---

Let us consider the difficulty, the advantages, and the means of forming a correct estimate of ourselves.

I. THE DIFFICULTY. The portions of our character, which it most concerns us to understand aright, are, the extent of our powers, and the motives of our conduct. But on these subjects everything conspires to deceive us.

1. No man, in the first place, can come to the examination of himself with perfect impartiality. His wishes are all necessarily engaged on his own side.

2. We can always find excuses for ourselves, which no other person can suspect. Frivolous as the apology may be, it appears satisfactory, because, while no one knows its existence, no one can dispute its value.

3. Few men venture to inform us of our real character. We are flattered, even from our cradles.

4. We fondly imagine that no one can know us as well as we know ourselves, and that every man is interested to depreciate, even when he knows, the worth of another. Hence, when reproved, it is much more easy to conclude that we have been misrepresented by envy, or misunderstood by prejudice, than to believe in our ignorance, incapacity, or guilt. Nothing, also, more directly tends to swell into extravagance a man's opinion of his moral or intellectual worth, than to find that his innocence has, in any instance, been falsely accused, or his powers inadequately estimated.

II. THE ADVANTAGES.

1. An intimate knowledge of ourselves is absolutely necessary to the security and improvement of our virtue and holiness.

2. The knowledge of ourselves would preserve us from much of the calumny, the censure, and the contempt of others.

3. A man who knows himself will know more of others, than one who boasts of studying mankind by mixing with all their follies and vices.

4. Self-knowledge will preserve us from being deceived by flattery, or overborne by unmerited censure.

5. He who examines himself will learn to profit by instruction.

6. If we will judge ourselves, we shall not be judged, at least, by the Judge of heaven and earth; that is, we shall not be unprepared for the judgment-seat of Christ.

III. THE MEANS by which this knowledge may be attained.

1. Suspect yourselves. Do not be afraid of doing yourselves injustice. When you suspect, watch your conduct; and detect, if you can, your predominant motives. Depend upon it, you will struggle hard to deceive yourselves. Compare yourselves, then, with the Word of God, and with one another.

2. But, above all, look up to the Father of lights, lay yourself open to the eye of almighty mercy, and cry, "Lord, who can understand his errors? cleanse Thou me from secret faults."

(J. S. Buckminster.)

---

---

KJV: For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

WEB: For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep.