Private Devotions for Ordinary and Extraordinary Occasions, Part 2
Brief Heads of Self-Examination, eſpecially before the Sacrament, Collected out of the foregoing Treatiſe, concerning the breaches of our Duty.
To GOD.
FAITH.
NOt BELIEVING there is a God.
Not believing his Word.
Not believing it practically, ſo as to live according to our belief.
HOPE.
DEſpairing of Gods Mercy, ſo as to neglect duty.
Preſuming groundleſly on it, whilſt we go on in wilful ſin.
LOVE.
NOt Loving God for his own excellencies.
Not Loving him for his Goodneſs to us.
Not labouring to pleaſe him.
Not deſiring to draw near to him in his Ordinances.
Not longing to enjoy him in Heaven.
FEAR.
NOt Fearing God ſo as to keep from offending him.
Fearing man above him by committing ſin, to ſhun ſome outward ſuffering.
TRUST.
NOt Truſting on God in dangers and diſtreſſes.
Uſing unlawful means to bring us out of them.
Not depending on God for ſupply of our Wants.
Immoderate Care for outward things.
Neglecting to labour, and expecting God ſhould ſup… our idleneſs.
Not looking up to God for a bleſſing on our honeſt endeavours.
HUMILITY.
NOt having a high eſteem of God.
Not ſubmitting obediently to act his Will.
Not patiently ſuffering it, but murmuring at his Corrections.
Not a…ending by them.
Not being Thankful to him.
Not acknowleding his Wiſdome in chooſing for us, but having eager and impatient deſires of our own.
HONOUR.
NOt Honouring God by a reverend uſage of the things that Relate to him.
Behaving our ſelves irreverently in his Houſe.
Robbing God, by taking things that are conſecrated to him.
Profaning Holy times, the Lords Day, and the Feaſts and Faſts of the Church.
Neglecting to read the Holy Scriptures, not marking when we do read.
Being careleſs to get knowledge of our duty, chuſing rather to continue ignorant, then put our ſelves to the pains or charge of learning.
Placing Religion in hearing of Sermons, without Practice
Breaking our Vow made at Baptiſme.
By reſorting to Witches, and Conjurers; i. e. to the Devil.
By loving the Pomps and Vanities of the World, and following its ſinful cuſtomes.
By fulfilling the Luſts of the fleſh.
Profaning the Lords Supper.
By coming to it ignorantly, without Examination, contrition, and purpoſes of New Life.
By behaving our ſelves irreverently at it, without Devotion, and ſpiritual Affection.
By neglecting to keep the Promiſes made at it
Profaning Gods Name, by blaſphemous thoughts, or Diſcourſe.
Giving others occaſion to Blaſpheme him, by our vile wicked li…es.
Taking unlawful OATHS.
Perjury.
Swearing in ordinary Communication.
WORSHIP.
NOt Worſhipping God.
Omitting Prayers, publick or private, and being glad of a pretence to do ſo.
Asking unlawful thigs, or to unlawful ends.
Not purifying our Hearts from ſin before we pray.
Not praying with Faith and Humility.
Coldneſs and deadneſs in Prayer.
Wandring thoughts in it.
Irreverent geſtures of body in prayer.
REPENTANCE.
NEglecting the duty of Repentance.
Not calling our ſelves to Dayly account for our ſins.
Not aſſigning any ſet or Solemn times, for Humiliation; and Confeſsion, or too ſeldome.
Not deeply conſidering our ſins, to beget Contrition.
Not acting Revenges on our ſelves, by Faſting, and other acts of Mortification.
IDOLATRY.
OUtward Idolatry in Worſhipping of creatures.
Inward Idolatry, in placing our love, and other affections more on creatures, then the Creator.
To our SELVES.
HUMILITY.
BEing puft up with high conceits of our ſelves.
In reſpect of natural parts, as beauty, wit, &c.
Of worldly riches and honours.
Of Grace.
Greedily ſeeking the praiſe of men.
Directing chriſtian Actions, as Prayer, Alms, &c. to that end.
Committing ſins to avoid Reproach from wicked men.
MEEKNES.
DIſturbing our minds with Anger and peeviſhneſs.
CONSIDERATION.
NOt carefully Examining wh…t our eſtate towards God is.
Not trying our ſelves by the true Rule, i. e. our obedience to Gods Commands.
Not weighing the Lawfulneſs of our Actions before we venture on them.
Not examining our paſt actions to Repent of the ill, to give God the glory of the good.
CONTENTEDNES.
