Time and the End of Time, Treatise 1

Time and the End of Time · Treatise 1

TIME, AND THE End of Time: OR, Two Diſcourſes; The firſt about Redemption of Time, the ſecond about Conſideration of our latter end.

By John Fox.

Pſal. 90. 12.

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wiſdom.

…am. 1. 9.

Her filthineſs is in her skirts, ſhe …membreth not her laſt end, therefore ſhe … down wonderfully.

…pudet te reliquias vitae tibi reſervare, id ſolum tempus bonae menti deſtinare, … in nullam rem conferri poſſit! Quam ſerum eſt, tunc vivere incipere, cum deſinendum eſt?

Sen. de brev. vit.

London, Printed for George Calvert, and Sam. Sprint, at the Sign of the Ball in Duck-lane. 1670.

p. 1Epheſ. 5. 16.

Redeeming the time, becauſe the days are evil.

IN the beginning of this Chapter the Apoſtle exhorts Chriſtians to holineſs in general, by ſetting before them a perfect pattern, Be ye followers of God as dear Children, and walk in love. The favourites of Heaven muſt imitate their Father, and like Gideons brethren, reſemble the Children of a King; The precept is, Be ye holy, be ye perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect: Then he goes on to preſs this great duty, more particularly upon all their ſeveral relations, which he urgeth by many Arguments. And in the Text he ſeemeth to point out the opportunity, to put thoſe and other Chriſtian duties into practiſe. See that you walk circumſpectly, not as fools, but as wiſe, redeeming the time.

p. 2Explication of the Words.

Time is taken under foreign Tempus, ſpatium temporis: foreign eſt opportunitas.a double notion: there is the ſpace of time, and there is the opportunity of time: Tempus longum, and tempus commodum; time and opportunity differ? time is the duration, or ſucceſſion of ſo many minutes, hours, days or years, one after the other, from the beginning of a mans life, to the end thereof, Job 7. 1. 14, 14. Is there not an appointed time for man upon Earth? Opportunity is the time apted and fitted in order to this or that work or buſineſs, viz. a meeting of time and means together, to effect the end. This is called the ſeaſon or tempeſtivity of time, when time, tide, and wind meet and claſp together, Eccle. 3. 1. To every thing there is a ſeaſon or opportunity of doing: time may be continued when the ſeaſon of time is ended; the ſails of time may be a loſt, when the gale of opportunity is loſt. Every time is not a ſpring-time, a ſeed-time, a gaining time. Manna was not to be had but in the morning. p. 3The beauty of time is the opportunity of time Eccleſ. 3. 11. He hath made every thing beautiful in his time, this part of time we are to redeem: Redeeming denotes the excellent worth and preciouſneſs of time, a commodity to be valued above the Gold of Ophir. Solomon bids us buy the truth, Prov. 23. 23. Our dear Lord counſelled a miſerable Church to buy Gold and white rayment, Rev. 3. 18. And Paul exhorts us to buy the time, a Jewel of that price, which muſt be redeemed at any rate. Baſe or vile things are not wont to be redeemed, but things of worth, namely mens Liberties, Eſtates, Lives, &c. So our precious time. Redeeming the time, becauſe the days are evil.

The words contain two general parts.

1. An Exhortation to a duty, Redeemeth time.

2. The reaſon of it, becauſe the days are evil.

From the words we may obſerve this p. 4Doctrine, which ſhall be the ſubject of my enſuing diſcourſe.

Doct. The beſt of Saints, or the redeemed of God, have need to redeem the time: This Epiſtle was written to a very famous flouriſhing Church in the pureſt times of the Goſpel, amongſt whom they were called Saints, and faithful in Chriſt Jeſus, Chap. 1. 1. and choſen of God in Chriſt, before the foundation of the world, Verſ. 4. and really converted, and brought into a ſtate of life. Moreover, they had learned the duty of Mortification, one of the hardeſt leſſons in Chriſtianity, Chap. 4. 22. And were alſo ſealed unto the day of Redemption, Chap. 1. 13. 4, 30. and had the earneſt of their Heavenly Inheritance: And yet, they whoſe attainments were ſo high, muſt redeem the time. The ſame thing is preſt in different terms, Eccleſ. 9. 10 It's called a working while it is day, Jo. 9. 4 In the handling of this poſition, I ſhall ſhew you.

1. Firſt, When time may be ſaid to be redeemed.

p. 52. What time muſt be redeemed.

3. How time muſt be redeemed.

4. Why time muſt be redeemed.

5. Motives and Directions to help you.

Firſt, When is time redeemed?

Anſw. When time and duty like thoſe two twins, Jacob and Eſau, take hold one of another; or as two loving yoak-fellows, go hand in hand; when duty attends time, as the ſhadow the body, or as the Maiden her Miſtreſs.

This is to fill up time with duty, and to take opportunity by the fore-lock, or in Scripture phraſe, to do the work of the day, in the day. And to this end opportunities or ſeaſons are to be deſired, as they offer an occaſion of ſervice, and of doing our duty. This we may ſee in holy David, Pſal. 122. 1. I was glad when they ſaid unto me, come, let us go up to the houſe of the Lord. When there was a way open to Worſhip God in the beauty of Holineſs, David rejoyced to ſee the true Worſhippers improve their opportunity, to go to that City, the name of which was Jehovah Shammah, the Lord is there, Eze. 48. 38. p. 6And the Prophet Zechariah brings in the Saints of God rejoycing in the ſame things, Zech. 8. 20, 21, 22. Let us go ſpeedily to pray before the Lord, and ſeek the Lord of Hoſts in Jeruſalem: I will go alſo. The Saints of old were wont to rejoyce when the Sabbath came, becauſe of the holy and heavenly duties of that day: Opportunities and duty are always to be joyned, Gal. 6. 10. This is to live according to the wil of God, 1 Pet. 4. 2. and to walk cirſpectly, redeeming the time, Eph. 5. 15, 17.

2. When we are truly careful to make up former negligence with double diligence, redeeming the time, we recover our loſs. Time, according to this phraſe ſeemeth to be Qui quid atotiis retro eſt, mors tenet: Sen. in. Epiſt.taken captive, and we muſt redeem it. Redemptions are made by purchaſe; to redeem a thing is to buy it for a price; the price we redeemed it with is labour, travel, faithful and ſerious diligence, and greater activity and vigour in the proſecution of our duty. When what of time or ſeriouſneſs hath been wanting in one day or duty, is made up and ſupplied in the p. 7next; this is the way to repair our ſad ſoul-damages. For the time paſt of our lives may ſuffice us to have wrought the will of the will of the Gentils, 1 Pet. 4. 3. Chriſtians, our ſins have been many and mighty, but our ſervices few and mean, therefore put the beſt leg before. Be not as the ſluggard, like the door upon the hinges, but as the Sun in the heavens, that rejoyceth to run his race. The hand of the diligent maketh rich, Prov. 10. 4. I heard of one, who being a priſoner in a dark dungeon, when the light was brought to him for a little time to eat his diet, would pull out his Bible and read a Chapter, ſaying, he could find his mouth in the dark, but no read in the dark. An Argument that he made conſcience of redeeming his time. Sirs, to be watchful, diligent, laborious in the faithful improvement of all your time, talents, gifts, graces, is the thing here intended. The precept is for labour, Luke 13. 24. 2. Pet. 1. 10. And the diligent in duty hath the promiſe of the Glory, Heb. 11. 9. To them who by patient continuance in well-doing, ſeek for glory, and honour, and immortality, eternal life, Rom. 2. 7.

p. 82. What time muſt be redeemed?

Anſw. All time.

Time is ſo precious that not any of it muſt be loſt. The whole time of our life muſt be imployed either about our ſouls in the ſervice of God, or in the works of our callings, or in order thereunto. Particularly.

1. The time of youth.

2. The time of health and ſtrength.

3. The time of affliction.

4. The time of Goſpel.

5. The time of the Sabbath, or the Lords day in ſpecial muſt be redeemed.

1. Firſt, The time of youth muſt be redeemed. The great God ſtands much upon priority, to have the firſt and beſt, The firſt ripe fruits, the firſt that openeth the womb. O then, offer the Iſaac of thy youth, the ſpring and flower of thy age to God, and ſtay not until the evil day. Begin firſt with him from whom thou haſt thy being, p. 9go about the grand affair and work of thy dear and never dying ſoul before thou doſt ingulf thy ſelf in the cares of this world. Reſolve to preſent the firſt ripe fruits, to that good and gracious God, who deſireth the firſt ripe fruits. In the bright morning of thy life match thy ſoul to the King of glory, and become his Bride before thou art defloured, and defiled, by ſin and the World. If the Celeſtial ſeeds of grace be ſown in the morning, the pleaſant and ſweet flowers ſpringing out of theſe ſeeds, will invite the Lord Jeſus to come and walk in his Garden, Cant. 5. 1. If thou would be the Temple of the Holy Ghoſt, let him that made the houſe, be the firſt and chief Inhabitant, and ſuffer not thy heart to be a habitation for Dragons and Devils, which will be thine undoing to all eternity.

You young-men, and young-women, know, that the infinitely gracious God holds out the Golden Scepter, and inviteth you to come unto him. The ruddy David, the Child Samuel, the young Timothy, God calls, 1 Samuel 1. 11, 12. 1 Sam. 3. 10. 1 Tim. 4. 12. and the ſooner you come, the better it will be. Say then, this inſtant, behold we come, p. 10thine we are, thine we will be; come now, and take thine own, God will accept you, and take it kindly, his arms and boſom are open to you, Jer. 2. 2, 3. I remember the kindneſs of thy youth, the love of thine Eſpouſals, when the firſt fruits was Holineſs to the Lord. If you would have the reſpect and kindneſs of a God, offer unto him the finſtlings of the flock, Gen. 4. 4. viz. thy youthful days. If a company of aged feeble perſons, or cripples were tendered to the King for ſervice, he would not accept them. 1 Sam. 14. 52. Mal. 1. 8, 13, 14. David from his youth, and Joſiah while he was young, began to ſeek the Lord, Pſal. 71. 17. 2 Chron. 34. 3. Young men, if you receive the ſeed of Grace in the morning of your age, it will take the deeper root and impreſſion upon your hearts, and cauſe you to bring forth fruit in old age. Cloth will keep color beſt that's dyed in the Wool; and the Veſſel will ſcent longeſt of that liquor, with which it is firſt ſeaſoned, O then, Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth, Eccl. Prov. 22. 6.Prov 22:612. 2.

2. The time of health and ſtrength is to be improved: You that are now ſtrong p. 11and lively, muſt not expect to be ſo always: You as well as others muſt count upon diſeaſes, ſickneſs, weakneſs, which will confine you to your Houſes, Chambers, and Bed: Now then, while your ſtrength and health of body, and natural vigour is continued, be mindful of your work and time. The great duties and difficulties Luke 13. 24. 1 Cor. 9 24. 25. Eph. 6. 12. 1 Tim. 6. 12.Luke 13:241 Cor 9:241 Cor 9:25Eph 6:121 Tim 6:12in Heavens way are ſet forth by ſtriving, Wreſtling, fighting, running which requires the beſt of our time and moſt of our ſtrength. Can a ſick and weak man run ſo as to obtain, or ſo ſtrive and conflict as to overcome, judge ye: King Saul choſe the ſtrong and valiant for his ſervice. 'Tis the ſtrong muſt run the race, Pſal. 19. 4. and the young muſt overcome the evil one, 1 John 2. 14. If a man had a buſineſs of great concernment, or a matter of life and death, that requireth time, ſtrength, and diligence for the doing of it, and ſhould omit it until he were ſtricken in years, or until ſickneſs and weakneſs invade him, every one would be ready to charge him with folly.

