friends indeed; but they that ſeem to be your ſervants, are by flattery ſerving themſelves upon you: Where few perſons or things are truly repreſented; but men are judged of by the deſcriptions of their enemies, and the Lambs have the skins and names of Wolves: and the beſt are odious when bold calumniators load them with odious accuſations. In a word, deſire not the place, where the more men ſeek, the leſs they find, and the more they find, the leſs they have: and the more they have, the leſs they do enjoy: Where the more are their proviſions the leſs are their ſupplies: the more their wealth, the more their want: the more thier pleaſure, the leſs their Peace: the greater their Mirth, the leſs their Joy: the greater their confidence, the leſs their ſafety: Where the great Miſtake about their Happineſs, their Beſt, their End, doth make their lives a conſtant error, and death a dolefull diſappointment: He muſt needs lie crooked that hath ſo ſhort a bed.
Direct. 2. Keep all clean and ſound within; that there may be little of loathſomeneſs to diſaffect you, or terror to frighten you from your ſelves; It is a frightfull thing to be much converſing with a guilty ſoul, and hearing the accuſations of a conſcience not cleanſed by the blood of Chriſt: And it is an unpleaſant thing to be ſearching in our wounds, and reading the hiſtory of a life of folly; eſpecially of wilful ſin, and of ungrateful neglect of offered grace. Make not ſuch work for your ſelf, if you love it not. We make our beds ill, and then we are aweary of them, becauſe they are ſo hard: Our Comforts are more in our own hands then in any others: The beſt friend or Paſtor cannot do ſo much to promote them, nor the greateſt enemy ſo much to deſtroy them as our ſelves. If we will ſurfet, and make our ſelves ſick, we muſt endure it. If Waſps and Vipers be our gueſts, no wonder if we dwell not quietly at home; and if we ſit not at eaſe, when we carry thorns about us. Folly and Concupiſcence breed our miſery: It is the ſmoak of our own corruptions that troubleth our eyes, and the ſcent & ſmart of our ulcerated minds that moſt annoyeth us. We cannot waſte our Peace, and have it. Turk and Pope, and all the terrible names on earth, are not ſo terrible deſervedly to a ſinner as his own: The neareſt evil is the moſt hurtful evil: If a ſcolding Wife be ſuch a continual dropping, and troubleſome companion, as Solomon tells us, what then is a diſtempered, troubled mind, and a chiding conſcience? It is pitty that man ſhould be his own afflicter, but ſo it is: And, as the proverb is, he hath great need of a fool, that will play the fool himſelf; ſo I may ſay, He hath great need of a tormenter, that will be a tormenter to himſelf. Folly, and luſt, and raſhneſs, and paſſion are ſorry keepers of our …eace: Darkneſs and filth do make a dunge…n, and not a delightful habitation of our …earts: God would take pleaſure in them, if …e kept them clean; and would walk with …s in thoſe gardens, if we kept them dreſt: But if we will defile his Temple, and make … unpleaſing unto him, he will make it un…leaſing unto us. Terror and trouble are …he ſhadow of ſin, that follow it, though the …un ſhine never ſo brightly. If we carry …re in our cloaths, we ſhall ſmell it at the …aſt. Keep cloſe to God: obey his will: …ake ſure of your Reconciliation and Adoption: keep clear your Evidences: and grieve not the holy Spirit which ſealeth you, and muſt comfort you: And then it will do you good to look into your heart, and there you ſhall find the moſt delightful company; and the Spirit that you have there entertained, will there entertain you with his joyes.
But if diſorder have prevailed and made your Hearts a place of trouble, yet fly not from it, and refuſe not to converſe with it: For though it be not at the preſent a work of pleaſure, it is a work of Neceſſity, and may tend to pleaſure in the end: Converſing wiſely and faithfully with a diſordered troubled heart, is the way to make it a well ordered and quiet heart.
Direct. 3. In judging of your preſent ſtate and actions, let one eye be alwayes on the end: This will both quicken you to be ſerious in the duty, and direct you in all particular caſes to judge aright. As the approach of death doth convince almoſt all men of the neceſſity of ſtudying themſelves, and calleth them to it from all other ſtudies; ſo the conſiderate foreſight of it, would do the like in better time▪ And it is the End that communicateth th… Good or Evil to all things in the way: an… therefore as they have relation to the End ▪ they muſt be judged of. When you peruſe your actions, conſider them as done by one that is entring into Eternity, and as thoſe that muſt all be opened in a clearer light. If we ſeparate our actions in our conſiderations from their ends, they are not of the ſame ſignification, but taken to be other things then indeed they are. If the Oaths, the Lies, the Slanders, the Senſuality and filthineſs of impure-ſinners, had not relation to the loſs of Heaven, and to the pains of Hell, they were not matters of that exceeding moment as now they are: And if the Holineſs, Obedience and Watchfulneſs of believers, had no relation to the eſcaping of Hell fire, and the attainment of eternal life, they would be of lower value then they are. The more clearly men diſcern that God is preſent, that judgement is at hand, that they are near to Heaven or Hell, where millions have already received their reward, the more ſeriouſly will they ſtudy, and the better will they know themſelves.