UNcontentedneſs in our eſtates.
Greedy deſires after Honour and Riches.
Seeking to gain them by ſinful means.
Envying the condition of other men.
DILIGENCE, WATCHFULNES.
BEing Negligent in obſerving & reſiſting Temptations.
Not improving Gods gifts, outward or inward, to his Honour.
Abuſing our Natural Parts, as Wit, Memory, &c. to ſin.
Neglecting or Reſiſting the motions of Gods Spirit.
CHASTITY.
UNcleanneſs, adultery, fornication, unnatural luſts, &c.
Uncleanneſs of the Eye and Hand.
Filthy and obſcene Talking.
Impure Fancies and Deſires.
Heightning of Luſt by pampering the body.
Not labouring to ſubdue it by Faſting or other Severities
TEMPERANCE.
EAting too much
Making pleaſure, not Health the end of Eating.
Being too curious or coſtly in Meats.
Drunkenneſs.
Drinking more then is uſeful to our bodies though not to drunkenneſs.
Waſting the Time or Eſtate in good Fellowſhip.
Abuſing our ſtrength of brain to the making others Drunk.
Immoderate Sleeping.
Idleneſs and Negligence in our Callings.
Uſing unlawful Recreations.
Being too vehement upon Lawful ones.
Spending too much time at them.
Being drawn by them to Anger or Covetouſneſs.
Being proud of Apparel.
Striving to go beyond our rank.
Beſtowing too much time, care or coſt about it.
Abſtaining from ſuch Exceſſes not out of conſcience but covetouſneſs.
Pinching our bodies to fill our purſes.
To our NEIGHBOUR.
NEGATIVE JUSTICE.
BEing Injurious to our Neighbour.
Delighting cauſleſly to grieve his mind.
Enſnaring his ſoul in ſin, by Command, Counſel,
Enticement or Example.
Affrighting him from godlineſs by our Scoffing at it.
Not ſeeking to bring thoſe to Repentance whom we have led into ſin.
MURDER.
MƲrder, open or ſecret.
Drawing men to Intemperance or other vices, which may bring diſeaſes or death.
Stirring men up to Quarrelling and Fighting.
Maiming or hurting the body of our Neighbour.
Fierceneſs and Rage againſt him.
ADULTERY.
COveting our Neighbours wife.
Actually defiling her.
MALICE.
SPoiling the goods of others upon ſpight and malice.
COVETOUSNES.
COveting to gain them to our ſelves.
OPPRESSION.
OPpreſſion by violence and force or colour of Law.
THEFT.
NOt paying what we Borrow.
Not Paying what we have voluntarily promiſed.
Keeping back the Wages of the Servant and hireling.
DECEIT.
UNfaithfulneſs in Truſts, whether to the Living or Dead.
Uſing arts of Deceit in Buying and Selling.
Exacting upon the neceſsities of our Neighbours.
FALSE-WITNES.
BLaſting the credit of our neighbour.
By falſe Witneſs.
By Railing.
By Whiſpering.
Incouraging others in their Slanders.
Being forward to believe ill reports of our neighbour.
Cauſeleſs ſuſpicions.
Raſh judging of him.
Deſpiſing him for his Infirmities.
Inviting others to do ſo by ſcoffing and Deriding him.
Bearing any Malice in the heart.
Secret wiſhing of death or hurt to our neighbour.
Rejoycing when any Evil befalls him.
Neglecting to make what Satisfaction we can for any ſort of injury done to our neighbour.
POSITIVE JUSTICE. HUMILITY. LYING.
CHurliſh and proud behaviour to Others.
Froward and peeviſh Converſation.
Bitter and Reproachful language.
Curſing.
Not paying the Reſpect due to the qualities or gifts of others.
Proudly overlooking them.
Seeking to leſſen others Eſteem of them.
Not imploying our Abilities, whether of minde or Eſtate, in adminiſtring to thoſe whoſe Wants require it.
GRATITUDE.
UNthankfulneſs to our Benefactors.
Eſpecially thoſe that admoniſh us.
Not amending upon their Reproof.
Being angry at them for it.
Not reverencing our Civil Parent, the lawful Magiſtrate.
Judging and ſpeaking evil of him.
G…dging his juſt Tributes.
Sowing ſedition among the people.
Re…ing to Obey his lawful Commands.
Riſing up againſt him, or taking part with them that do.
Deſpiſing our Spiritual Fathers.
Not loving them for their works ſake.
Not obeying thoſe commands of God they deliver to us.
