2dly. Again, we must likewife practise the utmoft SINCERITY, when we fit in judgment upon ourselves, ever remembering, that there will be a RE-HEARING in another court, and that we fhall be called to a ftrict account, at God's tribunal, for partiality and felf-indulgence,

As man is both the judge and the criminal, he will be in great danger (unless very much upon his guard) of being biaffed in his judicial capacity, and paffing fuch a favourable fentence upon himfelf as will be fet afide hereafter, and subject him to the feverest punishment. We must not think of pleading ignorance or inability at the bar of God, in juftification of our partial awards.

As we are appointed judges of our own breasts, fo the fault will lie at our doors, if we do not endeavour our very utmost to qualify ourselves for this ferious and awful province. The Almighty hath given us capacities for this end; and woe to us if we do not improve them to the purposes for which they were beftowed upon us. It is an undoubted truth, that this judiciary office is a very arduous appointment. But the difficulties which accompany it will never be admitted as excufes for inattention and negligence, and much less for partiality and falfehood, in our execution of this great truft. Whatever lets and

and

and difcouragements may lie in our way-whatever labour and toil we may undergo, all these temporary inconveniences or evils are defigned to render us more watchful, more active, and more exact in our discharge of this folemn and momentous duty.

Wherefore, fince ability, diligence, and impartiality are expected at our hands, let us "keep our "hearts with all diligence," fetting a guard at every avenue, where vice or folly may gain admiffion. Many and various are the inlets of fin and corruption: from our very tempers, inclinations, and paffions; from conftitution, education, and cuftom, a thousand errors may derive their birth, and pass unnoticed and difregarded by us, unlefs we maintain a conftant watch, and narrowly pry into all the dark receffes of the mind.

3dly. But, in the third and last place, there is nothing which fo effectually contributes to our advancements in felf-knowledge as frequent and fervent prayer.

When we withdraw ourselves from the world, that great theatre of business and care on the one hand, and of diverfion and diffipation on the other; when we fhut the door of our closets, call home our straggling thoughts, and confider ourfelves as in the more immediate prefence of Almighty God, THEN commences felf-infpecF 4

tion,

tion, which discovers our wants and our weakness, our manifold fins and wickednefs, and the neceffity of repentance and remiffion. Reiterated and devout prayer was practised by the holy Pfalmist, as the means of attaining felf-acquaintance. He was very defirous of understanding his errors; but, at the fame time, he was abundantly fenfible of his infufficiency for fo difficult a task. He knew that many of his faults withdrew themselves from his infpection, and eluded his moft diligent enquiries; and therefore, he applied to the "Searcher of all hearts," for the discovery of his unsuspected miscarriages, and for the pardon likewise of those abfconding crimes; "Cleanfe thou me from fecret faults."

We have a paffage much to the fame purpose at the conclufion of the 139th Pfalm; where the royal fupplicant profeffes his deficiency in felfknowledge; and upon his knees implores, that the Almighty would forgive the imperfection of his fcrutinies, and gracioufly fupply the defects of his understanding—“ Try me, O God, and seek the ground of my heart; prove me, and examine

my thoughts.-Look well if there be any way " of wickedness in me, and lead me in the way "everlasting."

It is certain, that if we are SINCERE in the profeffion of our defires after felf-knowledge, we

cannot