and the light of the gofpel) fuffered thyself to live in ignorance of him, and thy duty?

Haft thou not been fo foolish as to put off thy repentance, thereby rendering thyfelf lefs able to fet

about it?

Haft thou a reverent regard to the facraments which God hath appointed in his church?

Art thou mindful of thy part of the covenant made with God in baptifm?

Haft thou made it thy care to live fuitable to thy facramental profeffion, and folemn engagements?

Haft thou feriously confidered that amazing inftance of the love of Chrift, in redeeming thee from the bondage and dominion of fin, and the tyranny of the devil?

Doft thou depend upon the merits and fatisfaction of Chrift, and doft thou hope for acceptance with God, only through him, and not for any merit of thy own?

Haft thou frequented the holy facrament of the Lord's fupper? or haft thou not staid away through caufelefs prejudice, or feigned excufes, being unwilling to part with thy fins? Or,

Haft thou at any time received the bleffed facrament without repentance, and a ftedfaft purpose to lead a new life; without a firm and lively faith; a hearty and thankful remembrance of the love of Chrift, in giving himfelf to be a facrifice for our fins; and without a fincere and univerfal love and goodwill to all mankind?

II. Con

II. Concerning our duty towards our neighbour.*

TUR

URN now, O my foul, and feriously confider whether thou haft difcharged thy duty to thy neighbour? and first reflect, that, in the fenfe of the Gofpel, not only the perfon who dwells near thee, but every man is thy neighbour.

Doft thou confider thy neighbours as thy brethren and fellow-members of the body of Chrift?

Haft thou had that univerfal love and charity for all men, as to defire all good to them, without fo much as wishing evil or harm to any one?

Haft thou, in conformity to this rule, endeavoured in thy place and station to prevent evil and damage to the fouls, and bodies, and eftates of others?

Haft thou never been the means of hurting the foul of thy neighbour, in drawing him to fin by thy, authority, or allurements, or example?

Haft thou discouraged or deterred any one from the serious practice of religion and piety?

Haft thou fought and endeavoured to bring thofe to repentance, whom thou haft any ways led into fin?

Doft thou endeavour to restrain thy neighbour from running into fin, by seasonable cautions, and friendly admonitions ?

Haft thou delighted to grieve any one?

Haft thou never injured the body of thy neigh

B 3

bour,

*This Duty may be found explained at large in the New WHOLE DUTY OF MAN, Sunday 8. Section I, &c.

bour, by murdering, maiming, or hurtingit, or been the means and occafion of doing any of these? Haft thou never been guilty of fighting or atten.pting duels?

Haft thou not inticed or corrupted thy neighbour's wife, or his daughter, or any others belonging to him, and under his care?

Haft thou injured thy neighbour, in his goods or eftate, by damaging him; by defrauding or overreaching him in bargains, or contracts; or in his good name, by flandering, backbiting, or infult? Haft thou always performed thy words and contracts, without fhuffling, treachery, or deceit ?

Haft thou envied the good and profperity of thy neighbour?

Reflect if thou haft not publifh'd thy neighbour's faults, when neither the glory of God, nor the good of others, made fuch a publication neceffary

Doft thou not delight in laying open the failings of thy neighbour?

Haft thou borne falfe witnefs against any man in a court of juftice, or reproached, reviled, and railed againft thy neighbour, in thy ordinary converfation? or fecretly flandered him by whispering and backbiting?

Doft thou encourage backbiters, by liftning to them, or giving too eafy credit to their flander? Haft thou not opprefs'd thy neighbour by thy power and authority, or by extortion; and griping ufury?

Doft thou make a confcience of fpeaking according to truth?

Halt

Haft thou endeavour'd to affift thy neighbour in any diftreffes, to comfort him in his troubles; or when afperfed wrongfully, to vindicate his reputa

tion?

Haft thou, in the management of thy eftate or calling, run into debt without hopes or defign of payment?

Haft thou openly by force, or fecretly by theft, taken away the goods of thy neighbour, or betrayed him in any matter committed to thy truft and management?

Art thou ready to make reftitution according to thy power, for the wrong and injuftice thou haft at any time done thy neighbour?

Haft thou not fcoffed at or villified thy neighbour, for deformity of body or weakness of mind? Haft thou had a more special love to all true and fincere christians, meekly borne with their infirmities, and heartily defired and fought their welfare? Haft thou relieved the wants and neceffities of thy neighbour according to thy ability, as one that is affected with them, and as being thyself alfo in the body, and liable to the fame wants, diftreffes, and troubles with others?

Doft thou approve thyfelf careful of thofe of thy family, thy friends and relations, or any others that are committed to thy care, to counsel, to comfort, to reprove, as occafion is given, and need requires?

Haft thou been mild and gentle in thy carriage towards thy inferiors; courteous, affable, and obliging towards thy equals; and doft thou pay due ho

nour

nour and reverence to thy fuperiors in church and ftate, for confcience fake, as having their authority from God?

Doft thou fhew due thankfulness and gratitude to all thy benefactors?

Art thou ready, after the example of our bleffed Saviour, to forgive, and to do good to, and to pray for thy enemies, and doft thou not feek or defire opportunities of revenge?

Doft thou enforce upon thy mind, as oft as thou meeteft with any provocation to revenge or refentment, as much as poffible to live peaceably with all

Men?

III. Concerning our duty towards ourselves.*

H

Aft thou lived without the thought and confi

deration, that thou waft created by God to be eternally happy or miserable after this life; notwithftanding thy intereft and duty, and the express.com mand of God, call and oblige thee to be much and frequent in the exercite thereof?

Haft thou duly confidered the terms and conditions, upon which God hath promised to make thee everlaftingly happy?

Haft thou not walled thy time in idleness or any unprofitable vanity?

Haft thou laid to heart the fhortnefs and uncertainty of this prefent life, and daily improved it to the best advantage?

Doft

This duty may be found explained at large in the c WHOLE DUTY OF MAN, Sunday 13. Section I, &c.