Let us each seriously examine himself. Have I 1. Such a _knowledge of scripture_, as becomes him who undertakes so to explain it to others, that it may _be a light in all their paths_? Have I a full and clear view of the analogy of faith, which is the clue to guide me through the whole? Am I acquainted with the several parts of scripture; with all parts of the Old Testament and the New? Upon the mention of any text, do I know the context, and the parallel places? Have I that point at least of a good divine, the being a good textuary? Do I know the grammatical construction of the four gospels? Of the acts? Of the epistles? And am I a master of the spiritual sense (as well as the literal) of what I read? Do I understand the scope of each book, and how every part of it tends thereto? Have I skill to draw the natural inferences deducible from each text? Do I know the objections raised to them or from them by _Jews_, _Deists_, _Papists_, _Arians_, _Socinians_, and all other sectaries, who more or less _corrupt_ or _cauponize the word of_ God? Am I ready to give a satisfactory answer to each of these objections? And have I learned to _apply_ every part of the sacred writings, as the various states of my hearers require? 2. Do I understand _Greek_ and _Hebrew_? Otherwise how can I undertake (as every minister does) not only to explain books which are written therein, but to defend them against all opponents? Am I not at the mercy of every one who does understand, or even pretends to understand the original? For which way can I confute his pretence? Do I understand the language of the Old Testament? Critically? At all? Can I read into _English_ one of _David’s psalms_? Or even the first chapter of _Genesis_? Do I understand the language of the New Testament? Am I a critical master of it? Have I enough of it even to read into _English_ the first chapter of St. _Luke_? If not, how many years did I spend at school? How many at the university? And what was I doing all those years? Ought not shame to cover my face? *3. Do I understand _my own office_? Have I deeply considered before God the character which I bear? What is it to be an ambassador of Christ? An envoy from the King of heaven? And do I know and _feel_ what is implied in _watching over the souls_ of men, _as he that must give account_? Do I understand so much of profane _history_ as tends to confirm and illustrate the sacred? Am I acquainted with the antient _customs_ of the _Jews_ and other nations mentioned in scripture? Have I a competent knowledge of _chronology_, that at least which refers to the sacred writings? And am I so far (if no farther) skilled in _geography_, as to know the situation, and give some account of all the considerable places mentioned therein?