If a Carrier amongſt many ſtout p. 12ſtrong Horſes, hand one poor, lame, ſick Horſe, and ſhould lay the burden of the greateſt weight and worth upon that poor weak jade, we ſhould conclude that either he was cruel, or that he wanted the underſtanding of a man. This is our caſe; the great affair of Immortal ſouls requireth time, ſtrength, diligence, and all little enough. And ſhall we charge the whole ſtreſs of our everlaſting ſtate, upon a few days ſickneſs, and weakneſs, before our death, God forbid, Eccleſ. 12. 3, 4.

3. The time of affliction muſt be redeemed. Chriſtians, in the day of adverſity we muſt conſider, Eccleſ. 7. 14. it was the time of Jacob's trouble, when the Apoſtle exhorted believers to redeem the time: God ſpeaks by his rod, as well as by his Word, to both which we muſt have an ear. God ſometimes teacheth his, as Gideon the men of Succoth, Judg. 8. 16. with Thorns and Bryars of the wilderneſs. Let the affliction be of what kind Schola crucis eſt Schola lucis. Luth. Pſ. 94. 12.Ps 94:12or degree ſoever, either upon our Perſons, Names, Eſtates, Families, Church or Kingdom, yea, and of p. 13long continuance, we are to look upon it as from God, and for our good. For every affliction ſpeaks to us in the Language of Ehud to Eglon, I have a meſſage unto thee from God: And God will reckon with us for the rods he lays upon us. I ſhall ſpeak more to this in another place.

4. The time of the Goſpel muſt be redeemed. Goſpel time is our ſpiritual harveſt, and it is notorious folly to ſleep or loiter in Harveſt. The time of the Goſpel is a Math. 4. 16. 2 Tim. 1. 10. Ezek. 13. 8. Rom. 5. 8. Iſa. 61. 1. John 6. 16.Matt 4:162 Tim 1:10Ezek 13:8Rom 5:8Isa 61time indeed, viz. a time of light, a time of love, a time of life, a time of liberty. Now the trumpet of Jubilee ſoundeth, and all debts and morgages may be taken up and releaſed. Here's liberty for the poor Captives, and the opening of the Priſon to them that are bound. 'Tis now an accepted time, a day of Salvation, 2 Cor. 6. 2. A time to accept, or a time to be accepted, a golden and glorious time indeed. Tempus acceptum, or tempus acceptabile: Bez. in loc.Behold, now there is a broad and clear way to the Mercy ſeat; the flaming ſword p. 14is gone, the partition wall is down, all Bars and Gates are removed, an Act of indempnity is proclaim'd, and there is a free admiſſion for all to come and be ſaved; pardons are ready, Iſa. 55. 6, 7. Iſa. 45.

Sinners, your dear Lord Jeſus, the great Peace-maker, is now an impotant Suitor unto your periſhing ſouls, namely an inviting, knocking, waiting, promiſing Chriſt, Quodoffertur gratia ex gratia Dei eſt, qui ſua contuit rebus omnibus momenta, ut oblatam occaſionum arripiamus.Prov. 22. 9. 4. Iſa. 65. 2. Math. 11. 28. Rev. 3. 20. Cant. 5. 2. John 6. 36. The treaſures of grace are opened and offered to ſale upon eaſie terms, without money, and without price, Iſa. 55. 1. Rev. 3. 17. O make ſpeed and come, make the purchaſe, buy the pearl of price that's better then Rubies, and you ſhall have a treaſure in heaven. The favour of Gods precious blood, white raiment, tryed gold, and the eternal life of your never dying ſouls is worth the having. Conſider alſo, that now the Holy Ghoſt calls and offers his aſſiſtance to cloſe the bargain, to tye the marriage knot between Chriſt and Souls, Heb. 3. If you loſe this opportunity, you may p. 15never have the like. The Spirit and the Bride ſay come, Rev. laſt. 17.

5. The time of the Sabbath or Lords day muſt be redeemed: we muſt have a ſpecially care of ſanctifying that day, it being the Sabbath of the Lord our God. This golden day from morning to night muſt be ſpent in the ſervice and worſhip of our Lord, either in publick, private, or ſecret duties, and no part of it muſt be loſt. Take no liberty upon that day for frothy, vain and unprofitable The youth that lately was hang'd for murdering his Fellom Servant, confeſs'd that his Sabbath breaking made way for all his other prodigious ſins.diſcourſe, or recreations, or to ride, buy, ſell, or work. This dreadful, God provoking ſin of Sabbath-breaking, is a ſin in faſhion; hundreds in this Nation ſerve the Devil more upon the Lords day then on other dayes; Then men are at leiſure to ſerve the Devil, and ſatisfie their luſts, to go to the Ale-houſe, or to exerciſe themſelves in ſports and paſtimes. O that Magiſtrates, Miniſters, Maſters of Families, and Parents, would look to it, Neh. 13. 17. The Lord of the Sabbath commandeth thee, that thou and thy Son, thy p. 16Daughter, thy man ſervant, and all within thy gate, keep that day holy.

The Sabbath is called a holy convocation, Lev. 23. 2. and the Lord of the day is an infinitely holy, juſt, and jealous God. The Sabbath heretofore was called Regina dierum, the Queen of days; in the New Teſtament it is called the Lords day, Rev. 1. 10. a day in which we commemorate the greateſt mercy, viz. the glorious Reſurrection of our crucified Lord, and that which the pureſt Chriſtians in the pureſt times did carefully obſerve.

In the Primitive times, a ſerious and ſtrict obſervation of the Lords day, was a trial or badge of Chriſtianity. When the queſtion was propounded, Servaſti Dominicum? haſt thou kept the Lords day, the anſwer was turn'd, Chriſtianus ſum, intermittare non poſſum. I am a Chriſtian, and cannot intermit it. It was a ſaying of an eminent Divine, that he would judge of a mans Religion according to the reverence and care he had of keeping the Sabbath. Chriſtians, you are to keep your Lords reſt, and perform the holy duties of his worſhip chearfully, reverently, ſpiritually, Joh. 4. 24. If ever you think to celebrate p. 17an eternal Sabbath with God in glory, be careful of this duty. To enforce it, conſider.

1. How ſtrictly the holy God impoſeth it, and to what, end it is, Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it Holy, Exod. 20. 8. This bleſſed day for communion with God, is to be premeditated upon before it cometh; therefore in the evening before the Sabbath, let all your neceſſary occaſions be done up, that you may have nothing but what becometh the work of that day: Be like David's good man, Pſ. 112. 5. ordering your affairs with diſcretion, eſpecially your Spiritual affairs. If you expected the company of ſome worthy friend, would you be found in a ſluttiſh poſture, or ſweeping and cleanſing your houſes on that day, and all out of order? On the Lords day you ſhould vehemently expect the approach and preſence of the King of glory, therefore make all ready to entertain him.

2. Remember the excellent Epithetes and Titles of this bleſſed day, it is called a High day, a Holy day, the holy of the Lord, honourable, Iſa. 58. 13. Therefore let it be redeemed, loſe no more Sabbaths.

p. 183. Conſider the bleſſings and ſoul benefits of that day, if it be rightly obſerved. It is your Lords Market day, in the which you have the precious Oyl, the Golden Mines and treaſures of grace opened that day. There are ſpiritual dainties for your hungry ſouls, to which you are by Chriſt invited that day, Iſa. 54. 1. The Holy Ghoſt doth breath and blow that day, by the ſecret and ſweet gales whereof, Saints mount up toward Heaven. The great God comes down, and gracious ſouls aſcend that day, Rev. 1. 10. And the Eunuchs that keep Gods Sabbaths have the promiſe of a name in his houſe for ever, Iſa. 56. 4, 5. I might add the ſevere threatnings, and Gods ſignal judgements upon the prophaners of the Sabbath, or Lords day. The man that was found gathering ſticks upon the Sabbath, by an immediate command from God, was ſtoned to death, Numb. 15. 32, 34, 35, 36.

p. 19How time muſt be redeemed.

1. By taking and improving all opportunities for the glorifying of God.

2. By laying hold on the preſent time, and now a day of grace, for ſettling and ſecuring your everlaſting ſtate.

3. By improving the preſent means of grace for your ſpeedy growth in grace.

4. By doing all the good you can to others while you may.

5. By labouring to keep up conſtant communion with God in holy duties.

6. By improving every providence and outward croſs for inward and ſpiritual advantages.

7. By caſting up your accounts every day that you may make even with God.

8. By labouring to order every days work in reference to your laſt day; that having finiſhed you work, you may be fit to leave this World.

1. By taking and improving all occaſions for the glorifying of God: Dear Chriſtians, this is your Fathers buſineſs, and the p. 20great Errand for which you had your being.

You were born, and new born, to ſerve the intereſt of the holy and bleſſed God in the Tempus non poteſt Deo conſecrari, niſi quo modo redemptum. Calvin in loc.World; this is that glorious end, for which you ſhould ſpend your ſtrength and time, and lay out your ſelves to the very utmoſt. That which is the chief end of your life, viz. to diſplay and propagate Gods glory in the World, muſt not be neglected; other things are infinitely inferiour, and muſt be ſubordinated unto this. For the thoughts and deſigns of ſerving the Intereſt of your Lord, is that which you muſt be always driving on in this evil World. God expects it, Thou ſhalt have no other God before me, Exod. 20. 3. God will be exalted in the heart, and in our life too. I will be glorified, ſaith the Lord, before all the people, Lev. 10. 3. One way or other, the great Creatour will have glory by all his creatures. God made all things for himſelf, the world to be a viſible and wonderful declaration of excellent glory, ſo that it is due debt, Pſal. 29. 1, 2. Pſal. 96. 8. Give unto p. 21the Lord the glory due unto his Name. To walk with God in our whole courſe, to deſign his glory, is the prime mark of our Saint-ſhip, and ſincerity. This is the white in the mark we ſhould aim at, the thing we ſhould purſue reſolutely, vigorouſly, with all our might. Whether we Pray, or Preach, or read, or hear, or celebrate Sabbaths, or converſe, exhort, or reprove, or indeed buy, ſell, plow, ſow, eat, drink, let it not be done for the World, or the intereſt of the fleſh: We ſhould have ſuch a high eſteem of God, and ſuch ſtrong deſires, and ſtrong affections to him, that the pleaſing, praiſing, and magnifying of of God in all our ways, might be our main endeavour.

Chriſtians, you are choſen out of the World to be Gods witneſſes, if you do not appear for God, his honour and intereſt, none will: All (ſaith the holy Apoſtle) ſeek their own, Phil. 2. 21. (but you are to deny and keep under ſelf,) which is directly oppoſite to the honour of your God. Wicked men are bold and reſolute in a way of ſin, to bear up the intereſt of the Prince of darkneſs, and will not you be as active for the intereſt of your Lord? The Martyrs p. 22would rather dye then diſhonour God, who burning with zeal to Gods glory, would glorifie him in the very fire: God hath made you honourable, Iſa. 43. 4. being Kings and Prieſts, and inrolled you amongſt the firſt born that are written in Heaven. You have a place in his heart, and a name in his houſe; you are veſſels of honour, and ſhall be honoured, that we might be to the glory of his grace: Your everlaſting Father hath mark'd you, and ſet his ſtamp and ſeal upon you, and put a principle of life within you, that we might love him, and live unto him, The man that refus'd to bear up his deceaſed brothers name, Deut. 25. 9. was to have his face ſpit on in the face of the Congregation. But ſhame and everlaſting contempt will be upon their faces, that will not ſtand up for the honour of the holy God, Dan. 12. 2. Chriſtians, 'tis the ſin that reflects diſhonour on Gods name, therefore allow it not in your ſelves, and prevent it what you can in others. Redeem your time, and redeem Gods glory; your days are evil, and you have but a few days for this work, do it, and God will own you and advance you to a Kingdom.

p. 23Beloved in the Lord, though you differ in other things, agree in this, to glorifie God on Earth, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorifie God, Rom. 15. 5. Every one that's godly crying out with holy David; Pſal. 34. 3. O magnifie the Lord with me, and let us exalt his Name together, 1 Cor. 10. 32. John 14. Epheſ. 1. 6. As many as are perfect, will be thus minded, Pſal. 3.

