1. _Let me examine as to my views of Sin._ Have I beheld sin with an
abhorrence far greater than the delight it ever gave me? Has that
abhorrence arisen from an apprehension of the evil consequences to
which it has exposed me, or of its odious nature, and its exceeding
sinfulness as committed against God? Ps. 51:4. Isa. 1:2-4. Have I had a
full apprehension of my own exceeding sinfulness? Ps. 51:4. Isa. 1:5, 6.
Eph. 2:1-3. Have I felt my sins to be an insupportable burden? Ps.
38:2-7. Have I ceased attempting to justify myself? Job 40:4. Luke
18:11-14. Have I utterly despaired of all help from myself? Rom. 3:20.
Have I abandoned all attempts to establish my own righteousness, by
resolutions of amendment and future obedience? Rom. 9:32. 10:3. Have I
exercised sincere and heartfelt sorrow on account of my sins? Ps. 38:17,
18. Has this been the sorrow of the world which worketh death? 2 Cor.
7:10, l.c. 2 Sam. 17:23. Matt. 27:3-5. Acts 8:24. Or has it been godly
sorrow, which worketh repentance not to be repented of? 2 Cor. 7:9-11.
Has my heart been broken, contrite, and humble, under a sense of my sins
against God? Ps. 34:18. 51:17. Isa. 57:15. Has this sense of sin emptied
me of myself, and begotten a deep poverty of spirit? Isa. 66:2. Matt.
5:3. Has it led me to feel my unworthiness of God's favor? Gen. 32:10.
Luke 15:19. 18:13, 14. Have I been filled with shame and self-loathing,
on account of the exceeding greatness of my sin, considered under a view
of the infinite purity and awful majesty of the great Jehovah, against
whom it has been committed? Ezra 9:6. Job 42:1-6. Jer. 31:19. Ezek.
16:63.
2. _As to my views of the government of God._ Do I acquiesce in the
government of God as a most wise, most just, and most righteous
government? Rev. 15:3, 4. Do I cordially, cheerfully, and without
reserve, yield myself, as a moral and accountable being, to the
authority of God, as the moral Governor of the universe? Rom. 6:13.
12:1. Do I feel no reserve in my heart, making first the condition that
I may be saved? Do I humbly acquiesce in the justice of God, in the
eternal punishment of the wicked? Do I include myself in this, thereby
"accepting the punishment of my sin"? Levit. 26:40, 41. Am I sure that
this feeling is not produced by the secret consciousness that it is an
evidence of a gracious state? Jer. 17:9. If all hope of salvation were
suddenly taken away from me, would my heart still acquiesce in the
justice of the sentence of condemnation?
3. _As to my faith in Christ._ Have I ceased from my own works, and, as
a heavy-laden sinner, come to Christ for rest? Heb. 4:10. Matt. 11:28.
Have I seen him to be, in all respects, a complete Saviour, just such as
my ruined and lost condition requires? 1 Cor. 1:30. Gal. 3:13. 4:3-5.
Col. 1:19. 2:3, 10. Have I heartily given up all for him? Matt. 10:37.
Luke 14:26, 33. Phil. 3:7-10. Have I cheerfully taken up my cross and
followed him? Luke 14:27. Do I now consider myself as no more my own,
but the Lord's, by the purchase of the Redeemer's blood? 1 Cor. 6:19,
20. Do I therefore make it my constant and highest aim to glorify God
with my body and spirit which are his? 1 Cor. 6:20. 10:31. Have I
through him become dead to sin, but alive to God? Rom. 6:11. Have I
crucified the flesh, with its affections and lusts? Gal. 5:24. Have I
become dead also to the world, not seeking my portion in its riches,
honors, pleasures, or pursuits? Gal. 2:20. 6:14. 1 John 2:15. Have I
utterly despaired of acceptance with God in any other way than by the
mediation of Christ? Acts 4:12. Heb. 10:26, 27. Have I cordially sought
reconciliation with God through the blood of Jesus? Col. 1:20-22. Does
my hope of salvation rest solely and alone in the righteousness and
atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ? Rom. 3:22-26. Do I receive him as my
_Prophet_, submitting my will entirely to the teachings of his word and
Spirit? Deut. 18:15. Heb. 1:1, 2. 2:1-3. Do I receive him in his office
of _Priest_, trusting in the atonement he has made, and committing my
case to him, that he may intercede for me, before the offended Majesty
of heaven? Heb. 4:14, 15. 7:26, 8:1, 9:11, 12, 24, 25. With humble
confidence in his intercession, do I come boldly to the throne of grace?
