A Guide to Heaven from the Word, Part 4
Every Evening ask theſe Queſtions.
1 WHat have I done this day for God and his Glory? what can I now look back upon with comfort? Micah. 6.8.
2 In what frame hath mine heart been all this day? what have I deſired moſt, Heavenly or Earthly things? Hath my joy been more in God and in hope of glory, then in riches, honours, &c? Was my grief moſt for ſin, or for troubles? What have I moſt ſuckt comfort from and lived upon, Creatures the Ciſtern, or God the Fountain? Jer. 2.12, 13. Hab. 3.17, 18.
3 What were mine aims and ends, in what I went about? Have I been ſincere, and exerciſed a good conſcience towards God and Men? Did I eat and drink, pray and diſcourſe with an eye to Gods glory? or ratner did ſelf ſit uppermoſt in all? 1 Cor. 10.31.1 Pet. 4.11.
4 What ſpiritual duties have I performed this day? Did I regard the manner as well as the matter; out of conſcience did I do them, and not out of cuſtom? Did I pray fervently, read with care and obſervation , meditate ſo ſeriouſly as thorowly to affect the heart? Rom. 12.11. Iam. 5.16.
5 How faithful, diligent and careful have I been in my Place and Calling? Have there been no idle hours in the day? Rom. 12.11.1 Tim. 5.13. Prov. 10.4.1 Theſſ. 4.11.
6 What have been my company this day? What good have I done to them, or received from them? Did I reprove, exhort, ſtrengthen, encourage, comfort, or warn, as occaſion was given, and need required? Col. 4.6. Heb. 10.24, 25.
7 How have I born the troubles and croſſes of the day? Did I not murmur, vex, nor ſink? Did I not entertain hard thoughts of, nor utter raſh words againſt God? Phil. 4.11, 12.
8 What were my temprations this day, and what my ſins? Was I not eaſily drawn into ſin? Little over-aw'd or reſtrained by Gods All-ſeeing eye, merciful heart, or revenging hand? Was I not ſoon proud, angry? &c. Did I not long continue in it, and have I yet thorowly repented of it? What conviction or mercy, or warning did I ſin againſt? Iſa. 59.12, 13. Jer. 8.6.
9 What were my mercies this day, and how was my heart under them? Was I affected with Gods goodneſs, and unfeignedly thankful, and therefore cheerfully fruitful in good works? Have I priz'd my health, friends, and eſtate? &c. Eph. 5.20.
10 What have I learnt this day? What tsmore heart-affecting knowledge have I got of God and his glory, of my ſelf and my ſins: of this world and that to come? Phil. 1.9.2 Pet. 3.18. Col. 1.9, 10.
11 What of Gods word have I remembred or read, repeated or heard this day? Was any Scripture ſweet and good to my ſoul? What promiſe did I by Faith make mine own? What particular command did in any thing ſway and rule me? 2 Tim. 3.15, 16, 17.
12 What graces have I eſpecially exerciſed? Have I lived by Faith, loved God with all my heart and ſoul? Denied my ſelf in any thing dear to me for God? 2 Pet. 1.6.
13 Have I this day lived upon, lov'd, honour'd, and reverenc'd God the Father, as my Sun, Shield, and Portion? Have I this day priz'd, own'd, and made uſe of Chriſt as my Saviour, Interceſſour, and Friend; As my Root, Head, and Husband? Hath the Holy Ghoſt been to me a Director, or Comforter, a Quickner, or Confirmer? Have I cheriſht and not quencht its motions? Pſal. 84.11.
14 Have I been affected with the evils of ſin or miſery of others, of Nation, Pariſh and Family, of Friends or Foes? Have I had a pitiful heart, or bountiful hand to any in want? Pſal. 119.136. Jam. 2.15, 16.
15 Have I ſhewn more eſpecial love and pity to thoſe that are of the houſhold of Faith? how have I honour'd thoſe that fear the Lord? Pſal. 15.4. Pſal. 16.3. Hath a godly Job or Lazarus, though in rags and ſores, been unto me as an Orient Pearl on a Dunghill? Have I not valued men more according to greatneſs, then goodneſs? Gal. 6.10.
16 Did the Church of God and intereſt of Chriſt lie near my heart this day? have I heartily prayed for the welfare of Sion? and mourned when its ſongs are turned into lamentations, and its glory into deſolation? Do I prefer Jeruſalem above my chief joy? Jer. 19.1.
17 Can my Family witneſs that I have done any good for or to them? Can thoſe that beſt know me, ſpeak beſt for me? Have I been good as Husband or Wife? Pſal. 101.2.&c. as Parent or Child, as Maſter or Servant? Epheſ. 6.1. &c.
18 Have I wrong'd no man in his eſtate, by overreaching him; in his name, by ſlandering, or back-biting? 1 Theſſ. 4.6. in his ſoul or body, by letting him fall into, or live in any ſin or trouble? have I done to others, as I would they ſhould do to me? Mat. 7.12.
19 Have I forgiven mine enemies, rejoyc'd at others mercies, and not envied any ones honour, riches, or friends, and coveted them? Luke 6.27. to 35. Matth. 6.12, 14, 15.
20 Am I of a quiet, peaceable ſpirit? Have I not quarrel'd and contended with my neighbours? Or do I make up breaches and follow peace with all men? Do I honour the King, and obey Governors for Conſcience ſake? Rom. 12.18. Rom. 13.1, &c.
21 Hath my cloathing Been ſuitable to my place and ſtation? Hath my carriage been ſober, diſcreet, and ſerious? Have I not been vain, wanton, nor frothy in my diſcourſe or ſpirit. 1 Pet. 3.3, 4.2. Tit. 1, &c.
22 Have I ſcorn'd and contemn'd the glory of the world, accounting it but dirt for Grace, and droſs for Chriſt? 1 Joh. 5.4, 5.
23 Have I really ſet death before me? My life as a vapour, a ſhadow? if I ſhould die dayly, what preparation have I made for it? Am I ſure, but this is my laſt night? If God ſhould ſhut mine eyes by death, how is it like to be with my ſoul? Dare I lie down with the guilt or filth of any one ſin? Is there any returning from the Grave to amend? No certainly, 2 Cor. 4.14, 16. I Cor. 15.54, &c. Prov. 27. 1.
24 Can I tell how great the day of Judgment will be? how glorious and terrible? And dare I meet Chriſt coming in flaming fire, with ten thouſand of my ſins to take vengeance? Can I hold up my head? Are my graces ſound, and of the right kind? All is not gold that gliſters. Have I this day ſearcht, judg'd, and condemn'd my ſelf? 1 Cor. 11.31. 2 Cor. 5.10, 11.2 Theſſ. 1.8.9, 10.
25 Do I believe Hell torments dreadful and eternal? Its flames unſpeakably ſcorching? Its miſery endleſs and eaſeleſs? And do I not fly from this wrath to come? Rev. 14.10, 11.
26. Have I aſcended in the triumphant Chariot of Faith this day, and beheld the new Jeruſalem, Gods glorious Palace? Did I live, love, think and talk as an Heir of this kingdom? Eph. 1.18, 19.
27 Have I not in all I have done, minded man more then God? Have I not minded only the clean-ſing. the outſide? Eph. 6.5, 6.
28 Dare I lie down this night without praying earneſtly to God for the pardon of my ſins, the bleſſings of the night, and the ſalvation of my ſoul?