2. By laying hold upon the preſent time, or now-day of grace, for the ſetling and ſecuring your everlaſting ſtate, or bleſſed Eternity: Your ſouls concerns are the greateſt, yea of infinite moment; and the things of Eternity claim a ſuperiority. If you purpoſe to do your ſouls good, you muſt firſt ſeek the Kingdom of God, Matth. 6. 33. and take the Kingdom of heaven with violence, Matth. 11. 12. Let me dye the death of the righteous, or a Lord have mercy on me, when you come to dye, will not do, Numb. 23. 10. Mat 25. 11. And know ſinner, it muſt be done in this thy day; now, or never, Luke 16. 49. While the door of grace is open, before the Bridge be drawn, and Mercy gone, Iſa, 55. 6. This muſt be done.

1. By complying with the preſent call p. 24of the Goſpel, in cloſing immediately with Jeſus Chriſt, and in giving and reſigning your ſelves wholly unto him. This is that one thing neceſſary that muſt be done ſpeedily to ſecure your ſouls, to provide for their everlaſting welfare. Therefore do not procraſtinate or delay it for a World. 'Tis thy grand affair, that muſt make thee or marr thee to Eternity. He that believes, ſhall be ſaved; he that believes not is condemned already, John 3. 36. John 8. 24. John 1. 12. If you do not now embrace the Lord Jeſus, upon the great and glorious terms of the Goſpel, you will as certainly be damn'd as if you were in Hell amongſt Devils already, 2 Theſ. 1. 8, 9. Heb. 2. 3. and 3. 18. You that want Chriſt, will you welcome Chriſt, ſaying with thy ſoul, Come in thou bleſſed of the Lord, enter thou King of Glory, Pſal. 24. 7. Thine is the Kingdom, take the Throne, ſit upon the chiefeſt Chariot, take up thy lodging in my heart for ever, and ſuffer not the dead Child to lye in the place of the living Child; a dead World and damnable luſts, where my Lord ſhould lodge: O bleſſed day, and happy hour, in which the Heir of Heaven, and periſhing p. 25Sinners meet and are married! Here's a match for you! Will you renounce all others, Sin, the devil, and carnal Companions, and joyn your ſelf to the Prince of Life? Speak the word, and the work is done; open the door, and he will certainly come in, and take up his abode for ever. All that the Father hath given him ſhall come to him; and him that cometh, he will in no wiſe caſt out, John 6. 37. Rev. 3. 23. Iſa. 26. 13. Iſa. 44. 5. 2 Cor. 8. 5. Acts 16. 30.

2. By repenting without delay. This is the ſecond great work, in which you muſt make ſpeed, for untill this be done you are in danger every moment of dropping down to Hell. Remember the ſad ſtory of the woman, who when her houſe was on fire, had her Child burned while ſhe was ſaving ſome of her goods. Sinners, your danger is great, your opportunities are flying, fly you as faſt. Let me ſay to thee as the Angel to Lot, Gen. 19. 16, 17. when in danger of being burned, Eſcape for thy life, ſtay not, leſt thou be conſumed. The life and ſalvation of thy ſoul, cannot be ſecured without this. Acts 11. 18. 2 Cor. 7. 10. Luke 13. 3. Therefore labour to know p. 26the plague of thy heart, 1 Kings 8. 38. and plow up the fallow ground; ſow in tears, and ſet about it this inſtant, before this day be ended, this Sermon ended; leſt it ſhould be ſaid of thee, as of that woman Jezabel, Rev. 2. 21. I gave her ſpace to repent, and ſhe repented not; and ſo Gods fury fury come forth like fire, and burn, and none can quench it, Jer. 4. 3, 4.

3. By making it your great buſineſs to ſecure an intereſt in Chriſt, getting your evidences for heaven bright and clear. Chriſtians, till you have gotten the pledges and tokens of Gods love to your ſouls, till you are aſſured of the truth of your faith, and the ſincerity of your repentance, and hereby of the pardon of ſin, and of your interſt in the Lord Jeſus, you can have little comfort in your ſouls, or boldneſs towards God. Therefore, with might and main work out your ſalvation, Phil. 2. 12. Make your calling and election ſure, that upon certain grounds you may ſay as the Church, Lam. 3. 24. The Lord is my portion, faith my ſoul. Doubtleſs thou art our Father, Iſa. 63. 16. Or as holy Job in his deep affliction, Job 19. 25. I know my Redeemor liveth: I am thine, ſave me, p. 27Pſal. 19. 91. Truely I am thy Servant, I am my Beloved's, and my Beloved is mine, Cant. 2. 16. Chriſtians, this aſſuring-Faith is attainable; pray for it, and vigorouſly preſs after it, that you may be ſealed up unto the day of redemption, that ſo an entrance may be miniſtred unto you, into the everlaſting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, 2 Pet. 1. 10, 11. And O how well have they redeem'd their precious time, that have ſecured their never-dying Souls. Know this, that aſſurance requires both diligence and perſeverance; therefore you muſt be conſtant in the uſe of means, and lay hold on every opportunity of enjoying the Goſpel. This your Lord commendeth in Mary, calling her attendance on the Word preached, a chuſing the good part, Luke 10. 42. There you will taſte the Chryſtal ſtreams, and view the golden Mines of ſound Doctrine, and Wells of Salvation. This is the place of ſpiritual wonders, where the Dead are raiſed, the Lepers cleanſed, the eyes of the Blind opened, and the Devils ejected. Goſpel Ordinances are the Golden galleries, where the King of glory Walketh: The Bed, where immortal ſouls are begotton p. 28unto God, and in which the broken hearts do travel till Chriſt be formed in them. Through theſe Golden Pipes, the Water of Life is poured out upon thirſty panting ſouls, for the chearing of their ſpirits. Here is the Doctrine preach'd and words whereby thou muſt be ſaved, Acts 10. Here Chriſts Mother found him, it being the place where the Bridegoom and the Bride meet and ſolace themſelves together, Do not forſake the ſolemn Aſſemblies: remember what Thomas loſt by being abſent when Chriſt came. O come to the Poſts of Wiſdom's doors, and with empty Pitchers ſet your ſelves under the Spouts of the Sanctuary. 'Tis upon theſe waters the Angel moves, and ſouls are healed: This is the School where all Gods children are taught of God, and inſtructed unto the Kingdom of heaven.

3. By improving the preſent means of Grace, for your ſpeedy growth in Grace, that ſo the grain of Muſtard-ſeed might become a great Tree, Math. 13. 52. The Chriſtian courſe is compared to a Race, a walk, to the morning light, 1 Cor. 9. 24. Rom. 8. 1. and therefore you muſt go on, and be progreſſive whilſt you live.

p. 29Believers ſhould be as greedy of grace, as the men of the World are of gain; becauſe one grain of Grace is more worth then a houſe full of Gold, yea better then Rubies. You are compared to Stars, to fruitful Trees planted by the Rivers of Water, and you ſhould gliſter and ſhine in this dark night of helliſh profaneneſs, and live down, and convince this accuſing debauched generation. The Trees of the Lord ſhould be full of ſap, Pſal. 104. 16. being grafted in the true Olive, and under the ſweet dews of Heaven, you ſhould flouriſh in the Courts of the Lord, and bring forth fruit in old age, Pſal. 92. 12, 13, 14. Chriſtians, keep your Lamps burning, and hold on your way, that the David of grace may wax ſtronger and ſtronger. Make no ſtop, but ſtrain to get and keep before, that you may win the prize. Growth of Grace is required of the higheſt Gyants, as well as the loweſt Dwarf in Grace. They ſay of the Crocodile, he groweth as long as he liveth; and when he ceaſeth to grow, he ceaſeth to live. How many poor creeping Chriſtians are there, who can hardly keep life and ſoul together, being like the door upon p. 30the hinges, Prov. 26. 14. and why but becauſe, they are come to a pitch, and paſt growth, as ſoon as ſprung up above ground. If there be the truth of grace, there will be an endeavour after the ſtrength of grace; where is life; there is growth, 2 Pet. 2. 2. The path of the juſt is as the ſhining light, that ſhineth more and more unto the perfect day, Prov. 4. 18. Sirs up and be doing, preſs toward the mark, add to your faith, vertue; to vertue, knowledge; to knowledge, temperance, to tempirance, patience; to patience, Godlineſs; that ye be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt. Be ye therefore ſtedfaſt, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. And if you do theſe things, you ſhall never fall, 1 Cor. 15. verſ. laſt, 2 Pet. 1. 5, 6, 7, 1.

4. By doing all the good we can to others, while we have opportunity. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men. Hereby we imitate that character of divine, goodneſs, Pſ. 116. 88. Thou art good, and doſt good. Let every one pleaſe his neighbour for his good to edification, Rom. 15. 2. Theſe four ways ye muſt do good to others.

1. Firſt, This muſt be done eſpecially p. 31in your Families…, to them that are more immediately under your charge, and for whom you muſt ſhortly give an account to the dreadful Judge of quick and dead. If Chriſt be come to thy heart, Let Religion be ſet up in thy houſe without delay. If thou art really gracious, be relatively good, ſeeking the profit of many, that they may be ſaved, 1 Cor. 13. 33 Sirs, if you would not be guilty of ſoul-blood, ſoul-murther, reſolve to ſet up the worſhip of God in your Families, and let Familywork ſtoop to Family-worſhip. Endeavour to teach thy children and ſervants, to know, obey, and ſerve the Lord, who is a rewarder of them that diligently ſeek him. If you are the Children of ſaithful Abraham, do as he did, and walk in his path, John 8. 39. The holy heart-ſearching God witneſſeth of Abraham, Gen. 18. 19. I know him, that he will command his Children, and his houſhold after him, and they ſhall keep the way of the Lord. 'Tis a great truſt, to have the care and charge of ſouls; therefore let not your Children and Servants live as they liſt, but command them out of the way of ſin, which will certainly bring them to Hell. O that Parents p. 32and Maſters of Families would take up holy Joſhua's reſolution, Joſh. 24. 14. As for me and my Houſe we will ſerve the Lord. But on the contrary many ſeem, as it were, to have baniſh'd God and the practice of Piety out of their houſes; as if Parents and Children, Maſters, and Servants were reſolved to ſerve the Devil, and go to Hell, John 8. 44. The neglect of Family-duties is a dreadful and provoking ſin, and that (as a Godly Miniſter ſaid) which will untile the houſe, and cauſeth God to rain curſes upon the Table. Read and tremble at the Prophets imprecation, Jerem. 10. 25. Pour out thy fury upon the Heathen, that know the not, and upon the Families that call not on thy Name. How many Prayerleſs husbands do give occaſion to their Wives to ſay to them, as Zipporah to her husband, Exod. 4. 25. A bloody Husband art thou to me. Your Wives, Children and Servants, will ſadly bewail it, and cry out living or dying, O that ever we were married to ſuch husbands, born of ſuch Parents, bound to ſuch Maſters, that had no regard to ſerve God, or care of ſouls. If you are Chriſtians indeed, let a conſtant courſe of reading in the p. 33Word, Catechiſing, and Prayer, be kept up in your houſes; for when death hath ſeparated you and your relations, it will grieve you to the heart, that you did no more to further the good of their precious Souls, Acts 13. 2, 30.