Heb. 4:16. Do I cordially submit to him in his office of _King_? Ps.
2:6. 45:1. Isa. 9:6, l.c. Acts 5:31. Do I yield my heart unreservedly to
his authority, making it my constant aim to bring into captivity every
thought and action to the obedience of Christ? Matt. 11:29, 30. John
15:14. Rom. 6:16. 2 Cor. 10:5. Whenever I fall into sin, do I seek to
ease my conscience by reformation and forgetfulness, or do I apply
afresh to Christ, as the only propitiation for sin? 1 John 2:1, 2. Do I
find peace of conscience and spiritual joy in believing in Jesus? Rom.
5:1. 8:1. 14:17. 15:13. 1 Pet. 1:8. Am I united to Christ as the living
branch is to the vine? John 15:1. Do I look to my union with him, as the
branch to the vine, for spiritual nourishment, strength and life? John
15:4. Phil. 2:12, 13. Heb. 13:21. Do I realize the danger of
_self-confidence_? Prov. 28:26. Mark 14:29-31, 68-71. Rom. 11:20. 1 Cor.
10:12. Do I realize to what my union with Christ entitles me? Rom. 8:17.
In view of this union, do I feel a filial spirit of adoption towards God
as _my father_? Ps. 103:13, 14. Rom. 8:15, 16. Gal. 4:4-7. 1 John 3:1,
2. Does this union with Christ lead me to feel a union of spirit with
all his disciples? John 17:21. 1 Cor. 12:12-29. What sympathy does this
lead me to exercise towards them? Rom. 12:15. 1 Cor. 12:26. 1 John 3:17.
Is Christ precious to my soul? 1 Pet. 2:7, f.c. Do I see a moral beauty
and excellence in him above all created intelligences? Ps. 45:1, 2. Ca.
5:9-15. John 1:14. Col. 2:3, 9. Heb. 1:3. How am I affected with the
contemplation of his sufferings for the salvation of my soul? 2 Cor.
5:14, 15.
4. _As to my love to God._ Do I take God for my supreme and eternal
portion? Ps. 16:1-11. 73:25, 26. 119:57. Lam. 3:21. Is he the object of
my highest love? Mark 12:30. Am I willing to relinquish whatever comes
in competition with him as an object of my affection? Mark 10:37-39. Do
I prefer his favor and dread his power above that of all other beings?
Ps. 36:7. 43:3. 89:6-8. Deut. 10:12. Ps. 30:5. 33:8. 88:6-8. Jer. 10:7.
Do I derive comfort in my afflictions by making him my refuge? Ps. 9:9.
57:1. 59:16. Jer. 16:19. When my soul is under the hidings of his
countenance, can I enjoy any other good? Job 29:2-5. Ps. 38:1-10. Do I
experience any ardent longings after his spiritual presence with my
soul? Ps. 42:1, 2. 61:1, 2. Do I feel any earnest desires after
conformity to his image? Matt. 5:6. Rom. 8:29. 1 Cor. 15:49. 2 Cor.
3:18. 4:4. Col. 3:10. Ps. 17:15. Do I delight in the moral law of God,
as a transcript of his holy character? Ps. 37:31. 119:70, 72, 77, 79,
113, 131. Rom. 7:12, 22. Do I feel grieved when I see his law
disregarded? Ps. 119:136, 158. Do I make his will the rule of my life? 1
John 5:3. Do I earnestly strive to bring my heart and life into complete
conformity to his will? Phil. 3:7-14. Do I love his word? Ps. 19:7-11.
119:11, 16, 82, 162, 172. Do I find delight in meditating upon it? Ps.
1:2. 119:148. Do I delight in the ordinances of his house? Ps. 26:8.
36:8. 122:1. 84:10. Do I delight in the Sabbath, anticipating its return
with desire, hailing it with joy, and engaging in its duties with sweet
satisfaction; Isa. 58:13, 14. Do I delight in secret communion with God,
in prayer and praise? Ps. 5:2, 3. 55:16, 17. 88:13. 116:2. 138:1, 2.
146:1, 2. 147:1. 148. Do I love the children of God, as bearing his
image? 1 John 4:20. 5:1. Is my soul ever moved with sweet emotion in
contemplating the infinite _moral_ perfections of God? Ps. 30:4. 96:9.
