"myself. And at even, when all is hufh and ftill, I make a scrutiny into the day; "look over my words and actions, and "hide nothing from myfelf; conceal none "of my mistakes through fear. For why fhould I, when I have it in my power "to fay thus ?-This once I forgive thee, "but fee thou do fo no more.-In fuch "difpute I was too keen: do not for the "future contend with ignorant men; they "will not be convinced, because they are "unwilling to fhow their ignorance."Such a one I reproved with too much "freedom, whereby, I have not reform"ed, but exafperated him: remember "hereafter to be more mild in your cen"fures; and confider not only whether "what you say be true, but whether the perfon you lay it to can bear to hear the "truth". -Thus far that excellent mo ralist. Let us take a few other fpecimens of a more pious and Christian turn from a judicious and devout writer +. "This morning when I arofe, instead "of applying myself to God in prayer, "(which I generally find it beft to do "imme Vid. Senec. de Ira, lib. 3. cap. 36. + Mr. Bennet. See his Cbrift. Orat. pag. 584. "immediately after a few ferious reflec "tions), I gave way to idle, mufing, to the - great diforder of my heart and frame. "How often have I fuffered for want of << more watchfulness on this occafion? "When fhall I be wife?-I have this day "fhamefully trifled almost through the "whole of it; was in my bed when I "fhould have been upon my knees; pray"ed but coolly in the morning; was "ftrangely off my guard in the business "and converfation I was concerned with "in the day, particularly at ; I in"dulged to very foolish, finful, vile "thoughts, &c. I fell in with a strain of converfation too common among all forts, viz. Speaking evil of others; taking "up a reproach against my neighbour. I "have often refolved againft this fin, and yet run into it again. How treacherous this wicked heart of mine! I have loft "feveral hours this day in mere faunter"ing and idleness.-This day I had an inftance of mine own infirmity, that I "was a little furprised at, and I am sure Į "ought to be humbled for. The beha"viour of from whom I can expect "nothing but humour, indifcretion, and "folly, ftrangely ruffled me; and that after I have had warning over and over again. What a poor, impotent, con"temptible creature am I!-This day I "have been kept, in a great measure, "from my too frequent failings.—I had "this day very comfortable affiftances from "God, upon an occafion not a little try"ing-what fhall I render ?" ment. (3) See that the mind be in the most compofed and difengaged frame it can, when you enter upon this bufinefs of felf-judgChoose a time when it is moft free from paffion, and most at leisure from the cares and affairs of life. A judge is not like to bring a cause to a good ifiue, that is either intoxicated with liquor on the bench, or has his mind diftracted with other cares, when he fhould be intent on the trial. Remember you fit in judgment upon yourself, and have nothing to do at prefent but to fift the evidence which conIcience may bring in either for or againft you, in order to pronounce a just sentence, which is of much greater concernment to you at prefent than any thing elfe can be; and therefore it fhould be tranfacted with the utmost care, compofure, and attention. (4.) Beware of partiality, and the influence of felf-love, in this weighty business; which, if you do not guard againft, it will foon foon lead you into felf-delufion, the confe quences of which may be fatal to you. Labour to fee yourself as you are; and view things in the light in which they are, and not in that in which you would have them be. Remember that the mind is always apt to believe those things true which it would have be fo; and backward to believe those things true which it wishes were not fo; and this is an influence you will certainly lie under in this affair of felf-judgment. You need not be much afraid of being too fevere upon yourfelf; your great dan ger will generally be of paffing a too fa vourable judgment. A judge ought not indeed to be a party concerned, and should have no intereft in the perfon he fits in judgment upon. But this cannot be the cafe here, as you yourfelf are both judge and criminal, which fhows the danger of pronouncing a too favourable fentence. But remember your bufinefs is only with the evidence and the rule of judgment; and that, however you come off now, there will be a rehearing in another court, where judgment will be according to truth. However, look not unequally either "at the good or evil that is in you, but view them as they are. If you obferve "only only the good that is in you, and over"look the bad, or fearch only after your "faults, and overlook your graces, nei"ther of these will bring you to a true "acquaintance with yourself *." And to induce you to this impartiality, remember that this bufinefs (though it may be hid from the world) is not done in fecret; God fees how you manage it, before whofe tribunal you must expect a righteous judgment. "We fhould order "our thoughts fo (faith Seneca) as if we "had a window in our breafts, through "which any one might see what paffes "there. And indeed there is one that "does; for what does it fignify that our thoughts are hid from men? From God "nothing is hid t." (5.) Beware of false rules of judgment. This is a fure and common way to felf-deception. e. g. Some judge themselves by what they have been. But it does not follow, if men are not so bad as they have been, that therefore they are as good as they should be. It is wrong to make our paft * Baxter's Director, pag. 876. + Sic cogitandum tanquam aliquis in pectus intimum infpicere poffit; et poteft. ab homine aliquid effe fecretum? Sen. Epift. 84. Quid enim prodeft |