2. By taking all occaſions, where-ever you are, or come, to further the converſion of periſhing ſinners. If you have taſted that the Lord is gracious, and are taken out of the Iron Furnace, as fire brands out of the burning, where is your pity and bowels to ſouls in perils? Can you be contented to be happy, Jud. 22. and to go to Heaven alone, & to endeavour by your prayers, counſels and examples, to perſwade and draw others into Heavens way? Wicked men are active for the Devil, who like Snails leave their ſlime behind them, where ever they come; and are emptying the poyſon of ſin one into the other, and ſo furthering their damnation. What multitudes do you ſee weltring in their blood, and making poſt-haſt to Hell, whoſe deſperate and deplorable caſe ſhould excite your compaſſion, and cauſe you to ſpeak a word in ſeaſon for their ſalvation. Your Dear Lord, whom you p. 34ſhould imitate, Went about doing good, Act. 10. 38. He improved his opportunity (John 4.) to convert a notorious ſinner; though weary and thirſty, was not careful of haſtning the meat, becauſe he preferred the opportunity to bring her ſoul out of Satans ſnare, and ſo ſave her. When at your Tables, or buying, or ſelling, or travelling, opportunity may be taken to ſpeak of God, and the things of God, and to leave ſome conviction upon the company. Thus Philip falling in with the Eunuch whilſt he was riding on his way homewards from Jeruſalem, cloſed with him, and was an inſtrument to ſave the ſoul of him he never ſaw before, Act. 8. And by the heavenly diſcourſe that dropped from the mouth of Mr. Carter, Paſtour of Brainford in Suffolk, a Gentlewoman was converted while ſhe was waiting on him in his Chamber, warming his Bed. A Word ſpoken in ſeaſon through Gods bleſſing may ſave a ſoul; and it is our duty to endeavour it. Mr. Ignatius Jordan of Exeter, was exceeding inſtrumental this way; who would go from houſe to houſe, to put his neighbours in mind of their Soul-concerns. Holy David was not p. 35afraid or aſhamed to ſpeak of God hefore Kings, and to tell what God had done for his ſoul: and ſaid he, I will teach tranſgreſſors thy ways, and ſinners ſhall be converted unto thee, Pſal. 5. 13. for, he that converteth a ſinner from the error of his way, ſhall ſave a ſoul from death, Jam. 5. 20. When at any time your neighbous are ſick, and under the hand of God, take that opportunity to viſit them, to put them in mind of Death and judgment, and to make them ſenſible of the neceſſity of Faith and repentance, without which there can be no hope of Heaven. Our Proverb is, To ſtrike while the Iron is hot. Upon a bed of languiſhing, when death looks men in the face, they ſeem ſerious, and fit to receive the impreſſion of faithful counſel for their ſouls. To which joyn ſerious prayer; for, The prayer of faith (ſaith the Apoſtle) ſhall ſave the ſick, and it may ſave the ſoul.

3. By provoking and encouraging our fellow-Brethren in the way to heaven. Weſt muſt exhort one another daily, while it is called to day, Heb. 3. 13. And provoke one another unto love and to good works; and ſo much the more, as we ſee the day approaching, Heb. 10. 24, 25. p. 36Wicked men, and the Children of the Devil, have their go with us, and do ſtir up one another in the way to Hell; and ſhall not Saints edifie and build up one another in the moſt holy Faith, Rom. 14. 19. 15. 2. 1 John 5. 11. Eph. 4. 26. 1 Cor. 14. 26. Jude 20. They that feared the Lord, ſpeak often one to another, Mal. 3. 16. Chriſtians ought and ſhould ſpend that time in ſerious and profitable diſcourſe, which others ſpend and waſt in idle and vain diſcourſe. Say with the man after Gods own heart, Come all that fear God, and I will tell you what he hath done for my Soul. That which you have ſeen and heard, you muſt declare to one another, 1 John 3. 3. Hereby be helping forwards towards Heaven, and comforting one another by the comforts wherewith our ſelves are comforted of God, 2 Cor. 1. 4. When thou art converted, ſtrengthen thy Brethren, Luke 22. 32.

4. We muſt do good to others, by diſtributing to their outward wants and neceſſities, and hereby lay up a treaſure in Heaven, before our treaſure in Earth, fail, and we loſe both, Mat. 19. 21. This is to honour the Lord with your ſubſtance, Prov. p. 373. 9. This is to make friends with the unrighteous Mammon, and to provide your ſelves bags which wax not old a treaſure in the Heaven that faileth not, Luke 12. 33. This duty muſt not be forgotten, Heb. 13. 16.) becauſe 'tis a ſowing of ſeed, 2 Cor. 9. 6. and it will ſpring and bring forth a crop or harveſt in this or the other world Eccl. 11. 1, 6. God will not forget it, Heb. 6. 10. The Lord Jeſus will certainly reward it, Mat. 25. 40. A well done, from Chriſt hereafter, will compenſate all the ſervice of well doers here, Mat. 25. 31.

5. By labouring to keep up conſtant communiou with God in all holy duties. Chriſtians, you may loſe time in the very ſervice of God; if you are not careful therein to converſe with him. Take heed of a ſlight ſpirit in ſerious performances. God looks upon the heart, and moſt there. Some ſerious preparation is neceſſary, before you approach the preſence of the high and holy God. Joſeph ſhav'd himſelf before he would come into Pharaohs preſence. Let your heaven-born ſouls in every duty, with the love-ſick Spouſe go out to meet your Lord; and taken up with nothing elſe. p. 38'Tis not the picture of the husband, but the preſence of the husband, that can ſatiate the truely loving longing ſpouſe. It is a bleſſed ſight to ſee ſouls working towards God, gaſping and panting after the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, Pſal. 42. 1, 2. O labour for ſuch a frame of heart, and bewail a narrow and contracted ſpirit. Do not perform duties for duties ſake, ſo as to make duties the end of duties: but as the medium, by which thy ſoul may draw nigh to God and meet with him: The countenance and preſence of God in a duty is the very Suburbs of glory, yea, the very gate of Heaven, Gen. 2…. 17. Let this be in thy thoughts, and the very purpoſe of thy heart, and expect it vehemently in every acceſs to God. Let thy ſoul follow hard after God, and ſay, One thing have I deſired of the Lord, that will I ſeek after, that I may dwell in the houſe of the Lord all the days of my life, Pſal. 27. 4. Pſal. 84. 2. Duties are only the outward Court, but the form, ſhell, and carkaſs of Religion, as Pipes without Water, Breaſts without Milk, as Sails without Wind, or as a Body without a Soul, that hath no life. The encreaſe of your grace and holineſs depends p. 39upon your acquaintance and communion with the God of grace. It was Moſe his being in the Mount, that made his face to ſhine; and the Kings being at his Table, that cauſed the Churches Spikenard to ſend forth the ſwell thereof, Cant. 1. 12. The preſence of the glorious God on a Sabbath, the preſence of God in prayer, or at a Sacrament, will be unto thy ſoul as marrow and fatneſs, and that which will make thy hands to drop with Myrrh, and thy fingers with ſweet-ſmelling Myrrh. Thus it was with the Spouſe, when her Beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, Cant. 5. 4, 5.

6, By improving every Providence, every Comfort, every Croſs, for Gods glory, and our own ſpiritual advantage. God doth nothing in vain; for he hath a peculiar reſpect unto the good of his people in all his diſpenſations: he doth time, meaſure, and order every dark and afflicting providence for his Churches advantage, Jer. 24. 5. Rom. 8. 24. Heb. 12. 10, 11. God's chaſtning and teaching, commonly go together; therefore it is, we muſt hear the Rod, and who hath appointed it, Mic. 6. 9. The Rod hath a Voice, Beaſts p. 40may feel the rod, but the believer hearts the rod. God's rod ſhould make us like Aaron's rod, bud, bloſſom, and to bring forth the peaceable fruits of righteouſneſs, Heb. 12. 11. Now if you would be bettered by affliction, endeavour to do three things.

1. To underſtand the meaning or mind of God in them, for what ſins committed, or duties neglected, they are ſent: Afflictions are Gods Meſſengers, and we ſhould never be quiet till we know their Errands, Job 10. 2.

2. See the hand of God in all thoſe afflictions. So did David, Pſal. 39. 10. and holy Job 1. 11. Hoſ. 6. 1.

3. Labour to anſwer the end of God in your ſtraits and troubles; that you might be made more humble, more holy, more heavenly before; that we may ſay, and find, that it hath beed good for us to be afflicted. We have as much reaſon to ſeek unto God for a bleſſing upon our daily Rod as upon our daily Bread.

7. Time muſt be redeemed by caſting up your accounts every day, and ſo to make even with God, and not get further into his p. 41debt. This will be the way to get an acquittance, to procure a pardon, before you are called and forced to an account. Secret duties, if well done, are the ſweeteſt duties; and yet ſadly neglected by Saints themſelves. You ſhould retire every night, and ſpend a little time in ſelf-examination; and when you ſit alone, commune with your hearts, and call over the paſſages and actions of the day paſt. We read Gen. 24. 63. That Iſaac went out in the evening tide to meditate; a precious duty, but rarely practiſed. Chriſtians ſhould ſpend void ſpaces of time in ejaculatory Prayer, and holy Meditation. And O how hard it is to aſcend this Mount of heavenly Meditation! 'Tis very eaſie and delightſom to think of the World, the pleaſures of Sin, Friends, Riches, Worldly buſineſs, but to Meditate on God, Heaven, Eternity, the inſufficiency and vanity of the creature, the bitterneſs of ſin, the certainty of death and judgement, (the very inwards of Religion) is very difficult. Before you lye down upon your beds at night, call your ſelves to an account by ſuch queſtions as theſe:

p. 421. I have lived many years in the world; What have I been doing all my days? have I anſwered the end of my being?

2. Have I had a holy awe of God in the midſt of my Worldly buſineſs this day? What thoughts of death and Judgement have I had? Where hath my heart been?

3. How have I performed duties this day? What hath been the ſins of this day, the mercies of this day, that I may beg the pardon of the one, and bleſs God for the other?

4. What aſſiſtance and communion with God have I had this day in the duties of his worſhip? have not God and my ſoul been ſtrangers this day, and many days together?

5. What have I done or ſpoken for God and his Glory this day, in my Family or elſe-where? have I demean'd my ſelf like a child of God this day? this is to make Religion our buſineſs, or to walk in the fear of the Lord all the day.

8. Improve your time by endeavouring to order every days work with reference to your laſt day. The end of every duty, and the p. 43great reaſon of redeeming time, lies here, namely, that we may be fit to dye, and ſtand before God. Therefore muſt we glorifie the infinitely holy God, and make him our friend. Hence it is that we muſt ſecure our ſouls, and ſpeedily get into Jeſus Chriſt, and grow in grace, do good to others, call our ſelves to an account, and clear our title unto heaven, that all our work may be done up while it is day, and none left to do, let death call when it will.

The reaſons why our precious time muſt be redeemed, are,

1. Becauſe the days are evil.

2. Becauſe 'tis a conſiderable part of our Chriſtian wiſdom.

Reaſ. 1. Becauſe the days are evil. This is the Apoſtles own argument to enforce the duty. Precious time, and evil days run parallel; therefore no part of a little time muſt be loſt. I ſhall inſtance in a few particulars, to make it appear.

