IV.

_To be used when you have more time than usual._

Did I last night compose myself to sleep with a sweet sense of the

divine presence? Did I meditate upon divine things in the wakeful hours

of the night? When I awoke this morning, did my heart rise up with

gratitude to my merciful Preserver? Did I remember that I am indebted

for life, and health, and every enjoyment, to the sufferings and death

of my dear Redeemer? Did I renewedly consecrate my spared life to his

service? And have I lived this day for God, and not for myself? Have I

denied self, whenever it has come between me and duty? Have I indulged a

self-seeking spirit? Have I refused to make any personal sacrifice,

whereby I might glorify God, or do good to others? Has my heart been

affected with any discoveries of the infinite loveliness of the divine

perfections? Have I had a view of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and

the corruptions of my own heart in particular? Has this driven me from

resting upon anything in myself, to put my trust alone in Christ? Have I

felt any longing desires after conformity to the divine image? Have I

felt any delight in the law of God? Has my heart been grieved to see

that I fall so far short of keeping it? Has my soul been filled with joy

and peace in believing in Christ? Have I felt a lively sense of the

divine presence continually? Have I maintained a cheerful, serene, and

peaceful temper of heart?

Have I studied the word of God with an earnest desire to know present

duty? Have I neglected or delayed to perform any duty when it has been

made known? Have I felt that God was speaking _to me_ through his word?

Have I sought the aid of the Holy Spirit? Have I read God's word with a

prayerful spirit? Have I read it with self-application? Have I felt any

sensible delight while reading it?

Have I spent any time in heavenly meditation? Was this exercise

performed in a prayerful spirit? Did the truth I was contemplating

deeply affect my own heart? Have my thoughts been habitually directed

towards heavenly things?

Have I observed my regular seasons of prayer? Has my frame of spirit

been, lively, and my thoughts collected, in this exercise? Have I felt

my dependence upon the Spirit of God? Have I earnestly and sincerely

desired the things for which I have asked? Have I desired them for the

glory of God, or for the gratification of myself? Have I _laid hold_ of

the promises of God? Have I maintained a constant spirit of prayer? Have

I sent up frequent ejaculations to God? In all my approaches to the

throne of grace, have I come with a suitable preparation of heart? Has a

sense of the divine presence filled me with holy awe and reverence? Has

my heart been drawn out to God with filial affection and humble

confidence, through Jesus the Mediator? Have I felt my need? Have I

humbled myself low before God? Have I not regarded iniquity in my heart?

Have I felt an humble submission to the will of God?

Have I watched over my heart continually, against the temptations of

Satan? Have I indulged wandering thoughts, during any of the devotional

exercises of the closet? Have I watched over my fancy, and kept under my

imagination? or have I suffered it to wander without control?

Have I exercised a proper control over all my appetites, desires, and

passions? Have I used all diligence to improve my mind, that I might be

capable of doing more for the glory of God, and the good of my

fellow-creatures? Have I sought the aid of the Holy Spirit in this,

also? Have I felt continually that my time is not my own? Have I

employed every moment of the past day in the most profitable manner?

Have I felt the pressure of present obligation?

Have I neglected any opportunity of doing good, either to the souls or

bodies of others? Have I been modest, unobtrusive, and courteous, in all

I have done and said? Have I been prudent and discreet in all things?

Have I first sought the direction of God, and then entered upon these

duties in a spirit of prayer?

Have I glorified God in my dress? Have I been influenced, in this

respect, by the pride of appearance? Have I wasted any time at the

toilet?

Have I felt any emotions of love for Christians? Has this love arisen

from the image of Christ manifest in them; or from their friendship for

me, and the comfort I have enjoyed in their society? Have I refused to

make personal sacrifices for their benefit? Have I felt any love for the

souls of sinners? What has this led me to do for their conversion? Have

I exercised any feelings of compassion for the needy? What has this led

me to do for them?

Have I manifested a morose, sour, and jealous disposition towards

others? Have I been easily provoked? Have I been irritated with the

slightest offences or crosses of my will? Have I indulged an angry,

fretful, peevish temper? Have I spoken evil of any, or listened with

complacency to evil-speaking? Do I now harbor ill-will towards any being

on earth? In all my intercourse with others, have I manifested a

softness and mildness of manner, and a kind and tender tone of feeling?

Or have I indulged in harshness and severity, pride and arrogance? Have

I exercised forbearance towards the faults of others? Have I from my

heart forgiven them? Have I esteemed myself better than others? Have I

felt the secret workings of spiritual pride? Have I engaged in trifling

and vain conversation, or in any other manner conformed to the spirit of

the world? Have I maintained Christian sincerity in all things? When in

company, have I improved every opportunity of giving a profitable

direction to conversation? Have I improved every opportunity to warn

impenitent sinners? Have I gone into company, without first visiting my

closet? Have I been diligent and faithful in the business of the day?

Have I done the same to others as I would wish them to do to me?

II. _Another object of self-examination may be, to ascertain the reason

why the Lord does not answer our prayers._ This reason may generally be

found in ourselves. I know of but two exceptions. One is, when the thing

we ask is not agreeable to the will of God. The other is, when the Lord

delays to answer our prayers for the trial of our faith. The obstacles

which exist in ourselves, to prevent him from granting our requests, are

generally some of the following:--1. We may be living in the practice of

some sin, or the neglect of some duty. "If I regard iniquity in my

heart," says the Psalmist, "the Lord will not hear me." "He that turneth

away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be

abomination." We may weep day and night, on our knees, before God, all

our lives; yet if we are living in the habitual neglect of duty, or if

any sin cleaves to us, for which we have not exercised repentance, and

faith in the atoning blood of Christ, he will not hear our prayers. 2.

