ASSISTANT TO FAMILY RELIGION.

PART III.

RESOLUTIONS AND QUESTIONS FOR SELF-EXAMINATION.

[It is ever to be remembered, that all resolutions should be made in dependance on the grace of God, and not in one's own strength.]

Resolution 1. I will be thankful for the light of nature, which makes known the existence and some of the perfections of God, and the present condition and many of the duties of man; and, though I must consider it but a partial and imperfect guide in truth and duty, yet I will endeavor to act according to its dictates.

Question for self-examination. Do I study the works of God to learn His existence and character, and my duty and moral condition?

R. 2. I will be grateful for the Holy Scriptures, which contain a full and perfect revelation of the Divine mind and will, and are substantiated as of heavenly origin by the most convincing and abundant evidence; and I will take them for the rule of my faith and practice, study much to understand their sacred contents, and test all my religious principles and conduct by them.

Do I, especially when infidelity is prevalent, and errors are published, daily resort to the Bible as my only sure standard? do I exercise gratitude for this heavenly guide? and do I love to read the Scriptures

because they are holy, and because they speak of God, Christ and heavenly things?

R. 3. I will love, and rejoice in the adorable, perfect, amiable, and glorious character of God, natural and moral, as revealed in the Sacred Oracles, and will endeavor to conform to it in all things practicable.

Q. Do I possess the moral likeness of God? do I exhibit it in my daily deportment? and do I strive to learn more of the greatness and glory of His perfections?

R. 4. I will consider the doctrine of the Trinity in the Godhead, as a doctrine which though highly mysterious in respect to the manner, in which the three Divine Persons subsist in the Divine essence, is, nevertheless, clearly revealed, and most important to be believed, as lying at the foundation of the grand economy of man's salvation as published in the gospel; and I will receive the doctrine with profound reverence, deep humility, firm faith, and exercise due homage and gratitude to the different Persons, for the part they severally take in the execution of the plan of redemption.

Q. Do I receive the doctrine of the Trinity with reverence, humility, faith and gratitude? and have I communion with God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost?

R. 5. I will view the doctrine of divine purposes as clearly taught by reason and revelation, and as demanding the full assent and consent of every intelligent and moral creature in the universe, because most holy in nature and design, and as a subject of admiration, support, and thanksgiving.

Q. Do I believe, and rejoice in the supreme and universal dominion of God, whose counsel standeth forever?

R. 6. I will contemplate the works of creation with wonder and delight, and endeavor to see the character of God illustriously unfolded in them, and holiness and happiness promoted by them, and to realize that their glorious Author is worthy of the supreme love and homage of all intelligent creatures.

Q. Am I pleased with the design, which God had in view in His works of creation? and do I render unto the great Autnor of all things, that supreme homage and love which are justly His due?

R. 7. I will meditate upon the providence of God as general and particular, extending as well to the minutest as to the greatest events which take place; and I will rejoice that it is so comprehensive, wise, benevolent, and righteous, and affords a ground for the highest consolation of all holy creatures, and that, while it extends to revolving worlds, I am not overlooked in the great system of things.

Q. Do I rejoice in the providence of God? Do I acknowledge his hand in all events? Do I realize that my own heart is ever open to His view?

R. 8. I will regard the existence of angels, holy and apostate, as a reality; and I will love the holy angels, the noblest and brightest of creatures, for their holiness, exercise gratitude for their benevolent exertions in guiding, protecting, and ministering for them, who shall be heirs of salvation, respect them for their dignity and worth, and imitate their holy example; and I will detest the character and conduct of unholy angels or devils, fear their evil devices, resist their wicked temptations, and avoid an imitation of their unhallowed example.

Q. Do I resemble the holy or the apostate angels? and am I preparing for the endless society of the former or the latter?

R. 9. I will regard man as noble and exalted in his nature, holy in his primitive state as coming from the hands of his Maker, capable of most desirable attainments in knowledge, holiness and happiness, lord of this lower creation, responsible for all his feelings and conduct, and destined to an endless state of glory and felicity, or of shame and wretchedness, according to the moral character, which he shall form while here in probation.