1. The Tares of falſe Doctrine, or Diabolical, Blaſphemous, Damnable Opinions, p. 44do abound. How do the Devils Agents endeavour to raiſe and undermine the very foundations and principles of the Chriſtian faith? Thoſe old and damnable hereſies that have been condemned and expunged out of the Church of God, are greedily embraced and ſwallowed down by more then a few, 2 Tim. 3. 1. and 4. 3. 2 Pet. 1. 12. Ye therefore, Beloved, ſeeing ye knew theſe things before, beware leſt ye alſo being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own ſtedfaſtneſs, 2 Pet. 3. 17. 2 Tim. 1. 13.

2. Mens flagitious lives and moſt prodigious ſins, makes the days ſtill evil. What execrable abominations are there committed upon the Stage of this evil World. Iniquity abounds, wickedneſs is in credit, and Religion under diſgrace. Many hate the power of Godlineſs, but are not aſham'd to wear the Devil's Livery. May we not complain with the Prophet, and ſay as Hoſea 4. 12. There is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the Land. By Swearing, and Lying, and Killing, and Stealing, and committing Adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood; therefore ſhall the Land mourn. And as Iſa. 12. 15. For our tranſgreſſions are multiplyed before thee, and our p. 45ſins teſtifie againſt us; and truth faileth, and he that departeth from Iniquity, maketh himſelf a pray. And Amos 5. 10, 12, 15. They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, it is an evil time.

3, Many are back ſlidden and apoſtatiſed. How are the mighty fallen! the falling ſickneſs hath been an Epidemical diſeaſe, Matth. 24. 12. Becauſe iniquity ſhall abound, and the love of many ſhall wax cold, Jer. 2. 2. 2 Tim. 1. 15. Rev. 2. 4.

4. Doth not God frown and threaten to remove the Candle-ſtick, and leave us in darkneſs? Rev, 2. 5. Amos 8. 9, 11.

5. How is the Family of God, and friends of Chriſt, devided and ſubdivided one from another? Moab and Ammon, Herod, and Pilate, can unite againſt Chriſt and his Intereſt, when Chriſt's little Flock are at a diſtance one unto the other, 1 Cor. 3. 3, 4. And when it thus comes to paſs, the days are evil, and our time had need be redeem'd.

Reaſ. 2. Redeeming the time, will render us truly wiſe. See that you walk circumſpectly, not as fools, but as wiſe, redeeming the time, Eph. 5. 15. Eccleſ. 6. 5. The wiſe mans heart (ſaith Solomon) diſcerneth both Time and Judgement. To work while it is p. 46day; and to do a great deal of work in a little time, commendeth the wiſdom of the Agent. Whatever Learning, Parts, Endowments, men have, they are not wiſe unleſs they redeem the time. The men of Iſſachar were of great account with David, becauſe they had underſtanding of Times, to know what Iſrael ought to do, 1 Chron. 12. 32. The wiſe God, in whoſe hands is our time, taxes the Jews for fools, not obſerving the Times, Jer. 8. 7, 8. and ſo doth our Lord Jeſus the Phariſees, Mat. 16. 2, 3. Therefore redeeming the Time is called a walking in wiſdom, as the Apoſtle expreſſeth it, Col. 4. 5.

The APPLICATION.

Ʋſe 1. FIrſt, If Time will be redeemed, we may infer, that ſure then there is an Eternity. Let all the waſters of time, count upon it. It is as certain as any thing in this world, that there is another World. You may venture your Lives, your Souls, and all, upon the truth of it. Why ſhould the bleſſed Aſtle p. 47Paul preſs Believers ſo ſtrictly to redeem time, but in order to their everlaſting welfare? Aſſure thy ſelf of it, and believe it as firmly, as if both eternities did now preſent themſelves to thy bodily eyes, and thou didſt ſee the Devils and reprobates in their chains of darkneſs, and hear them cry and roar in thoſe eternal flames: and alſo, ſee Abraham, Iſaac, and Jacob, and all the Saints departed, upon the Throne, ſinging the Song of Moſes, and the Lamb. This is that which is either beleiv'd or fear'd by the beſt and worſt of men: O that it might have a deep and laſting impreſſion upon all your hearts.

2. The opportunity of time is a very precious privileage. To have a gale of opportunity to convey us to glory, or the white flag upon the wall, inviting us unto our work, to ſue out our pardon before it is to late. Time is a rich invaluable Treaſure, and yet a tranſient treaſure. **Punctum eſt quod vivimus, & puncto minus.Time (Gods Poſt) runs apace; yea, flyes as it were upon Eagles Wings, and will be gone. Time is compared to Golden Sands running between two Eternities, p. 48and 'tis an infinite mercy they are yet running, that you have a day to work out your ſalvation, to agree with the Adverſary while he is in the way, viz. to make up the breach between God and your ſouls, Rev. 2. 21. The continuance of Time is very uncertain, The time is ſhort, 1 Cor. 7. 29. The whole is but a ſpan, a very little ſpace. 'Tis but a few days more, and then thy laſt day; a few hours more, and then they departing hour; a few breathings more, and then thy laſt breath.

3. Time, as precious as it is, and which ſhould be redeem'd at any rate, is often let ſlip. What ſhall we do to paſs away the time? is common in ſome mens mouths; Nonexignum temporis habemus, ſed multum perdimus. Sen.it's a commodity that lies upon their hands, they know not what to do with it. How profuſe and prodigal are moſt of this great treaſure, who make no improvement of it? How often hath opportunity come to us, and waited on us, but very few are found to lay hold upon it? To how many timewaſters may that killing Text, Luke 19. 41, 42. be applyed? And when he came p. 49near, he beheld the City, and wept; he could not ſpeak it without tears, ſaying, If thou hadſt known (even thou at leaſt) in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace: but now they are hidden from thine eyes.

4. Spiritual Sloth, whereby we loſe ſo much of our precious time, is a ſore evil, and very dangerous. Slothfulneſs (Solomon faith) caſteth into a deep ſleep, Prov. 19. 15. The ſlothful man is like the door on the hinges, Prov, 26. 14. The ſlothful is brother to the great waſter, Prov. 18. 9. Therefore be not ſlothful, Rom. 12. 11. Heb. 6. 12. We read that Joſhua ſaid to the Sun Stand ſtill; but God never ſaid to the ſoul, Stand ſtill. Religion requires action; labour diligence; for it doth not conſiſt in airy empty notions Enigua pars eſt vitae quem nos vivimus.and ſpeculations of the head; but in the exerciſe of the mind and heart. Habits muſt be exerted, Grace improved, Heaven (that is all up-hill) muſt be ſtrived for, and gotten, as it were by force and victory. 'Tis a ſhameful and deformed ſight, to ſee a man profeſſing Godlineſs in a Lethergy, and not proſe-Caſt p. 50off thy lazy and dull ſpirit & temper leſt thou be found like that wicked, ſlothful and unprofitable ſervant, who muſt be caſt into utter darkneſs, Mat. 25. 26. 30. Let me ſay to you, as the Danites to their brethren, having ſpy'd out a good Land. Judg. 18. 9. Are ye ſtill? ariſe, and be not ſlothful to go, and to poſſeſs the Land. The Heavenly Countrey is before you; ariſe, and work, and loſe it not for want of labour. Let not ſpiritual ſloth, by eating out your time, hinder your work, and rob you of your wages, Rev, 3. 11.

5. If the beſt of Saints ſhould redeem their time, what have ſinners need to do? You that have been ſlumbring and ſleeping all your time, and not gone one ſtep in the way to Heaven, but many in the way to Hell, had need up and be doing, or elſe you will be eternally undone. Whilſt it is called to day, if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. Do not ſpend ſo freely of this ſwift and precious ſtream of Time, every drop of which, hath an influence upon Eternity. Knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of ſleep. The night is far ſpent, the day is at hand; caſt off therefore the work of darkneſs, and put on the Armour p. 51of light. Let us walk honeſtly, as in the Day; not in Rioting and Drunkenneſs, not in Chambering and Wantonneſs, not in Strife and Envying: but put you on the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and make no proviſion for the Fleſh, to fulfil the luſts thereof, Rom. 13. 12, 13, 14.

6. If Time, and every part and moment of it, muſt be improved; this ſerves to confute thoſe that reproach ſerious diligence in Duty, as a needleſs thing. If the buſineſs of our immortal ſoul, did not require great care and diligence, why doth Paul here enjoyn us to walk circumſpectly, not as fools, but as wiſe? Chriſtians. 'tis your wiſdom to know your work, and the time to do it. There's no trifling about eternity; now is the day for the things of your peace, let it not be hid from your eyes. It will be very ſad when you are paſſing into the other World, to ſee that you have all your life time been ſowing the wind.

Uſe 2. Examination, Try whether you are redeemers of time, or not. Reflect upon what I have ſaid, and thy Conſcience will tell thee, thou haſt ſpent more of thy time in ſin and vanity. How p. 52fruitful are thy duties? Are thy hours for God? Do Time and Duty go hand in hand? Maiſt thou not cry out, many a time, Diem perdidi! daily I loſe a day. Examine your ſelves, don't ſilence ſtop the mouth of Conſcience; if ſo, it will cry aloud another day.

Let me ask you theſe few queſtions.

1. Have you ſeriouſly bewail'd the loſs of time, and begg'd the pardon of it?

2. Have your ſouls ſincerely cloſed with Jeſus Chriſt, and freely and fully given up, and reſigned your ſelves to him to be his for ever?

3. Do the great concerns of Gods glory, and your ſalvation, bear down all before them? Canſt thou ſay, though I follow my Calling, and take care for my Family, yet I am moſt ſolicious about my everlaſting condition? whether they be pleaſures or profits, I can ſay, Pleaſures of ſin be gone, world ſtand by. There is a God to ſerve and honour; I have a ſoul muſt be ſanctified and ſaved, I have a ſhort time to redeem, I have a debt to pay, an account to give, a Sentence to receive, an Eternity p. 53to live. This is not to be ſlighted; I muſt and will ſave my ſoul, Hell iI moſt intollerable and eternal.

4. Will you now promiſe and ſtand to it, that for the future you will trade more for eternity, and get better evidences for Heaven? Go about the work of Faith and repentance ſpeedily; leſt death ſhould call, and you not ready.

Uſe 3. Of Lamentation, That Profeſſors ſhould bo ſo far from redeeming of time, or of doubling their diligence, that they neglect their duty. I may cry out with the Prophet, call for the mourning women, for who is not guilty in this kind? Amos 5. 16. Sirs, for this ſhould our ſouls mourn in ſecret places; the ſerious conſideration of which is enough to fetch blood from our hearts, and flood of tears from our eyes. How little care is taken in ſpending that well, which when it is gone, we have no hope it can be reſtored to us again. Do not you complain of the want of time, ſeeing you waſte time. There are many poor frivolous excuſes: the Servant will ſay, that he hath a hard, cruel Maſter; the wife complains of her wicked Husband, the Child of his Ungodly p. 54Father; another, of the poverty of his Family; he can ſpare no time. Whoever pretends the want of time, let me tell thee, Thou haſt a carnal, dead, ſinful, ſlothful heart, the cauſe of all. Haſt thou not time for every other thing, namely, a time for eating, drinking, ſleeping, potting, piping, playing, and none for Heaven? Can you riſe early, go to bed late, and eat the bread of carefulneſs, to get the meat that periſheth; and find no time for God and your Souls? will this excuſe thee another day, thou careleſs, ignorant, deluded ſoul? Your Corn, Cattel, your Sheep, your Swine, your Hawks, your Horſes, and Dogs are cared for; but for the better part, there's no care at all. Wilt thou tell the great and terrible Judge, at the laſt day, I would have been ſaved, but I had no time? There are many that eat their bread by the ſweat of their brows, that take time for their ſouls, who will be brought in as witneſſes againſt you at the laſt day. Will you ſquander away your time, and the days evil, and opportunities for your ſouls hardly come at? O conſider, it's high time to awake out of ſleep.

p. 55Exhortation to redeem Time.

