Daniel T. Bourdeau - The Eternal Gospel Church

was shown to apply to them. But how have they improved? We
answer, One great means of their improvement has been selfexamination.
But the Scriptures represent that many will
pass along, deceiving themselves even till the day of the
Lord, in which many will say, Lord, Lord, claiming a right
to his favor; but he will profess unto them, "I never knew
you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Matt. vii, 22,
23. Now self-deception cannot exist where the work of selfexamination
is rightly engaged in, and faithfully and
perseveringly carried on. p. 89, Para. 6, [HOLINESS].
If we were in a perfect state and had no defects in our
characters, it would be very easy and agreeable for us to
examine ourselves. But in this imperfect state, selfexamination
is not so easy and agreeable a duty to perform.
The difficulty of this work is not owing to anything
obscure in the evidences of holiness; for these evidences
are so clear that any one who is endowed with sufficient
intellectual capacities to comprehend the common affairs of
life, can understand them. Whence, then, does this
difficulty arise? It arises chiefly from the pride and
deceitfulness of our own hearts, their liability to induce
us to look upon our characters with complacency, and to
excuse ourselves for our wrongs, the efforts and
suggestions of the adversary and his agencies to deter us
from this work, our proneness to suffer our minds to be
engrossed with the cares of this life, the faults of
others, and other subjects of secondary importance, when
compared with this subject. And because of these and other
obstacles, the hearts of men are generally averse to selfexamination;
and self-examination is shrunk from, and
neglected by the great body of professing Christians. p.
90, Para. 1, [HOLINESS].
But notwithstanding the hindrances in the way of this
work, and the unpleasantness arising therefrom, we may, and
should, know ourselves. If we can discover and criticize
the faults of others, we can discover and criticize our own
faults. That mind that is so reflective and discriminating
in worldly things, can be so in spiritual things. Peter
could say, "Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest
that I love thee." John xxi. Hezekiah could appeal to the
Lord that he had walked before him in truth and with a
perfect heart, and had done that which was good in his
sight. Isa. xxxviii. "We know," says John, "that we have
passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren."
1 John iii, 14. And Paul asserts that "the Spirit itself