Seeking to withhold from them their juſt maintenance.
Forſaking our lawful Paſtors to follow factious teachers.
PARENTS.
STubborn and irreverent behaviour to our natural Parents.
Deſpiſing and publiſhing their infirmities.
Not loving them, nor endeavouring to bring them comfort.
Contemning their Counſels.
Murmuring at their Government.
Coveting their Eſtates, though by their death.
Not miniſtring to them in their Wants of all ſorts.
Neglecting to Pray for Gods Bleſsing on theſe ſeveral ſorts of Parents.
Want of natural affection to children.
Mothers re…oſing to Nurſe them without a juſt impedlment.
Not bringing them timely to Baptiſme.
Not early inſtructing them in the ways of God.
Suffering them for want of timely correction to get Cuſtomes of ſin.
Se…ing them Evil Examples.
Diſcouraging them by harſh and cruel uſage.
Not providing for their ſubſiſtence according to our ability.
Conſuming their Portions in our own riot.
Reſerving all till our death, and letting them want in the mean time.
Not ſeeking to entail a bleſſing on them by our Chriſtian lives.
Not heartily praying for them.
Want of affection to our Natural brethren.
Envyings and heart-burnings towards them.
DUTY to BRETHREN.
NOt loving our ſpiritual brethren, i. e. our fellow Chriſtians.
Having no fellow-feeling of their ſufferings.
Cauſeleſly forſaking their Communion in Holy Duties.
Not taking deeply to heart the Deſolations of the Church
MARRIAGE.
MArrying within the degrees forbidden.
Marrying for undue ends, as Covetouſnes, Luſt, &c.
Unkind, froward, and unquiet behaviour towards the Husband or Wife.
Unfaithfulneſs to the Bed
Not bearing with the infirmities of each other.
Not endeavouring to advance one anothers good, ſpiritual, or temporal.
The Wife reſiſting the lawful command of her Husband.
Her ſtriving for Rule and dominion over him.
Not praying for each other.
FRIENDSHIP.
UNfaithfulneſs to a Friend.
Betraying his ſecrets.
Denying him asſiſtence in his needs.
Neglecting lovingly to admoniſh him.
Flattering him in his faults.
Forſaking his friendſhip upon ſlight or no cauſe.
Making leagues in ſin inſtead of vertuous friendſhip.
SERVANTS.
SErvants diſobeying the lawful cōmands of their Maſters.
Purloining their goods.
Careleſly waſting them.
Murmuring at their rebukes.
Idleneſs.
Eye-ſervice.
MASTERS.
MAſters uſing ſervants tyrannically and cruelly.
Being too remiſs, and ſuffering them to neglect their duty.
Having no care of their Souls.
Not providing them means of inſtruction in Religion.
Not admoniſhing them when they commit Sins.
Not allowing them time and opportunity for prayer, and the Worſhip of God.
CHARITY.
WAnt of bowels and Charity to our neighbours.
Not heartily deſiring their good ſpiritual or temporal.
Not Loving and Forgiving Enemies.
Taking actual Revenges upon them.
Falſeneſs: profeſſing kindneſs and acting none.
Not labouring to do all the good we can to the ſoul of our neighbour.
Not aſſiſting him to our power in his Bodily diſtreſſes.
Not defending his good Name when we know him ſlander'd.
Denying him any neighbourly office to preſerve or advance his eſtate.
Not defending him from oppreſsion, when we have power.
Not relieving him in his poverty.
Not giving liberally, or chearfully.
GOING to LAW.
NOt loving PEACE.
Going to Law upon ſlight occaſions.
Bearing inward Enmity to thoſe we ſue.
Not labouring to make peace among others.
THE uſe of this Catalogue of Sins is this: Upon dayes of Humiliation, eſpecially before the Sacrament, read them conſideringly over, and at every particular ask thine own heart, Am I guilty of this? And whatſoever by ſuch Examination thou findeſt thy ſelf faulty in, Confeſs particularly, and humbly to God, with all the heightning circumſtances, which may any way increaſe their guilt, and make ſerious Reſolutions againſt every ſuch Sin for the future; after which thou mayeſt uſe this Form following.
