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: — It is a good sign when we are afraid of self-deception and court the scrutiny of God; when we are willing to know the worst of our own case, and desirous to judge impartially. For by thus examining ourselves, and submitting to Divine examination, believers are distinguished —

I. From the FORMALIST, who will take no notice of the state of his heart in religion. Many, like the Jews of old, go to the sanctuary of God, and sit as His people sit, and hear as they hear, but "their hearts are far from Him." This is no sweeping charge, for if their hearts were "right with God" they would worship Him at home as well as in their sanctuary, and in the sanctuary by sacraments as well as by prayer or praise. It is, therefore, a good sign when the claims of all duties are seriously weighed, and the state of the heart towards and in them is chiefly regarded.

II. From the RECKLESS — those who dare not search their heart before God; they are afraid of its whispers, and conscious that. a full disclosure of its secrets even to itself would be almost as humiliating as the exposure of them to others. Thus the matter will not bear thinking of, and therefore appearances are kept up at all hazards.

III. From the INCONSISTENT, or those who are unwilling to be led out of every "wicked way." It is the grand characteristic of "faith unfeigned" that it is willing to be kept back from all sin and to be led in the way everlasting. "Examine yourselves, therefore, whether ye be in the faith, prove yourselves," etc.

(Robert Philip, D. D.)

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KJV: Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

WEB: Search me, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts.