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Hast thou loved God before, and above all things? Have the many testimonies, which thou hast received of God's mercy and goodness, bred in thee a comfortable hope in him?

Hast thou never so far presumed upon his mercy, as to encourage thee to sin against him?

Hath the consideration of God's majesty and greatness imprinted awful and reverent thoughts concerning him, and bred in thee modest and humble thoughts concerning thyself?

Doth the consideration of the power and justice of God, make thee afraid to provoke him, and afraid of offending him more than man?

Dost thou stedfastly rely upon the truth and promises of God, under all distresses and calamities, so as to wait patiently for a deliverance in God's good time, and never to try to deliver thyself out of calamity by sinful means?

Hast thou gone to witches or cunning men for council; or for the recovery of things lost: or been too attentive to dreams, fortunetellers, or the vain predictions of men; or lots, so as to attempt thereby the knowing beforehand things to come?

Hast thou resigned thyself, and all thy concerns, to the all-wise and good providence of God?

Art thou not immoderately careful and anxious about outward things?

Hast thou not profaned the holy and dreadful name of God, by perjury and unlawful oaths, or by customary swearing or cursing in thy common conversation ?

Hast thou not mentioned the name of God, or of his son Jesus Christ, irreverently or lightly in thy common conversation?

Dost thou take care to admonish and reprove others for their sins, so far as thou mayst with prudence and decency?

Hast thou faithfully received the scriptures, not as the word of man; bit as they are in truth, the word of God? C

Dost thou read and observe them, in order to make them the rule of life?

Have the promises and awakening threatnings therein prevailed with thee, to govern thyself according to the holy and admirable precepts therein delivered?

Hast thou honoured him by a reverent usage of whatsoever things or persons belong to him, and are dedicated to his honour and service?

Dost thou consider the Lord's day, as set apart by God for the care of the soul, and the preparation of ourselves for the next life, and for his more immediate worship, in keeping it holy, to those 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 discourse on the sabbath day?

Dost thou go to church with a hearty intention to serve God, and to be instructed in thy duty, or reminded of it; and not only for fashion's sake?

Dost thou afterward reflect upon what thou hast heard, and lay it up in thy heart, that thou mayst live according to it?

Hast thou so little regarded this holy day, as to spend it in travelling, and taking unnecessary journeys thereupon, such as might as well have been performed on any other day?

Hast thou every day duly prayed to him, and praised him for thy mercies received?

Have thy prayers and praises been always accompanied with such a sense of God, and such seriousness, tervency, and affection, as he requires?

Hast thou (notwithstanding the means of grace, and the light of the gospel) suffered thyself to live in ignorance of him, and thy duty?

Hast thou not been so foolish as to put off thy repentance, thereby rendering thyself less able to set about it? Hast thou a reverent regard to the sacraments which God hath appointed in his church ?

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

Hast thou made it thy care to live suitable to thy sacramental profession, and solemn engagements?

Hast thou seriously considered that amazing instance of the love of Christ, in redeeming thee from the bondage and dominion of sin, and the tyranny of the devil?

Dost thou depend upon the merits and satisfaction of Christ, and dost thou hope for acceptance with God, only through him, and not for any merit of thy own?

Hast thou frequented the holy sacrament of the Lord's supper? or hast thou not staid away through causeless prejudice, or feigned excuses, being unwilling to part with thy sius? Or,

Hast thou at any time received the blessed sacrament without repentance, and a stedfast purpose to lead a new life; without a firm and lively faith; a hearty and thankful remembrance of the love of Christ, in giving himself to be a sacrifice for our sins; and without a sincere and universal love and goodwill to all mankind? II. Concerning our duty toward our neighbour.*

Turn now, O my soul, and seriously consider whether thou hast discharged thy duty to thy neighbour? And first reflect, that, in the sense of the gospel, not only the person who dwells near thee, but every man is thy neighbour.

Dost thou consider thy neighbours as thy brethren and fellow-members of the body of Christ?

Hast thou had that universal love and charity for all men, as to desire all good to them, without so much as wishing evil or harm to any one?

Hast thou, in conformity to this rule, endeavoured in thy place and station to prevent evil and damage to the souls, and bodies, and estates of others?

*This duty may be found explained at large in the New Whole Duty of Man, Sunday viii, Sect. i, &c.

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Hast thou never been the means of hurting the soul of thy neighbour, in drawing him to sin by thy authority, or allurements, or example?

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

Hast thou sought and endeavoured to bring those to repentance, whom thou hast anywise led into sin?

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

Hast thou delighted to grieve any one?

Hast thou never injured the body of thy neighbour, by murdering, maiming, or hurting it, or been the means and occasion of doing any of these?

Hast thou never been guilty of fighting or attempting duels ?

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

Hast thou injured thy neighbour, in his goods or estate, by damaging him; by defrauding or overreaching him in bargains, or contracts; or in his good name, by slandering, backbiting, or insult?

Hast thou always performed thy words and contracts, without shuffling, treachery, or deceit ?

Hast thou envied the good and prosperity of thy neighbour?

Reflect if thou hast not published thy neighbour's faults, when neither the glory of God, nor the good of others, made such a publication necessary?

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

Hast thou bore false witness against any man in a court of justice, or reproached, reviled, and railed against thy neighbour in thy ordinary conversation? or secretly slandered him by whispering and backbiting?

Dost thou encourage backbiters, by listening to them, or giving too easy credit to their slander?

Hast thou not oppressed thy neighbour by thy power and authority, or by extortion, and griping usury? Dost thou make a conscience of speaking according to truth?

Hast thou endeavoured to assist thy neighbour in any distresses, to comfort him in his troubles; or when aspersed wrongfully, to vindicate his reputation?

Hast thou, in the management of thy estate or calling, run into debt without hopes or design of payment? Hast thou openly by force, or secretly by theft, taken away the goods of thy neighbour, or betrayed him in any matter committed to thy trust and management?

Art thou ready to make restitution according to thy power, for the wrong and injustice thou hast at any time. done thy neighbour?

Hast thou not scoffed at or vilified thy neighbour, for deformity of body or weakness of mind?

Hast thou had a more special love to all true and sincere christians, meekly bore with their infirmities, and heartily desired and sought their welfare?

Hast thou relieved the wants and necessities of thy neighbour according to thy ability, as one that is affected with them and as being thyself also in the body, and liable to the same wants, distresses, and troubles with others?

Dost thou approve thyself careful of those of thy family, thy friends and relations, or any others that are committed to thy care, to counsel, to comfort, to reprove, as occasion is given, and need requires ?

Hast thou been mild and gentle in thy carriage toward thy inferiors; courteous, affable, and obliging toward thy equals; and dost thou pay due honour and reverence to thy superiors in church and state, for conscience sake, as having their authority from God?

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