66 "to be Evils fo great, that he would not "endure the Thought of our being fubject to them. For God fo loved the World, "that he gave his only begotten Son, to the "End that all that believe in him, (that is, "fo to believe in him, as to obey him) "fhould not perish, but have everlasting Life: I add obey, because in this Text, "as in divers others, the Word Belief, is "taken for the Whole of Religion, Obe"dience, as well as Faith. 66 "Endeavour to keep a conftant Remem"brance of these Things in your Mind; "for they will be of great Ufe to you, not only to lead you to a true Repentance for "what is past, but to prevent your falling "into Sin for the future. 66 "It will be impoffible to give fuch Di"rections for the Performance of this Duty, as will be proper for all Perfons; "thofe who have led wicked Lives, and "have for a long Time put off Repent66 ance, have to be fure a great Account "to make up; and therefore must spend "the more Time and Pains in reconcil ing themselves, confidering their past "Lives, and forming good Refolutions. "Thofe that began this Duty betimes, "and who, by the Grace of God, have "been "been kept in their Youth from contracting vicious Habits, or committing any 66 66 great Sins, have lefs to do, when they "fet about this Duty: Nevertheless, Self"Examination, &c. being a Duty so often "and fo plainly taught by God in Holy Scripture, who beft knew the Neceffity " and Advantage of it; no one that is a "Chriftian, ought to neglect, or perform "it flightly. 66 66 66 "When you examine yourself, let it be chiefly about your wilful Sins, and Sins "of Commiffion; and be not over fcrupulous, either to accufe yourself of Sin you never committed, or to reckon up all your Infirmities; for that would render your Examination endless and impracti"cable: And though there may be fome "Sins that you may doubt whether you "have committed, others you may fear 66 66 you have forgot, yet be not difcouraged; "for when you have acted honestly and fincerely, reft fatisfied; it being all that 66 66 Religion requireth: But what Sins you "cannot recollect and find out, fo as par"cularly to confefs and bewail, you ought "to conclude under a general Repentance "for whatsoever you have done amifs and "and to pray that God would cleanse you "from your fecret Faults. 66 "When you have once thoroughly ex"amined your Life, you must not think 66 your Work is at an End; but must fre quently exercise yourself therein; and "the oftener you do fo, the more eafy and "delightful you will find it. At fuch "Times it may not be neceffary that you "fhould examine your whole Life with that "Strictnefs you did at firft; but chiefly "examine yourfelf, how you have kept "your good Refolutions, what Progress you have made in a religious Courfe of "Life, and what Sins of Commiffion or "Omiffion you have been guilty of, fince 66 your laft Examination, and how you "came to fall into them; what the Temp"tations, what the Circumstances and "Occafions; that you may arm yourself against them, and fo avoid them for the "Time to come." 66 دو General General Heads of Examination. O MY Soul, enter into the Confide ration of thine own State; fearch thy Heart to the Bottom; afk thyself, "What thou haft done, how haft thou "carried thyfelf fince the Time thou waft by Baptifm firft admitted into Covenant "with God, or fince thou didst last renew "that Covenant with him? How haft "thou behaved thy felf with respect to the "Duties thou oweft to God, thy Neigh"bour, and thyfelf?" I. Of our Duty towards God. HAVE I loved God before and above all other Things? Have I received the Scriptures, not as the Word of Men; but as they are in Truth, the Word of God? Have the Promises and Threatenings therein prevailed with me, to govern myfelf according to the holy and admirable Precepts the ein delivered? Have I not profaned the holy and dreadful Name of God, by Perjury or unlawful Oaths, or by customary Swearing or Curfing in my common Converfation? Have I not irreverently mentioned the Name of God in my common Converfation? Have I honoured him by a reverent Usage of whatsoever Things or Perfons belong to him, and are dedicated to his Honour and Service? Have I religiously observed the Day set apart for his more immediate Worship, in keeping it holy, to thofe Ends for which it was appointed; by attending the public Service of the Church; in reading and hearing his holy Word; in Prayer and Meditation, and good Difcourfe? Have I fo little regarded this holy Day, as to spend it in travelling, and taking unneceffary Journies thereupon, such as I might as well have gone on any other Day? Have I spent and fquandered it away in useless and unneceffary Vifits, in Recreations, or in wicked and unprofitable Converfation, or in following the Works of my Calling? Have I trufted in God, and acknowledged my Dependence upon him only? |