It was not without reason that the ancient proverb so strongly
recommended to man the knowledge of himself. For if it is deemed
disgraceful to be ignorant of things pertaining to the business of life,
much more disgraceful is self-ignorance, in consequence of which we
miserably deceive ourselves in matters of the highest moment, and so
walk blindfold.
But the more useful the precept is, the more careful we must be not
to use it preposterously, as we see certain philosophers have done. For
they, when exhorting man to know himself, state the motive to be, that
he may not be ignorant of his own excellence and dignity. They wish him
to see nothing in himself but what will fill him with vain confidence,
and inflate him with pride.
But self-knowledge consists in this, First, When reflecting on what
God gave us at our creation, and still continues graciously to give, we
perceive how great the excellence of our nature would have been had its
integrity remained, and, at the same time, remember that we have nothing
of our own, but depend entirely on God, from whom we hold at pleasure
whatever he has seen it meet to bestow; secondly When viewing our
miserable condition since Adam's fall, all confidence and boasting are
overthrown, we blush for shame, and feel truly humble. For as God at
first formed us in his own image, that he might elevate our minds to the
pursuit of virtue, and the contemplation of eternal life, so to prevent
us from heartlessly burying those noble qualities which distinguish us
from the lower animals, it is of importance to know that we were endued
with reason and intelligence, in order that we might cultivate a holy
and honourable life, and regard a blessed immortality as our destined
aim.
At the same time, it is impossible to think of our primeval dignity
without being immediately reminded of the sad spectacle of our ignominy
and corruption, ever since we fell from our original in the person of
our first parent. In this way, we feel dissatisfied with ourselves, and
become truly humble, while we are inflamed with new desires to seek
after God, in whom each may regain those good qualities of which all are
found to be utterly destitute.
- John Calvin (Institutes of the Christian Religion, 2.1.1.)
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