Haft thou openly by force, or fecretly by theft, taken away the goods of thy neighbour, or betrayed him in any manner committed to thy truft and management? Art thou ready to make reftitution accoring to thy power,for thewrong and injustice thou haft at any time done thy neighbour? Haft thou not fcoffed at or vilified thy neighbour, for deformity of body or weaknefs of mind? Haft thou had a more fpecial love to all true and fincere Chriftians, meekly borne with their infirmities, and heartily defired and fought their welfare? Haft thou relieved the wants and neceffities of thy neighbour according to thy ability, as one that is affected with them, and as being thyself alfo in the body, and liable to the fame wants, diftreffes, and troubles with others? Doftthou approve thyfelfcareful of thofe of thy family, thy friends and relations, or any other that are committed to thy care, to counfel, to comfort, to reprove, as occafion is given, and need requires? Haft thou been mild and gentle in thy carriage towards thy inferiors; courteous, affable, and obliging towards thy equals; and doft thou pay due honour and reverence to thy fuperiors in church and state, for confcience fake, as having their authority from God? Doft Doft thou fhow due thankfulness and gratitude to all thy benefactors? Art thou ready, after the example of our bleffedSaviour,to forgive,and to do good te, and to pray for thy enemies, and doft thou not feek or defire opportunities of revenge? Doft thou enforce upon thy mind, as oft as thou meetest with any provocation to revenge or refentment, as much as poffible to live peaceably with all men ? III. Concerning our duty towards ourselves*. HAS AST thou lived without the thought and confideration, that thou waftcreated by God to be eternally happy or miferable after this life; notwithstanding thy intereft and duty,and the exprefs command of God, call and oblige thee to be much and frequent in the exercise thereof? Haft thou duly confidered the terms and conditions, upon which God hath promifed to make thee everlastingly happy? Haft thou not wafted thy time in idlenefs, or any unprofitable vanity? Haft thou laid to heart the shortness and uncertainty of this prefent life, and daily m proved it to the beft advantage? Doft thou remember, that after this life we must give an account of all our actions? Haft *This duty may be found explained at large in the NEW WHOLE DUTY OF MAN, Sunday 13, Section 1, &c. Haft thou exercised a daily care and watchfulness over thy deceitful heart, refifting its importunities and lufts? Haft thou contented thy felf with only the form and outfide of religion and godliness, neglecting the life and power thereof? Haft thou earnestly implored the affiftance of the Holy Spirit of God, to renew and fanctify thee? Doft thou study to attain a true humility, and to become fenfible of thy own follies and frailties? Doft thou refift the first rifings of pride, and an immoderate opinion of thy own understanding, and ftudy to improve it to God's glory, and the good of mankind? Doft thou endeavour after a meek and quiet fpirit? Haft thou not behaved with pride and haughtiness in converfation and carriage? Haft thou not been angry without caufe, or above juft caufe? Haft thou not been pettish and froward in little things, and upon mere mistakes, and involuntary errors of others, for want of reviewing things in their juft nature, weight and measure? Art thou contented with the condition which God hath allotted thee in this world? Haft thou not been immoderately concerned and anxious about prefent things? Haft Haft thou not been too covetous of the world, its riches, honours, and pleafures? Haft thou not fought to gain, or to keep them by finful means? Doft thou not envy others, because their condition is more plentiful and profperous than thy own? Haft thou been diligent in doing thy own business, and to provide thofe things that are needful and expedient for thyfelf and family, and fuch as depend upon thee? Haft thou endeavoured to make thyfelf ufeful in the world, and charitable to thy fellow-creatures? Haft thou restrained thy appetites? haft thou not committed excels in eating and drinking, in fleep, or recreations? Doft thou spend more time in fleeping and recreations than is a neceflary and convenient refreshment? Doft thou choofe and defire fuch recreations only as are honeft and innocent? Doft thou faft and pray for the fubduing and mortifying of thy lufts? Haft thou never been guilty of adultery, fornication, or any other actual pollution and uncleannefs, and been careful to avoid. all fuch objects and difcourfes as are apt to excite filthy defires in thy heart? Haft thou not had an impure heart, or D un unclean affections, or offended by any unchafte thoughts, words, or actions? Doft thou ufe moderation in thy apparel, fuitable to thy condition and abilities? Directions. N. B. Thus far, all persons of what age, sex, or condition soever, are concerned to examine themselves distinctly in relation to the sins they have committed against GOD, their neighbour, and them elves. But upon the following heads inquiry is only to be made as they shall agree with every one particular circumstance and relation in life. The duty of a child to the parent*. AST thou reverenced and honoured thy parents, obeyed their lawful commands, and attended to their wife counfels and instructions, and that for confcience fake? Doft thou fhow all love and gratitude to them for thy being and education? Doft thou heartily with and pray for their life and profperity? Haft thou, according to thy ability, made a comfortable provifion for them, if reduced to want?' Doft thou dutifully conceal and excufe their failings and infirmities? Haft thou been difobedient to them; difhonoured them in thy mind, or carried thyfelf rudely and irreverently in thy behaviour towards them? Haftthoumocked,orfpoken evil ofthem? *This duty may be four d exp! ined at large, in the New WHOLE DUTY OF MAN, Sunday 8. Sections V. and VI. |