We may not be sufficiently humble before God. "Though the Lord be high,

yet hath he respect unto the lowly; _but the proud he knoweth afar

off_;" "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble."

"Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up."

"Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble

himself shall be exalted." Hence, if our hearts are proud, and we refuse

to humble ourselves deeply before God, he will not answer our prayers.

3. We may not desire the things we ask, that God may be glorified, but

that it may minister to our own gratification. "Ye ask, and receive not,

because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts." When we

ask with such motives, we have no right to expect that God will hear our

prayers. 4. We may not be asking in faith. "But let him ask in faith,

nothing wavering. For he that wavereth, is like a wave of the sea,

driven with the wind and tossed. For _let not that man think that he

shall receive_ anything of the Lord." "Without faith, it is impossible

to please God." 5. We may be exercising an unforgiving-temper; and, if

so, the Lord has declared that he will not hear our prayers. Mark 11:25,

26. Mat. 18:35.

When, therefore, you have been for some time praying for any particular

object without receiving an answer, carefully examine yourself, with

reference to these points; and wherein you find yourself deficient,

endeavor, in the strength of Christ, immediately to reform. If your

circumstances will permit, set apart a day of fasting and prayer for

this object. And, if the answer is still delayed, repeat the

examination, until you are certain that you have complied with all the

conditions of the promises.

III. _Another object of self-examination is, to ascertain the cause of

afflictions, whether spiritual or temporal._ If the Lord sends distress

upon us, or hides from us the light of his countenance, he has some good

reason for it. By reading the book of Haggai, you will discover the

principles upon which God deals with his people. If, therefore, the work

of your hands does not prosper, or, if the Lord has withdrawn from you

his special presence, be sure that something is wrong; it is time for

you to "consider your ways." In this book the Lord informs the Jews of

the cause of their poverty and distress. They had not built the house of

God. He also tells them that the silver and the gold are his; and that

he will bless them as soon as they do their duty. We are as dependent

upon God's blessing now as his people were then. If we withhold from him

what he requires of us for advancing the interests of his kingdom, can

we expect temporal prosperity? If we refuse to do our duty, can we

expect his presence? These, then, should be the subjects of inquiry,

under such circumstances. In such cases, also, it may be very proper to

observe a day of fasting and prayer.

IV. _Another object of self-examination is, to know whether we are

Christians._ "Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith." This is a

very important inquiry. It is intimately connected with every other, and

should enter more or less into all. In order to prosecute this inquiry,

you must make yourself thoroughly acquainted with the evidences of

Christian character. These are clearly exhibited in the holy Scriptures.

Study the Bible diligently for this purpose; and, wherever you discover

a mark of Christian character, inquire whether you possess it. You may

also find benefit from the writings of men of great personal experience,

who have had much opportunity of observing the effects of true and false

religion. In particular, I would recommend to you the careful study of

President Edwards' Treatise on Religious Affections. He was a man of

great piety, who had attained to the _full assurance of hope_. He had

also passed through a number of revivals of religion. The work of which

I speak contains a scriptural view of the evidences of the new birth;

and also points out, with great clearness and discrimination, the marks

of false religion. He distinguishes between those things which may be

common both to true and false religion, and those which are the certain

marks of true conversion.

Self-examination, for this object, should be habitual. In reading the

Bible, in meditation, in hearing the word, wherever you see an evidence

of Christian character, inquire whether you possess it. But this is not

sufficient. You ought frequently to set apart seasons for the solemn and

prayerful consideration of the important question,--"_Am I a

Christian_?" A portion of the Sabbath may be very properly spent in this

way. You should enter upon this work with the solemnities of the

judgment-day before you. The Scriptures furnish abundant matter for

self-examination. Bring the exercises of your heart, and the conduct of

your life, to this unerring standard. You will also find much assistance

in this exercise by the use of the following tracts, published by the

American Tract Society:--No. 21, entitled "A Closet Companion;" No. 146,

entitled "Helps to Self-Examination;" and No. 165, entitled "True and

False Conversions Distinguished;" and likewise from a little work

entitled "Are you a Christian?" by Rev. Hubbard Winslow. You have also

probably noticed several chapters in Doddridge's Rise and Progress,

admirably adapted to this object. I mention these, because it is

advantageous frequently to vary the exercise. The subject of true and

false conversion is continually undergoing discussion; and those who

feel truly anxious to know the foundations upon which they rest will not

fail to avail themselves of every approved treatise on the subject. But,

above all, study the Bible diligently and prayerfully, for the purpose

of ascertaining the genuine marks of saving grace; take time to perform

the work of self-examination thoroughly, bringing to your aid all the

information you can obtain from these sources--varying the exercise, at

different times, that it may not become superficial and formal.

I have also prepared some questions for this purpose, which you will

find below. In these questions, I have not aimed at covering the whole

ground of Christian experience, so much as to bring before the mind, in

connection, some of the most prominent passages of Scripture relating to

the evidences of Christian character. Nor have I taken particular pains

to prevent the questions from involving each other; as we may detect our

deficiencies on the same points the more readily by having them held up

in a variety of views. The chief design of these questions will be lost,

if you do not examine the passages of Scripture referred to. Some of the

traits of character here presented may not be certain evidence of piety;

while, in other cases, a person may be a Christian while possessing the

graces mentioned in a much less _degree_ than they are here represented.

It is not necessary, where time is limited, to go through the whole of

these questions at once; and probably in most cases it will be found

more edifying to take up a portion of them at a time.