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Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith. 2 Cor. xiii. 5.

WHATEVER is the ftate of one wholly renewed, must be, in a lefs degree, the state of all, who are born from above; and whatever is the fruit of perfect holiness, to walk by the fame rule must be the way to obtain the fame falvation. The image of God is one, grace is the fame, and to be in Chrift is to belive, and have the fellowship of his Spirit.

Regeneration differs only in degrees of ftrength and foundness. In our early juftification the divine life is comparatively fmall, mixed with fin; but when perfectly renewed, we are ftrong and every part pure, holding, by faith, that falvation, which makes us one with the Son of God.

The law given in our firft ftate, and the law required by the gospel, the covenant of works, and the covenant of faith, are different. Whatever we fee in the example of Jefus, and whatever he promises to bestow on his followers, are unquestionable privileges of gofpel falvation. Neither is the whole of this falvation, of our juftification, or of our renewal after the image of God finished, till the refurrection, when we fhall fee him as he is, and beholding him face to face his name fhall be written on our foreheads. Nor we ever have fo much of the likeness of God to be incapable of more; but rather the more we

can

obtain of his image and favour, the more we are fitted to receive for ever and ever.

HEADS OF EXAMINATION.

I.

Do I feel any pride; or am I a partaker of the meek and lowly mind, that was in Jefus? Am I dead to all defire of praife? If any defpife me, do I like them the worfe for it? or if they love and approve me, do I love them more on that account? Am I willing to be accounted ufelefs, and of no confequence---glad to be made of no reputation? Do humiliations give me real pleasure, and is it the language of my heart,

Make me little, and unknown,

Lov'd and priz'd by God alone?

II.

Does God bear witnefs in my heart that it is purified that, in all things, I please him? 1

III.

Is the life I live, by the faith of the Son of God; fo that Chrift dwelleth in me? Is Chrift the life of all my affections and defigns, as my foul is the life of my body? Is my eye fingle, and my foul full of light, all eye within and without-always watchful?

IV.

་་

Have I always the prefence of God? Does no cloud come between God, and the eye of my faith? Can I rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing, and in every thing give thanks?

V.

Am I faved from the fear of man? Do I speak plainly to all, neither fearing their frowns, nor feeking their favours? Have I no fhame of religion; and am I always ready to confefs Chrift, to fuffer with his people, and to die for his fake?

VI.

Do I deny myfelf at all times, and take up my crofs as the Spirit of God leads me? Do I embrace the crofs of every fort, being willing to give up my eafe and convenience to oblige others: or do I expect them to conform to my hours, ways, and cuftoms? Does the cross fit light upon me, and am I willing to fuffer all the will of God? Can I trample on pleasure and pain? Have I

A foul inur'd to pain,

To hardships, grief and lofs;
Bold to take up, firm to fuftain,
The confecrated crufs?

VII.

Are my bodily fenfes, and outward things, all fanctified to me? Do I not feek my own things, to please myself? Do I feek grace more for God than myself; preferring the glory of God to all in earth or heaven, the giver to the gift?

VIII.

Am I poor in Spirit? Do I take pleasure in infirmities, neceffities, diftreffes, reproaches; fo that out of weaknefs, want, and danger, I may caft myfelf on the Lord? Have I no falfe fhame in approaching God? Do I feek to be faved, as a poor finner, by grace alone?

IX.

Do I not lean to my own underftanding? Am I ready to give up the point, when contradicted, unlefs confcience forbid, and am I eafy to be perfuaded? Do I efteem every one better than myself? Am I as willing to be a cypher, as to be ufeful, and does my zeal burn bright, notwithstanding this willingness to be nothing?

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X.

Have I no falfe wifdoin, goodness, ftrength; as if the grace I feel were my own? Do I never take that glory to myself, which belongs to Chrift? Do I feel my want of Chrift, as much as ever, to be my all; and do I draw near to God, as poor and needy, only prefenting before him his well beloved Son? Can I fay,

Every moment Lord I need
The merit of thy death?
Still I'll hang upon my God,
Till I thy perfect glory fee,
Till the fprinkling of thy blood
Shall speak me up to thee?

Do I find joy in being thus nothing, empty, undeferving, giving all the glory to Chrift: or do I wish, that grace made me something, instead of God all?

XI.

Have I meeknefs? Does it bear rule over all my tempers, affections, and defires; fo that my hopes, fears, joy, zeal, love, and hatred, are duly balanced? Do I feel no difturbance from others, and do I defire to give none? If any offend me, do I ftill love them, and make it an occafion to pray for them? If condemned by the world, do I intreat ;----if condemned by the godly, am I one, in whofe mouth there is no reproof; replying only as confcience, and not as impatient nature dictates? If in the wrong, do I confefs it if in the right, do I fubmit (being content) to do well, and fuffer for it? It is the fin of fuperiors to be overbearing, of inferiors to be ftubborn; if, then, I am a fervant, do I yield not only to the gentle, but to the froward; committing my caufe in filence to God; or if a mafter, do I fhew all long fuffering? The Lord of all was, as he that ferveth: if I am the greateft, do I make inyself least, and the fervant of all; if a teacher, am I lowly, meek, patient, not conceited, felf-willed, nor dogmatic? Am

.

I ready to give up the claims of refpect due to age,---ftation,--parent,----mafter, &c. or do I rigidly exact thofe demands?

XII.

Do I poffefs refignation: am I content with whatever is, or may be ; feeing that God, the Author of all events, does, and will do, all for my good? Do I defire nothing but God, willing to part with all, if the Lord manifeft his will for my fo doing? Do I know how to abound, and yet not gratify unneceffary wants; but being content with things needful, do I faithfully and freely difpofe of all the reft for the help of others? Do I know, how to fuffer need is my confidence in God unfhaken, while I feel the diftrefs of poverty, and have the profpect of future want, while, humanly fpeaking, ftrangling were better than life and, in thefe circumftances, do I pity thofe, who having plenty wafte it in excess, instead of helping me?

XIII.

Am I juft; doing in all things, as I would others fhould do unto me? Do I render due homage to thofe above me, not prefuming on their lenity and condefcenfion? As a fuperior, do I exercife no undue authority, taking no advantage of the timidity, refpect, or neceffity of any man? Do I confider the great obligation fuperiority lays me under, of being lowly and kind, and of fetting a good example?

XIV.

Am I temperate, ufing the world, and not abufing it? Do I receive outward things in the order of God, making earth a fcale to heaven? Is the fatisfaction I take in the creation confiftent with my being dead to all below, and a means of leading me more to God! Is the turn of my mind and temper in due fubjection, not leading me to any extreme, either of too much

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