GOD himself (z). Whereas they who know not what they are, muft neceffarily be ignorant of what they fhall be. A man that is (z) When we fay that the state of the other world is unknown, we mean that it is a state of fuch happiness, fo far beyond any thing we ever yet experienced, that we cannot form any notion or idea of it : we know that there is fuch a happiness; we know, in fome measure, wherein this happiness confifts, viz. in seeing GoD and the bleffed Jesus, who loved us, and gave himself for us: in praifing our Creator and Redeemer; in converfing with faints and angels. But how great, how ravishing and transporting a pleasure is this, we cannot tell, because we never yet felt it.--Now this should not make the thoughts of death uneafy to us, fhould not make us unwilling to go to heaven; that the happiness of heaven is too great for us to know, or to ⚫ conceive in this world. For men are naturally fond of unknown and untried pleasures; which, far from being a difparagement, raises our ex'pectations of them, that they are unknown. In the things of this world, enjoyment usually leffens our esteem for them, and we always value that moft which we have never tried; and, * methinks, the happiness of the other world. fhould not be the only thing we despise before we try it. It is fome encouragement to us that the happiness of heaven is too immense to be known in this world; for did we perfectly know it now, it would not be very great.' Sherlock on Death. (a) Illi is all darkness within, can have but a dark profpect forward (a). O, what would we not give for folid hope in death! Reader wouldst thou have it, know GOD, and know thyself. (a) Illi mors gravis incubat, Sen. Tha. Thyef. F ROM what hath been faid under the two former parts of the fubject, Self-knowledge appears to 000 be in itself fo excellent, and in its effects fo extensively useful and conducive to the happiness of human kind, that nothing need farther be added, to excite us to make it it the great object of our ftudy and pursuit. If we regard our present peace, fatisfaction and usefulness, or our future and everlasting interests, we shall certainly value and prosecute this Knowledge above all others; as it will be moft ornamental to our characters, beneficial to our interefts in every state of life, and as it will abundantly recompenfe all our labours. Were any further motives necessary to incline us to this, I might lay open the many dreadful effects of Self-ignorance, and fhow how plainly it appears to be the original fpring of all the follies and incongruities we fee in the characters of men, and of moft of the difappointments and miferies they meet with here. This would foon appear by only mentioning the reverse of those advantages before specified, which refult from Self-Knowledge: for what is it, but a want of Self-knowledge and Self-government that makes us fo unfettled and volatile in our difpofitions? fo fubject to transport and excefs of paffions in the varying scenes of this mortal life ? fo rafh and unguarded in our conduct? fo vain and felf-fufficient? fo cenforious and malignant? fo eager and confident? fo little useful in the world, in comparison of what we might be? |