Direct. 4. Though you muſt endeavour to judge your ſelf truly as you are, yet rather encline to think meanly, then highly of your ſelf, and be rather too ſuſpitious, then too preſumptuous. My reaſons for this direction are, Becauſe mans nature is generally diſpoſed to ſelf-exalting; and pride, and ſelf-love are ſins ſo common and ſo ſtrong, as that it is a thing of wondrous difficulty to overcome them, ſo far as to judge our ſelves impartially, and to err as little in our own cauſe, as if it were anothers: and becauſe ſelf-exalting hath far more dangerous effects, then ſelf-abaſing, ſuppoſing them to exceed their bounds. Prudent humility i… a quieting grace, and avoideth many ſtorms and tempeſts, which trouble and ſhake the peace of others. It maketh men thankfull for that little as undeſerved, which others repine at as ſhort of their expectations: It telleth the ſufferer that God doth afflict him much leſs then he deſerveth: and cauſeth him to ſay, I will bear the indignation of the Lord, becauſe I have ſinned againſt him (Micah 7.9.) It teacheth us a cautelous ſuſpition of our own underſtandings, and a juſt ſubmiſſion to thoſe that are wiſer than ourſelves: When Pride keepeth out Wiſdom, by keeping out the knowledge of our ignorance. And as Pliny tells us of ſome Nations, where they are grey-headed in their Infancy, and black-headed when they are old; So Pride maketh many wiſe ſo ſoon, that they never come to be truly wiſe: They think in youth that they have more than the wiſdom of age, and therefore in age they have leſs then what beſeemed them in youth. Every hard report or uſage is ready to break a proud mans heart: when contempt doth little diſquiet the hum…le, becauſe they judge ſo meanly of them…elves. The proud are frequently diſturbed, …ecauſe they climb into the ſeats of others: when humility ſits quietly, and no one bids it …iſe, becauſe it knoweth and keepeth its own …lace. Therefore it is that true contrition …aving once told us of our folly to the Heart, …oth make us walk more circumſpectly while …e live: And that no man is better re…olved then he that was once in doubt, and …hat no man ſtandeth faſter, than he that hath …ad a fall: and no man is more ſafe, then he …hat hath had moſt aſſaults. If you love your …afety, deſire not either to be, or to ſeem too …igh. Be little in your own eyes, and be con…ent to be ſo in the eyes of others. As for worldly Greatneſs, affect neither the thing, …or the reputation of it: Look up if you …leaſe, to the tops of Steeples, Maſts and Mountains: but ſtand below if you would …e ſafe. Though the Chimney be the higheſt …art of the houſe; it is not the cleaneſt or …he ſweeteſt part: it is ſcorcht more with …he fire, and ſuffocated with the ſmoke than …ther parts. And for ſpiritual endowments, …eſire them, and improve them: but deſire not inordinately the reputation of them: It ſel…dom increaſeth a mans Humility, to be reputed Humble: And though Humility he… you to bear applauſe, yet the remnants of pri… are ready to take fire, and other ſins to get ad…vantage by it.
Direct. 5. Improve your ſelf-acquain…tance to a due apprehenſion of what is mo… ſuitable, moſt profitable, and neceſſary fo… you, and what is moſt hurtfull, unſuitabl… and unneceſſary. He that hath taken a ju… meaſure of himſelf, is the better able … judge of all things elſe. How ſuitable wi… Chriſt and grace appear, and how unſuitabl… will worldly pomp appear, to one that trul… knows himſelf? How ſuitable will ſerio… fervent worſhip appear, and how unſuitab… the ludicrous ſhews of Hypocrites? And … pair of eyes will be valued above many pa… of ſpectacles: and one pair of legs before … pair of crutches, by one that is not a ſtra…ger to himſelf. He that takes graſs and pr…vender to be his beſt and moſt delightful fo… hath ſure forgotten that he is a man, an… taketh himſelf to be but a beaſt, or elſe … would not chooſe the food of a beaſt, nor uſ… himſelf as a beaſt. If a man knew arig… the capacity and tendency of the Reaſonab… nature, and the evil of ſin, and the neceſsit… and diſtreſs of an unrenewed ſoul, what ſweet, what longing thoughts would he have of God, and all that tendeth to the pleaſing and en…oying of him? How little would he think himſelf concerned in the trivial matters of …onour or diſhonour, riches or poverty, favour …r diſpleaſure, further than as they help or …inder him in the things that are of more …egard? Know your ſelf, and you will know what to Love, and what to hate; what to …hooſe, and what to refuſe; what to hold, and what to loſe; what to eſteem, and what to …ight; what to fear, and when to be couragious …nd ſecure: the curing the dotage thus, would …ure the night walks of the dreaming, va…ant world: And they that find that mu…ck cureth not the Stone or Gowt, would know …hat mirth▪ and gallantry, and vain-glory, …re no preſervatives from Hell, nor ſuffici…t cure for a guilty ſoul: And that if an …king head muſt have a better remedy than … golden Crown, and a deaſeaſed body, a …ore ſuitable cure than a ſilken ſuit, a di…aſed ſoul doth call for more.