Uſe 4. You have heard what it is to redeem time, and how time muſt be redeemed. Now let all reſolve, without delay, to put this ſo neceſſary a Duty into practiſe. Let young ones reſolve upon it, and the middleaged, with the hoary-heads. Tender unto thy God the cream and flower of thy age, and time, and think it not too ſoon. In things of far leſs moment, you are for haſt and ſpeed. If you were ſtarving for want of bread, you would think every hour long, till you had a ſupply. If your bodies were tortured and tormented with pain and ſickneſs, would you think that eaſe and health might come too ſoon? If a man were in the Sea near ſinking, can a Boat come to ſoon? Or, can a condemned Malefactor receive his pardon too ſoon? haſt thou lived without God, and Satan's Slave, and in danger of dropping into Hell, fifteen or twenty years, and canſt thou get into Chriſt to ſecure thy immortal ſoul too ſoon? Haſt thou not been the Devils too long already? Suppoſe thou hadſt dyed in thy Chriſtleſs ſtate, where had p. 56thy ſoul been? Is is not better to be the Lord's ſervant, then Satan's Slave? Ask the Godly man that hath made tryal, and he will tell thee. The ſooner thou art in a ſtate of Grace, the fitter thou wilt be for glory. Make ſpeed in thy work, do thy ſpiritual buſineſs; thy wages is ſure, and thou ſhalt be bleſſed. Conſider there was never any one repented (living or dying) that they were the Lords, and converted betimes.

And for you that have paſt the time of youth, in the ſatisfying youthful luſts, and liv'd, it may be, thirty, forty, or fifty years in a courſe of ſin and vanity, is it not more then time for you, to bethink your ſelves? In ſo many years you have made ſad work; who can tell how often you have offended, that have been profane Swearers, Drunkards, Lyars, Sabbath-breakers; ſo long, if you were certain of living ſo many years to come, yet the Devil, the World, and your Helliſh luſts, have had half your time. O let the time paſt ſuffice. Know your times are in Gods hands, Pſal. 31. 15. So that you are not certain of a day to come: therefore begin and make ſpeed in you work.

p. 57And for the gray-headed, againſt whom death hath raiſed his batteries, you can have but a few ſands in your glaſs, your departing hour cannot be far, your Candle is within the ſocket, and it may be is come to a ſtinking ſnuff: Do you not ſee the Keepers of the old rotten houſe begin to tremble, and the ſtrong men bow themſelves? Expect the next blaſt, the houſe to fall. If you that are leaning on your ſtaves, and looking through your ſpectacles, being ready to enter upon Eternity, don't mind your work immediately, Wo, wo be unto you for ever. If God ſhould work a ſpiritual Miracle, in converting and pardoning an old grey-headed Sinner, that hath been idle till the leventh hour, Mat. 20. 6. would it not be matter of amazement, and wonder to Men and Angels? For the Devil to be caſt out of poſſeſſion after he hath an Inhabitant threeſcore years, and more, for ſuch an one to be born again, would be ſtrange indeed. I have heard of an old man, who being really converted, not long before his death cauſed this to be written on his Tomb: Here lyeth a very aged man, of Three Years Old; He reckoned all his time and life before, as loſt, p. 58and worth nothing. Now that you (that have put off God, and hazarded your ſouls ſo long already) might loſe no more time, conſider theſe motives:

1. The preſent time is Gods time, and muſt be yours.

2. God, the Righteous Judge, will reckon with you for your time.

3. You have ſolemnly promiſed to redeem it.

4. Men take and improve opportunity for other things.

5. Satan, your deadly enemy, is always buſie, and will loſe no time.

6. Saving-grace is an active and ſpringing principle.

7. Time once had, and loſt, cannot be recalled.

8. Conſ. How they prize time, that have loſt it.

9. God hath joyned Time and Duty together.

10. On this moment of Time, Eternity depends.

Motive 1. Conſider, The preſent time is Gods, and it muſt be yours. Don't you hear the Holy Ghoſt ſay, It is now high p. 59time to ſeek the Lord; and calling to you, Come away, make ſpeed? Hoſ. 10. 12. Delayes and Lazineſs, are the two great Gulphs, in which multitudes of ſouls are drowned, and periſh. How many are now in Hell, that purpoſed and promiſed to turn to God (as you do) hereafter? O fear and tremble leſt it ſhould be your caſe. To enforce this, take theſe few hints.

1. The preſent time hath moſt Precepts; and Gods Commands, like warrants in the Kings name, muſt be obeyed on ſight thereof. We ſay, Muſt is for the King: If thou art young, read Eccleſ. 12. 1. Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth. To day if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, Pſal. 95. 6. Firſt ſeek the Kingdom of God, Mat. 6. 33. You muſt not ſtay long, Hoſ. 13. 13. Bleſs God, and wonder the golden thread of precious time is ſpin'd out ſo long.

2. It hath moſt promiſes, and they are great and precious. I will receive you, ſaith the Lord. They that ſeek me early ſhall find me. The preſent time is an accepted time, in which God may be found, Pſal. 32. 6. Now God calls, Heb. p. 603, 7. and you may come and welcome, John 6. 37. And it will be matter of unſpeakable comfort to a man dying & looking into Eternity, to know he hath done the work for which he had his life and time.

3. You have the heſt examples. And 'tis our duty to imitate and follow them who are gone to Heaven before. Your dead Lord would loſe no time; I muſt do the work of him that ſent me, while it is day. When faithful Abraham was to offer his Son Iſaac, he made haſt, Gen. 22. 31. He roſe up early in the morning. Mary Magdalan came early in the morning to enquire after, and to ſee the Lord Jeſus, whom her ſoul loved, Mark. 16. 2.

Motive 2. God the righteous Judge will reckon with you for your time. Not onelyonly for your health, wealth, ſtrength, parts, graces, memories, but for every minute of your time. If at the day of judgement we muſt give an account for every idle word, much more for ſo great a Talent, ſo rich a Treaſure as Time. A Heathen could ſay, that every wiſe man muſt tam otii quam negottii rationem reddere, give an account of his buſineſs, and of his idleneſs. You may, p. 61like fools, waſte your time, neglect your duty, and ſtand out againſt the call of God; but it will coſt your dear, Eccl. 11. 9. Rejoyce, O young man in thy youth, and let thine heart chear thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the ſight of thine eyes: but know thou, for all theſe things God will bring thee unto judgement. The great Landlord of your time, is at great expence to continue it. Thoſe Luminaries of Heaven, over your heads; and principally, the Prince of all the lights of Heaven, the Sun, that glorious and mighty Gyant, the Prince and Crown of all corporal Creatures, do tire, and waſte (as it were their Celeſtial vigour, to beget and give Time. Time is ſo rich a Jewel, that God would have one man value it to another. If one man had hurt another, he was to pay both for his cure and loſs of time, Exod, 21. 18, 19. So muſt you at the great day of account, for all your time, for every Sermon you have heard, for every Sabbath and Sacrament you have had all your days.

Motive 3. You have all promiſed to redeem your time. The Vows of Jehovah are upon you. Say with David, I will pay my p. 62Vows. If the Godly man will perform his promiſe to his hurt, Pſal. 15. 4. Much more ſhould you for your profit. Take the Counſel of the Wiſe Man, Eccleſ. 5. 4, 5. When thou voweſt a vow unto God, defer not to pay it: pay that which thou haſt vowed: better it is that thou ſhould not vow, then to vow and not pay. How often you have engaged your ſelves to leave your known ſins, and to live ſoberly, and righteouſly, and Godly in this preſent World, let Conſcience witneſs. If you that have reſolved to read, pray, ſanctifie the Sabbath, &c. ſhould ſtill waſte and trifle away the time, it will not only be a breach of promiſe; but a ſin againſt light, for which thy heart will reproach thee; and if thine heart condemn thee, God is greater then thine heart, and knoweth all things, 1. John 3. 20. Remember the promiſes thou didſt make at ſuch a Sacrament, or when ſtruck at the heart by ſuch and ſuch a Sermon, or when death was at thy Family, or thy ſelf near unto it; and defer not to perform thy Covenant: God, who is a God of truth, will not be mocked; and that you ſhall know ere it be long. Jeptha would perform his vow to God; I have, p. 63ſaid he, opened my mouth unto the Lord, I cannot go back, Judg. 11. 34, 35. Herod, for his Oath ſake, murdered John the Baptiſt, Matth. 14. 9, 10. How many times haſt thou engageſt to dedicate and devote thy ſelf to God and his Service? therefore ſay, Lord, for my promiſe ſake, I will ſacrifice my ſelf, and become thine, redeeming my time for thy glory, and mine own Salvation.

Motive 4. Conſ. Men take and improve opportunities for other things. The fitteſt and beſt time is taken for buying, ſelling, plowing, ſowing, and gathering into Barns; and eſpecially in evil and hard times. Men will riſe early, run, ride, and labour, in the very fire, as the Prophet ſpeaketh. Redeeming the time, 'tis a Metaphor taken from Merchants, that will be early in the Market, leſt the opportunity of buying the beſt Commodities ſhould be loſt. The Proverb is, that Time and Tide, ſtay for no man; and that we muſt make Hay while the Sun ſhineth. There's none but the ſluggard will ſleep in Harveſt; the diligent Husband-man will not loſe a day then. Chriſtians, in this great affair of your precious, immortal and never-dying ſouls, do p. 64as men about other things: Millers and Marriners obſerve and improve every gale of wind; yea, the Stork in the Heaven, the Turtle, the Crane, and the Swallow, know and obſerve the time of their coming, Jer. 8. 7. They that ſay, to day or to morrow we will go into ſuch a City, and buy, and get gain, Jam. 4. 2. will as we ſay, turn every ſtone, and loſe no time to buy a good bargain, to make a rich purchaſe, and ſhall we redeem our time, and make the beſt of our ſpiritual markets, to make proviſion for our ſouls, that are more worth then all the world?

Motive 5. Satan, that Enemy, and grand Soul-deluder, is always buſie. He is an active Devil, and he loveth to find us idle. Chriſtians, this old Serpent is never more at work, then when we are idle: for idleneſs layeth a man open to all his Helliſh Snares and temptations, and then if temptations come, you are out of Gods way; and if Satan find you on his ground, he will be too hard for you. The Apoſtle tells us he goeth about, and ſtill offers temptations for the waſting of our time. This roaring Lyon hath a large circuit; for ever ſince p. 65he was caſt out of Heaven, he hath been going to and fro in the Earth, and walking up and down in it, John 1. 7. His grand deſign is to devour, 1 Pet. 5. 8. This black Prince loves to prey upon precious ſouls; the ſoul being that ſweet morſel he is ſtill gaping at. This Adverſary hath his ſeveral walks, he is in the Shop, in the Market, in the Street, in the Chamber, in the Cloſet, and every where where ſin is, and he is alſo in the Congregation among the Aſſemblies of the Saints, when they are about ſpiritual ſervice. When Joſhua the High-Prieſt ſtood before the Lord, Satan was ſtanding at his right hand to reſiſt him, Zech. 3. 1. This deadly enemy was with Chriſt, and his Diſciples at the Paſsover, for there he entred into Judas, John 13. 26, 27. Therefore, Chriſtians, we have need to work and watch too. The devil, that hates you and all mankind, doth beſtir himſelf; he goeth forth into the broad way of prophaneneſs, and there he tenders and tempts men with ſenſual objects, and he entreth in the by-path of error, appearing as an Angel of light, and enticeth wanton wits to ſuck down the poyſon of his damnable doctrine. And p. 66when once he hath injected his poyſon into the head, how much time is ſpent in writing and diſputing to defend his deluſions? We read, that it was while men ſlept, this enemy (Satan) came and ſowed Tares among the Wheat, Matth. 13. 25. 39. He is a working, buſie Devil, never at leiſure, but is always ſpreading his Baits, and caſting his Snares and Nets to catch ſouls. Therefore be ye ſober, vigilant, and watch unto prayer, and employ this talent of precious time well. Idleneſs is Satans Shop and the Mother of Miſchief. David was at leiſure, and on the roof of his houſe, when Satan prevailed by that ſad temptation, 2 Sam. 11. 3. Therefore ſet God alwayes before you, keep in his way, and be doing your duty; that you may be kept from his fiery darts The flying Bird is ſeldom ſhot. The cautious, diligent, active ſoul is moſt ſecure.

