I left you some helps for daily Examination, I am jealous least you should grow slack, and slight, and careless in that duty. Let me ask you in the name of the Lord, doth never a day pass you, but you do solemnly and seriously call your selves to an account, what your •arriage hath been to God and Men? speak conscience, Is there never an one within the hearing of this Letter, that is a neglecter of this duty? dot• every one of your Consciences acquit you? Oh that they did! oh that they could! tell me, would not some of you be put shrewdly to it, if I should ask you when you read or thought over the questions that were given you for your help? and would you not be put to a blush, to give me an answer? and will you not be much more ashamed, that God ⟨p. 43⟩and conscience should find you tardy? not that I would necessarily bind you up to that very Method, only till you have found a way more profitable: I would desire you, yea, methinks I cannot but deeply charge you, to make daily use of that. Awake conscience, and do thou fall upon that Soul that thou findest careless in this work, and never let him be at rest till thou canst witness for him, that he is a d•ily and strict observer of himself, and doth live in the constant practice of this duty. What shall neither Gods charge, nor your promise, nor profit hold you to your work? yet I may not doubt, but some of you do daily perform this duty. The Lord encourage you in it: yet give me leave to ask you what you have gained? are you grown more universally conscientious, more strict, more humble, and more sensible of your many and great defects, then you were before? If so, blessed are you of the Lord; if otherwise, this duty hath been performed but slightly by you. What can you say to this question? doth your care of your ways abate, or doth it incr•, by the constant use of this duty? If it abate, remember from whence you are fallen, and repent; as good not do it at all, as not to the purpose.
I left you some helps for daily Examination, I am jealous least you should grow slack, and slight, and car•less in that duty. Let me ask you in the name of the Lord, doth never a day pass you, but you do solemnly and seriously call your selves to an account, what your •arriage hath been to God and Men? speak conscience, Is there never an one within the hearing of this Letter, that is a neglecter of this duty? dot• every one of your Consciences acquit you? Oh that they did! oh that they could! tell me, would not some of you be put shrewdly to it, if I should ask you when you read or thought over the questions that were given you for your help? and would you not be put to a blush, to give me an answer? and will you not be much more ashamed, that God ⟨p. 43⟩and conscience should find you tardy? not that I would necessarily bind you up to that very Method, only till you have found a way more profitable: I would desire you, yea, methinks I cannot but deeply charge you, to make daily use of that. Awake conscience, and do thou fall upon that Soul that thou findest careless in this work, and never let him be at rest till thou canst witness for him, that he is a d•ily and strict observer of himself, and doth live in the constant practice of this duty. What shall neither Gods charge, nor your promise, nor profit hold you to your work? yet I may not doubt, but some of you do daily perform this duty. The Lord incourage you in it: yet give me leave to ask you what you have gained? are you grown more universally consci•ncious, more strict, more humble, and more sensible of your many and great defects, then you were before? If so, blessed are you of the Lord; if otherwise, this duty hath been performed but slightly by you. What can you say to this question? doth your care of your ways abate, or doth it incr•, by the constant use of this duty? If it abate, remember from whence you are fallen, and repent; as good not do it at all, as not to the purpose.
