u v 4aermo?2 5. rith of inextricable intricacies and perplexities. For à»i. fryer then to the doubt or objetfion, r. It is indeed expedi- ent, fo far as a believer can win in felf- examination, to reach his particular a&ions and the particular Peps and circumflances of them, wherein lob and others of the iäints have win a great length ; and the expediency, if not neceflity of it, appears from this, becaufe, by this means, believers win to more diftin&nefs and ftayednefs in up- taking of their cafe. 2. We think, that the di- 11inLt examination of all particulars in a man's life, and of the feveral quef}ions that Cor fcience may propofe con- cerning them, is not poffible in itfelf, and therefore not limply neceffary as to the making of this duty pra &i - cable; for, if we could poffibly (as we cannot) go through all our a &ions, and all the circumftances of them, throughout our whole way, it would take up more of our time to examine, a & than we have for price : If we should be put to reflei particularly on every thing that we have done, on what hath been committed, and on what hath been omitted, and the feveral aggravati- ons and circumfances of every one of thefe, and to go through every one of them according to the exa& rule, it would take us many days; yea, if the Confcience thould give way to fcruploufnefs in this, there fhould always be an examination of our examination (which yet may, and f" in fome cafes ought to be) and fo on in infinitum, that there Mould never be an end of this work to the exclu- fion of others clearly called for, which cannot be : That is not then (we conceive) the Lord's end in preffing on, us this duty of fell examination, whereby he defigns to extricate the fouls of his people out of difquietnefs, and not to involve them further in it. Yet, 3. We fay, That it is neceffary as to believers peace in their duty, that they examine the feries of their way, tho' they cannot . reach every particular a &ion, or all its circumífances ; and that they think no duty to be fo clear, nor any fin to be fo little, as refolvedly to pats it without refle&ing on it, fo far as is pofl'ible. And, in examining the feries and tra& of their way, they would confider, I. The natter of their a&ions, whether it was good and appro- vea
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