Motive 6. Time once gone cannot be recalled. Time paſt, is gone for ever; Time preſent (if we may ſo call it) is going; future Time is moſt uncertain; neither Men or Angels can hinder, or ſtop it; turn, or p. 67bring it back again. If opportunities be not now taken, they may never be had. Be good husbands of your time, and work now, or you may never work. Time's redemption, may be your ſalvation, therefore follow and improve the light, before darkneſs overtake you. You all know that yeſterday, or the laſt hour, will never come again. If thou hadſt as much treaſure in thy cuſtody or power, as the whole world is worth, it cannot purchaſe one minute of time paſt. You that are old, may as eaſily call back your youth, or become young again, as recover any part of this precious time Luke 19. 42.

Motive 7. The nature of ſaving-Grace, is working and ſpringing up, which turneth all the powers and faculties of the Soul Heaven-ward. Such is the activity and vigour of this gracious nature, that it will bring a man to a What wilt thou have me to do? Acts 9. 6. Epheſ. 2. 10. 'Tis not a lazy and languid thing, but full of life and power. The ſtate of ſin in Scripture, is deſcribed by death and darkneſs, which are a ceſſation and privation of life, and light, and motion: and the ſtate of Grace is p. 68deſcribed by life, Eph. 2. which is powerful, and moſt vivacious, like the Sword of the Lord, and Gideon, doing great things. It is no wonder to ſee the men of the world, that are born after the fleſh, to be dull, ſluggiſh and unactive. But you that have a Divine Nature, and a Spirit of life and power in your hearts, ſhould be diligent and laborious, 2 Tim. 1. 6. Rom. 8. 2. This living principle of Grace, made the holy Apoſtle, who excited others to redeem their time, ſo to employ his Talent; the Grace of God in him, made him labour more then they all, 1 Cor. 15. 10. The ſtreams of grace that flow into the Soul, are called Rivers of Living Water, John 7. 31. and a Well of water ſpringing up unto eternal life, John 4. 14. So that Chriſtians have greater advantage of doing good, and of living to Gods glory. Therefore ſtir up the grace of God that is in you; caſt off ſlothfulneſs, and put on diligence; and laying aſide every weight, rejoyce (as the Son) to run the Race that is ſet before you.

Motive 8. Conſider, How highly they prize time, that have loſt it. and are come to the end of it; and who, with the loſs of p. 69time, have loſt themſelves. We have many dreadful Examples that ſtand as ſo many Sea-marks, to warn us to take heed.

The poor Jews were utterly undone by it. The Lord only knowns how many of them are now in flames, that ſuffer the vengeance of Eternal Fire, for not improving the day of Grace, Luke 19. 42. Matth. 23. 37. The fooliſh Virgins having loſt the opportunity of buying Oyl, came too late to the door. And Eſan ſtaid too long to get the bleſſing. Moſt do things when it is too late. Men go to bed late, riſe late, go to Market late, come to Church late, and make peace with God when it is too late. The old Iſraelites marched towards Canaan when is was too late, and ſo loſt that good Land. O how dreadful will mercy ſlighted and time loſt be, to the awakened ſoul, when it comes to dye, ſeeing it ſelf in a Chriſtleſs ſtate! It was a ſpeech once of a woman in terror of Conſcience, when divers Miniſters and others came to her in a way of comforting her; ſhe looks with a ghaſtly countenance upon them, and gives them this anſwer, Call back time again; if you can, p. 70call back time again, then there may be hopes for me: but time is gone. Another great Lady upon her death-bed, cryed out, All too late, all too late; a World of Wealth for an inch of Time. Another Gentlewoman, (of whom I have heard) who was wont to employ this precious Talent of Time, in playing at Cards, and ſuch like-Games, coming from her ſport late in the night, finding her Waiting-maid (that was religious) reading in a good Book, and caſting her eyes in the Book over the Maids ſhoulder, ſpeaks theſe words, or to this effect: Thou poor melancholly ſoul! whut always reading, and ſpending thy time thus! wilt thou take no comfort in thy life? The Gentlewoman retiring to her Chamber went to bed. The maid lodging in the ſame room, perceived her Miſtreſs under great dſquiet and perturbation of Spirit, ſighing and groaning bitterly. The Servant hearing of it, ſeveral times called to her to know the reaſon ſhe could not ſleep: the Maid urging of her, at laſt ſhe cryed out & ſaid, I read this word ETERNITY in thy Book, which hath ſo pierced my heart, that I believe I ſhall never ſleep more, till I have a better aſſurance of mine Eternity. Another p. 71wanton Lady, that hath waſted her time in ſenſuallity, who dyed not many weeks paſt, told her vicious Mother, ſtanding by her bed-ſide, That it was too late to ſpeak of God to her; for you have undone me, and I am going to Hell before, and you will certainly come after. It is common with men dying and going into the other World, ſadly to bewail the loſs of time. When they fear Mercy is going, Patience expiring, and the time reſpited for repentance, over, then they prize opportunities at another rate. And O what would the damned in Hell give to be admitted into the World, if they might but enjoy one day, or hour, to deliver themſelves from that dreadful place of torment, Luke 16. 27, 28.

Motive 9. Conſider, God hath joyned Time and Duty together: that in two reſpects.

1. In reſpect of Aſſiſtance.

2. In reſpect of Acceptance.

1. God hath joyn'd Time and Duty together, in reſpect of Aſſiſtance: and what Infinite Majeſty hath joyned, muſt not by any means be ſeparated. Work, and Time, Opportunity and Duty; muſt go p. 72together. Adam had his work in Paradice before the fall. And ſecond Adam was always in action, to the end of his days; His meat and drink was to do the will of his Father. Nullus mihi per otium dies exit, I have no day for idleneſs, was the language of a Heathen. Chriſtians, do your work in ſeaſon, and you ſhall have Aſſiſtance. God's opportunity is as wind to the Sails, or as Oyl to the Wheels, which will make you glide through difficult duties with much facility. If we work in God's time, God will work with us, and we ſhall be workers together with him. Goſpel-time is in order to Goſpelwork; ſpiritual Opportunities are appointed and continued for ſpiritual Duties. The work of faith, repentance, mortification of ſin, the plucking out right eyes, the chopping off right arms, fighting and wreſtling with the Powers and Prince of darkneſs, are exceeding difficult: but God whoſe arm is potent, will give power: and how eaſily will great work or ſervice be done, when there is great aſſiſtance in the doing of it? A burden that is too heavy for one to lift, by the help of another will come up eaſie. This Paul witneſſeth, Phil. 4. 13. I can do all things through p. 73Chriſt which ſtrengthneth me. The feeble Jews, by the help of Jehovah, raiſed the Walls of Jeruſalem from its very rubbiſh, and that in ſpight of all oppoſition, Neh. 3. 2, 3. and 6. 15. they plying the work, the Lord was with them by his great power and ſtrong hand: they made their prayer unto God, when ſtrength was almoſt decayed, and laboured in the work from the riſing of the morning, till the Stars appeared; and ſo the Wall was finiſhed. Let time be redeemed, and then a great deal of work may be done in a little time: God's opportunity will make believing and repenting eaſie, Luke 19. 6. Acts 2. 37. 41. Acts 16. 14. 34. O therefore while it is day, work out your Salvation; for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do, of his good pleaſure, Phil. 2. 12, 13.

2. God hath joyned Time and Duty, in reſpect of Acceptance. Every time is not an accepted time, 2 Cor. 6. 2. The Iſruelites that refuſed to march up to Canaan at Gods command, loſt their opportunity, and afterward he would neither aſſiſt them nor accept them. If thou ſtayeſt till God's time be paſt and gone, art p. 74thou ſure God will accept thee hereafter? There is a time when God will not be found, will not be ſpoken withal, Iſa. 55. 6. Eſau ſought the bleſſing with tears, and it was denied him, Heb. 12. 17. Prov. 1. 29. Do not ſay, what need ſo much ſpeed? what need ſo much improving of time, ſo much reading, hearing, praying, preaching? but reſolve upon thy now or never.

Motive 10. Laſtly, Conſider, That on the preſent moment of time eternity depends. This deep and heart-affecting Meditation ſhould even ſwallow us up, and cauſe us to haſten unto our work. Let go Time's opportunity, and you will certainly be ruin'd to all Eternity. The Painter being asked why he was ſo exact in drawing his Lines, anſwered, I paint for Eternity. Conſider, that thou muſt believe and repent for Eternity, hear and pray for Eternity, fear, love, obey for Eternity. A work of infinite moment, depends on a moment of Time. This day thou mayeſt throw thy laſt Caſt for Eternity. This ſwift Poſt will not ſtop, no not for a moment. Secure ſoul! doſt thou ſee Eternity before thee, even at thy door, and p. 75that there is but a ſtep between thee and an endleſs ſtate, and wilt thou not be more induſtrious for thy Soul, and Heaven? If a man were to run or wreſtle for his Life, or for a Crown, or Kingdom, how would he ſtrain, and ſtrive, and that with all his might? If a man were to go over Sea for his life, and had but one gale of wind in his Life-time, would he come to the water-ſide and loſe it; If a Malefactor had but a day appointed him to ſue out his pardon, would he not improve it? This is all our caſes: God hath given us but a day to work; when the day is ended, it will be night for ever, Luk. 19. 19, 42. John 9. 4. Now it may be, Chriſt is at the door, offering thee help, open to him, leſt he withdraw, and come no more. Its probable the ſpirit of Life and Power, ſtriveth to turn thee to God, O refuſe not to comply with it, leſt the Spirit ſerve thee, as Samuel did Saul, that came no more to him, 1 Sam. 15. 35. I ſhall conclude the Motives with the words of the Pſalmiſt, to day if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, left God ſwear in his wrath, that you ſhall not enter into his reſt, Pſal. 91. 7. 11.

p. 76Now if thou art reſolved to put this duty into practice; through the help of Heaven, ſpeedily and diligently obſerve theſe Directions.

Directions for the redeeming of Time.

1. Take heed and beware of thoſe things which rob you of your time.

2. Labour to convince your ſelves of the worth of time, and value it accordingly.

3. Set apart a conſiderable portion of time for the moſt ſecret duties.

4. Caſt and compute your time.

5. Maintain a holy fear upon thy heart of coming to the end of time, before thy work be done.

Direct. 1. Firſt, Take heed of thoſe things which rob you of your time. Now the thieves that will rob you of this exceeding rich Jewel, are theſe ſix, againſt which watch as for thy life.

1. Vain Thoughts.

2. Worldly Cares.

3. Ʋnneceſſary Viſits.

4. Ʋnprofitable Diſcourſe.

5. Exceſſive indulging of the outward man.

p. 776. Ʋnlawful or immoderate recreations.

