[Solomon's advice is good : " Keep thy heart with all dili- gence; for out of it are the issues of life r." It is lamentable to think how much there may be amiss within us, whilst the external conduct is correct ; yea, and whilst religion appears to have the chief ascendent over us. Truly, it becomes us to " search and try our wayss;" yes, and to beg of God also to " search and try our hearts, to see whether there be any wicked way or principle in us, and to lead us in the way ever- lasting*." "When we reflect, that one evil propensity, if in- dulged, will vitiate all our moral and religious acts ; and that it will make " our very prayers an abomination in the sight of Godu;" we cannot but tremble for the great mass even of reli- gious professors, who will be tried by the heart-searching God, and have their final doom fixed according to their real charac- ter, as it stands before him. Indeed, brethren, I wish you to examine yourselves well, whether ye be sound in principle, and upright in practice also. And be careful not to " deceive your own souls;" nor to rest, till you have an evidence in your own bosoms, and the witness of God's Spirit also, that ye are et Israelites indeed, in whom there is no guile :" for whatever ye may imagine, it is " the pure in heart, and they only, that shall see God" with comfort in the day of judgments
r Prov. iv. 23. ■ Lam. iii. 40. * Ps. cxxxix. 23, 24.
u Prov. xv. 8. and xxviii. 9. x Matt. v. 8.