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and strengthen us in the ways of his laws, and works 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 cain to hope to hide any thought, action, or design, from his all-seeing eye, who is the great searcher and judge of all hearts.

And here I would, for the true penitent's greater satisfac tion, recommend to him the reading of the VIth Section 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 you may come holy and clean to such a heavenly feast, in the marriage garment required by God m holy scripture, and be received as worthy partakers of that holy table. The first exhortation in the communion service.-Come now let us reason toge ther, 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. Isa. i. 18.

I. Con

EN

1. Concerning our Duty towards God*. NTER now,O my foul, into the fecrets of thy heart, and examine whether thou doft believe and confider that God, by his providence, governs the world and all things in it?

Doft thou remember thatGodbeholds the moft fecret thoughts and actions ofthy heart and life, and will judge thee with fevere juftice at the last day?

Art thou warned by the fenfe of God's allfeeing providence to take heed to thy ways? Doft thou afcribe the fuccefs of thy undertakings, chiefly to the good providence of God over thee?

Doft thou pray daily for the protection of God, and his bleffing upon thy honeft endeavours?

Hath the goodness and mercy of God, in creating, preferving, and redeeming thee, that effect upon thy heart, as to make thee love him, and defire to pleafe him?

Haft thou loved God before and above all things?

Have the many teftimonies, which thou haft received of God's mercy and goodness, bred in thee a comfortable hope in him?

Haft thou never fo far prefumed upon his mercy, as to encourage thee to fin against him? Hath

*This duty may be found explained at large in the NEW WHOLE DUTY OF MAN, Sunday 1. Section II.

Hath the confideration of God's majefly and greatness imprinted awful and reverent thoughts concerning him, and bred in thee modeft and humble thoughts concerning thyfelf?

Doth the confideration of thepowerandjuf tice of God,make thee afraid to provoke him, and afraid of offending him more than man? Doft thou fteadfaftly rely upon the truth and promifes of God, under all diftreffes and calamities, fo as to wait patiently for a deliverance in God's good time, and never to try to deliver thy felf out of calamity by finful means?

Haft thou gone to witches or cunning men for counfel; or for the recovery of things loft; or been too attentive to dreams, fortune-tellers, or the vain predictions of men, or lots, fo as to attempt thereby the knowing before-hand of things to come?

Haft thou refigned thyfelf, and all thy concerns, to the all-wife and good providence of God?

Art thou not immoderately careful and anxious about outward things?

Haft thou not profaned the holy and dreadful name of God, by perjury and unlawful oaths, or by cuftomary fwearing or curfing in thy common converfation?

Halt thou not mentioned the name of God, or of his Son Jefus Chrift, irreverently or lightly in thy common converfation?" Dolt

Doft thou take care to admonifh and reprove others for their fins, fo far as thou mayft with prudence and decency?

Haft thou faithfully received the Scriptures, not as the word of man, but as they are in truth, the word of God?

Doft thou read and obferve them, in order to make them the rule of life?

Have the promifesand awakening threatenings therein prevailed with thee, to govern thyfelf according to the holy and admirable precepts therein delivered?

Haft thou honoured him by a reverent ufage of whatfoever things or perfons belong to him, and are dedicated to his honour and fervice?

Doft thou confider the Lord's Day, as fet apart by God for the care of the foul, and the preparation of ourselves for the next life, and for his more immediate worship, in keeping it holy, to thefe ends for which it was appointed; by attending the public fervice of the church; in reading and hearing his holy word; in prayer and meditation,and good difcourfe on the SabbathDay?

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

Doft thou afterwards reflect upon what. thou haft heard, and lay it up in thy heart, that thou mayit live according to it?

C 3

Haft

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

Haft thou every day duly prayed to him, and praifed him for thy mercies received?

Have thy prayers and praises been always accompanied with fuch a sense of God, and fuch ferioufnefs, fervency, and affection, as he requires?

Haft thou, notwithstanding the means of grace,andthe lightofthegofpel,fufferedthyfelftolivein ignorance of him,andthyduty? 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 fuitably to thy facramental profeffion, and solemn 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?

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