A Prayer before examination, with a firm refolution to forfake 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.

Almighty God, thou fearcher of hearts, who feeft and knoweft all my fins; help me fo to fearch every fecret of my heart, that I may leave no fin, if poffible, unrepented of. Give me grace fo impartially to judge and condemn myfelf, fo humbly to repent and beg pardon, that I may not be condemned, when I fhall appear at thy tribunal, in the great and terrible day of the Lord Jefus !

But alas! after the moft ftrict 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 prefumptuous and known fins, but from all my fecret and unknown tranfgreffions, for his fake who died for finners, Jefus 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 deathy 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 ali men shall rise again with their bodies, and shall give an

account

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 ajour wilful sins, and sins of commission; and be not over scrupulous either to accuse yourself of sins you never commit- . ted, or to reckon all up 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 he 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 whatsoever you have done amiss; and to pray that God would cleanse you from your secret faults. Observing wherever you find yourself innocent,to glorifyGod, 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 vous 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 shume 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 C

and

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 cows 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 cirtue: 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 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 ΜΑΝ.

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 in holy scripture, and be received as worthy partakers of that holy table. The 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. Isu. i. 18.

I. Con

EN

1. Concerning our Duty towards God*. NTER now,Omy 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 justice 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 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 prefumed upon his mercy, as to encourage thee to fin againft him? Hath

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

Hath the confideration of God's majesty 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 conversation? Doft