ness to answer them to our own souls, and before that Being from whose presence we cannot flee, and who will give us moral life, and joy, and peace, in proportion to our fidelity in the cause of his truth. And if these questions are deliberately proposed and answered, we shall thus prepare the way to make further examinations, and bring ourselves nearer up to the great standard of all, the Teacher of Christians himself, the "author and finisher of our faith."

The words of the gifted and excellent Hannah More, on the subject of self-examination, are so much to the point in this place, that I cannot withhold them. "We have appetites to control, imaginations to restrain, tempers to regulate, passions to subdue, and how can this internal work be effected, how can our thoughts be kept within due bounds, how can a proper bias be given to the affections, how can the little state of man be preserved from continual insurrection, how can this restraining power be maintained, if this capacity of discerning, this faculty of inspecting, be not kept in regular exercise? Without constant discipline, imagination will become outlaw, conscience an attainted rebel.

"This inward eye, this power of introversion is given us for a continual watch upon the soul. On an unremitted vigilance over its interior motions, those faithful seeds of action, those prolific principles of vice and virtue, will depend both the growth and formation of our religious character. A superficial glance is not enough for a thing so deep, an unsteady view will not suffice for a thing so wavering, nor a casual look for a thing so deceitful, as the human heart. A partial inspection on any one side, will not be enough for an object which must be observed un

der a variety of aspects, because it is always shifting its positions, always changing its appearances.

"We should examine not only our conduct, but our opinions; not only our faults, but our prejudices; not only our propensities, but our judgments. Our actions themselves will be obvious enough; it is our intentions which require the scrutiny. These we should follow up to their remotest springs, scrutinize to their deepest recesses, trace through their most perplexing windings. And lest we should in our pursuit wander in uncertainty and blindness, let us make use of that guiding clue, as furnished by his word and by his Spirit, for conducting us through the intricacies of this labyrinth. What I know not, teach me, should be our constant petition in all our researches." *

Without doubt, this work of self-examination will seem unpleasant; because it is extremely disagreeable for us to see our dark side, to bring down our inordinate self-esteem, and realize, that we are weak and frail, and have, in many points, transgressed the laws of righteousness and truth. Yet, disagreeable as the task may seem, it must be performed, or our Christianity will prove to us nothing more than a mere name, - a sound without substance.

In this important work certain duties are to be observed, otherwise our self-examination may not be of the profitable kind.

I. We should enter upon the work with a full trust in God. Our help must come from him. If we are weak, he is strength; if we are in darkness, he is light; if we are sinful, he is holiness; if we are ignorant, he is unerring wisdom. And the direction is plain, "If any man lack wisdom let him ask it of God, who giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not." Trusting in our own strength, we shall accomplish but little; but humbly and confidently looking to God for his aid and direction, we shall be blessed indeed.

II. We must enter upon the work with sincerity. We may deceive men; we may deceive ourselves; but we cannot deceive God. He is not mocked; he looketh on the heart; and if we come before him with the vain pretence of self-examination, while at the same time we are not truly interested in our own case as we should be; while we are dull and stupid, or engrossed in other matters, and only make a formal advance to the labor, without true, deep feeling on the subject, depend on it we shall not find acceptance nor aid.

III. We should be impartial in our examination. I mean by this, that we should have all our faults fairly before us, and pass judgment on them as we would on the faults of others. We are liable to sad mistakes here. Self-love has a powerful influence in our minds; and this often prompts us to look with a certain degree of lenity on our own faults, when if we beheld them in others, we should at once condemn them. The best way to proceed in this case, is for the person to look on himself as he would on another, - to mark the follies, and scrutinize the actions, and endeavour to make a just estimate of the whole character. This may be a difficult work to commence, but practice will soon render it tolerable. If we only mark a few of our follies and sins, and overlook the remainder by reason of self-love, our examination will be profitless.

IV. We must enter upon the work with a firm resolu

tion to profit by it. Of what avail is it, that we come before the Lord, and ask his assistance in the examination of our hearts; and discover the places where amendment is necessary, and then go away and neglect to do the needed work? Such a course will not profit us. We must follow our examination with exertion. We must go into the work of rooting up the evils we have seen; nor must we cease this work till our most ardent wishes are accomplished. Indolence and slackness have no part nor lot in the business of self-examination.

V. We must be determined to overcome our secret sins. Here is one of the great essentials of self-examination, to overcome those sins which are kept from the world, and are known only to ourselves. "Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults." So said the Psalmist; and his prayer should be ours. It is not enough, that we appear without glaring faults before

men.

We ought to strive against little ones in secret. If we enter into our closet to pray, we should enter there to examine also. The dark places should be searched, and our eye kept on the lookout for the temptations that beset us in our retirement from the world. "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy."

VI. In self-examination we must have the true standard before us. It is not enough, that we compare ourselves with professors of other religious denominations, and remain content with the belief, that we equal them in goodness. This is a sad mistake. Do we not believe, that ours is the best faith? Surely; else why have we embraced it? And if it is the best, should it not lead us to live better than others? I do not mean, that we should

be led into the extreme of self-righteousness, but that we be just as our better faith commands. Every one, therefore, should be careful how he compares himself with others, either of differing sects or of his own; with strangers or acquaintances, opponents or friends. Nor should we judge by our former actions how we may have improved in our conduct, or what degree of amendment is yet requisite. Some, who have to a certain degree overcome a few evil habits and propensities, conclude, in comparing the present with the past, that the work of reformation is complete. Another sad mistake. The Scriptures are to be our only guide in this case. God's word is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. In its holy light we need not deceive ourselves. Let this be our standard, and we have reason to believe, that the work of self-examination will be true and salutary. Our fervent prayer, coming from the inmost recesses of the soul, should be, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts, and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way that is everlasting."

The duty of self-examination has been thus briefly considered. It is a duty which every gospel believer must observe, or forfeit his claim to Christian discipleship. It is idle to talk of a real Christian, who has not looked within his own heart, and made himself acquainted with its weaknesses and corruptions; and who is not willing to seek that aid, in eradicating its besetting evils, which the Bible affords. He who does not examine and watch himself, is like a heedless charioteer, who, instead of carefully guiding the steeds before him, gazes continually and thoughtlessly about, at the risk of being thrown to the