The Communicants Guide, Chapter 5
CHAP. V. An help for the Examination of our Repentance and Obedience.
IT is the great Blessing of the Gospel, Matt. 9. 13.that CHRIST came to call Sinners to Repentance. That after the Law of Innocence was broken,Luke 24. 47. and we were under the Curse of Death, and an impossibility to be saved by our own Righteousness, Repentance is allowed of, and a new Obedience.
Repentance, Matth. 3. 2.in Scripture,Mark 1. 15. is sometimes all one with Conversion; Luke 13. 3.that is,Acts 3. 19. 26. 20. 2. 38. such a turning and change of Heart and Mind, that, being brought to the Knowledge of the true God and our Duty to him, we renounce our former course of Life, and resolve to serve and honour God according to his Word. This fits us for Baptism, wherein God's Minister, in God's Name, admits us into the Church, and assures us of Pardon upon our continuing living Members of the same.
Repentance is also an humbling sense of,Revelat. 2. 5. and hearty Sorrow for any Sin or Violation of our Baptismal Covenant, 2 Cor. 7. 9. 10.with a free Confession of our Demerit,1 Iohn 1. 9. an earnest begging of Pardon,Isai. 1. 16, 17. a resolving to amend,Ezek. 36. 31, 32. and praying for God's Grace so to do.
Now because all Sin is Disobedience to the Law of God, 1 Iohn 3. 4.we may at once examine our Repentance and Obedience by that Law, it telling us our Duty, and our Consciences telling us how we have either done it, or are concerned for not doing it. Ask then,
Have I done my best,1 Cor. 15. 34. by such helps as God affords me,Romans 1. 22. to attain to divine Knowledge, and not contented my self to live in Ignorance of God and of his Truth? Hath the Knowledge of God wrought in me a most high and honourable Esteem of him, an aweful Reverence towards him, an entire Resignation of my self to him, and humble Obedience to his Government, a total dependance and trust to his Goodness, an unfeigned Love of him above all things, and an ardent Desire to enjoy him?
Do I love God for the excellency of his Nature,Matth. 22. 38. and the beauty of his Holiness,1 Iohn 5. 3. and his Goodness to me and all men; especially as manifested in Iesus Christ? Do I love him so, as to love his Laws, and his Word and Worship, his Ministers and his Children; his House and Day, and every thing that relates to him? Is it the earnest desire of my Soul to be able to honour him more, and to be more like him in Holiness, and can I find no rest to my Soul in any thing but him?
Have I made his Wisdom my Director,Psal. 119. 24. and his Will my Choice,Matth. 6. 25. and his Promises my Confidence,Phil. 4. 6. and his Laws my Rule,1 Pet. 5. 7. and depending on his Providence in all dangers or wants, using the lawful means which he alloweth, and no other, without any disheartning Fears, or anxious Thoughts and Cares, commending the Success to him in Prayer; dare I trust all my Concerns, both in this World and the next, to God, only through the Mediation of Iesus Christ?
Do I not presume of Salvation by Christ without the Sanctification of his Spirit, nor hope for Mercy without Repentance and Amendment of my Life;1 Iohn 3. 3. but doth my hope in God set me upon cleansing my self from all Filthiness of Flesh and Spirit,2 Corinth. 7. 1. and perfecting Holiness in the Fear of God, never despairing of his Mercy through Christ so long as I sincerely desire and endeavour to serve him faithfully?
Have I been patient in Wants,Mic. 7. 9. and Losses,Lam. 3. 39. and Griefs,Iames 1. 4. without all repining at God's Dealings,Luke 22. 42. or hard Thoughts of him?Romans 8. 28. Do I thankfully receive his sharpest Chastisements, improving them all to Humility, and Amendment of Life, and rejoycing in them as Tokens of his Love, and as the Condition which he hath chosen as best for me?
Have I not neglected to worship God devoutly both in publick and in secret,Iohn 4. 24. and do I not rest in a formal outward Worship, and for low ends,Matth. 15. 7. but heartily,1 Peter 2. 1. in pure Conscience of Duty,Matthew 7. 7. to honour God thereby?Romans 12. 12. Do I pray fervently and reverently,Iames 5. 16. and with a prepared and composed Mind,1 Iohn 5. 14. and for such things as are agreeable to God's Will,Colos. 3. 16. especially for Grace to enable me to honour him? Have I reverently, attentively, and constantly, read and heard God's Word, treasuring it in my Heart as the Rule of Life, and Foundation of Hope, not enduring to hear it abused?
Have I kept holy the days of God's solemn Worship, constantly frequenting the publick Assemblies, and devoutly joyning in all the Services there?Exodus 20. 8. Have I behaved my self in God's House as in his more especial Presence,Matth. 21. 13. and done what I was able to maintain and uphold the holy Ministry,Heb. 10. 25. and the Purity of God's Worship,Eccl. 5. 1. without Heresie,Psalm 89. 7. Superstition,Luke 8. 15. Schism,1 Thes. 2. 13. or Faction?