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Q. Does the thought often rise in my mind, that 1 a rational and responsible creature of God, and that my eternal happiness or misery is suspended on my probationary conduct?

R. 10. I will consider the moral law, which God has given to man for the rule of his conduct, as immutable and spiritual, as extending in its requisitions to all the thoughts, affections, words, and actions, as holy, just, and good in its precept and penalty; and, therefore, as worthy of universal, perpetual, and personal obedience, and that

every transgression of it is sin, and justly exposes to endless misery.

Q. Is not my understanding convinced, that the law of God is holy? and does not my conscience condemn me as a transgressor? Do I realize that I fall under the sentence of that law, whose penalty is eternal wo?

R. 11. I will reflect much upon the apostacy, depravity, and ruin of mankind, and deplore their awful condition and wretchedness by sin.

Q. Is my heart awake to the prevalence of sin, suffering, and death among mankind? and is it my frequent prayer, Lord! have mercy on me, and all men, for we are

sinners?

R. 12. I will meditate much upon the scheme of salvation by Christ, and rejoice and give thanks, that by Him a complete atonement for sin has been made, so that now a way is opened for the free and consistent exercise of mercy to man, in the method which God has seen fit to adopt.

Q. Do I cordially approve the character and mediatorial work of Christ? and have I a good hope of pardon and salvation through His death?

R. 13. I will meditate much upon the declaration of Christ, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God," and will endeavor to have just views of the nature, necessity, and evidences of the new birth; and if upon examination, I find myself to be a subject of the special influences of the Holy Spirit, I will ascribe all the glory to Him, who has made me to differ.

Q. Have I been born of the Spirit? Am I a new creature in Christ Jesus? Are the evidences of my good estate clear and increasing?

R. 14. I will consider true holy love as most excellent and amiable in its nature and effects, and as constituting the true glory of Jehovah, the true glory of holy angels, and the true glory of renovated man; and will endeavor to exercise this love at all times, viz. the love of benevolence towards all beings, susceptible of happiness and misery, and the love of complacency towards all beings, possessed of holiness.

Q. Do I possess this holy love, which is the sum of all moral virtue and excellence? and does it control and sanctify my whole nature?

R. 15. I will consider repentance as man's immediate duty, and will endeavor to exercise at all times, that godly sorrow for sin, which is unto salvation.

Q. Do I possess true evangelical repentance? and do I bring forth fruits, meet for repentance?

R. 16. I will endeavor to understand the nature of true gospel faith, and to believe all the Divine testimony concerning Christ and the way of salvation by Him, and to place implicit confidence in Him as the Redeemer of sinners, and to demonstrate my faith by my works.

Q. Am I a believer or an infidel? Is my faith speculative or practical? Have I seen the excellence of the gospel? and do I entrust my soul to Christ, as an almighty Saviour?

R. 17. I will adore the grace of God in the justification of the believer, whereby the sinner is absolved from his sins, accounted righteous, and treated as though he had never sinned, and I will consider the doctrine of justification by faith as a cardinal doctrine, and vitally important in the system of truth revealed in the Gospel.

Q. Do I consider the gospel entitled to all acceptation? and is it in my view, a cardinal doctrine, that sinners are justified through faith in the vicarious sufferings of Christ, and not on the ground of personal merit? and have I embraced this plan of mercy?

R. 18. I will consider the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints in faith and holiness unto the end of life, as revealed in the Scriptures, and important to be believed; and that the belief of this doctrine is adapted to promote the sanctification and happiness of the children of God, and that, while it is they who persevere, it is God who enables and induces them to do it.

Q. Do I confide in the sovereign and unchanging purposes of God? and am I working out my salvation with fear and trembling, while He worketh in me both to

will and to do?

R. 19. I will contemplate the subject of death with solemnity, remember my own constant exposure to its arrest, and strive to be in readiness for its approach, that I may welcome it at its coming, and find it to be disarmed of its terrors, and to be my everlasting gain.

Q. How do I view death? Am I trifling, or indifferent, or desperate, in relation to it? gloomy with appre