Haft thou frequented the holy facrament of the Lord's fupper? or haft thou not ftayed away through caufelefs prejudice, or feigned excufes, being unwilling to part with thy fins? Or, Haft thou at any time received the bleffed facrament without repentance, and a fteadfaft purpose to lead a new life; without a firm and lively faith; a hearty and thankful remembrance of the love of Chrift, in giving himself to be a facrifice for our fins; and without a fincere and univerfal love and good-will to all mankind? II. Concerning our duty towards our neigh bour*. URN now, O my foul, and feriously confider whether thou haft difcharged thy duty to thy neighbour: and first reflect that, in the sense of the Gofpel, not only the perfon who dwells near thee, but every man is thy neighbour Doft thou confider thy neighbours as thy brethren and fellow-members of the body of Chrift? Haft thou had that univerfal love and charity for all men, as to defire all good to them, without fo much as wishing evil or harm to any one? Haft This Duty may be found explained at large in the NEW WHOLE DUTY OF MAN, Sunday 8. Section I. &c. Haft thou, in conformity to this rule, endeavoured in thy place and ftation to prevent evil and damage to the fouls, and bodies, and estates of others? Haft thou never been the means of hurting the foul of thy neighbour, in drawing him to fin by thy authority, or allurements, or example? Haft thou difcouraged or deterred any one from the ferious practice of religion and piety? Haft thou fought and endeavoured to bring those to repentance, whom thou haft any way led into fin? Doft thou endeavour toreftrain thyneighbour from running into fin, by feasonable cautions, and friendly admonitions? Haft thou delighted to grieve any one? Haft thou never injured the body of thy neighbour, by murdering, maiming, or hurting it, or been the means and occafion of doing any of these? Haft thou never been guilty of fighting or attempting duels? Haft thou not enticed or corrupted thy neighbour's wife, or his daughter, or any others belonging to him, and under his care ? Haft thou injured thy neighbour in his goods or eftate by damaging him; by defrauding or over-reaching him in bargains, or contracts; or in his good name, by flandering, backbiting, or infult? Haft Haft thou always performed thy words and contracts, without shuffling, treachery, or deceit ? Haft thou envied the good and profperity of thy neighbour? Reflect if thou haft not published thy neighbour's faults, when neither the glory of God, nor the good of others, made fuch a publication neceffary? Doft thou not delight in laying open the failings of thy neighbour? Haft thou borne falfe witness against any man in a court of juftice? or reproached, reviled, and railed against thy neighbour, in thy ordinary converfation? or fecretly flandered him by whispering and backbiting? Doft thou encourage backbiters, by liftening to them, or giving too eafy credit to their flander? Haft thou not oppreffed thy neighbour by thy power and authority, or by extortion, and griping ufury? Doft thou make a confcience of speaking according to truth? Haft thou endeavoured to affift thy neighbour in any diftreffes, to comfort him in his troubles; or, when aspersed wrongfully, to vindicate his reputation? Hait thou, in the management of thy eftate, or calling, run into debt without hopes or defign of payment? Haft 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 special love to all true and fincere Christians, 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 thyfelf alfo in the body, and liable to the fame wants, diftreffes, and troubles with others? Doftthou approve thyfelfcareful of those of thy family, thy friends and relations, or any other that are committed to thy care, to counsel, 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 bleffed Saviour,to forgive,and to do good to, 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 meeteft with any provocation to revenge or refentment, as much as poffible to live peaceably with all men? III. Concerning our duty towards ourselves*. AST thou lived without the thought HA and confideration, that thou waft created 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 exercife 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. |