Let a man examine himself before 1he eat. Here is first an examination. ⟨image 111⟩Secondly, an examination of our 2selves. Thirdly, an examination before we come to the Sacrament. Touching the first, here Paul saith Examine your selves, but in 2. Cor. 13. he doubleth his charge, Prove your selves, and again at next word Examine your selves, as if he should say, this work must be done when it is done, because it is never thoroughly done, and therefore we must double our examination, as Paul doubleth his counsel. If a man suspect his enemy, he will try him with a question, if that will not search him, he will put forth another, if that be spied, he will move another, like one which putteth divers keys into a lock until it open. So he which examineth, must try & try, prove and prove, search and search, for the angel of darkness is like an ⟨image 112⟩angel of light, and we have no way to discover him, but that of 3John, Try the spirits. God examineth 4with trials, the Devil examineth with temptations, the world examineth with persecutions: we which are thus examined, had need to examine too. If any man skill not what Examining meaneth, the very word Examine, is so pregnant, that it prompteth us how we should examine, for it signifieth to put our selves unto the Touchstone, as if we would try Gold from Copper. Therefore one saith, that Examination is the eye of the soul, 5whereby she seeth her self, and her safety, and her danger, and her way which she walketh, and her pace which she holdeth, and the end to which she tendeth: she looks into her glass, and spieth ⟨image 112⟩every spot in her face, how all her graces are stained, then she takes the water of life, and washeth her blots away. After, she looks again, and beholdeth all her gifts, her faith, fear, love, patience, meekness, and marketh how every one doth flourish, or wither. If they fade and decay, that she feeleth a consumption, then she taketh preservatives, and restoratives of prayer, and counsel, and repentance, before the sickness grow: thus every day she letteth down a bucket into her heart, to see what water it bringeth up, least she should corrupt within, and perish suddenly.
Let a man examine himselfe before 1he eate. Here is first an examinatiō. ⟨image 111⟩Secondly, an examination of our 2selues. Thirdly, an examination before we come to the Sacramēt. Touching the first, here Paul saith Examin your selues, but in 2. Cor. 13. he doubleth his charge, Proue your selues, and againe at next word Examine your selues, as if he should saye, this worke must be done when it is done, because it is neuer thoroughly done, and therefore we must double our examination, as Paul doubleth his counsell. If a man suspect his enemy, he will try him with a question, if that will not search him, he will put forth another, if that be spied, he will moue another, like one which putteth diuers keyes into a locke vntill it open. So he which examineth, must try & try, proue and proue, search and search, for the angell of darknesse is like an ⟨image 112⟩angell of light, and we haue no way to discouer him, but that of 3Iohn, Try the spirites. God examineth 4with tryalls, the Deuill examineth with temptations, the world examineth with persecutions: we which are thus examined, had neede to examine too. If any man skill not what Examining meaneth, the very word Examine, is so pregnant, that it prompteth vs how we should examine, for it signifieth to put our selues vnto the Touchstone, as if we would try Golde from Copper. Therefore one sayth, that Examination is the eye of the soule, 5whereby she seeth her selfe, and her safetie, and her danger, and her way which she walketh, and her pace which she holdeth, and the end to which she tendeth: she lookes into her glasse, and spieth ⟨image 112⟩euery spot in her face, how all her graces are stayned, then she takes the water of life, and washeth her blots away. After, she lookes againe, and beholdeth all her gifts, her faith, feare, loue, patience, meekenes, and marketh how euery one doth florish, or wither. If they fade and decay, that she feeleth a consumption, then she taketh preseruatiues, and restoratiues of prayer, and councell, and repentance, before the sicknesse growe: thus euery day she letteth downe a bucket into her heart, to see what water it bringeth vp, least she should corrupt within, and perish sodeinly.
- 1Vers. 28.
- 2The division.The diuision.
- 32. Cor. 11. 14.
- 41. John 4 1.1. Iohn 4 1.
- 5A description of true Examination.
