SOME QUESTIONS FOR SELF-EXAMINATION

     Let us propose a few questions which may be useful in self-examination, and that may assist some honest seeker in discovering the actual condition of his heart.

     God commands us to examine ourselves, and whatever He commands is always to our interest. The person who is still unclean is always desiring to know something good about himself, but grace enables him to also desire to know the worst of his case, and this in order that he may improve. Grace is characterized by a willingness to see our faults, and to acknowledge them when seen, as well as a willingness, yea, an anxiety, to straighten up and walk in any new light that may be given.

     The command is not to examine your neighbor, that would be a delight to the "old man;" neither is it to examine your temptations, that would be a thankless job; neither is it to examine your feelings, that would be an endless job; but it is to examine yourselves.

     The purpose of this examination is that you may see the exact condition of your heart, to get right if wrong, and to glorify God if right.

     The way to examine yourself is not to measure your life by that of some other person, even though that person may be high up in religious circles; it is not to go to some "dauber with untempered mortar," that he may patch up the breaks in an old, tumble-down experience; it is not to simply say, "I am saved and sanctified, and, because of this fact, nothing can convince me that I am wrong;" it is not to say, "I feel good and shout more than some others who are more particular than I am;" but it is to examine yourself, get to the root of the matter, and by the light of the Word of God and the direct aid of the Holy Spirit "know thyself."

     1. Are you patient? At home? At your work? With the children? With your neighbors? With your enemies? With opposers? With the follies of others? With bad physical feelings? With the weather? With financial loss? In every circumstance, great or small? Look and see.

     2. Are you humble? Not, Do you feel humble? or, Do you testify to being humble? Can you receive the criticisms of those who are not half as good or religious as you are without feeling resentful? Can you listen to people applauding you or your work without feeling "puffed up" just a little? Can you take a little place with as good grace as though it were a larger one? Do you lie at Jesus' feet more than you do at your own? Are you the greatest, or, are there others?

     3. Can you take reproof? Do you say, "Tell me whatever you see wrong in me," and then make people feel as though they had stepped in a basket of bad eggs if they happen to just touch your sores? Corns are a bad thing, especially on the soul. When reproved, do you pout? Do you fling back? Do you go and tell some person and attempt to get his sympathy? Do you laugh it off? Do you say, "Oh, that's just your cranky notion"? "He that hateth reproof is a bear" (Prov. 12:1) . -- Clarke.

     4. Are you willing, yea, anxious to be instructed? Or do you know all you need to know? "Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit, there is more hope for a fool than for him." You will never learn much as long as you know more than all your teachers.

     5. How about your tongue? Though it is a little member, does it still boast great things? Does it "hang in the middle and fly at both ends," or are your words few, as the Bible commands? Do you "speak evil of no man," or is your neighbor in danger at your hands? He that can control his own tongue (not his neighbor's) the same is a perfect man.

     6. Are you deceitful? Do you seem to be one thing to your neighbor while you know you are another thing? Do you declare victory in the congregation and then groan over your sins while in secret? Do you love in word, and then secretly, in your heart, tear your neighbor to pieces? Do you have a hat that is a little stylish for one congregation and a plain one for another? If so, how would Jeremiah's words fit your case? "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked."

     7. Is your eye single? Do you declare your burning love for God, and then consume your life in laying up treasures on earth? Do you say that you long for God's house and then stay away on every trivial excuse? Are you all for God, and always for God? If your eye is single your whole body will be full of light.

     8. Is your love perfect? Is God the one object of your affections? Do you love creatures only as that love is consistent with the love of God? Do you love to pray? Do you love the work of God more than you do your own work? Do you love your neighbor as yourself? Do you esteem your neighbor better than yourself? Have you that love which seeketh not her own?

     9. Are you self-denying? "Me first," is the rule of the worldling. "God first," is the rule of the Christian. "Be merry," is the aim of the worldling. "Be holy," is the aim of the Christian. "Enjoy," says the worldling. "Endure," says the Christian. Physical delights lead captive the worldling, but the Christian keeps his body under. By this sure sign you can know your standing.