Have I duely and preparedly received the Sacraments of Christ's Institution, and submitted my self to the Government and Discipline of his Church, Ephesians 4. 3.endeavouring to hold the Unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace?
Have I had a religious regard to the sacred Name of God, Psalm 111. 9.in no case using it blasphemously,Exodus 20. 7. profanely,Lev. 19. 12. vainly,Rom. 2. 24. irreverently,1 Tim. 6. 1. or willingly hearing it so used,Titus 2. 5. either in common swearing,Matth. 5. 34. needless swearing,Iames 5. 12. false swearing, or in idle talk of God, or hypocritical praying to God, or venting false Doctrine in God's Name, or fathering any evil practice on God, or by my wicked Life tempting others to blaspheme the Name of Christ by which I am called?
Have I made a right use of my Reason, to judge of things as they deserve, and to consider my Obligations to God, and the great Concerns of my Soul,Mark 8. 36. and to care for it more than for my Body, and to govern my self so by the Laws of God, that I am ready to die, and to give account of my self at the Judgment Seat of Christ?
Have I check'd in my idle Thoughts, and busied them in things useful? Have I restrained and kept in my Passions within the Bounds of Religion,Colossians 4. 6. and not been hurried by them unto any Words or Deeds unbeseeming a Christian? Ephes. 4. 29.Have I well husbanded my time in doing good, and lost wilfully as little as may be?
Have I had just Thoughts of my self as a vile Sinner, and hath not any Opinion of my Birth, Parentage, Strength,Metth. 5. 3. Beauty,Luke 17. 10. Riches,Rom. 12. 3. Honours,1 Peter 5. 5. Wit, Learning, any Action, Gift, Grace or Vertue made me proud, self-conceited, ambitious, or vainglorious? Have I thankfully acknowledged all to be God's undeserved gift, of which he may deprive me when he will, and very justly, because I have not done so much good by it as I ought?
Have I been temperate and sober, not exceeding in Meat,Rom. 13. 13, 14. Drink,1 Peter 2. 11. Sleep,Gal. 5. 16. Sport,Luke 21. 34. or Apparel; and used them all to the Health, Strength, Refreshment, and Vigour of my Body and Mind, that I might the better serve God in the Duties of my Calling? Have I not in any of them wasted my time, weakened my Body, disordered my Head, fed my Lusts, consumed my Estate, disabling my self to do my duties of Piety to God, Justice to my Neighbour, Charity to the Poor, and providing for my Charge, and educating my Children? Have I carefully avoided superfluous Expences, bewitching Pleasures, tempting Company, Idleness, and unprofitable Business?
Have I loved my Neighbour as my self,Mark 12. 31. and done to all men as I would they should do to me,Matth. 22. 39. that is,Luke 6. 31. all the good I could,1 Iohn 3. 18. and no hurt;Heb. 3. 13. instructing,Col. 3. 16. admonishing,Heb. 10. 24. reproving,Lev. 19. 17. counselling,Iames 2. 16. comforting,Matth. 5. 42. giving, forgiving, healing, helping, relieving, speaking well of, praying for him, and doing him all good Offices according to my Power and Opportunities?
Have I been thankful to others for the like Kindnesses, studying to requite them? Do I reverence without Envy my Superiours in any kind, am I loving and friendly to all my Equals, and affable and helpful to my Inferiours, without Pride or Disdain, no way scorning, upbraiding, mocking or vilifying them for any Infirmities or Imperfections?
Have I honour'd the King and all inferiour Magistrates,Rom. 13. 1. &c. praying for them speaking no evil of them,1 Pet. 2. 13. obeying their just Commands,1 Timothy 2. 1. paying Tribute and Custom,1 Peter 2. 20. 3. 14. suffering willingly for my Faults,Matthew 5. 10. and patiently without resistance for welldoing, discovering all Plots and Conspiracies, that I can know of, against them, assisting them against their Enemies, serving faithfully under them in my …lace and Calling, no way disturbing the Peace, obstructing or reproaching the Government?
Have I esteemed the Pastors and Governours in the Church highly in love for their Works sake,1 Corinth. 4. 1. not defrauding them of,1 Thess. 5. 13. or grudgingly paying,Heb. 13. 17. or by hard Bargains diminishing their dues?Gal. 6. 6. Do I pray for them,1 Cor. 9. 14. often consult them, submit to their Teaching and Discipline, and neither by my Absence from Church, nor irregular Life, or any war, discourage them.
