The Morning exercise [at] Cri[ppleg]ate, or, Several cases of conscience practically resolved

IV. Be serious, and frequent in the examination of your heart and life. This is so necessary to the getting, & keeping of a right & peaceable Conscience, that 'tis impossible to have either without it. There are some duties and graces, like those parts of the body, that may supply the defect of other parts; or like some drugs in Physic, which when they can't be had, some of the like nature may serve: but this is like those, the defect whereof nothing else can supply. The Heathens have groped out this rule by the Glowworm light of nature. Pythagoras gives it as a precept^a, and Seneca backs it by examples^b, of Sextius, who every night before he composed himself, to sleep, asked himself what evil hast thou this day healed? what vice hast thou resisted? wherein art thou better? O how sweet is that sleep which follows such a recognition? of himself, who made every night a scrutiny into the words and deeds of the whole day, he would neither pass by, nor hide any thing from himself, he so ripped up his faults, that he would not pardon them to himself, without a self-charge not to repeat them. Have you gone thus far? certainly, my Brethren, not to out-strip them is inexcusable. It is a shame ^cto see the carelessness of most, that are better acquainted with any thing then themselves; there are many that know the Histories of a thousand years past, and yet cannot tell you the particulars of their own lives; Men well acquainted with the mysteries of Arts and Nature, but utterly ignorant of the secrets of their own Souls. How few are there amongst us, that can say with David^d, I have thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies? Nay, we have a thousand matters to think on all the day long, the night too, the week, the year: but who questions with his own heart what am I? what do I? how live I? is the course I follow good and lawful? is that which I omit my duty, or not? Is God my friend? Am I his? what hope have I of Heaven? Say I die to morrow, to day, this very hour, where is my assurance I shall be saved? what Apology can I make against the accusations of Satan and my Conscience? will Christ be mine Advocate, when I shall stand in judgement? Have I grace, or have I none? do I grow in grace, or do I decay? Am I better this year then I was the last? what sins have I conquered now, that held me in combat then?