Required reading
Heaven taken by storm by Thomas Watson (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 7 (Offering violence by self-examination).
My summary
Today Watson gives us another way a Christian may do violence to himself: self-examination.
Watson teaches us:
(i) what self-examination is;
(ii) why self-examination is difficult;
(iii) why it is difficult to be brought to self-examination;
(iv) why Christians should engage in self-examination.
What grabbed me
I liked Watson's point that self-examination is difficult because of self-love: 'Examination of a man's self is difficult, because of self-love. As ignorance blinds, so self-love flatters. Every man is ready to think the best of himself. What Solomon saith of love to our neighbour is most true of self-love;'it hides a multitude of evil,' Prov. x.12. A man looking upon himself in Philautae speculo, in the glass of self-love, his virtues appear greater than they are, and his sins less. Self-love makes one rather excuse what is amiss than examine it.'
If you think you're fine then you're not going to examine yourself.
Next week's reading
Read Chapter 8 (Offering violence by sanctifying the Lord's Day) and Chapter 9 (Offering violence by holy conversation).
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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