Have I loved and honoured my Father and Mother,Matth. 15. 4. concealing their Failings,Exodus 20. 12. bearing their Infirmities,Ephes. 6. 2. endeavouring their Comfort,Col. 3. 20. obeying their Commands,Eph. 6. 1. following their Counsel,1 Tim. 5. 4. praying for their Happiness and long Lives, submitting to their Correction, relieving and requiting them to my Power as there was need?
Have I loved and done all fatherly or motherly Offices for my Children,Ephes. 6. 4. given them devoutly to God in Baptism,Heb. 12. 7. 9. pray'd for them,Col. 3. 21. nursed them, instructed them, moderately corrected them, restrained them from Evil, given them good Example, encouraged them in Goodness, not pamper'd them in Back or Belly, brought them up in Humility and Modesty, provided them of honest Callings, and married them religiously?
Have I loved my Brothers or Sisters, and manifested my Love to them as there hath been occasion? Am I a Father to the Fatherless, a Husband to the Widow, a Deliverer to the Oppressed, a Reliever of the Poor? Do I weep with those that weep,Rom. 12. 1…. and rejoyce with those that rejoyce,Gal. 6. 9. 10. with a fellow-feeling of their Joys or Afflictions?Heb. 13. 1. &c. Am I more especially thus affected towards those of the Houshold of Faith, mourning for the Calamities of the Church, and praying for the peace and flourishing of it?
Have I married no such as is forbidden by God, nor for unlawful ends, nor against my Parents Will? Do I use the Marriage-bed soberly and religiously?Heb. 13. 4. Do I love,Eph. 5. 22. and live quietly and kindly with my Husband or Wife,Col. 3. 18. and faithfully using his or her Bed only?1 Pet. 3. 2. &c. Do we bear with each others Infirmities,1 Timothy 2. 9. advising,Titus 2. 4. assisting,Mat. 19. 6. 9. comforting, praying for and with each other, promote each others spiritual Welfare, agree in governing the Family and well-educating our Children?
Have I not used my Servants hardly or cruelly,Colossians 4. 1. but gently as Christian Brethren or Sisters,Ephesians 6. 9. giving them their due, instructing and allowing time to serve God.
Have I diligently done my Master's Commands,1 Timothy 6. 1. studied his Profit,Eph. 6. 5. not wasted his Goods,Titus 2. 9. or wrong'd him of my time or service by Idleness or any other way?1 Pet. 2 18. Have I concealed his Secrets or Infirmities, born his Rebukes and Corrections without answering again? Have I done him Service as in the Sight of God?
Have I murder'd no man,Vid. hurt no man's Body,Romans 1. 29, 30, 31. 3, 4. 12, 9. tempted no man to Intemperance or any thing which hath impaired his Health or occasion'd his Sickness or Death,1 Tim. 3. 3 & 11. 5. 13. 6. 4. Titus 3. 2. 3.Gal. 5. 19 & 26.Col. 3. 8.raised no Quarrels or Dissentions among men, been angry causlesly, or immoderately? Have I labour'd to promote the bodily Welfare of others as my own?
Have I defiled no man's Wife,Mar. 7. 22. 10. 19. nor lusted after her,Matt. 15. 19. committed no Fornication or Uncleanness?2 Timothy 2. 3. Have I checkt all lustful thoughts,1 Cor. 6. 8. forborn all lascivious words and Actions,Lev. 19. 16. not occasioning Lust in my self or others by Idleness,Prov. 11. 13. pampering the Body, using immodest Dresses, amorous Gestures, obscene Songs or Stories, unseasonable Familiarity, and private Opportunities? Do I use all means of preserving my own and others Chastity?
Have I stol'n nor spoiled no man's Goods,1 Peter 4. 15. nor by force or fraud,Iames 3. 14. or colour of Law,Ephes. 4. 31. injured him in any part of his Estate?1 Thes. 4. 6. Have I not begged without need,Mic. 6. 10, 11. nor borrow'd without punctually paying again,Gal. 6. 5. Rom. 14. 13.Luke 3. 11.Iames 2. 16.1 Iohn 3. 17.1 Cor. 10. 34.Luke 17. 3, 4.nor over-reached others in buying or selling by concealment of faults, or taking advantage of another's Ignorance or Necessity, nor oppressed any by Usury or Exaction? Have I laboured honestly for my own Living, and freely given and neighbourly lent as there was cause? Do I make satisfaction for all Trespasses, pay all Dues, and do what I can to better another man's Estate as mine own?
Have I no way injured any one's good Name or Credit,Matthew 5. 44. by false-witness,Rom. 12. 20. railing,1 Thes. 5. 18. slandering,1 Pet. 3. 9. backbiting,1 Cor. 13 4. &c. busie prating of his Behaviour,Mat. 5. 23. 7. 1. Infirmities or Concerns; causless suspicions, rash censuring and judging, misconstruing and wresting his Words or Actions, not checking or willingly hearing others do so; gibing, scoffing, playing upon him, or not righting and defending him as much as we can with Truth?
