Self-Examination

“Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.”

Ps. 26:2

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”

2 Cor. 13:5

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Order of Contents

Articles  6+
Books  2
Quote  1


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Articles

1600’s

Perkins, William – A Direction for Examination of the Conscience  in Of the Nature & Practice of Repentance, 7. Of the Practice of Repentance  appended to A Golden Chain  (Cambridge: Legat, 1600), pp. 744-50

Baxter, Richard – Direction 44, ‘Take the bad example of religious men to be one of your most perilous temptations: and therefore labor to discover especi­ally what are the sins of professors in the age that you live in, that you may especially watch and fortify your souls against them’  in The Cure of Church Divisions…  (London, 1670), pt. 1, pp. 221-22

Alleine, Joseph – ‘Self-Examination’  in The Puritans on the Lord’s Supper (SDG 1997), pp. 85-109

Watson, Thomas – ch. 7, ‘Offering Violence by Self-Examination’  in Heaven Taken by Storm  (SDG, 2020), pp. 30-33

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1700’s

Henry, Matthew – ‘Matthew Henry’s Self-Examination Before Ordination’  (†1714)  13 pp.  being questions Henry put to himself before his ordination.

Edwards, Jonathan – ‘The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards’  (1723)  70 resolutions, helpfully rearranged and categorized by Matt Perman (2006)

“Remember to read over these resolutions once a week.” – Edwards

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1800’s

Green, Ashbel – ‘Questions & Counsel for Young Converts’  5 pp.  13 questions & 6 counsels, appended to John Willison, The Young Communicant’s Companion, pp. 68-72


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Books

1500’s

Hyperius, Andreas – The True Trial & Examination of a Man’s own self, wherein every faithful Christian, by looking into his conscience, may most plainly behold his spiritual deformity by nature, described, his actual rebellion by disobedience detected, his promise-breach at baptism, by ordinary transgression apparently proved, his lamentable estate through sin discovered, his wilfull obstinacy by daily disorder displayed, and lastly how by earnest repentance, and faith in Christ Jesus, he is from all the same clearely pardoned, forgiven, released and reconciled  (London: John Windet, 1587)  189 pp.  ToC

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1600’s

Corbet, John – Self-Employment in Secret, containing: I. Evidences upon Self-Examination, II. Thoughts upon Painful Afflictions, III. Memorials for Practice…  (London: Parkhurst, 1681)  75 pp.  Preface by John Howe

Corbet (1620-1680) was an English, congregationalist puritan, friends with Richard Baxter.


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Quote

1700’s

Barthold Holtzfus

‘Theological Dissertation on Creation’  (Frankfurt: Steppinus, 1706), trans. AI  Latin

§XLIX. It is the part of a prudent man, but especially of a Christian, to consider his purpose daily and attentively, and to consider himself in every state with respect to the past,
present, and future, and also with respect to the body and soul, according to that salutary admonition: γνῶθι σεαυτόν! “Know thyself!”

Furthermore, to weigh the threefold voice of every creature that serves us: “Receive the benefit!  Render the due service!  Flee
the punishment!” according to Hugh of Saint Victor, De Arca bk. 2, ch. 3.

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“And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void to offence toward God, and toward men.”

Acts 24:16

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Related Pages

Meditation

Personal Godliness

Christian Living

Prayer

Conscience

Cases of Conscience