O LORD, I am aſhamed, and bluſh to lift up my face to thee, for my iniquities are increaſed over my head, and my treſpaſs is grown up even unto Heaven. I have wrought all theſe great provocations, and that in the moſt provoking manner; they have not been only ſingle but repeated acts of ſin: for, O Lord, of all this black Catalogue which I have now brought forth before thee, how few are there which I have not often committed, nay, which are not become even habitual and cuſtomarie to me? And to this frequencie, I have added both a greedineſs, and obſtinacie in ſinning, turning into my courſe as the Horſe ruſheth into the battel, doing evil with both hands, earneſtly, yea, hating to be reformed, and caſting thy words behinde me, quenching thy ſpirit within me, which teſtified againſt me, to turn me from my evil wayes, and fruſtrating all thoſe outward means whether of judgement or merciemercy, which thou haſt uſed to draw me to thy ſelf. Nay, O Lord, even my repentances may be numbered amongſt my greateſt ſins, they have ſometimes been feigned and hypocritical, alwayes ſo ſlight and ineffectual, that they have brought forth no fruit in amendment of life, but I have ſtill returned with the dog to his vomit, and the ſow to the mire again, and have added the breach of reſolutions and vows, to all my former guilts. Thus, O Lord, I am become out of meaſure ſinful, and ſince I have thus choſen death, I am moſt worthy to take part in it, even in the ſecond death, the lake of fire and brimſtone. This, this, O Lord, is in juſtice to be the portion of my cup, to me belongs nothing but ſhame and confuſion of face eternally. But to thee, O Lord God, belongeth merciemercy and forgiveneſs: though I have rebelled againſt thee, O remember not my ſins and offences, but according to thy merciemercy think thou upon me O Lord for thy goodneſs. Thou ſenteſt thy Son to ſeek and to ſave that which was loſt, behold, O Lord, I have gone aſtraie like a ſheep that is loſt, O ſeek thy ſervant, and bring me back to the Shepherd and Biſhop of my ſoul; let thy ſpirit work in me a heartie ſenſe and deteſtation of all my abominations, that true contrition of heart, which thou haſt promiſed not to deſpiſe. And then be thou pleaſed to look on me, to take away all iniquitie, and receive me graciouſly, and for his ſake who hath done nothing amiſs, be reconciled to me, who have done nothing well; waſh away the guilt of my ſins in his blood, and ſubdue the power of them by his grace, and grant, O Lord, that I may from this hour bid a final adieu to all ungodlineſs and worldly luſts, that I may never once more caſt a look toward Sodom, or long after the fleſhpots of Egypt, but conſecrate my ſelf intirely to thee, to ſerve thee in Righteouſneſs and true Holineſs, reckoning my ſelf to be dead indeed unto ſin, but alive unto God, through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord and bleſſed Saviour.
This Penitential Pſalm may alſo fitly be uſed.
PSALM 51.
HAVE mercy upon me O God, after thy great goodneſs, according to the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences.
Waſh me throughly from my wickedneſs, and cleanſe me from my ſin.
For I acknowledge my faults, and my ſin is ever before me.
Againſt thee only have I ſinned, and done this evil in thy ſight, that thou mighteſt be juſtified in thy ſaying, and clear when thou art judged.
Behold I was ſhapen in wickedneſs, and in ſin hath my mother conceived me.
But lo, thou requireſt truth in the inward parts, and ſhalt make me to underſtand wiſdome ſecretly.
Thou ſhalt purge me with Hyſop, and I ſhall be clean, thou ſhalt waſh me, and I ſhall be whiter then ſnow.
Thou ſhalt make me hear of joy and gladneſs▪ that the bones which thou haſt broken may rejoyce.
Turn thy face from my ſins, and put out all my miſdeeds.
Make me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right Spirit within me.
Caſt me not away from thy preſence, and take not thy holy Spirit from me.
O give me the comfort of thy help again, and ſtabliſh me with thy free Spirit.
Then ſhall I teach thy wayes unto the wicked, and ſinners ſhall be converted unto thee.
Deliver me from blood-guiltineſs, O God, thou that art the God of my health, and my tongue ſhall ſing of thy righteouſneſs.
Thou ſhalt open my lips, O Lord, and my mouth ſhall ſhew thy praiſe.
For thou deſireſt no ſacrifice, elſe would I give it thee, but thou delighteſt not in burnt offering.
The ſacrifice of God is a troubled spirit, a broken and contrite heart, O God, ſhalt thou not deſpiſe.
O be favourable and gracious unto Sion, build thou the walls of Jeruſalem.
Then ſhalt thou be pleaſed with the Sacrifice of righteouſneſs, with the burnt offerings and oblations, then ſhall they offer young bullocks upon thine altar.
Glorie be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Ghoſt.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever ſhall be, world without end.
Amen.