God ? That many are punctual in some outward ob- servances, is readily acknowledged. But we shall do well to remark, that the inquiry in my text does not relate to outward actions so much as to the inward dispositions of the mind ; " If I be a father, where is my honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the Lord of Hosts." Let our attention then be directed to this point : let us, in our self-examination, keep this in view. Has there been in our hearts an habitual fear of offending God ? Has there been a holy reverential awe upon our minds whenever we have entered into his presence ? Has there been an un- wearied solicitude to please him, and a determination, through grace, to prove ourselves faithful to him in all things ? Have we sought carefully to know his will ; and then set ourselves diligently to perform it ? Have we been afraid of wasting his time in vain unprofit- able pursuits, and endeavoured to lay out to advantage the talents he has committed to our care ? Have we, together with the fidelity of a servant, combined the love and confidence of a child ? Have we entered into his presence with joy, and made known our re- quests with a humble yet thankful assurance, that he would hear and answer our petitions ? Have we cast our care upon him, not doubting but that he would care for us, and order every thing for our good ? Have we, at the same time, taken an interest in every thing that relates to him ? Have we been filled with grief and indignation, when we have beheld the con- tempt poured upon him by an ungodly world ? And has it been a source of lively joy, if at any time we have heard his name exalted and his glory extolled ? If we have felt towards him as duteous children, we must have considered ourselves as having a commu> nion of interests with him ; and must have participated in all these emotions, which the advancement or de^ clension of his cause are suited to inspire.
Let us examine in this manner the conduct both of ourselves and others, and then answer, if we can, that pointed interrogation, "Where is mine honour?" Blind and partial as we are, we cannot be so blind or