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him, whereby you may walk as in his sight in all well pleasing, all that day.

To assist you therein, do thus:

First, Lay a strict charge upon your conscience to deal impartially, plainly, and fully, in this examination and judging of yourself.

Secondly, You should be so well acquainted with the substance and meaning of God's holy law, Deut. vi. 8, 9, that you may be able to carry in your head a catalogue or table of the duties required, and vices forbidden, in each commandment; whereby you may try your obedience past, and may set before you a rule of life for time to come.

Thirdly, (lest the calling to mind the multitude and greatness of your sins should make you despair of God's favour) You should be so well instructed in the Christian faith, and in the principal promises of the gospel, that you may be able also quickly to call them to mind, for the strengthening of your faith and hope in God. The form of sound words in the gospel, 2 Tim. i. 13, should be familiar unto you for these purposes.

All these need not take up much time: you will find it to be time well redeemed. For, first, by such preparation you will keep yourself from that rude and irreverent thrusting yourself into God's holy presence, whereof you are warned in the Scriptures, Eccles. v. 1, 2.

Secondly, When by this means your heart is well humbled, softened, and set right towards God, so that you can say, you regard no iniquity in your heart, Psa. lxvi. 18. John ix. 31; and when hereby you have called in your thoughts from straggling, and have gotten composedness of mind, and inward strength of soul (without which the arrow of prayer can never fly home to the mark) then you may approach into God's special presence with more faith and boldness; you shall be more able to utter before him apt confessions, lawful requests, and due thanksgivings, with more understanding, more humbly, more feelingly, more fervently, and with more assurance of a gracious