'Tis a great part of the work of a godly man to try himself and his works, and it is one of his greatest wishes, that God would try him, and his works. They who are sincere are much in trying themselves; Let us search and try our ways (say they) and turn again unto the Lord. And they who are much in self trial and Examination, are willing to be tried and examined both by God and man; sure enough, They that try themselves much, are not afraid of the trial of man, no nor of the trial of God. If we compare the first verse of the 139th Psalm with the 23•, we shall see what an answer there is in them as to this point. At the first verse David saith, O Lord, thou hast searched me and known me: at the 23 verse he prays; Search me O God, and know my heart; why did David pray thus to God; Search me and know my heart? having said before, Thou hast searched me and known me. Seeing David knew that God had searched him, what needed he to pray that God would search him? why did he beg God to do that which he had done already? The answer is at hand. David was a diligent self-searcher, and therefore he was so willing to be searched, yea he delighted to be searched, by God; and that not (as was said) because himself had done it already, but also because he knew God could do it better. He knew by his own search, that he did not live in any way of wickedness against his knowledge, and yet he knew there might be some way of wickedness in him that he knew not of. And therefore he doth not only say, Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts; but he adds (ver. 24.) see if there be any wicked way (or any way of pain and grief) in me. (The same word signifies ⟨p. 387⟩both, because wicked ways lead in the end to pain and grief) and lead me in the way everlasting. As if he had said; Lord, I have searched my self, and can see no wicked way in me, but Lord thy sight is infinitely clearer then mine, and if thou wilt but search me, thou mayest see some wicked way in me which I could not see, and I would fain see and know the worst of my self, that I might amend it and grow better, therefore Lord, if there be any such way in me, cause me to know it also; O take that way out of me, and take me out of that way, lead me in the way everlasting.
'Tis a great part of the worke of a godly man to try himselfe and his workes, and it is one of his greatest wishes, that God would try him, and his workes. They who are sincere are much in trying themselves; Let us search and try our wayes (say they) and turne againe unto the Lord. And they who are much in selfe tryal and Examination, are willing to be tryed and examined both by God and man; sure enough, They that try themselves much, are not afraid of the tryal of man, no nor of the tryal of God. If we compare the first verse of the 139th Psalme with the 23•, we shall see what an answer there is in them as to this poynt. At the first verse David saith, O Lord, thou hast searched mee and knowne mee: at the 23 verse hee prayes; Search mee O God, and know my heart; why did David pray thus to God; Search mee and know my heart? having said before, Thou hast searched mee and knowne mee. Seing David knew that God had searched him, what needed he to pray that God would search him? why did he begge God to doe that which hee had done already? The answer is at hand. David was a diligent selfe-searcher, and therefore he was so willing to be searched, yea he delighted to be searched, by God; and that not (as was said) because himselfe had done it already, but also because he knew God could doe it better. Hee knew by his owne search, that he did not live in any way of wickednes against his knowledge, and yet he knew there might be some way of wickednes in him that he knew not of. And therefore he doth not onely say, Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts; but he adds (ver. 24.) see if there be any wicked way (or any way of paine and griefe) in me. (The same word signifies ⟨p. 387⟩both, because wicked wayes lead in the end to paine and griefe) and lead me in the way everlasting. As if he had said; Lord, I have searched my selfe, and can see no wicked way in me, but Lord thy sight is infinitely clearer then mine, and if thou wilt but search me, thou mayest see some wicked way in me which I could not see, and I would faine see and know the worst of my selfe, that I might amend it and grow better, therefore Lord, if there be any such way in me, cause me to know it also; O take that way out of me, and take me out of that way, lead me in the way everlasting.