the next temptation, and cast about to avoid the danger by working out our salvation! or, Did we but see the incomparable glories of the saints, or hear the sweet harmonious hymns which they continually sing, how should we study to imitate those holy ways, by which we know they arrived at all their happiness! how should we seek all occasions of improvement, and make it our business to work out our salvation! did man but seriously consider what he says he believes, he would never live as he doth. Who can doubt but ere long he shall be turned into dust? yet which of us lives as if he thought ever to die?

Pity, O gracious Lord, the frailties of thy servant, and suffer not my blindness to lead me into ruin. Supply my want of sight by a lively faith, and strengthen my faith by thy powerful grace: make me remember it is no trifling thing to gain or lose the kingdom of heaven: make me choose wisely, and pursue my choice, and use as well the means, as like the end. O set thou right the bias of my heart, that in all my motions I may draw off from the world; that I may still incline toward thee, and rest at last in thy holy presence. Thou art my Lord, and I will serve thee in fear; thou art my God, and I will love thee

in hope what will it profit me to gain the whole world, and lose my own soul? or what shall I give in exchange for my soul?

Now repair to the public service at the church; but if you have not that opportunity, then employ your time in reading some part of the New Whole Duty of Man, us directed on page 8, especially Sunday xvii, Sect. i and vii.

A Prayer before Examination, with a firm resolution to forsake the vanities of this wicked world.

Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. 1 Cor. xi. 28.

O Almighty God, thou searcher of hearts, who seest and knowest all my sins; help me so to search every secret of my heart, that I may leave no sin, if possible, unrepented of. Give me grace so impartially to judge and condemn myself, so humbly to repent and beg pardon, that I may not be condemned, when I shall appear at thy tribunal, in the great and terrible day of the Lord Jesus!

But alas! after the most strict examination we can make, who can number his iniquities? who can tell how oft he offendeth? Cleanse me, therefore, O Lord, I beseech thee, not only from my presumptuous and known sins, but from all my secret and unknown transgressions, for his sake who died for sinners, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Directions for self-examination.

Having devoutly prayed for God's assistance, doubt not but he will vouchsafe it to you. And the better to dispose your heart to the duty of self-examination.

Consider seriously with yourself, that it is appointed for all men once to die, and after death to be called to judgment. That God hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by Jesus Christ; at whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies, and shall give an account of their own works: and they that have done good, shall go into life everlasting; and they that have done evil, into everlasting fire: for the books shall be opened, and the dead shall be judged out of the things written in those books, according to their works. And then,

Consider how much, how nearly it concerns you to judge yourself before that time, that you be not judged, that is, condemned of the Lord.

But so many and various are the sins of our lives, in thought, word, and deed, and omissions against God, our neighbour, and ourselves, that this work will, at best, be confused, except christians have proper helps to bring their several sins distinctly to remembrance; so that I shall in this form lay before you the several heads of our duty to God, our neighbour and ourselves, as the most effectual help in this case; that upon each particular head, you may examine your past life, and try the present disposition of your heart.

First, when you examine yourself, let it be chiefly about your wilful sins, and sins of commission; and be not over scrupulous either to accuse yourself of sins you never committed, or to reckon up all your infirmities; for that would render your examination endless and impracticable; and though there may be some sins that you may doubt whether you have committed; others you may fear you have forgot ; yet be not discouraged for when you have acted honestly and sincerely, rest satisfied; but what sins you cannot recollect and find out, so as particularly to confess and bewail, you ought to conclude under a general repentance for what

soever you have done amiss; and to pray that God would cleanse you from your secret faults. Observing wherever you find yourself innocent, to glorify God, and beg of him to preserve and continue you therein.

Secondly, If you have not wholly neglected, and yet desire particularly to increase in some christian virtue, lift up your heart to God, for his holy spirit to aid and assist your sincere endeavours to grow in it; for we are not barely to avoid sin, but to grow in grace and goodness.

Thirdly, When you come to any sin you have committed often, or deliberately, or against the checks of conscience, or against frequent admonitions, or lastly against your own special vows and resolutions to the contrary; you must take into the account such aggravating circumstances as increase and heighten the guilt of it, to increase your shame and sorrow, and to show you how greatly we stand in need of God's pardon for what is past, and of his assisting grace to preserve and strengthen us in the ways of his laws, and work of his commands. And

Fourthly, Some, where they have found themselves guilty upon any head, whether of omitting a duty, or committing a sin, have written down the sins they have been guilty of, or have marked them in the margin of their book, that they might be able to make a more exact and particular confession of their several offences before God, and enter their vows and resolutions the more distinctly against them: and this may be further useful; for, by comparing one time with another, you will better discern the amendment of your life, and growth in christian virtue: but this is only advice; for every one is left to judge of the usefulness and expediency of this method.

Fifthly, They that cannot quiet their consciences by this examination, concerning the lawfulness or unlawfulness of this or that action, or shall meet with scruples and difficulties of any other kind, let them first pray to God to enlighten and establish their mind, and then have recourse to some learned and pious minister of God's word, always remembering to be honest and impartial in this work, between God and their own consciences; for it is in vain ta

hope to hide any thought, action, or design, from his allseeing eye, who is the great searcher and judge of all hearts.

And here I would for the true penitent's greater satisfaction recommend to him the reading of Section iv. of the care of the soul in the New Whole Duty of Man.

Heads for the examination of conscience, upon those duties wherein God's honour, and our own and neighbour's good are concerned.

Search and examine your own consciences, and that not lightly, and after the manner of dissemblers with God; but so that ye may come holy and clean to such a heavenly feast, in the marriage garment required by God in holy scripture, and be received as worthy partakers of that holy table. First exhortation in the communion service.

Come now let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Isaiah i. 18.

I. Concerning our duty toward God. *

Enter now, O my soul, into the secrets of thy heart, and examine whether thou dost believe and consider that God, by his providence, governs the world and all things in it?

Dost thou remember, that God beholds the most secret thoughts and actions of thy heart and life, and will judge thee with severe justice at the last day?"

Art thou warned by the sense of God's all-seeing providence to take heed to thy ways?

Dost thou ascribe the success of thy undertakings, chiefly to the good providence of God over thee? Dost thou pray daily for the protection of God, and his blessing upon thy honest endeavours?

Hath the goodness and mercy of God, in creating, preserving, and redeeming thee, that effect upon thy heart, as to make thee love him, and desire to please him?

This duty may be found explained at large in the New Who's Duty of Man, Sunday i, Sect. ii.