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The Pathway of Safety; or, Counsel to the Awakened By the Right Rev. Ashton Oxenden, D.D. CHAPTER VI: HELPS BY THE WAY RELIGIOUS BOOKS – RELIGIOUS INTERCOURSE – MEDITATION – COMMUNION WITH GOD – SELF-EXAMINATION D. SELF-EXAMINATION ‘Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith; prove your own selves,’ was the advice addressed by St. Paul to the Christians at Corinth. (2 Cor. 13.5) And this is a most important means of spiritual health and growth. When any one first begins to live a religious life, he may perhaps fancy that he is fully acquainted with his own heart. It seems to lie all open before him. But the more he looks into it, the more astonished he will ne to find how little he as yet knows of it. Self-examination is therefore most necessary. For how can we become acquainted with our own state, unless we look closely at it? How can we discover our particular failings, our shortcomings, our secret transgressions, our heart-sins, unless we search after them? Without this, our prayers will be nothing more that general acknowledgements of guilt, and general petitions for pardon and grace. Nothing will be specified, because nothing will be known of our exact condition, or of our particular wants. It has been observed, that ‘a person, ignorant of his own heart, is like a merchant who knows not the state of his accounts, while every day he is likely to become bankrupt; or like persons in a leaky ship, who are not aware of their danger. The professed follower of Christ, who knows not whether he is a true or false disciple, is in a condition no less dangerous.’ But you will find it no easy matter to lay bare your own heart. Far easier is it to detect and fix upon the faults of others, than to discover and bring to light your own. Far easier is it to discern the little mote that is in thy brother’s eye, than to pull out the huge beam from thine own, or een to feel that it is there. Some sins there are too in most of us, which lie so deeply embedded that, unless we follow them up, and drag them from their hiding-places, they will still hold their ground, and in the end overpower us. The heart then must be searched—searched to the very core. The deepest recesses of it must be sounded. Everyone should know how things are going on in his soul; what his dangers are; and what are the temptations to which he is most exposed. When an army of soldiers is encamped, the General places sentinels in all directions, whose duty it is to give notice of any attack threatened by the enemy, and to sound the alarm. Self-examination is the Christian’s sentinel. It watches to see how things are going on in the heart, and it gives notice of attacks from the great Enemy, who is ever on the alert to assault us. You will find, as I have said, this exercise a little difficult at first. Your sluggish heart will rebel against it. ‘It is no easy work’ (says an American writer) ‘to bring a man and his own heart together.’ But it will soon become less irksome. Only make trial of it, and I am sure you will find it to be no small help to you. Appoint some fixed time in every day, or in every week, for the catechizing of your own heart, for unveiling it, and for bringing its hidden things to light; and also for scrutinizing the daily actions of your outer life. But you will perhaps say that there is a kind of self-examination always going on in the mind of a true Christian. Is he not constantly feeling sin within him, and quesyioning himself whether a thing be right or wrong? Yes; but he wants something more. He needs regular stated seasons for bringing himself to trial; and without this, I believe, he will make little or no advance in the way of holiness. My advice to you then is, at once to begin the practice of Self-examination. But, if your mind has been unused to the task, it is well not to overtax it at first. You had better begin by asking yourself only a few questions. Do not lay upon yourself too heavy a burden at starting, lest you grow weary, and give up what you have begun. It has been remarked that young believers are very much in the condition of persons recovering from illness, whose strength is little, and resolution weak. We would not, therefore, put too heavy a yoke upon them, in this or any other duty, but would have them get on by degrees, as they are able to bear it. And remember, it is written for our encouragement, that God ‘despises not the day of small things.’ Of this I am certain, that self-examination, however toilsome, will amply repay you. It will make you watchful; it will keep your lamp burning brightly; it will make you alive to your weaknesses, and lead you to seek earnestly for grace to overcome them; it will enable you perhaps to nip many a dangerous sin in the bud; it will save you many a painful pang of conscience, and promote your peace. Above all, it will prepare you for the great Judgment-day. Is it not far better, think you, to discover your besetting sins, one by one, now; to mourn over them: to confess them to God; and to lay them out before the cross; than to go on in a state of blindness as to their very existence, and to have them brought against you at that day? ‘It is better,’ says Bishop Taylor, ‘to examine the conscience now, while there is time for repentance and amendment, than to be suddenly awakened on a death-bed to the recollection of our sins, when it is too late to alter.’ Oh, give yourself heartily to this work. Pray, ‘Search me, O God, and know my heart, and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.’ (Ps. 139.23, 24) ‘Let a man examine himself.’ (1 Cor. 11.28) Does any reader say, ‘I see plainly that this is my duty. But how am I to set about it? When shall I begin? What course shall I follow?’ Let me endeavor to help you. First, if Self-examination is a plain duty, there should be no delay in setting about it. Begin it now—today. Next, as to how often it is to be done. Some Christians think it right to examine themselves daily. It was the maxim of a heathen philosopher, ‘Let not thine eyes decline in pleasant sleep, until thou hast recounted all the acts of the long day.’ Others prefer doing so once a week. If the latter, you might take Saturday or Sunday evening, as a suitable time for this exercise. But it is very important to have a fixed, stated time, or it will be poorly done. Then, as to how you are to examine yourself. I would say, look deep into your heart, and try to discover its actual state before God. Go carefully into your different actions, and words, and feelings, and motives; and weigh them well, so as to discover what has been right, and what has been wrong in you. Let nothing be hidden from yourself, or kept back from God. There are many books which would help you greatly in this matter. But, in case you should not be able to obtain one of these, I will give you here some few general hints for your guidance:— 1. Examine yourself by the rule of God’s Word, and not by man’s opinions. A thing may not be counted wrong by men, and yet God’s Word may condemn it. 2. Look not merely at the actions you are daily performing, but inquire from what motive they are done. Is it, for instance, from a desire for man’s praise; or for worldly gain; or for God’s glory? 3. Inquire closely if you have good grounds for believing that you are accepted in Christ, and therefore safe in His hands. 4. If you are Christ’s servant, are you bringing forth much fruit? Are you daily growing and advancing in grace? 5. Find out what is your besetting sin, as pride, uncharitableness, lust, worldliness, evil temper, &c. Also, whether you are earnestly resolved to thrust it away at any cost. 6. See if you are using self-denial, and trying to keep ‘the flesh subdued to the spirit.’ 7. Find out, not only the actual wrong that you have done, but also the good that you have left undone. 8. Look carefully into every thought, word, and desire. 9. See whether you are taking Christ for your example in all you do. 10. Inquire into your conduct towards your relations, friends, neighbors, employers, employees, &c. 11. Find out to what peculiar temptations you are most liable; in what places, and in what company, they commonly assault you; and prayerfully guard against them. 12. Examine yourself as to whether your Bible reading and devotions are a delight to you, and whether they are regular and solemn, or hurried and trifling. 13. Ask yourself if you are doing all you might so for the glory of God, and for the good of your fellow-men. Above all, ask God to help you in thus searching into your heart. (Ps. 119.59; 139.23, 24) In these four chapters, then, I have mentioned some of the means by which you may attain to that holiness ‘without which no man shall see the Lord.’ Use them with diligence and thankfulness; and may they help you much in running the race that is set before you! **************************************************** The Pathway of Safety; or, Counsel to the Awakened, Ashton Oxenden **************************************************** PREVIOUS CHAPTER -- NEXT CHAPTER ©God’sGWG |