Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1837-03-21
From the Christian Observer, Jor 1905
SUBJECT FOR sELF.EXANlNATIoN.


Have during the year that is past, re
cardcd the favor and everlasting enjoy
mcnt of God as the great end of all my
schemes, and have | laborcd to maintain a
constant reference 10 him, in all the actions
Of my life?
Have I, in pursuing that end, placed my
whole reliance on Jesus Chris, regarding
his obedience, sacrifice, mediation, and in.
tcrccssion, as the only ground on which |
could hope to obtain the pardon OF my sins,
peace with God, the sanctifying influence OF
the Holy Spirit, or any other spiritual bles-
sing?
Have kept continually in mind the in.
dispansaJlc obligation | am under, to walk
in the steps Of Christ, and TO be holy as he
is holy. if would enter into Heaven and
have / been constantly and earnestly en-.
gagged in prayer for his Holy Spirit, in the
firm belief that by him alone, can | be cna.
bled 10 fulfill that obligation?
Have been employed in culiIvatins an
habituaI sense Of Gods presence, and of
my accountablcncss to him; ofthe shortncss
of time, and of my obligation 10 improve ii
Has it been my study to appear well, not
SO much in the 81 ght of men, as in the sight
of God? And to that end have been par.
!icuiarIy on my guard against tile love OF
human praise, Or distinction, and the fear
of shame: dcsis,ing from my purpose, when
perceived these TO be my only motives,
and cndcavoring to overcome them when
perceived them 10 mix with such as were
more pure?
Have been in the habit Of considering
love to God, and zeal for his glory, as my
highest duties? Has it been my daily Ia.
Dor to improve in these divine affections
And have judged of my progress in
them, not by transient fcryors of the mind,
but by my habitual temper, by my punctu-
al performance Of the sclf.Ienying duties
of Christianity, by my cheerful acfules-
cence in all the dispcnsations of the Al.
mighty, and by the love, the humility, and
the meekness which ] have been enabled
to exercise 10 all around me?
Can say of myself that | have lived a
life of dependence on Christ, and Of faith
in his word; and that | have made that
word the exclusive measure Of my belief
and practice? ?
Has it been my particular study TO re-
strain all wandering of the mind in the pub
lie, and private exercises OF divine worship,
and to guard also against the evils ofvanity
and formality in worshipping God!
Have banishcd as much as possible.
vain and worldly conversation from my lips,
and vain and worldly thoughts from my
mind on the LORDS day; and have taken
delight in its appropriate duties?
Have | been careful so to arrange my
duties, and my domestic concerns, that
neither myself, nor any cfmy family, nor
any one employed by me, may experience
any unnecessary hndrancc to regular
attendance on the public worship Of God,
or bc deprived Of the time which is rcquis-
tc for duly hallowing the Sabbath!
Have been particularly sudious to guard
against the intrusion Of impure thoughts;
turning away mine eyes from whatever
might excite them, shutting my ears against
polluling conversation, and restraining my
tongue from every licentous word?
HavcI been vigilant in rcpresslng equal.
ly every rising Of covetous desire, and every
tendency, to improper expense, or the care.
less profusion Of any Of the gifts Of God?
Have l regarded myself in the light
merely of steward ofthc bountles of Prov.
idence; and have sought out proper sub.
iects with whom to share them? Remem.
bering that to God must give account
for the employment Of all his gifts, let me
now inquire whether in the last year my
heart has devised and my hand has execu.
ted liberal things? What proportion ofmy
gains have given to God? Is it snffI'
cien. nroror.ion? Might. i. nc: lave bccn