The Communicant's Companion
charge to conscience, in God's name, to make a true answer to them, we may come to know our own selves.
4. What is the course and tenor of our conversations?—The tree is known by its fruits. Do I work the works of the flesh, or bring forth the fruits of the Spirit? The apostle gives us instances of both. Be not deceived yourselves, neither let any man deceive you: "He that doth righteousness, is righteous."
And the surest mark of uprightness is, "keeping ourselves from our own iniquity." Do I allow myself in any known sin, under the cloak of a visible profession? Dare I, upon any provocation, swear or curse, or profane God's holy name, and therein speak the language of his enemies?
Dare I, upon any allurement to please my appetite, or please my company, drink to excess, and sacrifice my reason, honor, and conscience, to that base and brutish lust? Dare I defile a living temple of the Holy Ghost by adultery, fornication, uncleanness, or any act of lasciviousness? Dare I tell a lie for my gain or reputation? Dare I go beyond or defraud my brother in any matter, cheat those I deal with, or oppress those I have advantage against? Dare I deny relief to the poor that really need it, when it is in the power of my hand to give it? Dare I bear malice to any, and study revenge?
If so, I must know that these are not the spots of God's children. If this be the life I live, I am certainly a stranger to the life of God. But if, upon search, my own heart tells me that I keep myself pure from these pollutions, and "herein exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence, both towards God and towards man;" if I have respect to all God's commandments, and make it my daily care in every thing to frame my life according to them, and to keep in the fear of God every day, and all the day long; and wherein I find I am defective, and come short of my duty, I repent of it, and am more watchful and diligent for the future: I have reason to