And he goeth on through the Chapter, particularly making it to appear, that he had been searching, and trying, and taking notice of his way, and of all the pieces and parts of it. And that therein his Conscience had given him a good Testimony: Thus David, Psal. 7. 3. sayeth, Lord my God, if I have done this, if there be iniquity in my hands, if I have rewarded evil to him, &c. Psal. 26. 2. Examine me, O Lord, and prove me, try my reins and my heart; And, Psal. 139. 23. Search me, O Lord, (sayeth he) and know my heart, try me, and know my thoughts, and see if there be any wicked way in me: All which supposeth his own trial accomplished in, and of his Conscience to have gone before: Yea, not only the Believer, but the Believer in the tenderest frame, is most in this work; Therefore in the most serious exercise of Repentance, under the greatest manifestations of Gods presence, and the most abundant pourings out of his Spirit, and when nearest to Death; they are most ready to reflect on Conscience; which showeth, that not only we should do it, but that the more tender Persons be, they will be the more in this duty: and there is also good reason for it, For 1. A man cannot know his condition except he reflect, and search what his Conscience hath to say of it; And it's not the bare remembering of the Action, but the considering of it, by bringing it before, and trying it by the Rule of the Word, in the •ourt of Conscience, so as to have it's approbative Testimony, that maketh it pass for eurrent. 2ly. Because, as a man knoweth not how to judge of what is past, so neither how to carry for time to come; what he hath to repent of, or what he ⟨p. 190⟩hath to amend in his way, except he take a review, and back-look of it, as to the time past: It's the finding of such a thing to be wrong that maketh him say, This I had need to repent of, and this I had need to watch against for time to come; Therefore these two are put together, Psal. 119. 59. 69. I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies, I made haste, &c. The examination of his bygone way, helped him to go on right for the time to come. 3ly. Because hardly will a tender man come to prayer without this; He knoweth not what to confess, nor what to seek, except he reflect, and consider what he hath to confess unto, o• to seek from God; And sure a man cannot be tender, if he pray not:
And he goeth on through the Chapter, particularly making it to appear, that he had been searching, and trying, and taking notice of his way, and of all the pieces and parts of it. And that therein his Conscience had given him a good Testimony: Thus David, Psal. 7. 3. sayeth, Lord my God, if I have done this, if there be iniquity in my hands, if I have rewarded evil to him, &c. Psal. 26. 2. Examine me, O Lord, and prove me, try my reins and my heart; And, Psal. 139. 23. Search me, O Lord, (sayeth he) and know my heart, try me, and know my thoughts, and see if there be any wicked way in me: All which supposeth his own tryal accomplished in, and of his Conscience to have gone before: Yea, not only the Believer, but the Believer in the tenderest frame, is most in this work; Therefore in the most serious exercise of Repentance, under the greatest manifestations of Gods presence, and the most abundant pourings out of his Spirit, and when nearest to Death; they are most ready to reflect on Conscience; which sheweth, that not only we should do it, but that the more tender Persons be, they will be the more in this duty: and there is also good reason for it, For 1. A man cannot know his condition except he reflect, and search what his Conscience hath to say of it; And it's not the bare remembring of the Action, but the considering of it, by bringing it before, and trying it by the Rule of the Word, in the •ourt of Conscience, so as to have it's approbative Testimony, that maketh it passe for eurrent. 2ly. Because, as a man knoweth not how to judge of what is past, so neither how to carry for time to come; what he hath to repent of, or what he ⟨p. 190⟩hath to amend in his way, except he take a review, and back-look of it, as to the time past: It's the finding of such a thing to be wrong that maketh him say, This I had need to repent of, and this I had need to watch against for time to come; Therefore these two are put together, Psal. 119. 59. 69. I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies, I made haste, &c. The examination of his bygone way, helped him to go on right for the time to come. 3ly. Because hardly will a tender man come to prayer without this; He knoweth not what to confesse, nor what to seek, except he reflect, and consider what he hath to confesse unto, o• to seek from God; And sure a man cannot be tender, if he pray not:
