1 With-draw thy self into some secret and retired place, and there look back, and call to mind how thou hast spent the day; consider how thou hast performed the fore-mentioned Duties, belonging to the several parts of the day; call to mind what thy carriage hath been in secret, and what in company; how thou hast improved the one and the other;1 and whether thou hast discharged the duties of thy place, calling, and relations. As he is the best Trades-man, that every day in the evening taketh an account of his worldly losses and gains; so he is the best Christian, that every day in the evening taketh an account of his Spiritual losses and gains, whether he go forward, or backward, in the ways of godliness. And therefore, as many Shop-keepers have their Day-books, where into they enter all their buyings and sellings, even all their worldly transactions, which they usually review in the evening: so will it be a point of Spiritual husbandry in us, every evening to review the passages of the day, and our transactions therein, which would tend exceedingly to the good and welfare of our souls. History tells us of many Heathens who were wont every evening to review the ⟨p. 81⟩transactions of the day;2 as of Sextius the Roman Philosopher, of whom it is recorded, that every evening as he was going to bed, he would question his soul, what Evil he had healed, what Vice he had withstood that day; in what regard he was better then before; an example worthy our Christian imitation, and a shame it would be to us to fall short of Heathens herein.
1 With-draw thy self into some secret and retired place, and there look back, and call to mind how thou hast spent the day; consider how thou hast performed the fore-mentioned Duties, belonging to the several parts of the day; call to mind what thy carriage hath been in secret, and what in company; how thou hast improved the one and the other;1 and whether thou hast discharged the duties of thy place, calling, and relations. As he is the best Trades-man, that every day in the evening taketh an account of his worldly losses and gains; so he is the best Christian, that every day in the evening taketh an account of his Spiritual losses and gains, whether he goe forward, or backward, in the ways of godliness. And therefore, as many Shop-keepers have their Day-books, where into they enter all their buyings and sellings, even all their worldly transactions, which they usually review in the evening: so will it be a point of Spiritual husbandry in us, every evening to review the passages of the day, and our transactions therein, which would tend exceedingly to the good and welfare of our souls. History tells us of many Heathens who were wont every evening to review the ⟨p. 81⟩transactions of the day;2 as of Sextius the Roman Philosopher, of whom it is recorded, that every evening as he was going to bed, hee would question his soul, what Evil he had healed, what Vice he had withstood that day; in what regard he was better then before; an example worthy our Christian imitation, and a shame it would be to us to fall short of Heathens herein.
- 1Optimus ille trapezita est qui quotidie vespere lucrum ac detrimentum computat. Climac.
- 2Faciebat hoc quotidie Sextius, ut consumma•o die cum se ad nocturnam quietem recepisset, interrogaret animum suum; quod hodie malum tuum sanasti? cui vitio obstitisti? qua parte melior es? Senec. de Ira. l. 3. c. 36 Psal. 111. 4.