1. Vain Thoughts. Theſe are ſecret and ſubtile Thieves, that inſenſibly rob us of our time every day, and in every duty; vain impertinent and wicked thoughts like Pharaoh's Frogs, creep and crowd in upon us, and thruſt out good thoughts; ſo that we cannot keep our mind ſteddy and compos'd. Solomon ſaith, Prov. 17. 24. The eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth; ſo are our thoughts gadding, wandring up and down here and there and every where. Theſe evil thoughts ſpring and riſe from within us, as naturally as ſparks from the fire, Gen. 6. 5. Matth. 15. 19. Out of the heart proceedeth evil thoughts. And they follow us continually into every place, and in every ſervice, as the Birds on Abraham's Sacrifices, which Abraham did drive away. They muſt not Lodge, Jerem. 4. 14. Though we cannot hinder the Fowls from flying in the Air, or over our heads, we may hinder them from pitching on our heads. Holy David had vain thoughts, but he hated them, Pſal. 119. 113. There is not a minute, but many thoughts paſs from us, as, in a minute, ſands do in an Hour-glaſs, Pſal. 94. 19. Chriſtians, conſider p. 78how much of that time is loſt, which you ſpend in holy duties, by vain thoughts; when we ſhould draw nigh to God, our hearts, by our thoughts, ſteal away. And there are but a few awakened tender ſpirits, truly ſenſible of this intrinſical ſecret evil; though much of a Chriſtian's duty, and the very inwards of Religion, lies in obſerving the thoughts, and in watching the heart. Therefore above all keeping, keep thy heart, Prov. 4. 23. and take heed to thy ſpirit, Mal. 2. 15, 16.

2. Worldly Cares are great waſters of our precious time. The moſt do mind Earthly things, Phil. 3. 19. Men heads, hearts and thoughts, are ſo intent about the things that periſh, that they do hardly entertain a ſerious thought of God and Eternity, all the day. God is not in all their thoughts. They that are the fleſh, do mind the things of the fleſh, Rom. 8. 5. and not only the children of this World, but Profeſſors themſelves, are ſo eager and vehement in the purſuit of this poor Earth, that almoſt all their time and ſtrength is ſpent about it. And while men are ſo careful and ſolicious about many things, and in a very crowd and hurry of buſineſs, it is impoſſible for them to redeem p. 79time for God and their ſouls. As ſoon as their eyes are open, and the things of the World ſtand as ſo many Suitors, to invite and draw them. Some have their hearts ſo over-charged and ſurfeited with the Cares and fears of this evil world, that their abundance will not ſuffer them to ſleep, Luke 21. 4. Eccleſ. 5. 12. Now when it is thus, Opportunities are loſt, Souls are neglected, Holy duties omitted, or if uſed, they are very unſucceſsful, Ezek. 33. 31. Math. 13. 22. Therefore take heed of the world, ſo great a devourer of our time.

3. Ʋnneceſſary viſits, are great waſters of our time: of which you muſt take heed, it being no mark of Godlineſs but the contrary. The wiſe man ſpeaking of the vicious and vertous Woman, giveth them this different Character, viz. the one, her feet abideth not in her Houſe, Eccl. 7. 11. the other looketh well to the wayes of her houſhold, and eateth not the bread of idleneſs, Prov. 31. 27. And we read of ſome, that wandred about from houſe to houſe, being idle Tatlers, and buſie-bodies, ſpeaking things which they ought not, 1 Tim. 5. 13. How many do trifile away the time in going from houſe to houſe? to whom p. 80it may be ſaid, as Pharaoh to the oppreſſed Iſraelites, Ye are idle, ye are idle. Let that time you have to ſpare from your Calling and Families, be ſpent in Reading, Prayer, or other Religious exerciſes: and in all your Viſits, intend and deſign the doing of good, or the receiving of good; and not the paſſing away of this precious time. When your friends or neighbours are ſick, and under the hand of God, go to them, and give them counſel for their ſouls, Rom. 15. 2.

4. Ʋnprofitable Diſcourſe robbeth us of much time. Some employ their Tongues in telling fabulous or filthy ſtories; others in diſcourſing of Parties and Opinions, and in talking of the Faults and Miſcarriages of other men. Some about the Times, and enquiring after News. Thus did the men of Athens, who ſpent their time in nothing elſe, but either to tell, or to hear ſome new thing, Acts 17. 21. And the moſt, when they come together, paſs away the time in diſcourſing of the World, and the concerns of it. But let Chriſtians, when they converſe, imitate their Lord; the words that proceeded out of his mouth, were gracious words: Walk in wiſdom toward them that art without, redeeming the p. 81time. Let your ſpeech be always with Grace; ſeaſoned with Salt, that you know how you ought to anſwer every man; Col. 4. 5, 6.

5. Exceſſive indulging the outward man. Much of our time is ſpent in making proviſion for the fleſh, Rom. 13. laſt. Some hours are taken up every day in providing for the belly, to pleaſe the Pallate; and ſome at their Tables take up much time. Others to gratifie a proud fancy, much time is waſted in decking and trimming the body. There are thoſe that ſpend more time in looking into a glaſs, then upon their knees in praying to God. A godly Miniſter coming to a Gentlewomans houſe to Dinner, where he waited from ten a clock till one, all the while ſhe was dreſſing, burſt out in weeping, to think that ſhe ſhould ſpend ſo much time in Trimming, and he ſo little in Praying. Alſo, exceſſive Sleep doth devour a great part of our ſhort life and time. When we ſhould be on our knees in our Cloſet, we are in our beds, or on our Couches. Others waſte their precious time in Ale-houſes, and Tavers, and Brothel-houſes, from day to day, God's day being not exempted, Againſt p. 82ſuch there is a dreadful Wo; Wo unto them that riſe up early in the morning, that they may follow ſtrong drink; that continue until night, till Wine inflame them, Iſa. 5. 11, 12.

6. Ʋnlawful or immoderate Recreations, are the occaſions of great expence of time. Recreation (not to be uſed but as Phyſick, in caſe of need) is an ingroſſer and wafter of our time, that's dear and precious. Many are ſo exceſſive in it, as if they were ſent into the World to do nothing but ſport. What time is ſpent is Carding, Dicing, Dancing, Interludes, Stage-plays, Bear and Bull-baitings, Hunting, Hawking, and in reading Romantick Books? which, for Men and Women profeſſing the Goſpel, are not of good report, Phil. 4. 8. The turning of the Bible or of ſome good Book, is more becoming a Chriſtian, then turning a pair of Cards, a Game ſo much accuſtomed by the Prophane, and an occaſion of much ſin. Theſe things will cauſe bitterneſs and horror at laſt; they are Honey to the Fanſie, but a ſting to the Conſcience. Conſider which will afford moſt comfort dying; Item, ſo many days in recreation, or ſo many days in humiliation; p. 83ſo many hours in prayer, or ſo many hours in playing at Cards; ſo many hours in vain filthy diſcourſe, or ſo many hours in ſerious and Heavenly conference; Item, ſo many Sabbaths in reading, hearing and ſinging of Pſalms, or ſo many Sabbaths ſpent in eating, drinking, walking, or worſe. Holy Bradford counted that hour loſt, wherein he had not done ſome good. Titus Veſpaſian was wont to ſay, Diem perdidi, I have loſt a day.

Direct. 2. Set a due eſtimate upon this precious Jewel of Time, that your hearts may be ſo, truly tender, as to make conſcience of waſting of it. A Godly Miniſter was wont to ſay when he ſaw the morning clear and ſerene, 'Tis pity this day ſhould be loſt. O value your time; reckon more of one Sabbath, then of the beſt Fair or Market that ever thou waſted in all thy life. Set upon the now day of Grace, the price of Eternity. I have told you already the damned in Hell (if it might be) would give a World for one opportunity to make peace with God.

Direct. 3. Set apart ſome conſiderable portion of time, for the moſt ſecret duties.

p. 841. For ordinary ſecret prayer and meditation, ſet ſome time apart in the morning and evening of every day; and do not catch and ſnatch at praying-times. Many ſerve the world and the fleſh all day, and put off God with a few words or ſleepy prayers at night. Prayer is the breath of the new Creature, and the ſign of ſpiritual life, Act. 9. 6. Chriſtians let your prayers be ſecret, ſincere, fervent, conſtant. The way to Heaven (ſaid a good man) is through the Cloſet, and they that have been eminent in Piety, have been excellent in Prayer. Holy David would not let a morning paſs without prayer, Pſal. 5. 3. Yea, three times a day he was at this bleſſed duty, Pſa. 55. 17. It was his Element and conſtant employment, Pſal. 109. 4. Your prayer muſt be fervent if it be effectual. Prayer without fervency, is as a Bullet without Powder, or as a Bird without wings, that cannot mount up into the Air. Holy fire muſt be put to the daily Sacrifice. God anſwers by Fire. He that looks upon the heart, regards the manner of your Prayers, more then the number of your prayers. Cold, ſlight mumbling over a few Petitions, either out of cuſtom, or to ſtop the mouth of conſcience, p. 85will not prevail, Pſ. 25. i. Iſa. 26. 9. Jam. 5. 15. Chriſtians, the time that you ſpend with God in ſecret, is the ſweeteſt time, and beſt improved. Therefore if thou loveſt thy life, be in love with prayer. Reſolve to ſpend ſome time with God in private every day.

2. Extraordinary private Faſtings, is a duty very neceſſary, and practiſed but by a few. Soul-afflicting dayes between God and a man's ſelf, would though grace, be much for ſpiritual advantage, Husbands ſhould mourn apart, and their Wives apart, Zech. 12. 12, 13. Faſting-days will be Soul-fatting days, Acts 10. 30. and Bleſſed are they that mourn, Mat. 5. 4.

3. The third private duty is ſelf-examination. When thou art alone, ask thy ſelf theſe queſtions.

1. Is it moſt certain, that I am in a ſtate of Grace?

2. Is Grace thriving? Doth my inward man proſper?

3. Do I live in no known ſin againſt Conſcience, Pſal. 19. 1. 28. and exerciſe my ſelf unto Godlineſs?

p. 864. Do I make conſcience of redeeming time, ſo as to joyn time and duty togetogether? A Precious Servant of the Lord was wont to ſay, if a man could anſwer to theſe two Queſtions, he need not to fear? Firſt, Am I Gods child? Secondly, Am I in Gods way? Pſal. 119. 94.

Direct. 4. If you would redeem your time, compute your time. Pray thou mayeſt do it, Pſal. 90. 12. Pſal. 39. 4. Numbring the People was David's ſin, but numbring his days a duty. 'Tis common for men to number their Sheep, their Cattel, Houſes, Lands, Wares, Money, but to number our days, is a rare kind of numbring: for the neglect of which, what arears are we fallen into, with the great Land-lord of our time? Chriſtians, divide your time into parcels, and conſider how little God hath; how much time was ſpent in thy Infancy and Child-hood, before thou hadſt the uſe of reaſon, how much is ſpent in our Callings and Employments about the world, how much in Eating and Drinking and unprofitable diſcourſe, beſides all this, half, or more, is ſpent in ſleeping: ſo that in the work of God, and about our immortal ſouls, we employ but a very little. p. 87Therefore 'tis more then time to redeem it.

Direct. 5. Maintain always a holy fear upon thy heart of coming to the end of time before thy work be done. Live continually in an expectation of your great changes. Buy Sell, Converſe, Read, Pray, Hear, and do all as dying men, and paſſing to receive the recompence of endleſs Joy or Wo. Chriſtians, if you would work while it is day; If you would glorifie God on Earth, If you would ſecure and eternally ſave your immortal ſouls; If you would not be a prey to the Prince of Darkneſs; If you would ſtand with comfort before the Lord Jeſus, at his dreadful Bar; If you would not ſpend your days without hope: Ariſe therefore, and be doing, and the Lord be with you.