imcomparable glories of the Saints; or hear the sweet harmonious hymns which they continual ly sing, how should we study to imitate those holy ways, by which we know they arrived at all their happiness! how should we seek all occasions of improvement, and make it our business to work out our Salvation!-did man but seriously consider what he says he believes, he would never live as he doth. Who can doubt but ere long he shall be turned into dust yet, which of us lives as if we thought ever to die?

V. Pity, O gracious Lord, the frailties of thy servant, and suffer not my blindness to lead me into ruin. Supply want of sight by a lively faith, and strengthen my faith by thy powerful grace; make me remember it is no trifling thing to gain or lose the kingdom of Heaven -make me choose wisely, and pursue my choice, and use as well the means, as the end. O set thou right the biass of my heart, that in all my motions I may draw off from the world; that I may still incline towards thee, and rest at last in thy holy presence.Thou art my Lord, and I will serve thee in fear; thou art my God, and I will love thee in hope: What will it profit me to gain the whole world, and lose my own Soul? or, what shall I give in exchange for my soul?

Follow the Directions in page 8.

A Prayer before Examination, with a firm resolution to forsake the vanities of this wicked World.

Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup, 1 Cor. xi. 28.

ALMIGHTY God, thou searcher of hearts, who seest and knowest all my sins; help me so to search every secret of my heart, that I may leave no sin, if possible, unrepented of. Give me grace so impartially to judge and condemn myself, so humbly to repent and beg pardon, that I may not be con demned when I shall appear at thy tribunal, in the great and terrible day of the Lord Je

sus.

But alas!-after the most strict examination we can make, who can tell how oft he offendeth? cleanse me, therefore, O Lord, I be seech thee, not only from my presumptuous and known sins, but from all secret and unknown transgressions, for his sake, who died for siu ners, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"H

DIRECTIONS for Self-Examination.

"TAVING devoutly prayed for God's as sistance, doubt not but he will vouchsafe "it to you. And the better to dispose your heart "to the duty of self-examination.

"Consider seriously, that it is appointed for "all men once to die, and after death to be called to judgment.

"That God hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by Jesus "Christ. At whose coming all men shall rise "again without their bodies, and shall give an ac"count of their own works: and they that have "done good, shall go into life everlasting; and

they that have done evil, into everlasting fire: "for the books shall be opened, and the dead "shall be judged out of the things written in those books according to their works. "And then,

"Consider how much, how nearly it con"cerns you to judge yourself before that time, "that you be not judged, that is, condemned, " of the Lord.

"But so many and various are the sins of our "lives in thought, word and deed, against God, 66 our neighbour and ourselves, that this work "will at best be confused, unless Christians have proper helps to bring their several sins distinct. "ly to remembrance; so that I shall, in this form, "lay before you the several heads of your duty "to God, our neighbour, and ourselves, as the

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"" most

"most effectual help in this case; that upon "each particular head, you may examine your past life, and try the present disposition of 66 your heart.

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"First, When you examine yourself, let it "be chiefly about your wilful sins, and sins "of commission; and be not over scrupulous, "either to accuse yourself of sins you never "committed, or to reckon up all your infir"mities; for that would render your exami "nation endless and impracticable; and though "there may be some sins that you may "doubt whether you have committed; others you may fear you have forgot; yet be not discouraged for when you have acted, "honestly, and sincerely, rest satisfied. But "what sins you cannot recollect and find out, "so as particularly to confess and bewail, you "ought to conclude under a general repen"tance for whatsoever you have done amiss; "and to pray that God would cleanse you "from your secret faults. Observing where"ever you find yourself innocent, to glorify "God, and beg of him so to preserve and ❝continue you.

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"Secondly, If you have not wholly ne"glected, and yet desire particularly to increase in some Christian virtue, lift up your "heart to God, for his holy Spirit to aid and "assist your sincere endeavours to grow in it ;"for we are not barely to avoid sin, but to "grow in grace and goodness.

"Thirdly,

"Thirdly, When you think of any sin you "haye committed often or deliberately, or against "the checks of conscience, or against frequent "admonitions, or lastly, against your own speci❝ al vows and resolutions to the contrary ;--66 you must take into the account such aggravating circumstances as increase and heighten the guilt of it, to increase your shame "and sorrow, and to shew you how greatly we "stand in need of God's pardon for what iş past, and of his assisting grace to preserve and strengthen us in the ways of his laws, and works of his commands. And

"Fourthly, Some, where they have found "themselves guilty upon any head, whether "of omitting a duty, or committing a sin, have written down the sins they have been

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guilty of, or have marked them in the mar"gin of their book, that they might be able to make a more exact and particular confession of their several offences before God, "and enter their vows and resolutions the more

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distinctly against them; and this may be "farther useful; for by comparing one time "with another, you will better discern the a"mendment of your life, and growth in chris"tian virtue: but this is only advice; for eve

ry person is left to judge for himself of the "usefulness and expediency of this method. "Fifthly, They that cannot quiet their con"cience by this examination concerning the lawfulness or unlawfulness of this or that "action, or that meet with scruples and diffi