6. Have the miseries of others called forth compassion and efforts to relieve them? 7. Am I seeking the salvation of my fellow-creatures? 8. Is sin hateful to me ?-Do I loathe it as the worst of all evils? 9. Have I an habitual mourning for sin. 10. Have I deeply felt my corruption and guilt before God? 11. Do I believe that the Gospel is the appointed and only complete way of salvation? 12. Do I rest on the only hope of forgivenessredemption through the blood of Christ ? 13. Am I so believing in Jesus as to rely upon him as my Saviour? 14. Am I truly grateful to God for his great salvation? 15. Am I evidencing this by a care to please him in all things? 16. Am I humble and lowly in mind, affection, and conversation? 17. Do the sufferings of Christ for sin affect my heart with godly sorrow? 18. Am I patient under crosses, trials, and inju. ries, and willing to suffer reproach for Christ's sake? 19. Do I quietly submit to God's painful dispensations? 20. Do I hunger and thirst after righteousness? 21. Do I earnestly desire to obtain that right. eousness which is through the faith of Christ? 22. Am I labouring to spread the gospel of peace? 23. Do I seek to know God more myself, and to diffuse his knowledge through the world? 24. Have I resigned myself to the will of God, to do and suffer his pleasure? 25. How do I spend my Sabbaths -Do I not in too many instances employ these opportunities of mercy in unprofitable and sinful conversation; in doing many unnecessary works; by travelling, visiting, &c., instead of improving them, so as to promote the glory of God, and my o n spiritual advantage? CONFESSION OF SINS AFTER SELF EXAMINATION. O Lord God Almighty, the Judge of all the earth, keeping covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments, have mercy upon me a miserable sinner, coming back to thee in the name of Jesus Christ. My conscience accuses me of many transgressions and much disobedience. If in any thing I have not greatly sinned, or have in a measure fulfilled thy will, this was thy work, and to thee alone be praise. But, oh, how unfaithful have I been to my engagements, and how often have I transgressed thy law, and been disobedient to thy holy will. I desire especially to confess and to bewail those sins for which my own heart more particularly condemns me. And how much of my sinfulness is unknown to myself! But thou art acquainted with all my ways; oh, cleanse thou me from my secret faults, and all my known transgressions. Wash me through that precious blood which cleanses from all sin. Give me grace to look to Him who was pierced for my sins, and to mourn for them with that godly sorrow which works repentance unto salvation. Oh, vouchsafe unto me a holy sorrow of heart, a lively faith in Christ, and a sure hope of thy mercy through him; that I may, with a pacified conscience, a believing and penitent, and a grateful and thankful, spirit, go to partake of the memorials of his death. Hear me for his Amen. name's sake. DEVOTIONAL POETRY. PRAYER. [Montgomery. PRAYER is the soul's sincere desire, Uttered or unexprest; The motion of a hidden fire That trembles in the breast. Prayer is the burthen of a sigh, When none but God is near. Prayer is the simplest form of speech Prayer the sublimest strains that reach Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice, Returning from his ways; And cry, "Behold, he prays !" Prayer is the Christian's vital breath, His watchword at the gates of death,- The saints, in prayer, appear as one, Nor prayer is made on earth alone, And Jesus, on the eternal throne, O thou, by whom we come to God, PRAISE. [Montgomery. O GOD, thou art my God alone; Early to thee my soul shall cry, A pilgrim in a land unknown, A thirsty land, whose springs are dry. O that it were as it hath been, And mark'd the footsteps of thy grace! |