Daniel T. Bourdeau - The Eternal Gospel Church

strict investigation of our spiritual state, to know
whether we are in the faith, to know our defects that we
may overcome them, and the improvements that we make, that
we may be encouraged thereby. The necessity of attending to
this duty will be seen by considering the following points:
p. 89, Para. 1, [HOLINESS].
1. This duty is enforced by a divine command. "Examine
yourselves, whether ye be in the faith," is the language of
inspiration. 2 Cor. xiii, 5. See also 1 Cor. xi, 28; Gal.
vi, 4. p. 89, Para. 2, [HOLINESS].
2. Since the heart is deceitful above all things, if we
neglect to examine ourselves, we shall fail to obtain a
thorough and correct knowledge of our own characters; and
unless we know ourselves, without a knowledge of our
imperfections, we cannot see the necessity of overcoming,
and consequently shall fail to advance in sanctification.
But if we become acquainted with our hearts by selfexamination,
we shall realize the necessity of overcoming
and progressing in holiness. p. 89, Para. 3, [HOLINESS].
3. By attending to self-examination we shall be enabled to
guard against self-deception, which consists in a wrong
judgment of our spiritual condition. The grand remedy for
self-deception, is self-examination. p. 89, Para. 4,
[HOLINESS].
How liable men in every age have been to deceive
themselves in regard to their characters, to call good
evil, and evil, good, and act accordingly. And how many
forms of self-deception there are in the world. How many
actually live and die self-deceived. And self-deception is
not confined to the ungodly. In every age, a great portion
of the professed followers of God have been deceived as to
their true characters. p. 89, Para. 5, [HOLINESS].
Only a few years have passed since the testimony of the
faithful and true witness to the Laodiceans, Rev. iii, 14-
22, found the highly favored remnant church, even the
people to whom the Lord had entrusted the sacred and
important truths of the last message of mercy, deceived in
regard to their spiritual state. This testimony described
them as saying, "I am rich and increased with goods, and
have need of nothing," while they knew not that they were
"wretched and miserable, and poor and blind and naked."
True, God's people have improved since this cutting message