Have I not been too selfish,Iames 5. 16. so that I could be content to thrive by another's Loss,Luke 19. 18. or value not much the Publick or my Neighbours Welfare,Ezek. 33. 15. so I may please my self?Rom. 13. 8. 12. 18. Have I so learn'd to deny my self that I can be heartily contented with, and thankful for my present Condition be it better or worse, and rejoyce to see others in a better Condition than I am in; that I can bear Poverty, and Shame, and Injuries; and love, pray for, and do good to Enemies? Am I so little in love with the World, that nothing therein can tempt me to dishonour God or wrong my Neighbour, or bear Malice or Hatred against any man, or break the Bond of Love and Charity, or to neglect the care of my Soul?
These are the chief Branches of our Christian Duty, whereby we may also know our Sins, and what we have more especially to repent of. And here we are to note some things very needful to be observed.
1. That though we are to aim at the Perfection of Duty in all we do, and not to satisfie our selves with low degrees of Holiness, but to be greatly humbled by the sense of our Failings, and restlesly to strive after better things; yet it is not a perfect Obedience without Sin, but a sincere Obedience without feigning and hypocrisie, that is the Gospel-condition of our Salvation through Christ Iesus. It is not our duty to be perfectly innocent, but it is our duty to labour after Perfection. Tho then we find that we offend in many things, and do all that we do very weakly and imperfectly, we are not to discourage our selves thereby, so long as we can find our hearts sincerely bent to keep Covenant with God, and to honour and serve him more perfectly.
2. That we are therefore narrowly to search our hearts, to see that we are sincere in our obedience. We are to see, that all our obedience flow from a true Love of God in our hearts, and a sense of his Right to command, and our Obligations to obey; that our great design in all things be to please God and to enjoy his Love, and not any of those low ends of pleasing men, or securing our own Reputation, or our worldly Peace, Profit, or Safety. And if our Obedience be thus sincere, then do we make a Conscience of those which men account little Duties as well as of greater, of shunning little Sins as well as grosser Sins, of governing our Thoughts and Desires, as well as Words and outward Actions; we are as religious in private as in publick, where it is costly as where it is cheap, where 'tis painful as where it is easie, where it is against our natural Inclinations as where it suits with our natural Temper, where it is discountenanced, derided, or persecuted, as where it is countenanced, commended, and rewarded by men.
3. That having discovered our Sins, we seek not any Excuses or Pretences to cloak or lessen them, but endeavour to view them in their ugliest and most affrighting Shapes; as contrary to the Purity of God, and the very Nature of man as well as his Happiness: against so much goodness, long-suffering, and patient Forbearance of God; against so many Encouragements of his present Bounty and rich Promises of Reward; so many gracious Warnings and Threatnings, so many fatherly Chastisements and Corrections, so much Light and Knowledge, so many means, helps, and opportunities, so many vows and engagements, so many admonitions by Friends, and checks by our own Consciences: after all this, so long continued in, so much time, strength, estate, wasted thereby; so little of all this left to serve God with, &c. By such Considerations must we labour to humble our proud Hearts, and bring them to a perfect Hatred of Sin.
4. That our Repentance be unfeigned, and rest neither in confessing our Sins, nor sorrowing for them, nor begging Pardon, nor in any thing else, till it come up to a hatred of Sin, and a full Resolution to forsake it. When it is come to this, we will be very angry at our own Folly that we have so long continued in it, very thankful to God for any Chastisement, thinking our selves mercifully dealt with, whatever our Condition be, so long as we are not in Hell; use cheerfully all helps and means, how hard or sharp soever, to mortifie our Lusts; thank any man that will reprove us and shew us our Faults; watch diligently against all Temptations, avoid carefully all occasions of Sin; observe jealously our Thoughts, Words, and Actions; pray devoutly for more Grace and Strength; abridge our selves of many things lawful, and punish our selves by crossing our own Wills; not be ashamed to make publick satisfaction to the Church where it is required, nor to open our Breasts freely to the Guide of our Souls for our own Satisfaction. We will do any thing, or suffer any thing, to prevent sinning against God.
These helps to Self-examination might here have been omitted, had I cause enough to believe, that they for whose Ease and Benefit they are chiefly design'd, had made as good use of my little Book, called Christianity in short, as I could wish they had made. Those Summaries of Faith and Duty which there they have, might have served them for this purpose. And here I think fit to give my Readers notice, that I suppose it would be very beneficial to their Souls, once a Week or Fortnight, or at least, when they have examined themselves in order to this Sacrament with the greatest Seriousness and Devotion, to use that form of Resigning themselves to God, and renewing their Covenant with him, which they have at the end of that small Book.