Direct. 6. Value not your ſelf by muta…e Accidents, but by the eſſence and ſub…nce of Chriſtianity. A mans life con…teth not in the abundance which he poſ…ſſeth, Luke 12.15. Paul knew better what he ſaid, when he accounted all but loſs and dung for the knowledge and fruition of Jeſus Chriſt (Phil. 3.7, 8.) then they that dote on it as their felicity: And is a man to be valued, applauded, and magnified for his dung, or for his perſonal endowments? Is that your perfume, that ſtinketh in the noſtrils of men of ſounder ſenſes? Judge not of the perſon by his apparel, when the fooliſheſt and the worſt may wear the ſame: The Maſter and inhabitants honour the houſe more than the houſe doth the Maſter and inhabitants. All the wit and learning in the world, with all the Riches, Honour and applauſe, yea and all the civility and winning deportment, will not make a Chriſtian of an Infidel or Atheiſt, nor a happy of a miſerable man; As nothing will make a man honourable indeed, that hath not the uſe of Reaſon, which differenceth m… from bruits; ſo nothing will make or pro… him holy or happy or ſafe, that hath not the Holy Image of God, which muſt difference his children from his enemies: If he be unſanctified, and be not a new creature, and have not the ſpirit of Chriſt within him▪ he is an Atheiſt, or Infidel, or an ungodly wretch, let him be never ſo rich, or great▪ or honourable. And as a harlot is never beautifull in the eyes of the wiſe and chaſte, ſo a wicked man is never happy in the eyes of any but his phrenetick ſociety.
Direct. 7. Think not that a few ſeldom haſty thoughts will bring and keep you in …cquaintance with your ſelf. It muſt be diligent obſervation, and ſerious conſideration …hat muſt accompliſh this. Many a man walketh where he doth not dwell. A tranſi…nt ſalute is not a ſign of intimate familiari…y. It is enough ſometime to ſtep into your …eighbours houſe for a charitable viſit; but …ou muſt dwell in your own; Be more buſie and …enſorious at home then the proud and the ma…icious are abroad: and be as ſeldom and tender … cenſuring others as ſuch Hypocrites are in …enſuring themſelves. Put on your spectacles … home, when you are reading over the Re…iſter of your conſciences; but wear them …t as you walk the ſtreets; but take up …ith ſo much knowledge of ordinary paſſen…ers as you can have without them. Think …t that you are unconcerned in the danger or …fety of your neighbour, but remember that …u are more concerned in your own. Its …ere moſt reaſonable to ſay, that charity …gins at home, when ſelf-neglect will diſ…ble you to help another. And if ſometimes …ur falls or frailty do find you matter for purging, griping, troubleſome thoughts, and interrupt your ſweeter, comfortable meditations, refuſe not the trouble when you have made it neceſſary: Its many a ſad and ſerious thought that the Miniſters of Chriſt have for the cure and ſafety of their flocks: and ſhould not the people have as ſerious thoughts for themſelves? None foul their hands (ſaith the Proverb) about their own work▪ They that bring in the filth, ſhould not refuſe to ſweep it out. We muſt not caſt all the foul and troubleſome work upon our Nurſes, as long as we can help our ſelves. Your Reaſon, your Wiſdom, care and diligence▪ are more your Own than any ones elſe; an… therefore ſhould be more uſed for your ſelf then for any. And if after much thoughtfulneſs, and labour, you find your heart to b… no whit better, yet Labour and Believe. … is not the laſt blow of the axe alone, that cut… down the Tree, though it fall not till th… laſt: The growth of Grace, as of plant… and fruits, and flowers, is not perceived … immediate inſpection. There is much go… obtained when we diſcern it not: And no…thing is more certain, than that honeſt dil…gence is never loſt in the things of God an… our ſalvation. It is worth all our labour, … we grow no better, to keep our ſpark fro… going out, and to ſee that we grow no worſe: And the preventing of Evil, is here an excellent Good. Many a thouſand eat and drink, that never hope to grow any fatter or ſtronger than they are: It is not nothing to be ſuſtained for our daily work and to have our oyl renewed daily as it waſteth. The mill gets by going, ſaith the Proverb, though it ſtir not from the place. O keep the Heart with all diligence, for out of it are the iſſues of life, Prov. 4.23. Actions receive their ſpecification and quality from the Heart. Death and Life are in the power of the tongue, Prov. 18.21. but the tongue is in the power of the Heart.