Do I delight also in his natural perfections, as appertaining to the
Supreme Ruler of the universe? Ps. 96:1-13. 97:1-12. Do I feel this
delight in his character, independent of the idea that he is my friend?
Hab. 3:17, 18. Am I sure that even this emotion is not produced by the
secret thought that the exercise of it is an evidence of my being his
friend?
5. _As to my Christian character in general._ Do I realize my dependence
upon the Holy Spirit for every right feeling and action? John 14:16, 17.
Rom. 8:9, 13, 14. Isa. 26, 12. Are the fruits of the Spirit manifest in
my heart and life? Gal. 5:22-24. Have I mortified my members which are
upon the earth, and put off the works of the flesh? Gal. 5:19-21. Col.
3:5, 8. Have I put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge, after
the image of him that created him? Col. 3:10. Do I manifest my love to
my brethren by a readiness to make sacrifices of personal feeling,
interest, and enjoyment, to promote their welfare and happiness? 1 John
3:14-17. Do I manifest my love for all mankind, by doing good to all as
I have opportunity? Do I feel an unalterable desire for the conversion
of their souls? Rom. 9:1, 2. Am I willing to make personal efforts and
sacrifices to promote this object? Do I heartily and earnestly offer the
prayer,--"Thy kingdom come," doing and giving all in my power to promote
it? Is the same mind in me, in these respects, that was in Christ Jesus?
Phil. 2:4-8. Rom. 15:2, 3. Do I truly feel that it is more blessed to
give than to receive? Acts 20:35 Do I strive, as much as in me lies, to
live in peace with all, and to promote peace among all men? Ps. 34:14.
Matt. 5:9. Rom. 12:18. 2 Cor. 13:11. Heb. 12:14. James 3:17. Do I seek
the peace of Zion, avoiding every unnecessary offence, and even
sacrificing my own feelings for the sake of the peace of the church? Ps.
122:6. Rom. 14:19-21. 1 Cor. 7:15. 8:13. 14:33. Eph. 4:3. 1 Thess. 5:13.
Am I long-suffering and patient under injurious treatment? 1 Cor. 13:4,
7. Do I exercise a spirit of forbearance towards the faults of others,
forgiving injuries and offences? Mark 11:25. Eph. 4:2. Col. 3:13. Do I
put away all envy and jealousy from my bosom--not seeking occasion of
offence by putting the worst construction upon the conduct of
others--not expecting great things for myself, and not being displeased
when I am passed by with apparent neglect? Rom. 12:16. 1 Cor. 13:4, 5,
7. Jer. 45:5. Eph. 4:2. Col. 3:12. Do I not think of myself more highly
than I ought to think? Rom. 12:3, 16. Do I in lowliness of mind esteem
others better than myself? Phil. 2:3. Am I self-willed, headstrong,
determined to have my own way? or am I ready to prefer the judgment of
my brethren, and submit to them, when I can do it conscientiously? Eph.
5:21. 1 Peter 5:5. Am I tender of spirit, kind, gentle, and courteous,
in my intercourse with others? 1 Thess. 2:7. 2 Tim. 2:24. Titus 3:2.
James 3:17. Eph. 4:32. Col. 3:12. 1 Peter 3:8. Have I put on _meekness_,
not being easily provoked to the indulgence of resentful feelings? 1
Cor. 13:5. Have I put away from me all bitterness, and wrath, and anger,
and clamor, and _evil-speaking_, with all malice, not rendering evil for
evil, nor railing for railing? Eph. 4:31. 1 Pet. 3:9. Do I love my
enemies, bless them that curse me, and seek the good of those who strive
to injure me? Matt. 5:44. Rom. 12:14, 20. Do I recognize the hand of God
in the daily blessings of this life? James 1:17. Do I likewise recognize
his hand in the little perplexities and trials of every-day life? Do all
my trials subdue and chasten my spirit, working in me patience,
experience, and hope? Rom. 5:3, 4. Heb. 13:6-11. Am I content with such
things as the Lord gives me, day by day, not taking anxious thought for
the morrow, nor disquieting myself for the future? Matt. 6:25-34. Phil.
4:11. 1 Tim. 6:8. Heb. 13:5. Does my faith lead me to look at the things
that are unseen, and set my affections on things above, and not on
things on the earth? 2 Cor. 4:16-18. Col. 3:1, 2.
