all

XI.

Have I meeknefs? Does it bear rule over my tempers, affections, and defires; fo that my hopes, fears, joy, zeal, love, and hatred, are duly balanced? Do I feel no difturbance from others, and do I defire to give none? If any offend me, do I ftill love them, and make it an occafion to pray for them? If condemned by the world, do I intreat;-if condemned by the godly, am I one, in whofe mouth there is no reproof; replying only as confcience, and not as impatient nature dictates? If in the wrong, do I confefs it? if in the right, do I fubmit (being content) to do well, and fuffer for it? It is the fin of fuperiors to be overbearing, of inferiors to be ftubborn; if, then, I am a fervant, do I yield not only to the gentle, but to the froward; committing my cause in filence to God: or if a mafter, do I fhew all long fuffering? The Lord of all was, as he that ferveth: if I am the greatest, do I make myself least, and the fervant of all; if a teacher, am I lowly, meek, patient, not conceited, felf-willed, nor dogmatick? Am I ready to give up the claims of refpect due to age,-ftation,-parent,-mafter &c; or do I rigidly exact those demands?

XII.

Do I poffefs refignation: am I content with whatever is, or may be; feeing that God, the Author of all events, does, and will do, all for my good? Do I defire nothing but God, willing to part with all, if the Lord manifeft his will for my fo doing? Do I know how to abound, and yet not gratify unneceffary wants;

but

VIII.

Am I poor in Spirit? Do I take pleasure in infirmities, neceffities, diftreffes, reproaches; fo that out of weakness, want, and danger, I may caft myself on the Lord? Have I no falfe fhame in approaching God? Do I feek to be faved, as a poor finner, by grace alone?

IX.

Do I not lean to my own understanding? Am I ready to give up the point, when contradicted, unless confcience forbid, and am I eafy to be perfuaded? Do I efteem every one betthan myfelf? Am I as willing to be a cypher, as to be useful, and does my zeal burn bright, notwithstanding this willingness to be nothing?

X.

Have I no falfe wifdom, goodnefs, ftrength; as if the grace I feel were my own? Do I never take that glory to myself, which belongs to Chrift? Do I feel my want of Chrift, as much as ever, to be my all; and do I draw near to God, as poor and needy, only presenting before him his well beloved Son? Can I fay,

Every moment Lord I need

The merit of thy death?
Still I'll hang upon my God,
Till I thy perfect glory fee,
Till the fprinkling of thy blood
Shall fpeak me up to thee?

Do 1 find joy in being thus nothing, empty undeferving, giving all the glory to Chrift: or do I wifh, that grace made me fomething, instead of God all?

XI. Have

XI.

Have I meeknefs? Does it bear rule over all my tempers, affections, and defires; fo that my hopes, fears, joy, zeal, love, and hatred, are duly balanced? Do I feel no disturbance from others, and do I defire to give none? If any offend me, do I ftill love them, and make it an occafion to pray for them? If condemned by the world, do I intreat;-if condemned by the godly, am I one, in whofe mouth there is no reproof; replying only as conscience, and not as impatient nature dictates? If in the wrong, do I confefs it? if in the right, do I fubmit (being content) to do well, and fuffer for it? It is the fin of fuperiors to be overbearing, of inferiors to be ftubborn; if, then, I am a fervant, do I yield not only to the gentle, but to the froward; committing my caufe in filence to God: or if a mafter, do I fhew all long fuffering? The Lord of all was, as he that ferveth: if I am the greatest, do I make myself leaft, and the fervant of all; if a teacher, am I lowly, meek, patient, not conceited, self-willed, nor dogmatick? Am I ready to give up the claims of refpect due to age,-ftation,-parent,-mafter &c; or do I rigidly exact those demands?

XII.

Do I poffefs refignation: am I content with whatever is, or may be; feeing that God, the Author of all events, does, and will do, all for my good? Do I defire nothing but God, willing to part with all, if the Lord manifeft his will for my fo doing? Do I know how to abound, and yet not gratify unnecessary wants;

but

but being content with, things needful, do I faithfully and freely difpofe of all the reft for the help of others? Do I know, how to fuffer need: is my confidence in God unfhaken, while I feel the diftrefs of poverty, and have the profpect of future want, while, humanly fpeaking, frangling were better than life: and, in these circumstances, do I pity thofe, who having plenty waste it in excess, instead of helping me?

XIII.

Am I juft; doing in all things, as I would others fhould do unto me? Do I render due homage to thofe above me, not prefuming on their lenity and condefcenfion? As a fuperior, do I exercife no undue authority, taking no advantage of the timidity, refpect, or neceffity of any man? Do I confider the great obligation fuperiority lays me under, of being lowly and kind, and of letting a good example?

XIV.

Am I temperate, ufing the world, and not abufing it? Do I receive outward things in the order of God, making earth a fcale to heaven? Is the fatisfaction I take in the creation confiftent with my being dead to all below, and a means of leading me more to God? Is the turn of my mind and temper in due fubjection, not leading me to any extreme, either of too much filence, or of too much talkativeness, of referve or freedom?

XV.

Am I courteous, not fevere; fuiting myself to all with fweetnefs; ftriving to give no one

pain, but to gain and win all for their good?

XVI.

Am I vigilant; redeeming time, taking every opportunity of doing good; or do I fpare myfelf, being carelefs about the fouls and bodies to which I might do good? Can I do no more than I do? Do I perform the moft fervile offices,. fuch as require labour and humiliation, with cheerfulness? Is my converfation always feafoned with falt, at every time adminiftering fome kind of favour to those I am with?

XVII.

Do I love God with all my heart? Do I conftantly prefent myself, my time, fubftance, talents, and all that I have, a living facrifice? Is every thought brought into fubjection to Chrift? Do I like, or dillike, only fuch things as are pleasing, or displeasing, to God?

XVIII.

Do I love God with all my ftrength, and are my fpiritual faculties always vigorous? Do I give way to no finful langour? Am I always on my watch? Do not business, worldly care, and converfation, damp my fervour and zeal for God?

XIX.

Do I love my neighbour as myself;-every man for Chrift's fake, and honour all men, as the image of God? Do I think no evil, liften to no groundless furmises, nor judge from appearances? Can I bridle my tongue, never Ipeaking of the fault of another, but with a

view