Direct. 8. Let not your ſelf-knowledge be meerly ſpeculative, or affective, but alſo Practical. Be not contented that you know what you are, and what you have …one, nor that your Heart is much Affected with it: but let all tend to Action, to mend what is amiſs, and to maintain, improve …nd increaſe what is good: and let the next …ueſtion be, What am I now to do? or What muſt I be for time to come? It is a lamentable …iſtake of many that tire themſelves with …riving to make deep affecting impreſſions on …heir hearts, and when they have got much …rrow, or much joy, they think they have done duplicate page duplicate page the greateſt matter, and there they ſtop: But Affections are the spring that muſt move to Action; and if you proceed not to your Duty, Affection is much loſt; And if with ſmaller Affection or paſſion you can ſtedfaſtly and reſolutely cleave to God, and do your Duty, you have the principal thing, and are accepted: Not that outward Actions are accepted without the Heart; but that there is moſt of the Heart, where there is moſt of the Eſtimation and Will, though leſs of Paſſion: and there is moſt of Will, where there is moſt Endeavour: and inward Action is the firſt part of Obedience: And without theſe, no ſpeculations will avail: However you find your Heart, be up and doing in the uſe of means, to make it better, and wait on God for further grace.
Direct. 9. Manage your ſelf-acquaintance prudently, cautelouſly, and with the help of your skilfull friend or Paſtor. Think not that it is a work that you need no Helper in. If you miſtake in your Accounts, and put down a wrong ſumm, and call your ſelf confidently what you are not, or deny Gods graces, when ever through Melancholy or diſtemper you cannot find them, and paſs falſe concluſions againſt Gods mercies and your ſelf, this were to turn a duty into a ſin and ſnare.
And you muſt do it ſeaſonably: Melancholy perſons are moſt uncapable of it, who do nothing but pore upon themſelves to little purpoſe: ſuch muſt do more of other Duty, but lay by much of this till they are more capable, and make much uſe of the Judgement of their Guides: And weaker Heads muſt take but a due proportion of time for ſelf ſearching Meditations, leſt they contract that troubleſome diſeaſe: Duties muſt be uſed with profitable variety, and all done under good advice. But young perſons, and thoſe that are yet unconverted, have need to fall upon it without delay; and to follow it till they have made ſure their calling and election, 2 Pet. 1.10. O what a dreadfull thing it is, for a man to come rawly and newly to the ſtudy of his ſoul, as a thing that he is unacquainted with, when ſickneſs is upon him, and death at hand, and he is ready to paſs into another world! To be then newly to ask, What am I? and What have I done? and Whither am I going? and What will become of me for ever? is a moſt fearfull ſtate of folly.
Direct. 10, Terminate not your knowledge ultimately in your ſelf: but paſs up unto God in Chriſt, and to the bleſſed priviledges of the Saints, and the joyfull ſtate of Endleſs Glory, and there let your meditations be moſt frequent and moſt ſweet: But of this elſewhere.
Madam, I have added theſe Directions not principally for you that have learnt the Art, but for your hopefull Sons and Daughters, who muſt be taught theſe things betimes, and for your friends who will be invited hither for your ſake. They that know you not, will think I have taken too much liberty, and ſpoken too much both of you, and to you; But I appeal from ſuch: They that know not how eaſily you can pardon any one, except your ſelf, will aggravate the weakneſſes which your charity will cover. I was purpoſely the longer becauſe the Treatiſe is defective; And if one Kingdom do not hold us, and I ſhould ſee your face no more on earth, yet till we meet in the Glorious Everlaſting Kingdom, we ſhall have frequent converſe by ſuch means as theſe, notwithſtanding our corporal diſtance: And as I am aſſured of a room in your frequent prayers, ſo I hope I ſhall remain,
Madam, Your faithfull Servant, and Remembrancer at the Throne of Grace, Richard Baxter. Auguſt 25. 1661.