* * * * *
Remember, this is a fearful question. Your all is at stake upon it. But,
if at any time you come to the deliberate conclusion that you are
resting upon a false hope, give it up: but do not abandon yourself to
despair. Go immediately to the cross of Christ. Give up your heart to
him, as though you had never come before. There is no other way. This is
the only refuge, and Jesus never sent a soul empty away. "Him that
cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out." Persevere, even though you
find scarce evidence enough to give a faint glimmering of hope.
Continually renew your repentance and faith in Christ. Diligence in
self-examination may be a means of growth in grace: and if you are
really a child of God, your evidences will increase and brighten, till
you will be able to indulge "a good hope through grace." "For, in due
time, we shall reap, if we faint not."
V. _Another object of self-examination is, to ascertain whether we are
prepared to approach the Lord's table._ But let a man examine himself,
and so let him "eat of that bread, and drink of that cup." Here the duty
of self-examination, before partaking of the Lord's Supper, is evidently
taught. And, in the next verse, we are told what is requisite to enable
us to partake of this ordinance in an acceptable manner. It is, that we
have faith in lively exercise to discern the Lord's body. A backslider
in heart, even though a real Christian, is not prepared to partake of
this spiritual feast, without renewing his repentance and faith. In this
examination, two subjects of inquiry present themselves: 1. "Am I a
Christian?" 2. "Am I growing in grace?" In regard to the first of these
inquiries, enough has already been said. To answer the second, you will
need consider,--1. Whether you were living in the exercise of gracious
affections at the last communion. 2. Whether you have since made any
progress in the divine life. To aid you in these inquiries, I have
prepared the following questions, which may be varied according to
circumstances:
The last time I partook of this ordinance, did I meet the Lord at his
table, and receive a refreshing from his presence? Did I there renew my
covenant vows? Have I kept my vows? Have I since lived not unto myself,
but unto God? Have I enjoyed more of the presence of God? Have I lived a
life of faith and prayer? Have I been daily to the cross of Christ for
pardon and strength? Have I maintained continually a deep and lively
sense of divine things? Have I lived a life of self-denial? Have I
obtained any conquests over indwelling sin? Have I made any progress in
subduing the unholy tempers of my heart? Has my will been brought more
entirely to bow to the will of God, so that I have no will of my own?
Has my love increased? Do I feel more delight in contemplating the
divine character, in reading his word, in prayer, in the ordinances of
his house, &c.? Do I feel more intense longings of soul after conformity
to his image? Have I any deeper sense of the exceeding sinfulness of
sin? Do my own sins in particular appear more aggravated? Do I think
less of myself? Does a sense of my own vileness and unworthiness humble
me low before God? Does this lead me to see my need of just such a
Saviour as Jesus? Am I now disposed to cast my all upon him? Has my love
for Christians increased? Do I feel any more compassion for dying
sinners? Has this led me to do more for their conversion? Have I
abounded more in every good word and work? Have the fruits of the Spirit
increased in my heart and life? Have I been more faithful in all the
relations of life? Do I perceive any growing deadness to the world? Does
my relish for spiritual things increase, while my taste for earthly
delights diminishes? Do I see more and more my own weakness, and feel a
more steady dependence upon Christ? Do I feel increasing spirituality in
religious duties? Do I feel increasing tenderness of conscience, and
maintain more watchfulness against sin? Do I feel greater concern for
the prosperity of the church and the conversion of the world? Am I
becoming more meek and gentle in spirit, less censorious, and less
disposed to resent injuries? Am I more ready to receive reproof from
others, without anger or hardness of feeling?
If you have time to keep a journal, you may find some advantage from
reviewing it on such occasions. It will aid your memory, and help you to
give your past life a more thorough examination. You will thereby be the
better able to judge whether you are making progress. However, this is a
dangerous experiment, as it is difficult to divest ourselves of the idea
that we are writing for the perusal of others; and this furnishes many
temptations. But, however unfit this examination may find you, do not
let Satan tempt you to stay away from the Lord's table. It is your duty
to commemorate his dying love. It is your duty also to do it with a
suitable preparation of heart. Both these duties you will neglect by
staying away. In doing so, you cannot expect God's blessing. But set
immediately about the work of repentance. Come to the cross of Christ,
and renew your application to his pardoning blood. Give yourself away to
God anew, and renew your covenant with him. In doing this, he will bless
your soul; and the Lord's table will be a season of refreshing. But if
this repentance and preparation be heartfelt and sincere, its fruits
will be seen in your subsequent life.