The remaining Commandments are capable of being similarly
interpreted as suggesting broad positive principles rather than as
merely prohibiting wrong actions of a particular and definite kind:
and so treated they form as convenient a framework as any other for a
scheme of questions for self-examination.
It is possible, however, that some men may prefer to use as their
basis some standard more distinctively Christian than the ancient law
of Judaism--for example, the Beatitudes (Matt. v. 1-12) or the "fruits
of the Spirit" (Gal. v. 22). A man will in any case do well either to
frame or to adapt his own scheme for self-examination, with special
regard paid to whatever he may discover by experience to be a
besetting sin or weakness, or a temptation to which he is particularly
exposed. It should be remembered that the measure of what is wrong in
a man's life is the measure of the contrast between his character and
that of Christ, and that the chief flaws in Christian character and
achievement (which are also those most likely to pass undetected) are
not uncommonly such as fall under the head of "sins of omission"
rather than of commission--the leaving undone of what ought to have
been done, the failure to exhibit positively in relation to GOD and
man the qualities of faith and hope and love.
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