they that have done good, fhall go into life everlafting; and they that bave done evil, into everlafling fire: for the books fall be opened, and the dead fhall be judged out of the things written in those books, according to their wirks.

And then.

Confider 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 fo many and various are the fins of our lives, in thought, word, and deed, and omiffions against God, cur neighbour, and ourselves, that this work will, at best, be confused, except chriftians have proper belps to bring their feveral fins diflinctly to remembrance; fo that I ball in this form lay before you the feveral beads of our duty to God, our neighbour, and ourfelves, as the most effectual help in this cafe; that upon each particular head, you may examine your paft life, and try the prefent difpofition of your heart.

First, when you examine yourself, let it be chiefly about your wilful fins, and fins of commiffion; and be not over scrupulous either to accufe yourself of fins you never committed, or to recken up all your infirmities; for that would render your examination endless and impracticable: and though there may be fome fins that you may doub whether you have committed; others you may fear you have forgot; yet be not difcouraged: for when you have acted boneftly and fincerely, reft fatisfied; but what fins you cannot recollect and find out, fe as particularly to confefs and bewail, you ought to conclude under a general repentance for whatsoever you have done amifs; and to pray that God would cleanfe you from your fecret faults. Obferving where ever you find yourself innocent, to glorify God, and beg of him to preferve and continue you therein.

Secondly, If you have not wholly neglected, and yet defire particularly to increase in fome chriflian virtue, lift up your he art to God, for his holy Spirit to aid and affift your fincere endeavours to grow in it; for we are not barely to avoid fin, but to grow in grace and goodness.

Thirdly, When you come to any fin you have committed often, or deliberately, or against the checks of confcience, or against frequent admonitions, or lafly, against your own special vows and refelations to the contrary; you must take into the account fuck aggravating circumftances as increafe and heighten the guilt of it, to increase your frame and forrow, and to fhew you how greatly we ftand in need of

God's

God's pardon for what ispaft, and of his affifting grace to preferve an Arengthen us in the ways of his laws, and work of his commands. An Fourthly, Some, where they have found themfelves guilty upo any head, whether of omitting a duty, or committing a fin, har written down the fins they have been guilty of, or have marked the in the margin of their book, that they might be able to make more exact and particular confeffion of their feveral offences befor God, and enter their vows and refolutions the more diftinctly again them: and this may be farther useful; for, by comparing one tin with another, you will better difcern the amendment of your life, an growth in chriftian virtue: but this is only advice; for every one left to judge of the usefulness and expediency of this method.

Fifthly, They that can't quiet their confciences by this examini tion, concerning the lawfulness or unlawfulness of this or that actio or r shall meet with fcruples and difficulties of any other kind, let the first pray to God to enlighten and establish their mind, and then ha recourfe to fome learned and pious minifter of God's word, alwa, remembering to be honest and impartial in this work, between G and their own confciences; for it is in vain to hope to hide any though allion, or defign, from his all-feeing eye, who is the great searche and judge of all hearts.

And here I would for the true penitent's greater Jatisfaction re commend to him the reading of the IVth Section, of the care of th foul in the 2e WHOLE DUTY of MAN.

Heads for the examination of confcience, upon thofe duties wherein GOD's honour, and our own and neighbour's good are concerned.

Search and examine your own confciences, and that no lightly, and after the manner of diffemblers with God; but it that ye may come holy and clean to fuch an heavenly feast, it the marriage garment required by God in holy fcripture, ané be received as worthy partakers of that holy table. The fir exhortation in the communion fervice.

Come now let us reafon together, faith the Lord: though your fins be as fcarlet, they fhall be as white as fnow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Ifaiabi. 18.

1. Concerning our duty towards GOD.*

E now, O

Nter, 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, that God beholds the moft fecret thoughts and actions of thy heart and life, and will judge thee with fevere juftice at the laft day?

Art thou warn'd by the fenfe of God's all-feeing providence to take heed to thy ways?

Doft thou ascribe 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 blefling 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 please 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 prefum'd upon his mercy, as to encourage thee to fin against him?

Hath the confideration of God's majesty and great nefs imprinted awful and reverent thoughts concerning him, and bred in thee modeft and humble thoughts concerning thy felf?

B

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

Doth

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

Doft thou steadfastly 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 thyfelf out of calamity by finful means?

Haft thou gone to witches or cunning men for council; 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 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 prophaned the holy and dreadful name of God, by perjury and unlawful oaths, or by cuftomary fwearing or curfing in thy common converfation?

Haft thou not mentioned the name of God, or of his fon Jefus Chrift, irreverently or lightly in thy common conversation?

Doft thou take care to admonish and reprove others for their fins, fo far as thou mayeft 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

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

Haft thou honoured him by a reverent ufage of whatsoever 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 thofe 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 Sabbath Day?

Doft thou go to church with a hearty intention to ferve 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 mayest live according to it?

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

Haft thou every day duly prayed to him, and ́ praised him for tny mercies received?

Have thy prayers and praises been always accompanied with fuch a fenfe of God, and fuch ferioufnefs, fervency, and affection, as he requires ? A Haft thou (notwithstanding the means of grace,

B 2