IV. QUESTIONS. 591 What encouragement would you give to timorous christians against the fears of dying ? How wouldyou prepare doubtingchristians for approaching death ? Perhaps, it might not be au improper exercise for students, in the last part of their academical studies, to write letters of christian advice to persons under all these circumstances, or at least to write down answers to all these enquiries, to be perused and corrected by their tutors. IV. Questions proper for Young Ministers frequently to put to themselves, chiefly borrowed from the Epistles to Timothy and Titus. SECTION 1. Of faithfulness' in the Ministry. DO I sincerely give myself" to the ministry of the word ;" Acts vi. 4. and do I design to make it the chief business of my life to serve Christ in his gospel, in order to the salvation of men ? Do I resolve, through the aids of divine grace, to be " faithful to himwho hath put me into the ministry, and to take heed to the ministry which I have received in the Lord that I may fulfil it ?" 1 Tim. i. 12. Col. iv. 17. Do I honestly and faithfully endeavour by study and prayer to know " the truth as it is in Jesus ?" Eph. iv. 21. and do I seek my instruction chiefly from the " holy scriptures, which are able to make me wise unto salvation, through the faith that is in Christ, that I may be thoroughly furnished unto every good word and work ?" 2 Tim. iii. 14, 17. Do " I hold fast the form of sound words," as far as I have learned them of Christ and his apostles ? 2 Tim. i. 13. That I " may by sound doctrine exhort and convince gain- sayers ;" Tit. i. 9. And do I determine to " continue in the things which 1 have learned, knowing fromwhom I have learned them ?" 2 Tim. iii. 14. Do I resolve to give the people the true meaning of Christ in his word, so far as I canunderstand it, and "not to handle the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth com- mend myself to every man's conscience in the sight of God ?" 2 Cor. iv. 2. Am I watchful to " avoid profane and vain babblings ?" 1 Tim. vi. 20. and do I take care to " shun foolish questions which do gender strife, and disputing about words, which are to no profit, but the subversion of the hearers ?" 2 Tim. ii. 14, 23. DO I " study to shew myself approved unto God, rightly dividing the wordof truth ; 2 Tim. ii. 15. giving to every one, viz. to saints and sinners, their proper portion ? Do I make it my business, to " testify to all men, whether
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