Know Thyself by F. V. B.

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 25, 1858

Know Thyself.

By F. V. B.

Know thyself, is one of the greatest maxims given by inspiration, and one of the most useful and comprehensive precepts in the whole moral system. The ancients held this maxim in great veneration, and esteemed the duty of self-examination as necessary to it. And why this excellent precept should not be held in as high esteem by professed christians in these last days of peril, as it was by the heathen, is hard to be conceived. Human nature is the same now as it was then; the heart is as deceitful, and as desperately wicked; the necessity of watching, knowing, and keeping it, the same. And we have a much greater assurance that this precept is divine than the heathens had: they supposed it came down from heaven, we know it did. What they conjectured in this instance, we are sure of; for this sacred truth is dictated to us in a manifold light, and explained to us in various views by the Holy Spirit, in that revelation which God hath been pleased to give us as our guide to duty and happiness, and by which, as in a glass, we may survey ourselves, and know what manner of persons we are.

To know ourselves, leads to many important inquiries, and acquaints us with the various relations in which we stand to our fellow-creatures and God, and the several duties that result from those relations. It also shows us what we are, and do, and ought to do, and be, in order to our living comfortably and usefully here, and happily hereafter. It is evident that self-knowledge requires us to deal plainly with ourselves. For it is a momentous and very important subject, and every way calculated to benefit the individuals who apply themselves to form an acquaintance with the human mind. In order to do this its various powers and operations must be narrowly inspected; all its secret bendings and doublings displayed. Otherwise our self-acquaintance will be but very partial and defective; and the heart after all will deceive us.

It is also an interesting subject, for it is home business, and we usually are the most interested in our own prosperity, especially if anything is likely to accrue from it, that will increase our wealth. Wealth is the eager pursuit of all generally. Now if we will but seek to know our own hearts we shall obtain wealth of a firmer and more durable texture than gold or silver. And the result will be a happy one, as well as pleasing and interesting; for we shall be likely to discover our poverty, and begin to seek for the gold tried in the fire, that we may be rich, and white raiment that we may be clothed, and that the shame of our nakedness do not appear. It may have a tendency to enable us to get the beam out of our own eyes, before we attempt to pluck the mote out of our neighbor's.

If we would know ourselves we must bring ourselves to judgment, and be our own judge; and it is no easy matter for us to pass judgment on ourselves, to condemn our own darling iniquities, our own heart. Did I say our own heart? If we are in any degree indulging the carnal mind, our hearts condemn us already; and God who is greater than our hearts, knoweth all things. Therefore we should resort to him for instruction in humble, earnest prayer, and supplicate his assistance in so arduous and important an undertaking as self-examination. I am well aware that there will be many near and dear friends, so considered by us, to part with; some right eyes probably to pluck out; some right hands and feet to cut off, which make the whole head sick, and the whole heart faint. And it is our duty thus to do; for we are not only doing up work for time, but for eternity. And is it not better for us to judge ourselves, to know of what manner of spirit we are, than postpone it to the general assize, the great judgment of God, where the secrets of every heart will be manifest? Is it not best to know the worst of our condition while we have the opportunity to seek for pardon, and grace freely offered us? We must expect to make a sacrifice, perhaps it will be a great one, of our much loved sins, if we would obtain a perfect knowledge of the heart. If we find ourselves guilty in heart-examination, we must as willingly and cheerfully pronounce the sentence of death on ourselves, as we would on our bitterest enemy, acting from a carnal mind. For our sins are our greatest enemies. On every part they seize, but rage the most within our own bosom, and wrangle with every good principle. It is to sacrifice these sins that we are admonished to "keep thy heart with all diligence." Prov. iv, 23. Prove your own selves, &c. Let a man examine himself. 1 Cor. xi, 28. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. Ps. cxix, 9. Let us strive to do this, then shall we have a better acquaintance with our own heart, and our conversation will be more as it becomes the gospel of Christ.

F. V. B.

Camden, Me.