A65285:2875
A Body of Practical Divinity
A body of practical divinity consisting of above one hundred seventy six sermons on the lesser catechism composed by the reverend assembly of divines at Westminster : with a supplement of some sermons on several texts of Scripture / by Thomas Watson ...
London: printed for Thomas Parkurst, 1692
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Resp. There must be a Solemn Retiring of the Soul. We must set our selves apart, and retire for some time from all Secular Employment, that we may be more serious in this Work. There is no casting up of Accounts in a Crowd; nor can we examine our selves when we are in a Crowd of Worldly Businesses. We read, a Man that was in a Journey might not come to the Passover, Numb. 9.13. because his Mind was full of Secular Cares, and his Thoughts were taken up about his Journey. When we are upon Self-examining-work, we had not need be in an Hurry, or have any distracting Thoughts, but retire and lock up our selves in our Closet, that we may be more intent in the Work.
Resp. There must be a Solemn Retiring of the Soul. We must set our selves apart, and retire for some time from all Secular Employment, that we may be more serious in this Work. There is no casting up of Accounts in a Crowd; nor can we examin our selves when we are in a Crowd of Worldly Businesses. We read, a Man that was in a Iourney might not come to the Passover, Numb. 9.13. because his Mind was full of Secular Cares, and his Thoughts were taken up about his Journey. When we are upon Self-examining-work, we had not need be in an Hurry, or have any distracting Thoughts, but retire and lock up our selves in our Closet, that we may be more intent in the Work.
Quest. 2. What is Self-examination?
Resp. It is a setting up a Court in Conscience, and keeping a Register there, that by a strict Scrutiny a Man may see how Matters stand between God and his Soul. Self-examination is a Spiritual Inquisition, an Heart-Anatomy, whereby a Man takes his Heart as a Watch, all in pieces, and sees what is defective there. It is a Dialogue with ones self.